Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

“ S hould we go see if we can help?” Gwen asked Padraig, who watched Niall go upstairs, the still unconscious Gavin over his shoulder.

“Niall will take care of him,” Padraig replied, his expression troubled. “Gavin had to leap twice to get to you. It’s painful enough for us to leap once.”

“You and Niall don’t seem affected.”

“We stayed here, in the same realm. He had to leap far to avoid the watchdogs outside, then again to your world. We expected this.” Padraig went to the bookcases and pulled out several books. “Come on; let’s get to work on Tristan’s rescue.”

Gwen followed him to the table. “I don’t have any idea how to help you. I’ve never done anything like this before.” She hated to ask, but felt compelled to. “What do you think is happening to Tristan?”

Padraig didn’t look up. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his lips together, probably trying to figure out how to word his response. “Meliot will not hesitate to use any means necessary to inflict pain. About a hundred years back, for a long period he threw us into his dungeons. His torture regime is creative to say the least.”

Anger flashed in the young knight’s eyes, darkening them. It was obvious that recalling his time there still affected him. “The sooner we’re able to get to Tristan, the better. I can guarantee you, he’s not having a good time of it.”

Gwen pulled her spell book out of her satchel. It slipped out of her hands, landing on the table, falling open. Both leaned in to read the spell on the page. It was a vanishing spell. Padraig grinned. “I see how that can work.”

Several hours later, an exhausted Gwen leaned back and wiped her brow with her sleeve. “This is hard,” she told Padraig. “I’m getting it, but I have to be able to vanish for longer if I’m going to be any help to Tristan.”

“Let’s try again. This time reach deeper inside, look for a bright red light, reach for it and hold on,” Padraig said.

Chanting together, his deeper voice melding with hers, she saw the light. She used her mind to reach for it and suddenly it enveloped her. Breathing evenly, she felt the light enter her, and then it fully encompassed her, filling her with warmth.

“It’s working,” Padraig’s whispered. “Open your eyes, if you haven’t yet.”

Nothing. She saw absolutely nothing in front of her. Padraig’s hands were still linked with hers and she wanted to whoop in excitement. They’d done it.

They were totally invisible.

“Shhh,” Padraig’s voice hushed her. She turned to see Niall and Liam coming back down the stairs.

“Where did they go?” Liam asked Niall, who didn’t reply but looked around the room, his gaze pausing on the open books on the table.

“Paddy knows he’s supposed to tell us prior to going anywhere, especially to the wizard’s castle.” Liam continued.

Again Niall remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room. Gwen bit her lip to keep from making a noise. They were truly invisible.

“They’re here,” Niall told the other man. “Not sure why I know, but I can sense someone here in the room.”

Liam pulled out his sword,, his eyes searching the room. “Put that away,” Niall told him.

Padraig squeezed Gwen’s hand and whispered. “I think we better make ourselves visible before Liam slices and dices us.”

When they appeared, Liam’s eyes widened. He sheathed his sword and shook his head. “What were you thinking, Paddy? I could have hurt her.”

“We weren’t about to move,” Padraig retorted, “Besides, why did you pull out your sword? Niall told you it was us.”

The English knight frowned, not replying.

“How is Gavin?” Gwen asked the somber Irishman. “Can I see him?”

Niall nodded and motioned for her to follow him upstairs. As she made her way upstairs, she noted the hallways were well lit, but she didn’t see electric fixtures or torches. It must be kept lit by Padraig’s magic.

When they reached Gavin’s room, Niall moved aside so she could enter. “He’s awake, but verra weak right now. He will recover fully once he rests overnight.” Niall’s grey eyes glanced into the room, but he didn’t go inside. As Gwen crossed the threshold, Niall left.

Gavin lay on the bed, his eyes open. He raised a questioning eyebrow at her appearance, but didn’t say anything. Even pale, he looked like a prince in repose.

“I just came to make sure you were all right. If there’s anything I can do…”

“Ye can concentrate on getting Tristan free,” he replied, his voice strong. “Thank ye.” He closed his eyes, turning away, effectively letting her know she’d been dismissed. Not wanting to bother him, she turned to walk out of the room, but stopped short when a small portrait caught her attention. She looked back to Gavin. He seemed to have fallen asleep. She stepped closer to the table at the side of the bed. The miniature was of a couple, a man whose looks resembled Gavin, same blond hair, wide shoulders; next to him, a beautiful woman, her thickly lashed amber eyes a legacy she passed to Gavin. His parents.

On a piece of paper next to the table were notes. She saw the name Sabrina, underlined. Interesting.

Why did he say he didn’t feel anything when touching her? The answer was simple.

He’d lied.

Gwen didn’t know what to make of her discovery; she pondered it on her way back to the great room. Perhaps after this was over, she’d question Gavin.

The men looked up when she walked down the stairs, ceasing whatever conversation they were having. Padraig held her knapsack out to her. She noticed the book of spells was no longer on the table.

“It’s time. Niall will give you some extra strength. You’ll need it.”

Nodding, she took the knapsack. Niall laid his hands on their shoulders. Warmth radiated through her, like the feeling one got when submerging in a warm bath, her arms and legs loosened, and her muscles twitched, the feeling quite pleasant. When he removed his hand, she almost pleaded for him to touch her again.

“Thanks, Niall,” Padraig nodded at the somber male. “Three of us will return shortly.” With that, he took Gwen’s hand, and they leapt back to the small clearing.

Once there, they leapt again.

This time they landed right in the center of hell.