I tilted up my chin. ‘I have every confidence. I’m a wraith, I can slide in anywhere and not be spotted.’
‘With all the wraith activity, the goblins are bound to have alarms that will be triggered by your presence.’
‘No alarm is foolproof,’ I said calmly.
James looked at me for a long moment. ‘If you fail, you will be tortured. The goblins will see to that. Lord Ghrashbreg will see to that. You will die and you will die brutally.’
That was the understatement of the year. ‘I won’t fail,’ I told him.
He sucked in a breath and raised his eyes, staring at a spot somewhere beyond my shoulder. ‘Six hours,’ he said finally. ‘You’ve got six hours to get in and out. After that, I will have no choice but to give the order to level Stirling to the ground.’ He nodded at someone. They bowed then drew out a heavy-looking object and held it out to me. ‘It’s a satellite phone. If you manage to take away the Stone’s power, use it to call me and I’ll stop the attack.’
I took it before realising that James must have already arranged for the phone. He had wanted me to persuade him. I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased by that or terrified.
Six hours. I swallowed. It wasn’t much time but it was more than I’d hoped for. I nodded, pulling my hand away from Gabriel. ‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’d better get going.’ I turned away.
‘Saiya,’ James said softly, ‘I will give that order. There won’t be any further delay once the six hours is up.’
I paused then I walked away. There was no point saying anything more.
I’d only just left the room when Gabriel caught up with me. ‘I’m coming with you.’
‘You’ll just get in my way.’ As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realised I probably wasn’t doing his ego much good. ‘I’m a wraith, Gabriel. I can use the shadows and move faster and stealthier than a Dark Elf. It’s best if I go alone.’
His eyes darkened. ‘I won’t allow it.’
I lifted an eyebrow. ‘Five minutes ago you wouldn’t even look at me. Now you want to hold my hand while I fling myself into the jaws of goblin hell?’
He tensed. ‘I was angry,’ he said quietly. ‘You lied to me.’
I gave a brief, humourless laugh. ‘You hate wraiths.’
‘I love you.’
‘We only met a couple of days ago,’ I reminded him.
‘What does that matter?’ he asked simply. ‘Fior Ghal or not, Saiya, when you know, you know. There’s no future for me without you.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I can overcome my prejudice against wraiths. But I would like it if you didn’t lie to me again. I’m not going to run away. You and I are in this together.’
I stood my ground. If I had to have this conversation, I wanted everything out in the open, warts and all. ‘You told me that you thought wraiths should be wiped off the face of the earth.’
Gabriel flinched. ‘It was a throwaway comment. I didn’t mean it. If I could take back those words, I would. I’m more sorry about it than you know.’
‘Are you sure about that? Or is all this backtracking because I’m your Fior Ghal?’
He put his hands in his pockets but his eyes didn’t stray from mine. ‘Of course that’s part of it, a large part of it. Would I think twice about wraiths if you weren’t one? Probably not. That’s why we’re so good together. I can learn from you. You can make me a better person.’ He sighed. ‘I need you. I’m not complete without you. I’ll do everything I can to throw away every prejudice I have because of you.’
The weight and truth of his words, not to mention the intensity of his expression, made me shuffle awkwardly. ‘Most wraiths do bad things,’ I mumbled. ‘Or so I’ve heard, though I’ve not met many others.’ I sniffed. ‘I have some prejudices too. And I should stop lying so much. I wouldn’t lie to you now, I suppose.’
‘You suppose?’ he asked, although there was a faint amusement in his voice.
The corners of my mouth curved up. ‘Nobody’s perfect.’
Gabriel’s gaze was steady. ‘You’re wrong about that.’
I bit my bottom lip. ‘I still have to go. I’m the best chance everyone’s got. If you come along, the odds of success decrease dramatically.’
He was silent for a moment. ‘And what are the odds of success?’
I looked away. ‘I told the Prime Minister I was confident.’
‘Saiya…’
I shrugged. ‘One in ten. If I’m lucky.’
