Throwing caution to the wind, I speeded up, holding Gabriel firmly in place. We stumbled down the stairs to the second floor and then to the first without passing another living being. The air was clearer here but that also meant that the risk of being spotted was greater.
I’d just put my foot on the step at the top of the final staircase when Gabriel’s knees gave way and he collapsed. I dragged him back up, using the wall to prop him up, and we slipped down the rest of the way. I didn’t have the strength to carry his weight; our situation was becoming worse by the second.
It was obvious on the ground floor that we’d never get out of the main door. Goblins were streaming in, passing buckets of water to each other. It wouldn’t be long before they had the fire under control. Hissing, I dragged Gabriel into the nearest room and slammed the door shut behind us.
I released his body into a chair and he slumped forward, as if the effort of sitting was too much for him. I massaged my shoulder and neck to get rid of their stiffness then I twirled round, looking desperately for something that could help us escape. Any sort of disguise would be useful but there was nothing here. All I could see were old bits of rope and random jumble.
I couldn’t waste time searching. As soon as the fire was extinguished, Ghrashbreg would send someone to Gabriel’s rooms to check that we’d taken the poison and were dead. When he realised we’d escaped, he’d sound the alarm. We had to get far away from the castle towards Sally Slate’s neighbourhood to retrieve the puzzle box while we still had the chance. I tried not to think of the odds that we’d get within a mile of it. I had to stay optimistic.
Heading for the closed window on the western side – and therefore round the corner from the main entrance where the rest of the goblins were – I undid the latch and swung it open. The fresh air was like nectar. I gulped it in and then spun back round for Gabriel. The window was only a couple of metres off the ground but I had to get him through it somehow.
I grabbed him under his armpits and pulled him up. He fell against me and we staggered back, sending a pile of crockery smashing to the floor. Gabriel opened his eyes and blinked at me, a smile crossing his face. ‘Beautiful Saiya.’
This was hardly the time for compliments and I had the sinking sensation that he was delirious. ‘We need to get out of here,’ I told him. ‘I’m going to have to push you out of the window.’
His brow furrowed. ‘Huh?’
I didn’t bother explaining again but dragged him to the window and tried to push him up towards it. I got him halfway up before my body gave way and he fell down again. Gritting my teeth, I tried again. I manoeuvred myself underneath him, using my knees to shove him upwards and my back to hold his body in place. Inch by screaming inch, I raised his heavy body, sliding him up the wall towards the window. He was a dead weight and it seemed like an impossible task.
I gathered every remaining ounce of strength and gave one almighty shove. With a faint groan, Gabriel fell out of the window and landed outside. I exhaled and wiped my forehead and eyes with my sleeve. One step at a time, Saiya, I told myself, trying not to think of the enormity of what lay ahead.
Scampering after Gabriel, I landed on my feet next to his prone body. I crouched down next to him. ‘Gabriel?’ I hissed urgently. ‘Are you alright?’
There was no answer. This time he didn’t even groan but he was still breathing, which eased my worry slightly. He was completely out for the count, however. I lifted up his eyelids, noting his dilated pupils, and quickly re-checked his mouth. The discolouration and the swelling seemed to be subsiding. I swallowed. Well, we were out of the building and maybe his condition was improving. Things could be worse.
Standing up, I left him where he was to check the area. We needed a clear route out. Given how hard it had been to shove him out of the window, there was no way that I could do the same thing at the castle walls. They were far higher and there was a steep drop to contend with on the other side. The only way I could get him out was through the front gate – but even with the fire, there was no way the gate would be unattended.
Skirting round the edge of buildings and avoiding the front of the King’s Old Building where the goblins were congregating, I hunkered down in a shadowy corner and hastily detached my shadow. I nipped up and over the rooftops so I could get a better vantage point.
There will still three goblins at the front, fidgeting anxiously and repeatedly glancing away from the entrance towards the castle. Great plumes of smoke rose into the night sky and I could see the glow of flames. Good, I thought grimly. I’d done a better job with the fire than I’d realised. With any luck, it had spread to other rooms.
