Page 14 of Queen’s Griffon (Swords & Tiaras #2)

Chapter 13

Avera

The kiss proved more pleasant than Avera could have imagined.

Unexpected, as well.

She’d been so intent on verbally sparring with the captain that when he swooped down to press his lips against hers, she’d not thought to slap or shove or even stop the embrace. Why would she when it made her toes curl?

In the past, she’d assumed the flowery descriptions and the ladies fanning themselves as they discussed the more intimate aspects of love to be exaggerated. After all, the mashing of lips with spit and all, and in some cases bad breath, didn’t appear appetizing.

Then Griff did it and now Avera wondered what else might feel pleasurable. Her friend, Josslyn, had straight out said she enjoyed lovemaking and sought out lovers. Perhaps Avera should think of doing the same, sooner than later. After all, she would eventually find a way off Saarpira, and if she did make it to Verlora, there was no guarantee she’d ever leave. Did she want to die untouched? She knew who she’d like to be her first—and possibly only. However, Griff had stormed off as if she might give him the plague. She could never tell what went through that man’s head, although the term overprotective came to mind.

The way he acted proved to be kind of novel given she’d been left to her devices for so long. Other than Gustav, she couldn’t recall anyone who’d cared what happened to her. Now, she had Griffon, Garth, Kreed, Monty, and Simhi, speaking of whom…

Avera hunted down Simhi in the kitchen and jabbed a finger in her direction. “I can’t believe you abandoned me!”

“Seems to me like you and the cap needed some privacy,” Simhi quipped, taking a bite out of a fresh pastry.

The comment heated Avera’s cheeks. Had her friend guessed what had happened? “That man purposely tries to be annoying.”

“Bah, he’s just being Cap. Always taking care of everyone.”

“By arguing all the time?”

“Oddly enough, you’re the only one I’ve seen get such a rise out of him.” Simhi’s cheek dimpled. “Kind of entertaining watching him lose his composure.”

Avera grabbed her own pastry and took a bite as she slumped against the counter. “He just won’t listen to me.”

“He’s trying to keep you safe.”

“But if I don’t succeed, no one will be safe. Zhos will destroy the world.”

“Assuming the evil being is telling the truth. Wouldn’t be the first egomaniac to inflate his plans.”

Avera blinked at her. “It bespelled an entire town—including the animals—to serve it and created monsters out of a puddle. I’d say it’s capable of doing what it says.”

“But you stopped it both times, right?”

“Yes, but only by accident.” And by blood.

“If you ask me, that’s how most heroes are created. Not by design, but circumstance.”

“I’m no hero,” Avera murmured, taking another bite.

“Said every hero ever. Cap’s the same way,” Simhi confided.

Avera finished off her treat and stood, her eye caught by a figurine next to a fruit basket. “What’s that?”

“Looks like a crab.” Simhi laughed as she picked it up and waggled it. “Hideous and cute all at once.”

Avera couldn’t help but think of the last time she’d seen some figurines. They’d come to life and attacked Avera and her friends. “Think Cook will notice if we toss it?”

“Why would you do that?” Simhi asked, her brow creasing.

“Remember how I told you about that snake in my room back in Daerva?” By now Simhi knew just about everything that ever happened to Avera because she insisted on all the details.

“You think it’s magic?” Simhi squinted at the crab and turned it all around. “How can you tell?”

“I don’t know.”

“Only one way to be sure then.” Simhi dropped it, and when it didn’t break, brought her boot down on it until it turned into shards. “Oops. If Cook asks, it slipped out of my grip.”

Avera shook her head but smiled. Probably worrying for nothing. She spent the rest of that day in the library, going over her notes, not that they helped much. She needed to reach Verlora, and it was becoming quite obvious Griffon wouldn’t be the one to take her.

Which meant despite his glowering disapproval, she needed to try again with one of the captains in port. Surely one of them would broker a deal. After all, she wasn’t asking them to go into danger. Just to send her ashore with a promise she’d return with some Verlorian artifacts. Surely those would fetch a big enough price to pay for her passage.

