Free Sorceress Rising (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 2) by Lisa Blackwood Page B

waited for the two leaders to come to a
decision. Calling a trickle of magic, he sent it outward, scouting the
newcomers, looking for even a hint of evil. It flirted from human to human, brushing
against bare skin as it passed. More than one shifted uneasily at the touch of
magic, but none seemed overly suspicious. To them it should feel like nothing
more than a particularly chilly breeze gusting through the forest.
    Lillian arched
an eyebrow in his direction.
    “Do not
worry. It was only a small spell to learn their intentions.” He dropped to all fours and padded out from behind the tree. “I
detect no evil in these ones.”
    “Good. We’re
in enough trouble as it is. We don’t need more.” Lillian narrowed her eyes. “Speaking of trouble—are you intentionally trying
to find some?”
    “No,” Gregory replied but didn’t deviate from his route.
    “Then why are
you making a beeline for me?” Her frustration and
worry bled across her thoughts. “Use common sense for five minutes or you’re
going to get your ass shot off.”
    “They cannot
see me.” Moving silent and swift among the
soldiers, he stalked Lillian as if she was his prey.
    “What if they
have some piece of technology which can see through your spells?”
    “They would
have already attempted to take me down.”
    Lillian muttered
a curse under her breath, but gave into Gregory’s wishes. She couldn’t stop him
anyway.
    Obeying another
silent command, the soldiers rose to their feet. Some broke away from the group
guarding Lillian, quickly replaced by the same number of newcomers. When they
had sorted themselves out, he studied the newcomers’ weapons—they were of a
different type.
    “Those are
tranquilizer guns,” Lillian said into his mind, “They
fire a dart filled with a substance which puts its target to sleep. Better than
bullets, I suppose, but I don’t know what effect they would have on a gargoyle.
Let’s not find out.”
    Gregory
acknowledge her words with a nod, knowing she was the only one present able to
see him.
    When the humans guarding
Lillian moved out, he followed, leaving Resnick and the other soldiers to hunt
for a ghost. They wouldn’t even find tracks.

C hapter Nine
     
    It felt like the
longest walk of her life. In reality, she’d only been walking in the company of
the tight-lipped soldiers for less than an hour, but worrying Gregory would get
captured or have to fight his way free made it feel much, much longer.
    Gran was
correct. Gregory needed to take human form—she knew he could do it. He had for
short times before, when he felt like it. Right now, his best non-lethal
defense was to play human. Now she’d just have to convince him, which would be
no easy task. They were nearing their destination. She could see flood lights
through the trees. Her internal compass told her they would emerge from the
forest at the north end of town, near the arena.
    It made sense.
The arena was the only space clear of trees and large enough for a field
command.
    They walked out
of the forest and onto a paved road. She sensed when Gregory stopped at the
edge of the forest, still in the shadow of the trees. On the other side of the
road was the arena—though it looked vastly different than she remembered. The
entire parking area had been fenced off. Within the new compound, trailers and
other kinds of mobile buildings took up most of the space. What was left was
occupied by military vehicles. There was even a heavy-bodied helicopter off to
one side.
    Lillian was
brought up short by the lead attached to the pooka. He’d planted all four
hooves like he didn’t plan to move one step farther. Squinting against the
bright flood lights, she understood the pooka’s reluctance. “Will your
glamour hold up to scrutiny under their lights?”
    “I would prefer
not to test it.” He tugged on the lead a second time, nearly pulling her off
her feet. The pooka continued his ‘spooky pony’ routine, lunging to the side
and trotting a