Set in Stone (66 page)

Connor spun to find Captain Rory standing a dozen paces away. The burly captain advanced slowly, and Connor's hopes fell with every step. He couldn't beat Rory, not with granite.

He gestured at Gregor. "I hope I didn't hurt him too much."

Rory grunted. "You could hit him with a tree and it wouldn't damage him for long."

Connor stepped closer to the ravine. "Don't try to stop me, Captain."

"You know I have orders, lad."

Rory whistled sharply. An answering whistle echoed down from the ledge above. Connor faced Rory, nerves so tight he could barely breathe, and dared not move. He couldn't make himself attack the powerful Fast Roller, and waited to see what Rory would do.

He did nothing. While they faced each other from ten paces, Connor considered the few stones remaining in his satchel. He needed them if he was to have any chance at escape.

A rattle of stones in the ravine drew his gaze. Tomas and Cameron descended the ravine and blocked Connor's path. He wanted to scream with frustration.

Why these men? Of all the soldiers under Carbrey's' command, he felt most connected to Rory and these Fast Rollers. They'd taken him in, treated him like one of their own. He didn't want to fight them.

Tomas surprised him by grinning. "You took down Gregor! Fantastic! Couldn't have asked for a better view of it either."

Cameron snorted. "Not as funny as the time you fell off the wall in Merkland."

"Stones take it, man. This is serious business."

"Enough." Rory moved to stand with the other two. "Although it was well played, Connor."

"Captain, you have to let me pass."

Rory frowned. "I have orders."

"Forget your orders! If I don't free them, everyone I know will die."

"Tough lot, that," Tomas said with a shrug. He spat to one side. "Glad I don't have to make that choice."

"You're Guardians," Connor exclaimed. "Supposed to protect the weak, help those who can't help themselves."

"Supposed to," Cameron said. He tugged on his long, crooked nose, "Reckon I'd better check on Gregor." He circled around Connor and moved to the fallen Sentry's side.

Rory rubbed his chin. "Never sat right with me, kidnapping children."

Tomas said, "Now that firecracker lady friend of yours up there, I don't reckon she's helpless. But the boy. That aint right."

Then he smiled. "You'd better have a plan, lad, cause there's no way the general'll let you walk back up that plateau."

"I have a plan."

"Good. Tallan take the whole business." He moved off toward Gregor and started complaining to Cameron that he was killing the unconscious Sentry the way he was trying to tend to him.

Connor wasn't sure what was happening, but two of the Fast Rollers were out of the way. "Please, Captain. Let me pass."

Rory said, "Like I said, I have orders. We are to apprehend you if we see you."

"Ain't seen nothing, Captain," Tomas called. "'Cept old Gregor falling off his tower."

"Never thought him a clumsy one," Cameron laughed.

Rory grinned. "Guess we're still looking." He snapped a sharp salute, "Connor, it's been an honor. You have the heart of a true Guardian. Good luck."

"Thank you, sir." Connor ran for the ravine.

Rory called after him. "Tell Anika . . ." He grinned, and for a moment looked like a much younger man. "Well, tell her I hope we get to wrestle again soon."

Tomas' voice echoed up the ravine. "She'll spank you next time, Captain, if you get all soft."

Cameron added, "I get the next round."

The two continued arguing, but Connor stopped listening. He returned Rory's grin. "I'll tell her, Captain."

Then he ran for the cave holding Verena and Nicklaus.

Now for the hard part.

Chapter 78

The cave mouth was blocked by a heavy oak door. Connor ripped it off the hinges and tossed it off the ledge.

"Hey, watch it," Tomas called up from below

"Sorry."

Inside the cave a single, flickering torch filled the small chamber with shifting shadows. A couple of blankets lay against the far wall, near remnants of a simple meal. The air smelled musky from rotting wood, the decaying remnants of the treasures Connor and Hamish used to collect.

Verena stood just inside the cave entrance with the boy Nicklaus standing behind her. Despite disheveled hair and rumpled clothes, Verena's big blue eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Connor!" She rushed to him, and threw her arms around him. He sighed with relief and released his granite strength. She wasn't still mad at him.

She pulled back, gave him a warm smile, and punched him in the stomach.

Connor doubled over and coughed up phlegm. His eyes watered, and he tapped granite just a little in case she planned to hit him again. He didn't want her to break her hand, but he didn't want her to break anything on him either.

He held up a hand to forestall any more violence. "Wait. I'm here to help."

"I know," she said gently and helped him stand. "But you deserved that."

"Will you stop? We don't have much time."

"We have a little, though." She gave him a mischievous little smile, stepped close, and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

Nicklaus approached. "Do I get to hit him too?"

Verena ruffled his hair. "No, silly. I took care of it."

Nicklaus looked a little disappointed, but Connor said, "Come one. We have to get out of here fast."

He led the way out to the ledge, but stopped and groaned. Carbrey, Shona, and half a hundred soldiers were already approaching from across the clearing. Rory and his Fast Rollers now lay on the ground near Gregor, covered in mud, looking like they'd fallen in battle.

Carbrey caught sight of Connor and shouted, "You're a dead man!"