As for Griffon… he’d be angry and bluster about her negotiating behind his back, however, she owed him nothing. The man had kidnapped her. Threatened to ransom her. Kept her a captive, of sorts. Kissed her and ran off.

How could she face him after that? Before heading out to town, she needed to scrounge for a weapon. Griffon had disarmed her, and she didn’t know where he’d put her handy extendable dagger. However, she’d noticed he kept a small armory—unlocked, to her surprise—on the main floor. He’d not technically forbidden her a weapon, so she felt no guilt in browsing the selection and then almost squealed as she found her dagger. She happily strapped it on. Being armed made her feel slightly better about once more confronting the sailors in the tavern, some who could be quite crude. If they tried to take liberties, they’d taste the sharp sting of her disapproval.

As she went to exit the castle, she ran into Griffon entering. He took one look at her and frowned.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Not one to lie, Avera lifted her chin and stated, “To negotiate passage.”

“You do realize that anyone who agrees will most likely do so under false pretenses and sell you to whoever offers the largest pot.”

“Unless I offer more,” she countered.

“You have nothing,” was his blunt reply.

“Yet. I only need one captain to be tempted by the possibility of some Verlorian gadgets.”

Griff sighed. “You just don’t give up.”

“I can’t.”

“I know, which is why, despite my better judgement, I’m going to take you.”

She blinked. She must have misunderstood. “Take me where?”

“To Verlora,” he grumbled. “Despite thinking—make that knowing—it’s a bad idea, it’s obvious you won’t cease your nattering until I do.”

Her lips stretched into a wide smile. “You’ll take me?” She flung her arms around him.

His hands settled on her hips and a tingling anticipation filled her. “Yes, I’ll take you. However, only you and I will go ashore. I won’t risk the rest of my crew.”

His announcement surprised her. She leaned back to clarify. “You’re coming with me. Why?”

“Because it’s time I saw for myself what happened to my home. Because you shouldn’t go alone. Because my gut says it’s something I have to do.”

“Opal claimed my best chance to succeed was with the Griffon by my side.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well in that case, how can we fail?”

She laughed. “This is marvelous. When do we leave?”

“Soon. Kreed is readying the ship as we speak. Hopefully we’ll have enough crew to sail.”

“You think some will stay behind when they hear our destination?”

“It’s very possible. This journey could well be their last if we misjudge the danger.”

A sobering reminder that it wasn’t just her life she risked. She might have replied only a bell began to clang.

“What’s that?” she asked with a frown.

“Warning bell. Something’s wrong.” He dashed out of the bailey with Avera on his heels. Twilight had fallen and lights were beginning to twinkle in the city below.

Griffon kept moving, jogging down the path and Avera huffed to keep up, her shorter legs no match for his. He pulled ahead, racing to reach the town from which emanated screams mixed with the clanging of the alarm.

Was Saarpira under attack? She’d seen no new ships at dock. A fire seemed unlikely because she smelled no smoke.

Avera got her answer as she reached the top end of the main street. It took her a moment to grasp what she saw, though.

Crabs. Big ones. Their carapaces were a deep green, the hue lightening at their pinchers, massive vises that clacked and grabbed everything in their path. Snapping poles holding lanterns to light the street at night. Smashing against windows. Grabbing a person running past and?—

Avera turned her head and closed her eyes a little too late to avoid witnessing the gruesome death. However, she couldn’t ignore the blood or the dead body or the fact the crab went looking for its next victim.

Despite his choice in careers, the heroic Griffon ran straight for danger, sword out, his shout rallying the townsfolk. “Those who can’t fight, barricade yourselves indoors. Those who can wield a weapon, to me!”

Doors slammed and shutters were tugged shut as people reacted to the unexpected threat.

Or was it planned? She couldn’t help but recall the figurine she and Simhi smashed in the kitchen. Had Benoit somehow managed to get some magical totems sent to Saarpira? Was this her fault? Surely, he’d not had time to figure out her location and send the magical monsters.

