Chapter 9
Unknown:
The day wore into a thinly clouded night and nothing seemed to have been accomplished. Ivar did not return to the castle until way past dusk and even he had nothing to share. Sam's headache had worsened so much so that she had to leave dinner early, stumbling up the steps to get to an empty room.
Angus had been in a daze from morning 'til night. Never before had he been so conflicted but at the same moment, everything seemed to make sense. 'I don't trust her," he thought. 'I may have said so, but I'm renown for lying. She certainly would not approve…but she's listened to my stories.' He shook himself. Then, he groaned. He was alone in the hallway, as he had excused himself from the night's work to take a break. Now, it seemed he needed a break away from his thoughts. 'She's not my friend but I trust her?' He frowned. His chest ached from so much beating in his heart. He gripped the handle to his mace as the chain dangled over his shoulder. He bit his lip. 'All right, all right. I'll just find her and…. No, that won't work. I'll just…she's not my type,' he resolved to himself and with that, he exited the hall and headed back to the throne room.
The next morning was groggy for Sam. A dull throb was all that remained. By the time she reached the throne room, lunch had already passed. Deidre offered her something from the kitchens but she declined. "You're going to make yourself sick," said Deidre. "You don't eat, you don't sleep."
"Love can make you sick if you keep it locked up inside," Sam said, almost without thinking about it. She had been burying her face into her hands. The only ones present in the room were the knights and they all looked at Sam as she sat at the table, caressing her face. When she looked up, she sat back. "What did I say?"
"Nothing, could you excuse me for a minute?" said Deidre as she bolted from the throne room. Rohan went after her.
Sam blinked.
"How are you feeling today, then?" asked Angus. "Stone-cold or just bitchy?"
She looked up into his eyes, once again caught off guard. She winced. "I'm just looking for the old lady with the bad tooth."
Angus chuckled.
Ivar hid his smile. Garrett, however, looked painfully stupid. "Is there something I've missed?"
"Your brain," said Angus.
Before he could retaliate, the king strode in the room, looking for his knights. Ivar explained that the other two were elsewhere. A guard was sent to retrieve them. The king noticed Sam. "Feeling ill are we?" he asked.
"No, your highness. Just dizzy, hot, light-headed, disoriented, dehydrated and just generally peeved."
"We've got something for that," said Angus.
"I didn't know you were in the market for drugs," said Sam.
"I meant my mace," said Angus. In emphasis, he dropped the ball on the table, snapping Sam to attention, who had been dozing off on her hand.
"I hate you," she groaned.
Garrett snorted. "Finally, someone's on my side for once."
"There are no sides here," said the king. His tone was dark. "Ivar, have you had any leads with Cathbad?"
"Only that the power that caused that massive bubble is hidden deep within Temra's walls."
"Well, at least we know it's Maeve for certain," the king sighed.
Rohan, followed by Deidre walked in. "Where have you both been?" asked the king.
"Patrolling," said Deidre. The king was involved in his own melodramatic stupor to really care about the truth anyhow. The hostage situation had left him feeling horrible.
"Your majesty," said Sam. Her outbursts were expected now. "We should move in today."
"I agree," said Ivar. "I mean, we know where the source of power is, generally speaking and we have troops ready to go in. We can't delay another day."
"Not unless they start talking," said Rohan.
Sam looked up.
"What have you got spinning in that brain of yours?" asked Angus.
"We get them to talk to us, negotiate like," he said.
After hours of deliberating and planning, Sam stepped outside into the courtyard to stretch. She arched her back and immediately shot forward, having a spasm fit. She breathed, allowing it to pass. When it did, she straightened herself and began walking towards the gates. However, Angus called out from behind her. "What do you want?" she said.
"Your money," he said.
"Ha," she said. "You want to walk with me?"
"I…thought you'd never ask." He held out his arm but she deftly ignored it.
"As I have told you, Angus, I'm no lady so you do not need to burden me with the dramatics."
He shrugged. "I was just being nice." She didn't respond. "You could thank me for trying."
She didn't smile or laugh. She continued walking. He followed her until they reached a small lake behind the castle. She stopped and stared. The water glimmered in the sunlight but that was not what she was staring at.
Angus leaned over. "Are…you all right?"
She rolled her eyes. "Angus, are you worried about me?"
"What! No, of course not!" he said, standing back. He crossed his arms. "I don't worry about you. I don't worry about anybody."
"Except yourself."
"Right."
"Angus," she said, much in the same tone she had several nights ago.
"What?" he said.
When she didn't answer, he looked her over to make sure she had not frozen. She merely stood, transfixed by something. "Angus," she finally said.
"Y-yes," he stuttered.
Sam was about to say something again but the momentary wave of disillusionment swept through her. She saw shadows, more of them. She was suddenly knocked off her feet and sent flying into a tree. She collapsed to the ground and moaned. "Oh, that sucked," she said as she ate a mouthful of moss.
Angus was by her side in a flash, grabbing hold of her arm and hoisting her to her feet. "What the hell happened?"
