Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,66
always a risk letting the Esri near enchantable humans, but we need the manpower and there aren't enough of us who can't be enchanted. The Sitheen and Kade will be inside the wall of trucks, protecting you two."
The wind flipped up Findris's ball cap and he slammed it back down on his head before it flew off. Her own hat - the same dark red with the word HOKIES across the front - was protected by the hood of the poncho Harrison had convinced her to don again. Beside her, Harrison wore gloves and a parka he'd found in one of Charlie's closets, the fur-trimmed hood nearly obscuring his face. He slid his arm around her shoulders, holding her close as he steered her toward the thick gathering of humans.
Rith would come. Too soon, he'd come. And she felt that threat like ghostly fingers playing along her spine, lifting the hair at the nape of her neck.
"Where's the gate?" Ilaria asked.
"I'll show you." Harrison led them through a narrow gap between two trucks and into the open area at the center of the park - a wide cement circle rimmed by a low ring of hedges and wooden park benches from the center of which rose the magnificent marble fountain. Hastily erected spotlights lit the area as bright as day, illuminating the life-size statues carved into the pedestal.
Harrison pointed to the marble chalice. "The gate lies there - smack-dab in the middle of the Dupont Circle fountain."
A gate that she'd likely soon be going through, leaving Harrison behind to fight her enemies. And all too probably to die. The thought tore a hole in her heart and she pushed it aside. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things. Taking a shaky breath, she fought back the emotions that threatened to derail her. There would be time later, an eternity, to think about him. To miss him. To mourn him. Right now, she had to concentrate on her mission or all their lives were forfeit.
Her muscles quivered with the need to move, to run. To fly through the gate, stones in hand, before Rith caught her. Before all was lost.
Harrison's phone rang. "We're just driving up," Charlie said through the receiver. "We have the four."
"Then we're good to go," Harrison replied. He disconnected the call, doubt shadowing his face.
Ilaria knew he wondered if he did the right thing handing the seven stones over to an Esri he barely knew. His gaze swung to her, his eyes confirming what she already knew. He did it for her. He'd laid his trust firmly in her hands and she would do everything in her power to ensure that trust wasn't misplaced.
But so many things could go wrong.
Findris turned to her. "King Rith and most of his guards rode to the Banished Lands, Princess. Two slaves were left behind to care for the horses. Fifteen of them. We mustn't leave any of the steeds behind or they'll catch us too quickly."
"That's good." Excellent, in fact. She'd been desperately worried about outrunning her pursuers if the Sitheen failed to keep them from coming through the gate, but it wouldn't be a problem as long as they escaped with the horses in time.
A rush of power tripped over her skin, the draggon stone calling to her. A moment later, Charlie appeared in the gap between the trucks, followed closely by the other Sitheen. All were dressed in armor...riot gear they called it...and Charlie was carrying an extra set. He tossed it to Harrison, eyeing Findris with wariness.
But Kaderil, who accompanied Charlie, greeted Findris with unexpected warmth. "I've always believed you to be a man of courage and honor, Findris. I'm glad to see I wasn't wrong."
Findris dipped his head in thanks. "I long ago positioned myself to be of the utmost help to Princess Ilaria when the time came." His gaze skimmed the others. "My undying gratitude to you for freeing her when we couldn't find a way to reach her ourselves."
Jack glanced at Kaderil then back at her. Tension lined his face as he slowly handed Findris a small bag. "Here are the rest of the stones. I think you'd better get started."
Findris opened the pouch and poured the contents into his hand - the remaining three green stones of Orisis and the blue teardrop-shaped draggon stone on the silver chain.
The latter called to her. It was all she could do not to snatch it from Findris's hand and place it around her neck.