Griffon engaged a crab, his glowing sword slicing a snapping pincher with ease. Not so the others who went after the giant crustaceans. Blades clanged against the hard carapaces, bouncing off without leaving even a dent.

At that sight, Avera added her own yelled command. “Aim for the eyes.” A blind creature wouldn’t be able to target so easily. Not to mention, if stabbed deep enough, it might penetrate the brain and kill them. The monsters could have been more easily destroyed had they found the totems and broken them, but they didn’t have the time to waste searching.

Avera drew her dagger, triggered its extension, and charged, heading for the crab chasing a woman holding a baby in her arms. She couldn’t easily get ahead, so she leapt atop its armored back and plunged her blade down. It hit shell first and slid right into the soft orb of its eye, then kept going, unbalancing her. She lost her grip on the sword as the crab collapsed but she quickly recovered and retrieved the blade, pulling it free and grimacing at the sucking sound.

The woman she’d saved gaped.

Avera gestured. “Go! Get inside and barricade the door.”

The mother fled with her child and Avera sought out her next target. She wasn’t the only one on the streets fighting. Men and women alike engaged the crabs, but despite her advice, many simply hacked at the shelled limbs and body. Those with blades fared poorly, but the blacksmith with his heavy hammer did succeed in crushing the carapaces.

As yet another sword-wielding person went down, their futile swipe leaving them too close to the pincers, Avera shouted again, “Aim for the eyes!” A suggestion lost in the din of battle, but Griffon had a voice that carried, and when he bellowed, “Blind the fuckers!” people heard.

Crabs began to drop, or at least flail around without true targets, but more of them kept appearing. The townsfolk, along with Avera and Griffon, formed a line across the road and began to funnel the crustaceans towards the docks, moving them away from the populated area.

Grim-faced, they pushed against the wave of oversized crabs. Unnatural, according to Monty, who huffed by her side.

“It ain’t fucking right,” he grumbled. “Crabs aren’t supposed to be as big as a man.”

“Where did they come from?” Avera questioned as she batted aside a pincer while Monty stabbed it in an orb.

“Everywhere,” he exclaimed. “One just appeared in the bar and clipped poor Freddy in two.”

Had to be magical totems. But the amount of them boggled the mind. She’d been told the magical figurines that could conjure monsters were expensive, and yet they faced dozens. Who had done this?

And why?

Questions for later, as the fight intensified. The crabs chose to mass together and ceased retreating. Their pincers began weaving out in front, making it harder for them to get close to stab. With the crabs using a new strategy, people began to fall more often than the monsters.

Griffon noticed and yelled, “I need a group to flank them from the rear.”

“On it!” Avera yelled, dashing down an alley, Monty and a few others at her heels. They rounded the block and emerged only paces from the dock, behind the mass of crabs.

“Why are they watching?” Monty queried as they noticed a bunch of sailors along with Captain Koonis standing doing nothing.

Avera could think of one good reason. The captain must have been the one to bring the menace to Saarpira. The question being, why? Was he trying to take out the pirate town?

“Jump on their backs,” Avera yelled. “Use them as a ramp.” She showed them what she meant by leaping atop the nearest one and balancing precariously before she drove her sword down.

Monty yodeled, “Hot damn. Now that’s a queen.”

The comment pleased her, but Avera couldn’t get cocky. Gustav always said pride in battle, especially too much of it, could be a person’s downfall.

As she leaped off a carapace, she found herself facing Captain Koonis. “Aren’t you a feisty thing,” he drawled.

Her lips pinched. “And you’re a coward. Everyone is fighting but you and your men.”

“Why would we fight when we planned for this to happen,” he remarked.

“Why would you do this?” she exclaimed.

“Because we needed a distraction. I’d say it’s going quite well, although I expected more casualties on the pirate side.” His lips turned down.

“Stop the attack.” She pointed her sword at him.

“I don’t think so. I need Captain Griffon occupied while I leave with what I came for.”

Avera didn’t need to ask, she knew. Knew even before the foul-smelling hood was yanked over her head.

The captain had come for Avera.

Or more correctly, the Queen of Daerva.