I might not have been a genuine assassin like other wraiths but I knew that I could kill if I had to. Bringing down three goblins before they raised the alarm about another wraith intruder was beyond my death-inducing instincts but I had to try. How else would I get Gabriel out?
I was just about dart over the last roof so I could get as close to the goblins as possible when something caught my eye. Storming up the hill towards the gate was a familiar-looking figure. I squinted, then finally realised who it was: Isabella Markbury, with her girly entourage in tow.
‘What’s going on?’ she demanded. ‘Are those Gneiss bastards attacking the castle now?’
The middle guard stepped forward. He obviously recognised her and inclined his head respectfully. When he spoke, however, there was a hint of a sneer in his voice. She might be rich, and the Filits might be keen to keep her and her family on side, but she was still a human at the end of the day.
‘Ms Markbury. You should go home.’
There was a nervous titter from the twins behind her. Isabella put her hands on her hips. ‘I will not go home. I heard that Gabriel de Florinville is still here. In fact, I heard that he has found his Fior Ghal. I want to see this supposed soul mate.’
Ah, now her visit made sense. She didn’t care about the fire blazing deep within the castle walls; she was the scorned woman and she wanted to know who she’d been tossed aside for. Where did she get her information from? I was impressed – the rich girl had skills.
Flitting back to my body, I quickly reconnected then jogged round until I could be seen at the main gate. I slowed to a walk and glanced over. True to form, Isabella was still arguing. I stopped, making sure that I chose the right spot so that she had a clear line of vision. After all, I was wearing one of Gabriel’s shirts.
Isabella halted in mid-sentence. She glared at me from behind the guards. ‘Is that her?’
One of them looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing when he spotted me. Clearly I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I froze, looking for all the world like a rabbit trapped in headlights.
‘You!’ Isabella pointed at me with a long, imperious finger.
I glanced behind me, as if expecting someone else to be standing there. Isabella tutted loudly. ‘You, girl! With the white shirt one! Come here!’
I bit my lip and shuffled over. ‘Yes?’ I did my best meek and mild impression.
‘Who are you?’
‘Saiya. Can you help me? Gabriel de Florinville is trapped inside that building and,’ my eyes widened expressively, ‘it’s on fire!’ I wrung my hands. ‘I only came out to get some nibbles that we could enjoy with the wine Lord Ghrashbreg sent up to us and now I can’t get back in.’
All three goblin guards smirked. They obviously knew exactly what was in the wine but as long as they were imagining our impending deaths and not thinking too closely about how daft my story sounded, I didn’t care.
Isabella looked horrified. ‘You left him in there to fry?’
The nearest guard folded his arms, his smirk growing into a grin. He was enjoying the show; I suppose human cat-fighting was better entertainment than worrying about your home being burned to the ground. ‘Tell you what,’ he drawled, ‘why don’t you all head back in. The fire will be under control soon and both of you can check on the Dark Elf and talk to him yourselves.’ He sm
acked his lips in anticipation of a fight.
I blinked rapidly. ‘Are you friends with him?’ I asked Isabella. ‘I’m sure he’d love to see you! It would be great to celebrate our engagement with someone he knows instead of all these goblins.’
The smile disappeared from the guard’s face but Isabella didn’t even notice. ‘Engagement?’ she barked.
‘Yeah,’ the goblin growled. ‘Why don’t you all go in and celebrate?’ His voice dripped with disdain and he all but pushed Isabella and her three friends in my direction.
‘Uh,’ I scratched my neck, ‘I’ll take you to the building where we’re staying but we should go the long way round. They’re working at the front to put out the fire. Once it’s been taken care of, I’ll take you up to Gabriel.’
‘Fine,’ she snapped, two points of colour high on her cheeks. There was another titter from the twins. This time the other friend, Tilly, joined in.
I walked off in the direction that I’d come from, taking small nervous steps so as not to alert the still-watchful guards.
‘Are you really his Fior Ghal?’ Twin One asked.