Gabriel cursed. ‘At least you’re being honest with me.’
Damn it. ‘It’s probably one in twenty actually.’
He took my hands in his then leaned forward so his forehead was against mine. ‘I wish I could stop you.’
‘I know.’
‘I wish I could do this for you.’
I pressed my hand against his cheek. ‘Thank you,’ I said.
‘For what?’
‘I’ve lied to you about who I really am but you stood by me with James and you’ve almost forgiven me. You make me a better person too, Gabriel.’
He smiled. ‘You’re a work in progress.’
I rolled my eyes and went to hit him but he caught my hand and moved his head down, kissing me hard. As his body pressed against mine, I could feel our hearts beating in unison.
‘You have to come back, Saiya,’ he breathed in my ear. ‘I’ll kill you if you don’t.’
I grinned at him, ignoring the sudden sharp pain in my chest. ‘I’ll hold you to that.’ And then, because I couldn’t bear to stand there with him any longer, I pulled away and left him.
The old car we’d commandeered to get us here was exactly where Gabriel and I had left it with the keys still in the ignition. I slid into the driver’s seat and turned on the engine. I’d have to floor it back to Stirling. I reckoned that by the time I reached Marrock’s old escape route, I’d only have five hours left. That was barely enough time to find somewhere to keep my body – and the satellite phone – safe while my shadow saved the world from a goblin apocalypse. That didn’t sound daunting at all.
I clipped in my seatbelt and took a deep breath then I was flying down with the street with Gabriel’s stiff unyielding figure in my rear-view mirror.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I hadn’t just eaten tasty pastries when I was waiting at Holyrood. I’d also formulated a plan. Not much of what I’d planned recently had succeeded but I reckoned I was finally onto a winner. Save the world or die trying: it was becoming an annoying mantra in my head. It was time to go all out and let the cards fall where they may.
Keeping a close eye on the digital clock in the car’s dashboard, I sped down the motorway. It was so long since I’d been out of Stirling that I should have enjoyed the view, not to mention the freedom, but there wasn’t time. I pressed my foot down all the way, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles were white. I was a wraith; I couldn’t think of a better person to be a bat out of hell.
I hurtled past Stirling. If Gabriel – or anyone else – had known what I was planning, they’d have locked me up for my own safety but there was method to my madness.
I didn’t slow down until the outer blockade came into sight, with the Gneiss tents and flags fluttering in the breeze beyond it. Several Gneiss goblins sprang into the road in front of me, waving at me to stop. I bit down the temptation to run over the lot of them and did as they asked, before rolling down the window and sticking my head out. ‘I need to get past,’ I said.
‘I don’t think so, sweetheart,’ replied the nearest burly Gneiss guard whose jiggling jowls put me in mind of a swarthy, clean-shaven Santa Claus. ‘Do you know where you are?’
I cast my eyes up to the heavens, exasperated. ‘How could I not? Do I look like a complete moron?’
The guard blinked at me, clearly unused to being spoken to like that. ‘Go home,’ he said. ‘We don’t want your kind here.’
I sighed then I detached my shadow, allowing it to slip out of the car window while my body stayed behind.
The guard and all of his companions yelped and jumped backwards. I shrugged at them in an exaggerated manner and returned my shadow to its original position.
Shaking myself slightly, I gave them all a cold smile. ‘I think you do want my kind here. Why don’t you go and tell someone more important than yourself that I’m here and I have important information from inside Stirling.’ I checked my watch. ‘I’ll wait for five minutes. Any longer than that and you won’t see me for dust. Your choice.’
The guards muttered to each other. I held my breath, hoping my nervousness was concealed. Those Gneiss idiots would never know how relieved I was when one of them peeled off and sprinted away.
‘Wait here,’ said the same guard, gruffly.
I rolled my eyes. What else was I going to do?
In the end, it took them four minutes and fifty-two seconds. I was motioned out of the car and escorted by a dozen Gneiss goblins beyond the checkpoint and into their encampment. There may be have been twelve of them against one of me but they kept a wary distance. Maybe I should have owned up to being a wraith before now; I rather enjoyed the space.