Connor grunted. "Been there."

"What?" Verena asked.

"Tell you later."

Carbrey broke into a run, "I'll torture that vixen a year before she dies."

"What did you do to make him so mad?"

"I kind of busted his army and I burned up that weakening powder he wanted."

"You've been busy." She kissed him lightly again. "Now please tell me you have a plan."

Connor pulled from his satchel the pair of quartzite blocks Hamish stole from the shed of Verena's treasures.

Verena took them with a grin. "You're a quick study, aren't you?"

"Can you make us fly like you did the wagon?"

She frowned and chewed on her lip. Connor glanced at the rapidly approaching army. He didn't see any slingers yet, but that wouldn't matter in half a minute.

"We don't really have much time."

She shook her head slowly. "I don't think it'll work for you. I've had practice, but even for me it took a while to learn control."

"I'm not as clueless as you think. Besides, do you have a better idea?"

"Fine. I hope you learn fast. Keep your legs in and bent, crouch over the stone. Small movements."

That sounded right. He'd learned that much trying to fly the Heatstone oven. Of course, that hadn't turned out so well.

"I saw you fly into the manor house that first night. You sure you can do it?" he asked.

"Not fair. You shot my block."

Carbrey reached the bottom of the ravine and led a dozen soldiers, including Shona, in a fast scramble. They'd reach the ledge in seconds.

Verena concentrated over the blocks, and then handed one to Connor. He held the block against his stomach and motioned Nicklaus over.

"Better try it first," Verena said.

"Good idea. Do it."

Verena said, "Lean forward against the wind. It should hold you up." She touched the block.

Air exploded out of it in a shrieking whirlwind and drove the block up against Connor's stomach. He'd set himself, but the sheer force of the wind still caught him by surprise. Instead of lodging against his lower ribs, it slammed into his sternum and drove him up and backward off the ledge.

Connor flailed wildly to maintain his balance and sent himself corkscrewing through the air.

"Control the flow!" Verena shouted from the ledge. The roaring of the wind drowned out the rest of her words as Connor fought to adjust the angle of the block against his chest to keep from arcing down into the field and crashing.

For just a second he had it and started gaining altitude, then he crashed through the tops of a couple of trees and lost all control. He swooped back across the field, ten feet above the army. Since he was flying backward, he got a great view of their startled expressions as they turned to stare after him.

He tapped granite and twisted the stone to avoid hitting the cliff face. It almost worked. Granite skittered all through his body and hardened his muscles just before he struck and scraped across the rough face of the cliff. His shirt shredded under the onslaught, loose stones rained down over him, and he spit out a mouthful of dirt.

He shot past the ravine, shouting with the thrill and terror of flight. Near the top of the ravine, Carbrey paused and raised an angry fist as Connor shot past.

"After him!"

Connor twisted and kicked off from the wall. He plummeted, twisted the block again and leveled out barely six feet above the ground.

The rest of the army stood directly in his backward flying path. Slingers moved to the front ranks, and stones started bouncing off Connor's hardened back.

He chose not to change course and plowed through the ranks of soldiers like a battering ram. After leaving the scattered, cursing army behind, he twisted the block again and tried to apply Verena's warning to use small movements.

He arced up out of the clearing, barely missed a towering oak, and soared in a broad arc back toward the cave. Verena had found a piece of slate in his satchel and dropped it at the head of the ravine, blocking access from below. He tried to angle the block to rise up along the mountain, but misjudged the angle and slammed into cliff just below the ledge where Verena stood.

He groaned and pushed against the stone that was trying to drive him through the cliff face, but even with granite, the shock of impact rattled him. He hung in the air, pinned to the rock by the roaring quartzite block.

Above him, Verena lay on the ledge and reached down to help. Her fingers grasped the air just inches above his head. "Hurry, Connor! Carbrey's coming."

He tried to shout, "Save yourself, grout-for-brains," but with the stone crushing out all breath, the mumbled words came out more like, "Sava sava goo beans."

"What was that?"

Connor increased the tap rate and gave the maddening block a fierce yank. It twisted and shot him up the ledge.

Verena yelped with surprise as he slammed into her and the block whisked them both across the ledge and back into the cave.

Verena's hand slipped around Connor's chest and touched the stone. The air cut off. The two of them hit the ground and tumbled over each other in a wild somersault across the small cave. Connor pulled Verena against his chest, wrapping his hardened arms around her to absorb most of the shock.

They landed on her bedroll in the corner and lay still for a couple of seconds, just breathing. Verena, who ended up lying atop him, pushed hair out of her face and started to laugh. Connor released his granite strength and managed a weak grin. Thank the spirits she hadn't been hurt.

She took his face in both hands and said, "Thank you, Connor."

She kissed the tip of his nose, rose, and pulled him to his feet. "We have to get out of here."

Connor scooped up the quartzite block. Nicklaus waited for them on the ledge, and he pointed toward the ravine. "They're coming."

"Think you got the hang of it?" Verena asked.

"I think I have a better idea." He closed his eyes and purged granite. He hated to let the cursed power go, but he needed basalt.