‘Shut up, Heather!’ Isabella snapped. Then she glared at me. ‘Well? Are you?’
Relaxed in the knowledge that we were out of the goblins’ sight, I turned to them. ‘Who the fuck cares? There are more important things going on.’ They were stunned into silence. ‘Besides which, you were only ever interested in him because you thought he could help you get out of the city.’
Isabella gaped at me. It wasn’t until her friends started to titter that she recovered and shook herself. ‘How dare you! I don’t know who you think you are but—’
‘Keep your voice down,’ I hissed. ‘This isn’t the time for histrionics. Gabriel de Florinville needs your help.’ I twisted past her and strode towards the dark corner where I’d left him. At first she didn’t seem inclined to follow but, when I looked over my shoulder and raised an irritated eyebrow, she stepped into line. And where Isabella went, her friends followed.
It wasn’t rocket science. She might not know me from Adam and she might not trust me in the slightest but I’d told her that Gabriel needed her help. I’d observed enough of human behaviour during my time in the shadows to know those were the magic words. He needed her help; he’d turned her down in front of an audience but now he couldn’t do without her. Coming to his aid made her feel like the bigger person. She’d happily play the role of saviour, especially with an audience surrounding her, because it would make her feel good about herself. Gabriel didn’t just want Isabella Markbury, he needed Isabella Markbury. It was simple psychology. Whether she actually could help him or not was a different matter.
I led Isabella and her less-than-merry troop the long way round, avoiding any further encounters with goblins. I had to literally shove them along when the fire in the Old Building came into view. Although there was more thick black smoke seeping out from every open window, the flames looked less fierce than they had been ten minutes ago. That didn’t bode well.
Gabriel was still lying in the same position. I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or dismayed. In any case, Isabella’s reaction superseded my emotions. She let out a small cry and ran to his side. ‘What did you do?’
I gritted my teeth. ‘I didn’t do anything. It was the goblins. He learnt more than he should have about what they’re up to so they poisoned him to get him out of the way. Right now they’re occupied by the fire but as soon as it’s been extinguished they’ll come looking for him. And me,’ I added. ‘We have to get him out of the castle before they start searching.’
I hadn’t expected Isabella to flap her hands and run around squawking but her calm appraisal of the scene, not to mention her ability to sniff out the truth of the matter, impressed me. In an odd way, she reminded me of Marrock. Perhaps a brisk, impersonal manner was a natural by-product of dealing with the goblins on a day-to-day basis.
‘What do you mean?’ she enquired. ‘What are the goblins up to?’ She tilted her head up towards me, her expression studiously bland, while Tilly examined Gabriel’s mouth and the twins just stared.
I didn’t waste time debating what to tell her – there wasn’t time. ‘The Stone of Scone,’ I said. ‘The version in Holyrood is fake. The goblins are seeking the real one and they think it’s here in Stirling. If they find it…’
Isabella stood up in one smooth movement. ‘I understand,’ she sniffed. I must have looked surprised because she rolled her eyes. ‘I had a tutor who was convinced that the Stone was a fake. He was very verbose about the matter. The story is too far-fetched not to be true.’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘Do you know where the real stone is? Gabriel de Florinville is an important person but the Stone is more important. My father might think he can do business with the Filits under any circumstances but, if they gain the power bound into the Stone of Scone, nowhere in Scotland will be safe from their stranglehold. The privations suffered by one city under goblin rule are bad enough. I don’t want to imagine what would happen if that spread across the whole country.’
I worked hard not to snort. I knew very well that the privations Isabella and her friends had suffered were nothing compared to the rest of us. She didn’t know the meaning of the word hungry. ‘Locating the Stone is our priority,’ I said. I didn’t bother elaborating; I didn’t need to.
Isabella stared at me for a moment. ‘Fine.’ She inclined her head imperiously.
The twins gasped. ‘We’re not seriously going to help her, are we?’ Twin One exclaimed. ‘If the goblins find out we’ve been working against them, they might revoke our privileges!’
