Part 20 (1/2)
Rya frowned as the gargoyle tilted back his head and spread his wings.
”What are you doing?” she demanded.
”My magic cannot work, but I might be able to use my ability to speak mind to mind,” he told her.
Rya hesitated, wondering if the small demon was teasing her. She didn't know much about gargoyles or their powers. But as his pretty wings s.h.i.+mmered with a flare of magic, she allowed herself to experience a surge of hope.
”You can truly use telepathy?” she asked.
”Oui. I am a demon with many gifts.”
Rya crossed the floor to stand at his side. ”Can you contact my father?”
He wrinkled his short snout. ”It would be simpler to try and reach out to Tayla. We already have a mental connection.”
Rya nodded. That made sense. ”What can I do?”
He gave a dramatic wave of his hands. ”You may watch me in amazement.”
Her lips twitched. ”Okay.”
Levet closed his eyes, presumably reaching out to Baine's mate. Rya stood beside him, waiting for...
Well, she didn't really know what she was waiting for. But as the minutes ticked past, she grew increasingly restless.
Levet, on the other hand, stood so still she started to wonder if he'd s.h.i.+fted into his statue-form.
Then, with a gusty sigh, he abruptly opened his eyes.
”Sacre bleu.”
”Is something wrong?” she asked.
He gave a click of his tongue. ”The magic is too thick for me to penetrate.”
Rya grimaced, her hope fading. ”d.a.m.n.”
Levet's wings drooped. ”I even tried to reach Finn, since he is within the maze with us.”
A cold dread twisted her stomach. Over the past few days she'd become fond of the prince of frost sprites. She couldn't bear the thought of him being hurt.
Or worse.
”You couldn't find him?”
”He is blocking me,” the gargoyle muttered. ”The imbecile.”
”Can you tell if he's okay?”
”He's alive,” Levet muttered, his tail twitching around his feet. ”That is all I can say.”
Rya nodded. At least she knew he hadn't been killed by their unseen enemy.
On the point of suggesting they spend a few hours resting to regain their strength, Rya abruptly stiffened.
What was wrong with her brain? She had the perfect solution to their troubles.
”What about my mother?” she eagerly demanded. ”Could you reach out to her?”
Clearly caught off guard by her request, Levet held up a clawed hand.
”I can make no promises, ma belle. I have never met your mother, which makes it much more difficult to touch her mind.”
She held his gaze, her hands pressed together. She was desperate to reach her mother.
”Will you try?” she pleaded.
There was a short pause before the gargoyle was performing a deep bow.
”For you, ma belle? Anything.”
She chuckled at his flamboyant antics. He truly was a charming companion. She couldn't understand why Torque found him so annoying.
Stepping back, she watched as he once again closed his eyes and lifted his hands. His wings s.h.i.+mmered with a pulse of magic, and then...nothing.
Prepared this time for his absolute stillness, Rya forced herself to remain patient. Just a few minutes later, however, Levet gave a strangled cry and tumbled face-first onto the stone floor.
Instantly dropping to her knees, she reached out to roll him onto his back, careful not to bend his fragile wings.
”Levet?” She touched his cheek, uncertain whether his chilled skin was natural or if something was truly wrong with him. ”Levet, can you hear me?”
There was the sound of hurried footsteps as Torque rushed back into the room.
”Rya,” he rasped, swiftly bending down next to her. ”Are you hurt?”
A strange warmth filled her heart at the genuine concern that smoldered in the sapphire eyes.
He was really and truly worried about her.
”No, I'm fine,” she a.s.sured him, nodding toward the unconscious demon on the floor. ”But something's happened to Levet.”
Torque made a sound of disgust. ”Do you want me to throw him out of the lair?”
She sent him a chiding frown. ”Of course not.”
He shrugged. ”Just a suggestion.”