After a few hundred metres, they beckoned me towards a large tent. It had once been a pristine white colour but years of standing here with no protection from the gloomy Scottish weather meant it was now a dirty grey. The flap was open; was that supposed to be welcoming? I shook my head. I was being reckless by coming here but I wasn’t a complete fool.
There was a minute or two of muttered conferring then two of the guards went inside. I held my breath until a larger Gneiss goblin emerged, the medals pinned to his breast indicating that he was a superior. Now we were getting somewhere.
‘You’re a wraith.’ For an arrogant Gneiss general, his voice was remarkably reedy and high.
Managing not to pass comment, I inclined my head. ‘I am.’
He regarded me for a long moment. ‘I have never met a female of your species.’
I didn’t answer because I wasn’t sure what was I supposed to say. He watched me for a little longer and then, predictably, tried to fill the silence and take control of the situation. ‘Are you here to offer your services?’
I glanced around. Being close to so many Gneiss goblins was less intimidating than I’d expected. ‘Not exactly. I know what happens to wraiths who do that.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’
I didn’t waste any further time. ‘You have one of my … brethren. Release him and I will tell you where the Stone of Scone is.’
Every goblin froze. It was like the world’s most threatening game of musical statues.
‘You know of the Stone?’
I made a show of examining my fingernails. ‘I do.’
‘And you know where it is?’
‘I do.’ I smiled. ‘I also know that the Filit goblins have discovered a clue as to its whereabouts. In fact, they’re probably close to getting their grubby mitts on it.’ I checked my watch and pursed my lips. ‘They found a scroll hidden inside an old puzzle box. I imagine that it will tell them everything they need to know.’ I was banking on the fact that the Gneiss goblins were already aware of the hunt for Ange’s little box. It lent my tale the credibility I needed.
The Gneiss general’s expression didn’t flicker but I could feel the excitement of the other goblins. ‘Why are you telling us this?’
‘It’s simple. You have one of mine and I want him back. If he’s still alive and not at death’s door, I will tell you what you need to know.’
His eyes held mine. ‘You understand what we are planning to do with the Stone if we recover it?’
I rather liked this goblin. He had an air of honesty that was conspicuously absent in Ghrashbreg. ‘I do,’ I answered. ‘But it doesn’t worry me. I’m not planning on sticking around in Scotland for long.’ And I was, after all, a wraith – a soulless creature who wouldn’t give a hoot what happened to everyone else.
The general tapped his mouth. ‘What’s to stop us forcing you to tell us where the Stone is?’
I didn’t blink. ‘Nothing. Everyone breaks under torture sooner or later.’ I leaned forward. ‘The question is, can you break me before your Filit cousins find the Stone?’
‘She’s just a girl,’ another goblin burst out. ‘It’ll take us five minutes to get her to spill everything she knows.’
I smirked. The general rolled his eyes. ‘Idiot. You don’t know the first thing about where real strength comes from.’ He looked back at me. ‘You have a deal.’ He gestured to several of his minions and they scurried away.
The Gneiss goblin obviously wasn’t one for small talk. Instead of asking me questions or chatting inanely, he watched me while we waited, his hands knitted loosely together. He might have been examining me for weaknesses so he could pounce when it suited him but I had the feeling I could trust him. Perhaps he was the Gneiss equivalent of Gabriel, noble and honest to a fault, or perhaps he recognised that he had very little to lose. They probably had no further use for my fellow wraith who had already indicated to me that his days were numbered. Why not hand him over?
While the goblin watched me, I watched him; two could play at this game. I only looked away when a flicker in the corner of my eye finally indicated some activity.
It was an older man, probably close to sixty years of age. He was looking worse for wear and being hauled towards us by two Gneiss goblins. His feet dragged on the ground. I might not have seen his physical form before but I’d still have recognised him. It was a wraith thing.
