He’d hidden the two women in the lower level of a two-story stone structure. It stank of rot and animal feces—a perfect spot for putting two snooty women in their place.
Wind whistled across the castle lands this high up on the mountain.
His Lammogo had taken to the air when he ordered it to scout for anything other than natural animals in the area. His creature could not see through the canopy of leaves, but more than one person would be unable to hide from those eagle-like eyes.
Glancing to his right, he smiled at the Lammogo. “Good job. I have great plans for you.”
It continued staring straight ahead at nothing, as usual, and standing immobile as if carved from marble.
That was the most disconcerting thing about the Lammogo. It never showed any acknowledgment of his praise. He’d have plenty of time to bond with it once Zuzani handed over complete control.
Krol straightened, alarmed at seeing the wilkotauk who had stayed with the wagon walking toward his hiding place with his arms outstretched. What the devil was going on with him?
When the wilkotauk reached Krol, he said, “Intruder. Still alive.” Then he dropped what he pretended to carry on the ground. It hit with a dull thud.
Krol rubbed his eyes, hoping when he dropped his hand, none of that had happened. No, the wilkotauk still stood there. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Something on the ground made a groaning sound.
Angling his head in confusion, Krol squatted down with a hand extended. He bumped into a shape above the ground and got slapped.
“Get away from me,” the invisible person snapped.
A woman? She sounded familiar. He stood and used his foot to push at where he thought her body was.
“Ugh.” Another groan.
Who could that be?
Had the mage sent this woman to confuse Krol or make him expose his location? Krol stuck his head out into the daylight, searching the grounds. Nothing stirred. He pointed at the invisible woman and told the wilkotauk, “Put her inside the room and find some way to tie her up.”
For the first time, the wilkotauk’s face showed a reaction. He frowned, which Krol understood. How would either of them tie up an invisible person?
The wilkotauk stepped back with his arms crossed his arms.
Was he refusing Krol?
Jothan’s man closed his eyes and began speaking in a language Krol felt certain hadn’t been common in the past twenty centuries. It sounded guttural and born of unimaginable horrors.
Blue dust began to float down from ten feet above the ground like tinted ash from a volcano. As it settled over an eight-foot-wide diameter, the body on the ground took shape.
Krol was not surprised to see a female after having heard her voice, but the face she wiped at to clear away ash shocked him. “What are you doinghere?”
The servant he knew as Alifair stared at him from the flat of her back. “It should be obvious.”
He dismissed the wilkotauk, sending him back on guard duty. Then he grabbed the servant’s arm and dragged her inside.
She slapped his hand. “Stop. I can walk.”
“Think I care?” He kept going, pulling her past the women he’d tied to part of the structure.
“No! Leave her alone!” Rez shouted.
Ignoring her, Krol pulled another length of rope free, giving himself kudos for having planned ahead in case he’d had to hobble the women. Alifair started fighting in earnest, twisting around to shove up to her knees.
She yanked her hands and pulled back, trying to topple him.
He freed one hand to smack her head hard. Her eyes rolled up, and she fell limp. Rez sobbed.