Leslie Moore - Griffin's Destiny

She touched a fingertip to the stone pendant that served as her link to the Nameless One. It rested between her pale breasts like a drop of crystallized darkness.

No loose ends, my love.

She kissed Keizo tenderly on the lips for the last time, then pressed a silk-covered pillow hard against his slack face. There was no struggle, no pain. Keizo’s soul quit his wasted flesh with ease.

It is done.

She smoothed the bedclothes and rearranged the pillows then allowed herself a few moments to grieve. Keizo Onjara had been her companion and lover for many years, after all. To a casual observer, nothing would seem amiss.

The two guards outside the entrance to the king’s apartments remained at their posts, ensorcelled, their minds sponged clean of all conscious thought and recollection of her presence. If approached, they would respond, but only as automatons until the enchantment binding them dissipated. The king’s lifeless body should lie undiscovered for many hours.

Before she departed, she removed the White Griffin from the king’s finger then carefully folded his hands upon his breast. The ring felt heavy and cold against the skin of her palm, almost as if by removing it from its rightful owner, it had lost the ability to absorb body heat.

Sonoe raised the ring to eye level. With her mage sight, she could see the magical energy binding the very substance of the ring together.

So much power…so much potential…but useless without the Key!

A tiny smile crept across her sensuous mouth.

I shall have to get this sized to fit my finger.

The only task she had left to do now was to secure the Key for herself, but to accomplish this, she must first subjugate the Nameless One.

I am ready. I, alone, know his true name, and just when he reaches out to seize victory, I’ll snatch it from him and make him my slave!

She giggled a little, flushed with excitement. The other Kirians-fools all-would assist her, unwittingly, of course. She had not counted on Chiana Hiraino’s inconvenient return, though that should not present a real problem. The old woman’s powers had greatly diminished since her time as Mistress of the Society so many years ago, but she could still pose a threat if Sonoe didn’t act quickly to stop her.

Even weakened, the old cow is still the most Talented of the Society…except for me.

A log collapsed in the fireplace, sending a shower of sparks whirling up the chimney like a cloud of manic fireflies. The large, overheated room smelled of sickness, but Sonoe felt reluctant to leave just yet. She let her eyes roam, taking in every last detail so she would remember them later-the intricate murals of woodland scenes adorning the walls, the finely woven mats cushioning the stone floor, the figurine of a mare and foal, carved from a whale’s tooth, resting on her dressing table.

I’ll miss all of this so much!

Her gaze settled on the big bed with its mounds of pillows and sumptuously embroidered coverlets where the king lay unmoving.

Has it really been almost twenty years since Keizo first made love to me in this very bed?

Sonoe sighed, and a bittersweet twinge of desire and loss stirred the place below her belly.

A soft whimper distracted her from her musing. She looked down to see her little dog Jewel sprawled at her feet. The animal squirmed and presented its flank for petting.

In her intense focus on the endgame, Sonoe had forgotten all about Jewel. She scooped the dog into her arms, laughing as it ecstatically licked her face.

“My poor little poppet,” Sonoe murmured. “I wish I could take you with me, I really do.” She cuddled the quivering dog against her breast and stroked its silky fur. “I love you, pet,” she crooned, then with a quick twist of her hands, she snapped the animal’s neck and dropped the carcass to the floor, where it landed in a little heap, twitching.

The time had come. She must leave now, for the others would be waiting. At the bedchamber door, she paused to look back one final time. Despite the ravages of the plague upon his body, Keizo looked remarkably well in death-peaceful, handsome, and above all, kingly.

Sonoe’s heart skipped a beat. “Goodbye, my darling,” she whispered and fled.

What do you mean, you can’t feel your father?” Ashinji saw fresh distress in his wife’s eyes.

“I can’t sense his mind anymore. It’s as if he’s disappeared! Ashi, I think he’s…he’s…”

Jelena’s face blanched as her voice stuttered to a halt. Ashinji could only hold her as she stared blankly past his shoulder.

“Sonoe should have been here by now,” Taya muttered through clenched teeth. “Whatever is taking her so long?”

“Patience, I beg you, Sister,” Amara soothed. “Sonoe knows what’s at stake. A few moments to say goodbye to her beloved, is not too much to ask for…”

“It is when she puts all of us in jeopardy.” the princess shot back. She glared at Amara for a moment, then abruptly turned away and said, “At last!”

Ashinji heard the sound of rapid footfalls approaching. A heartbeat later, Sonoe rushed into the room, breathing hard as if she had just run a great distance. Instinctively, Ashinji moved to put himself between the red-haired sorceress and Jelena, but his wife pushed past him and went to her friend.

“Sonoe, I can’t feel my father in my mind anymore!” Jelena cried. “Is he…”

Sonoe flung her arms around Jelena, and Ashinji had to resist the urge to pull her away. “My dear friend,” she murmured. “Your father still lives, but he is very weak. Perhaps that’s why you can no longer sense him.”

She’s lying!

Ashinji opened his mouth to speak but the accusation froze on his lips.

She’s afraid if Jelena knows the truth, her grief might jeopardize the Sundering! She’s right, Goddess damn her!

Jelena sighed and nodded. “Yes, of course. That must be it. Thank you for taking such good care of him, Sonoe. I’m truly grateful.” With a final squeeze, she broke their embrace, and added, “I wish now I’d insisted my father marry you.”

“Oh, pet.” Sonoe’s voice caught and as tears filled her jade eyes, Ashinji felt a wave of uneasiness wash over him.

I have no proof she’s anything other than what she seems to be , he thought. All I’ve got is the message of my visions…Sonoe, surrounded by shadows and a cloud of menace. Though if she were truly evil, surely the others would have sensed it and never allowed her so close to Jelena.

“Now that you are finally here, we can go.” Taya snapped. “Give me the ring.” She thrust out her hand. Sonoe froze, and for an instant, Ashinji thought she might refuse, but then, she reached into a pouch at her waist and withdrew the White Griffin. She dropped it onto Taya’s palm without comment.

The princess tucked the ring into a fold of her sash, then turned toward the wall. Ashinji could not see how she did it, but a moment later, the panel swung open to reveal a short passageway of dressed stone and a steep staircase leading down. An exhalation of cold, musty air flowed around them. With a flick of her fingers, Taya conjured an orb of magelight and sent the glowing sphere bobbing ahead. Without looking back, she strode through the door to the staircase and started down.

“Quickly, children,” Amara urged as she followed after the princess.

Jelena clasped Ashinji’s hand and led him forward. “Come, Husband,” she said. “We have work to do.”

Taya, Amara, and the magelight had already disappeared around the first turn of the staircase. Gran and Sonoe stepped through onto the landing and the eldest Kirian closed the panel behind them, plunging the passage into darkness.