When the trio reached us, the two goblins released their prisoner. He collapsed in a heap at their feet. So much for the Geneva Convention. Any trace of guilt about what I was doing vanished instantly. You could tell a lot about a group of people by the way they treated their prisoners.
‘I want him alive,’ I commented. ‘Not dying. He’s no use to me if he dies half a mile from here.’
The Gneiss general raised his shoulders. ‘He’s alive at this moment.’ He kicked the wraith who let out a small groan. ‘See?’
I glared at the goblin. ‘Not helpful,’ I muttered.
‘Not my problem. Tell me where the Stone of Scone is.’
‘The dungeons.’
His brow furrowed. ‘The Tolbooth?’
‘Those aren’t the only dungeons in Stirling.’
He stared at me for a moment before his expression cleared. ‘The castle,’ he murmured. ‘There are dungeons underneath there.’
‘It fits,’ said another goblin. ‘We know the Stone’s below the surface. We always suspected the castle was the logical location.’
As if by unspoken consensus, they all turned and began marching at top speed into the encampment.
‘Hey!’ I yelled. ‘Can’t one of you give me a hand?’
Not one of them turned. I sighed, shuffled over to the half-comatose wraith and heaved him up. ‘Sorry, mate. I’m going to have drag you like they did. It won’t be for long though.’
‘What?’ he gasped.
‘Don’t try to talk. We’re on a clock here.’ I huffed and puffed as I walked. At least this guy was easier to drag than Gabriel.
‘What,’ he said again, ‘have you done? You told them…’
I smiled, passed the outer checkpoint and bundled him into the back seat of the car. I patted his shoulder and he shuddered as I touched him. I could relate to that. ‘Don’t worry,’ I said.
The Gneiss goblins had taken the bait and I hadn’t even lied to them. I’d simply implied that the Stone of Scone was hidden under the castle instead of under the Tolbooth. ‘Everything is going to plan.’
***
After driving back to where I needed to be, I left the wraith in the car. I explained what was going on and where we were. If he had any sense, he’d give himself an hour or two of breathing space to recover then he’d drive the vehicle as far away from here as possible. I still didn’t know his name but it was probably better that way. We were wraiths, not pack wolves.
&n
bsp; Although there was every chance that the tunnel through which the others had escaped had been compromised, whether by Death Worms or the Filits, I had no choice but to use it to get back inside the city boundaries.
I found the entrance on the hillside close to the old church without too much difficulty. It wasn’t particularly well concealed – all I had to do was follow the tracks, no doubt caused by Marrock’s transportation vehicles, which scarred the ground. Slipping inside, I was surprised by how dry the tunnel was. It must have taken a Herculean effort to carve it out and I gave credit to Marrock. Wherever his soul was now, I hoped he was happy. He might have taken advantage of the siege in many unsavoury ways but, in the end, he’d proved more than worthy. I prayed that his sacrifice wasn’t in vain.
When I emerged into the old, tumbledown school, I paused to look around. Everything was the same as when we were here before. The dust lay in the same spots and the tables and chairs hadn’t been disturbed. That made me feel considerably better.
It was tempting to slide into shadow form; in theory, I’d be safer that way. The trouble was that, despite my words to Gabriel and the Prime Minister, I didn’t know how I was going to remove the shadow from the Stone of Scone. I didn’t know whether I had to be in wraith form or in physical form and I couldn’t take the risk of leaving my body somewhere when I might need it after I found the Stone.
Fortunately, when I ducked my head out of the door and saw the smoke rising from the west, next to the Gneiss encampment, I knew they’d done as I hoped. They were sending every soldier they had into the city to retrieve the Stone. All eyes, hands and death wishes would be far away from me.
I crossed my fingers that the Filits and Gneiss would keep themselves occupied fighting each other and racing to search the castle dungeons for the Stone. I was working with an entirely different countdown.
I spun away from the main roads, hiding as much as possible whilst maintaining my speed. I kept up a steady jog to the bowling alley. There was the occasional boom in the distance, along with some yelling and gunfire, but I blotted it out and focused on myself.