We ignored her. ‘If I help you retrieve the Stone before the goblins get it,’ Isabella said, ‘I want the Prime Minister to know what we did.’ She pointed at Gabriel. ‘And if he makes it out of here alive, I want him to know. If the Filits are dispersed, some people might accuse my family of being collaborators. I can’t have that.’
Playing both sides in this manner was a dangerous game but I had the feeling that Isabella Markbury knew the odds and had already considered every possible outcome. She was making her own interests clear and her self-serving motives made her a damn sight easier to understand and trust.
‘That’s not a problem,’ I said aloud.
‘Isabella!’ Twin Two interjected.
Isabella looked at her friends. ‘Either you help or you don’t. It’s your choice.’
Tilly was already reaching down and dragging Gabriel to his feet. I darted over and helped her.
‘Of course we’re going to help,’ Twin One said, rolling her eyes.
‘Yeah,’ Twin Two added. ‘We’re just saying that if we all die, it’s going to be your fault.’
‘No,’ Isabella replied calmly. ‘It’ll be her fault.’
The four of them looked at me. I shrugged. ‘I’ll take that,’ I said. I looked up at the sky again; the glow of the fire was all but dead. ‘We need to move. Now.’
Chapter Nineteen
I had to hand it to Isabella. She might be a spoilt party princess who didn’t have the faintest understanding of what life was like for the most of Stirling’s citizens but when she had a specific goal in mind, she was virtually unstoppable. This was someone who adapted quickly.
It was a testament to how seriously Gabriel took the Fior Ghal stuff that he hadn’t fallen for her charms. With a pang of pain, I recognised that they’d have made a good couple. I wondered what he’d have thought of me if fate hadn’t conspired to make me his soul mate. Was love really blind? The question was still bouncing around my head when, at Isabella’s direction, both twins pranced up to the guards at the front gate.
Twin One, whose name was Ophelia, coyly unhooked the expensive silk scarf from round her neck while her counterpart, Cordelia, flicked her hair and giggled. They caught all three guards’ attention for a moment but I could tell it wasn’t going to last. Regardless of their ample charms, the guards were too edgy to be distracted.
‘This i
sn’t going to work,’ I muttered.
‘Have a little faith,’ Isabella said. ‘Just be ready.’
I gave her an irritated look but it slid off her; she simply met my gaze serenely, while Ophelia and Cordelia continued to charm the goblin guards away from their post.
‘It’s real, isn’t it?’
‘Huh?’
‘That you’re his Fior Ghal. That the Fior Ghal exists.’
I shrugged. ‘I s’pose.’
She reached for my hand but I yanked away before she could touch me. The shudder that ran through me at Isabella’s light contact was horribly familiar; it was obvious that only Gabriel’s touch didn’t repel me. Her eyes narrowed. Even Tilly, on the other side of Gabriel propping him up, noticed my reaction.
‘Whatever he means to you,’ Isabella said, ‘if it comes to a choice between stopping the goblins from getting the Stone or helping him, you have to choose the Stone.’
‘You’re new to this party.’ I growled. ‘I’ve been doing nothing but try to stop the damned goblins from getting the damned Stone.’
I glanced at Gabriel’s slack face and my heart wrenched. Truth be told, I should have already abandoned him and gone after the Stone. It would have been the sensible choice – but I wasn’t going to say that aloud. I could barely admit it to myself.
‘My tutor didn’t just babble on about the Stone of Scone,’ Isabella said, turning from me to watch the twins. They’d succeeded in pulling away one guard by Ophelia wrapping her arms enthusiastically round his neck. ‘He was a well-educated man even if he was rather too dedicated to conspiracy theories. He said that if you wanted to unmask a wraith, all you had to do was to watch for someone who recoiled at physical touch. Apparently the shadow beasts hate the sensation of another’s skin on their own.’
I didn’t let an eyelid flutter betray me but my insides were screaming. Loudly. Fortunately Tilly, of all people, came to my rescue. ‘Bells, do you have any idea how heavy this sodding Elf is? Can we please get a move on and stop with the stupid lessons from your stupid tutor?’