Page 53 of Inked in Emeralds (Inkbound #3)

T he sun was directly overhead, but it sure didn’t feel like it as the icy wind bit at my skin, cold seeping through the woolen cloak Freya had given me.

It had belonged to my mother, and she’d packed it away in a cedar chest to keep it from the moths.

I couldn’t have been more grateful for it as I pulled it tighter around me.

This move was a gamble. The biggest we’d taken so far, and judging by the eerie silence as we traveled, all of us knew it. But we’d all agreed that two witches were exponentially better than one, and we’d all agreed we had to try.

That didn’t make the march toward the world’s most evil-looking castle any less terrifying. We could see it now, clearly in the distance. The hulking, black eyesore, emanating dread.

But that wasn’t our destination. Not today, at least.

Today, we had only one goal and one goal only;

Rescue Gayelette.

I shot a glance at Hook as we moved through the charred remains of what had once been a forest. Billy had taken the lead, keeping watch for signs of Almira’s scouts while Duncan brought up the rear to watch our backs.

The barren tree branches offered some cover, but if any came flying directly overhead, it was open season.

We’d set off a few hours earlier, leaving Freya and a handful of her people behind to watch the children and those who were too old to fight.

Between the others from C’an Saas, Hook’s crew, the O’Donnellys—minus young Andrew—and all the others I’d brought in, we numbered around fifty.

Not exactly an army, but with mine and Hook’s magic combined, plus the skills of our fighters, it was hopefully enough for a successful extraction mission.

As much as my heart wanted to leave many behind in the relative safety of the ruins of the palace, including Moll, I needed them with me, and as ragtag of a group as it was, I had to remind myself that we all knew the stakes.

If we failed, Almira would ruin everything anyway, same as she’d done to my father’s kingdom.

The only way out was through, and Gayelette was our best bet.

As the others had prepared for the journey, I’d brought Xander in to assist as I tried to think of how to make the best use of what I had.

He’d helped me mount my jeweler’s loupe to a leather strip that I now wore around my head.

With a flick of my wrist, I could drop a lens in front of my eye and see whatever it and my magic needed me to see.

The magical clock was stuffed in my pouch, ready if or when I needed it.

But even with all that, I couldn’t help but think of that single strike of black lightning…through glass…from another world. A strike that had been enough to sideline my magic for a week.

As strong as I was, Almira was far, far stronger. Gayelette’s magic could be the great equalizer. I just hoped that there was enough of her left—both mentally and physically—to save.

“We’re close, now,” Hook said, falling into step beside me. I could feel his gaze searching my face. “You ready?”

As I’d ever be.

“I am.”

Billy glanced over her shoulder, slowing down to let us catch up. “And when we find her? Are you certain Gayelette will help us?”

I grimaced, thinking back to how frail she’d been. How tortured...

“It will take time for her to recover, but she’ll help.” I looked out over the crumbling remains of a village just off the path we walked. “If we don’t do this now, we may never get another chance. Almira could restore her powers and plunge this place into darkness again any minute.”

We all glanced up, as if to check that it hadn’t happened yet.

Billy lifted a hand, signaling for those behind us to stop. “The cave’s just ahead. Once we step into the clearing, we’ll be completely exposed, so keep your guard up.”

I took a steadying breath, magic already at my fingertips as I stepped forward, probing with my magic. I don’t know what I’d been expecting, but an instant connection wasn’t it. Sure enough, though, there it was; Gayelette’s energy, flickering weakly from deep inside the cave.

And, better yet, Almira’s magic was nowhere to be found.

“We were right,” I murmured, momentary relief washing over me. “I don’t sense Almira here. Just Gayelette. This is our chance.”

Hook stepped up beside me, drawing his saber. “Let’s not waste it.”

I gave the signal, and we marched in, weapons drawn. The cavern opened up even further, revealing a massive, sloping chamber. Stalactites hung from the ceilings, and the stench of rot hung in the air.

Red eyes burst into view as a dozen flying monkeys awoke at once, unfurling their wings as they prepared to charge. They were nothing like the larger, fierce scouts we’d faced, and they hardly seemed ready for a fight, startled from their sleep.

“Attack!” Hook shouted, a gale of wind surging right out of his hand. The blast slammed into the first two monkeys that came for us, splattering them against the cave wall with a sickening squelch.

I sent my whip out with a crack, stunning one of them mid-air with a strike to the forehead before letting the whip curl around its neck and yanking.

