Myths and Gargoyles by Jamie Hawke (interesting books to read in english txt) 📕

“It might have seemed like he was into her,” Ebrill cut in, “but I think you’re misinterpreting the looks. See, Yenifer had served as the princess’s royal guard for a time. Until the wars started and the princess reassigned her to Rianne.”

“So, Riland saw Yenifer as his ticket to the princess’s heart,” I said, nodding.

“Close.” Kordelia cut in, agitated. “Or, pretty much, yes. In a sense, he already had the key, but she had… given out multiple keys.”

“I don’t… Ohhh.” I laughed, then turned to Kordelia. “You were one of them!”

She nodded. “The princess and I, yes. Yenifer and I never really got along, and Riland hoped to leverage her reliance on Yenifer to sway the princess his way.”

“This is some high school bullshit,” I said with a laugh. “Except, with princesses in school, I guess.”

“At the time, we took it very seriously,” Kordelia snapped.

“Sorry.” I held my hands up in surrender. “Wait, but you and the princess… now?”

Kordelia eyed me, then turned and left the room.

“Shit. I didn’t mean to…” I turned to Aerona and Ebrill for help. “Did I mess this up?”

“It would seem so,” Aerona said, and gave me a nod before jogging after Kordelia.

Ebrill said, “I need to use the restroom, anyway. Take five, we’ll get everyone together in the dining room.”

“Sure, I guess,” I replied, rubbing my head, still trying to get over the things I had seen in that other world, as well as the new information regarding the princess. “Wait, Ebrill?”

She paused. “Yeah?”

“This… princess?”

“Dead, by my understanding.”

“And why did Riland think Yenifer would help him? I mean, with the princess.”

“Oh, that part.” Ebrill grinned. “They were bound. Magically connected in a way that few of us ever experience—not sexually, but they merged their powers together at one point. From then on, not only were each of their powers magnified when used around each other, but they seemed to be able to predict the other’s movements and more.

I nodded, processing that, but then added, “Was the princess magical? I mean, if there was a place where magical beings went instead of really dying…?”

“No. Sorry, but… not an ounce of magic in her.”

Taking that in, I nodded to Steph and we went to the door while Ebrill headed for the bathroom. We took the long way, not bothering to rearrange the house or anything, and I noticed Steph eyeing me with curiosity. Finally, I pulled her into a guest room turned lookout, and held her hands.

“I’ve been thinking, since I got back… And you can help me, maybe.”

“With what?” she asked.

“Riland. I want to bring him here like you do your wraith knights.”

“I’m not sure it works that way,” she countered.

“We formed a connection, kind of like what they said he had with Yenifer, I think. I mean, I don’t know. But if so, in turn he might be the key to finding her.”

“And if you have such a connection, you might actually have a chance at waking him.” She eyed me, then squeezed my hands. “When I let go, I want you to keep your hands in place, imagine you’re pulling on that connection. Then pull with all your soul, and bring him to us.”

“Simple enough,” I replied with a chuckle.

Then we were doing it, or trying anyway. I felt the link, envisioned Riland in my mind’s eye, and pulled with everything I could muster. When nothing happened, Steph frowned, summoned one of her wraiths, and told me to try like she had.

“What’s the difference?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Just… do it.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Nike.”

“I mean, can’t you copy me? Like watch with your screen, then use it to copy my actions.”

This time, I sort of scanned her with my magic screen, watching her spiritual essence and how it moved around her like a flame as she summoned the wraith. My body went through the same process, even feeling the similar sensations as I had sensed in her, but… nothing.

“We’ll keep trying,” Steph said, and we went downstairs to find the others. Aerona was cooking steak and eggs while Ebrill made coffee. With the beautiful ladies and this meal, it was perfection.

Minus the little fact that I was completely troubled by the events of the dream, where we would find the other gargoyles, and how this Galahad-related dinner would play into it all. While we ate, I opened up about the rest of what I had seen. I told them about the armies charging, and filled in the others about my attempt to call Riland to us. The only thing I left out, still, was the strange woman I had seen at the end.

“So, why there?” Kordelia asked.

“I don’t get it,” I admitted. “Before, I would travel into the past. Find the past versions of you all. Now, it’s nothing like that.”

“There must be a reason,” Ebrill said, hand on my lower back.

“Maybe it’s related to the fact that magic has changed?” Aerona offered. “Since my return, I’ve felt this darkness hovering over me.”

“A curse they managed to get off before being expelled from Avalon?” Kordelia said.

“I don’t think so. More like, other aspects of the magical world have changed, and we have access to those stores of magic that we didn’t have before. Rianne had hinted it would be different, although she didn’t seem to fully know either. And since it’s linked in a way to Glitonea, I suppose it makes sense, in a strange way.”

Taking a bite of steak, I savored the crispy outside and soft center, the slight taste of garlic she had apparently used, then nodded. I had to tell them. Swallowing, I took a sip of coffee—a bit too hot—and then said, “There was… a girl. I’m not sure why it matters, but it was like she wanted to speak with me, only couldn’t.”

“What sort of girl?” Ebrill asked.

“I don’t know, it was dark.” I racked my brain, trying to figure out what to tell them. That she was naked? No, that felt… out of context.