She got to her knees. "I…whoa." Sam held her head.
"Dizzy?" he asked.
"No, I'm not dizzy. It's the world that's crooked." She held his arm. "I'm pretty sure that was a spirit, which means…means we're being followed. Angus, help me to my feet." He pulled her up and held her steady as she swayed. "We've gotta go," she told him just before another spirit channeled through her and knocked her to the ground. This time she didn't wake up. Angus looked around, grumbling, though he himself was a little nervous.
"Great, I've got to carry you now, is that it?" he said over her. He had a momentary idea to throw her into the lake, which would, among other things, wake her up out of her stupor; however, this prank just somehow seemed childish. He didn't want to harm her.
He grit his teeth. "Ah," he breathed as he bent down to hoist her into his arms.
Sam stirred moments later and when she had realized where she was, she yelped, causing Angus to start and drop her to the ground. She crashed on her back and this triggered an involuntary spasm. "God," she groaned. "You're worse than Ona…and that's saying something."
She rolled on her side and crawled to her feet, Angus standing just above her. She looked him in the eyes, dark and heavy. Immediately she turned away and began dusting herself. "Like I said, we should get back to the castle. We're being followed."
'I was worried…about her,' thought Angus. He was unnerved by the thought.
She stopped walking away from him and glanced over her shoulder. Even in her sultry, catty demeanor, she still seemed vulnerable. That was what made her truly dangerous…and that is why Angus cursed himself for fretting over her. She didn't need help. She was self-reliant. She was in control and sometimes could best him at anything he could do, including comedy.
"Are you coming, master Angus or do I have to start carrying you now?"
"What's following us?" asked Angus.
Sam thought. "Presumably…ghosts."
Angus frowned. He glanced over his shoulders several times. He leaned in towards her and said in a low voice. "Are they watching now?" His eyes were darting all around.
For the life of her, Sam could not well guarantee if he was being serious or not. She pursed her lips and turned around, ignoring his question.
"Tell me something," said Angus, arms crossed. "How do you see these…things and no one else can't? Why should we trust what you say?"
She stopped. "Obviously me being tossed around like rag doll wasn't proof enough but very well," she sighed. "Do you really want to know how I can see sentinels even when they don't want to be seen? Like angels and demons?"
He shrugged. "Humor me."
"I died once," she said, her face falling. Angus didn't respond so she continued. It was one of the darker episodes in her life she would not have remembered had she not read the hospital records. "When I was ten, I was walking home from school and I knew something wasn't right. Everything just seemed…quiet. It wasn't a calm quiet. No," she shook her head. "It was that kind of timid silence where everything stops to pick up a sound, and the sound was so molesting, it could not be ignored." She began to walk and Angus followed. "Well, I wasn't paying attention and this accident could have been easily avoided…but maybe that car was meant for me. Maybe I was supposed to be slammed down on the pavement, perhaps to make me better hear the other side. Or maybe someone wanted me to grow up real fast. At any rate," she said, shaking her head again. "I was technically pronounced dead at 3:16 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon in mid-July. I had been resuscitated by the paramedics at 3:20 p.m. but what they don't tell you on the hospital records is that I had spent an eternity in those four minutes, saving, of all things, my soul."
She stopped and turned to look at Angus. "That's why I can see the dead…because I was, I am dead." Angus looked as though he wanted to speak but what does one say to something like that? "C'mon," she said. "I've had enough of story-telling for one day."
"Uh, yeah," breathed Angus. He furrowed his brow in confusion. "You…were dead?"
"Don't dwell on it," she said, pulling him by his arm.
"Angus, Sam," said Ivar. "Where have you been? The king has just ordered his army to begin their formations. We leave within the hour." His steely gaze was more focused on Angus.
"Oh, good," said Sam. "Have you determined which entrance to use?" she asked.
Ivar nodded his head gravely. "Yes, but unfortunately," he waved his hand, indicating for them to follow. "It won't be easy getting there. Nay, impossible."
"Impossible?" asked Angus with concern.
"Nah, he's probably exaggerating," shrugged Sam.
"You should talk," said Angus. "You're the one with wings."
"Lest we forget, dear friend," said Ivar, "Rohan's been to see Pyre, which is why he has not yet returned in some time."
"Pyre?" asked Sam.
"A dragon," Ivar said.
Sam choked back her surprise. "Oh…a dragon."
"You know," said Angus, "Those enormous rats with wings that breathe fire and scare away all the villagers."
"Really, Angus, I'm sure she's heard of a dragon, haven't you milady?" asked Ivar.
But Sam had been staring at Angus. When he glanced back, she began shaking her head.
"What?" he said.
She laughed. "You're such a child. C'mon Ivar. I wanna see those blueprints of the Temran castle. I think I can provide you with some useful skills." She strode on ahead into the castle.
Ivar was smiling. He looked at Angus. "I think I'm beginning to like this girl," he said.
Angus smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Says you and the entire frippin' castle."
'But not me,' he thought. 'Nope. Definitely not me.'