Snap.

Billy’s arrows whistled through the air, finding their marks back-to-back with brutal efficiency, as Duncan charged to the front, cleaving right through an oncoming attacker with his broadsword.

The battle was quick and violent, ending almost before it even started. Freya’s men and Hook’s crew hadn’t even stepped into the chamber by the time Hook and Duncan were sheathing their swords.

I scanned the cave, sucking in a breath as I took in the monkey corpses. We’d taken out every one of them and hadn’t suffered a single loss or injury.

It was a good start.

I narrowed back in on the glow of Gayelette’s magic, on high alert as I guided us toward her. We’d ventured another twenty yards into the cave when a heavy wooden door came into view. Reinforced with iron bands and a sturdy padlock, I didn’t need magic to know that Gayelette was behind it.

I pressed my finger to the lock, sending out a pulse of magic that shattered it instantly. “Gayelette?” I called softly as I tugged the door open, stepping in with Hook at my side.

The second we walked into the damp, dark room, we saw her. She was chained against the wall in a standing position, that same strange jacket in place, a rusty cage locked around her hips and shoulders giving her hardly any room to move. A filthy, threadbare dress hung from her bony frame.

Horror flicked through me, sending a shiver down my spine. I was cold, and I was wearing a coat and had meat on my bones. She must be chilled to the core.

I rushed to her side and her eyes flitted open, settling on me for a long moment before lighting with recognition.

“How are you here?” A wracking cough seized her, rattling the chains at her ankles. “Is my sister finally dead, then?”

Her gaze shifted behind me, landing on Hook, and her face twisted in confusion.

I lifted a hand to the bars and sensed the magic there as I tried to work out how to get around it and free her.

“Almira returned from Oz too weakened to keep the sun at bay. We knew it was our chance to come and?—”

“No!” Her eyes went wild with panic. “Oh, child, what have you done?!” She strained at her bonds, leaning forward. “Run! Get out now, all of you!”

A low rumble echoed beneath my feet, and I spun toward the open door. A presence filled the air…one I’d only felt at a distance. Dark, oozing with pure, unmistakable hatred. Dread hit me like a physical blow.

Almira was here. And she was waiting…for me.

The sound of beating wings filled the chamber, but it wasn’t coming from the outside. It rose from somewhere below as well.

“Oh, gods.” Gayelette shrank against the wall. “There’s an underground passage that leads from here to her tower. She’s coming through the tunnel.”

Almira’s dark presence grew closer, along with that of her monkeys. Hundreds of them.

“Weapons at the ready!” Billy shouted.

Duncan leapt into action, drawing his sword and preparing for battle, but everyone else in the room seemed focused on me, waiting for my orders.

Of course they are. You’re their leader.

Lead!

I forced myself to breathe, remembering my training. Deal with the now first, worry about the rest later.

“We have to free Gayelette,” I called out firmly.

Hook nodded and nudged me aside, magic crackling in his palm as he aimed it at the locks around the bars caging her in. They didn’t even budge.

“Don’t bother,” Gayelette rasped. “She’s put a spell on them. They can’t be opened by magic.”

Plan B.

The sounds below us grew louder as I stuffed my hand into my pouch and yanked out my auto lock pick, tossing it to Paddy O’Donnelly.

“Go!” I urged him. “Start working on that lock. I’ll be right back to help.”

I spun to face the others. “I’m going to stay here and guard Paddy and Gayelette.

I’ll send Bonnie out the way we came to scout our exit.

Hook, Duncan, Billy, Xander, Moll…take all the others to the opening of the passageway and hold those monkeys off.

These will be her best scouts, so pull out all the stops.

Seal it off if you can, maybe it will hold long enough for us to free Gayelette and get out. ”

Hook nodded, already moving, but Billy hesitated for a split second, sparing a long look at Paddy.

“You heard her, let’s move!”

Billy stiffened her chin and nodded, nocking an arrow and stepping beside Hook. “Let’s go.”

“You got this, Harm.” Molly readied her trusty incapacitator, eyes hard with determination as she took a position beside Xander before rushing out with the rest.

“Hold the line!” I shouted, making my way back to Paddy to help him with the lock. “Do not let them through!”

The first shackle clicked open, and he passed me the pick, producing a more rudimentary one of his own as he moved to the other side. The sounds of the fighting, monkeys screeching, war cries echoing, had the pick trembling in my fingers.