Briar Rose (36 page)

Had the regent told her what was going down?

I bet not.

Once the prisoners were formed up in front of the platform, Briar found herself studying their enemy with curious detachment. Even if the fata’s dust destroyed her mask, would Hildretha
then use a spell to hide her face? Make the villagers see a woman instead of the real thing?

The footman appeared, paper in hand as usual.

‘Talk about job security,’ Joshua muttered.

The man paused and waited until the regent gave him a nod.

‘The princess has been awakened!’ he cried, as if no one had noticed her presence. ‘Let all rejoice!’

That strident verbal match set fire to the villagers’ enthusiasm, leading to raucous shouts and huzzahs. People hugged each other and cried. It was as if they believed all the darkness
would suddenly roll back and goodness would prevail.

Not so much.

Once the noise died down, the regent leaned closer to the princess. It was only because Briar and her friends were near the platform that they heard any of the conversation.

‘You should return to the castle now. I will deal with this, Your Highness. You should not soil your hands with such matters.’

‘You said that I only needed to greet my people. Why are these prisoners here?’ Aurora asked. ‘Why is there a hangman’s noose in that tree?’

The regent hesitated, then her thick voice grew cunning. ‘These three are here to receive justice, Your Highness.’

‘Whose justice? I did not order their execution, Hildretha.’

‘How do you think I have kept this kingdom in order all these years? Do you believe that it managed itself while you slept like a baby?’

Bad move. She still thinks Aurora’s a kid. Someone she can bully.

‘My sleep was
not
blissful,’ the princess retorted, her hands clenched now. ‘There were dark things in my dreams and they hunted me mercilessly.’

‘I apologize,’ the regent replied, inclining her head. ‘I fear you are still suffering from the effects of the curse. Please return to the castle, Your Highness. I shall see to
what is required.’

‘No, I shall remain,’ the princess said primly. ‘I must know of such things.’

The regent held herself very still for a few seconds, then gave another nod. This one wasn’t as deep.

‘So it shall it be, then.’ Hildretha returned her attention to the now uneasy crowd. ‘The princess has been awakened, but remains in grave peril,’ she said, loud enough
for most to hear. ‘These three sought to slay her in her sleep.’

There were choruses of ‘No!’ and ‘Traitors!’.

‘That’s a lie,’ Briar retorted, taking a step forward. She was promptly shoved back in place by a guard.

‘We only wanted to help you, Your Highness,’ Joshua called out.

‘That is the truth,’ Ruric added. ‘I broke the foul curse to save you and your kingdom, Aurora.’

‘By taking it from her,’ the regent replied slyly.

‘No, to return her to her throne,’ Ruric retorted. ‘You’re the one who has stolen it.’

Murmurs grew among the villagers. From what Briar could hear, the news that Ruric had been the one to awaken the princess seemed popular.

‘Enough!’ the regent replied. ‘Take the boy to the centre of the field and give him a sword. Let him show us how brave he is.’

‘Joshua?’ Briar cried, grabbing on to him before he could be pulled away. He hugged her tight, ruining her plan to slip him the pouch.

‘No, you keep it,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘You have to live through this, you hear?’

‘But, Joshua—’

He kissed her, hard. As he was yanked away, he called out, ‘I think I’m in love with you, Briar Rose.’

‘Wha-what?’

As Joshua was marched towards the centre of the field, he gave her a cocky smile over a shoulder. ‘In fact, I’m sure of it!’ he added.

Briar’s mouth dropped open.
He loves me?

Why did guys always wait until the last minute to say stuff like that?

The guards positioned Joshua exactly where the other man had died, and tossed him the same rusty sword. Once they’d retreated, he sawed on his bonds and cut himself free.
Then he looked towards her and issued a brave smile, even though he’d refused to take the fata’s dust, the one thing that might have saved him.

The first guy to tell her he was in love with her was about to die.

Briar pushed her way towards the platform, only to be halted by a burly guard. ‘Your Highness! You must stop this!’ she called out. ‘Please!’

The princess was frowning now, but gave no reply.

‘He risked his life to save yours. Spare him! This is
your
kingdom, not hers.’

‘She saved my life,’ Aurora replied, but she sounded less sure now.

‘The regent slaughtered your family and your people. You owe her nothing.’

That got through. Aurora turned towards their enemy, doubt filling her face. ‘You said my family were killed by the fata.’

The regent ignored her, plucking one of those strange metal stars from inside her voluminous bag. Just as before, she placed it on her gloved palm and blew on it, copper particles striking the
object. It began as a tiny chick and, after another breath, she tossed it into the air. The closest villagers quickly backed away.

Briar figured it’d be the buzzard again, but that wasn’t the case this time. The little bird began to develop a wicked beak and a thick neck, then feathers formed, sharp and pointed
along its breast and on the wings that arched over the creature’s leonine back. A tail whipped around in agitation.

Part eagle, part lion. All metal.

‘It’s a . . .’ Briar rummaged through her memory for a list of mythological beasts. ‘Gryphon?’

With a screeching cry, the magical creature’s wings beat a steady rhythm as beneath it dust swirled. After attaining altitude, it began to circle its intended prey. Joshua didn’t
have a chance against this monstrosity.

Briar’s heart chilled. ‘Please, spare him!’

The regent shook her head. ‘None would spare me such a fate.’

‘My father would not have done this,’ Aurora said, trembling now. ‘He would not have put a young boy to death.’

‘Your father was weak,’ the regent replied. ‘Mercy has no place here.’

Joshua raised the decrepit sword above his head and shouted, ‘For Aurora and freedom! Down with the regent!’

It was a masterful moment and murmurs began to run through the crowd.

‘For Aurora and freedom! Down with the regent!’ a strident voice called out. It was Pat’s.

At least he’s still alive.

Others picked up the chant. Was this the moment the villagers turned on their tyrant?

Aurora had grown pale, her brows furrowed now, but she didn’t intervene.

‘Silence!’ the regent ordered, and there was immediate compliance.

High above them, the gryphon issued an ear-splitting screech and began its hunt.

Joshua stared in horror at the silver nightmare diving towards him.

‘Oh man, this sucks!’

Running away wasn’t an option. Their enemy would just put Briar or Ruric in his place. Panicking seemed the best option, despite his brave declaration. He’d hoped his words would
have shifted the villagers into getting with the programme, but they’d remained too frightened to take their chance at freedom.

This was really Briar’s show, not his.

Need to buy some time. Or at least stay alive a little longer.

Joshua could hear the wings drawing closer now and he shielded his eyes so he could track the thing. It was huge, and he swore he saw sparks dancing across its extended claws.

He should have taken some of the fata dust with him, but he’d been too busy telling Briar he loved her.
Lot of good that’s
going to do if I get ripped to
pieces.

Dead dudes never got the girl, unless they were zombies.

The gryphon’s wings ceased beating as it glided in for the kill, the wind whistling across the metal, creating dissonant harmonics.

‘Come on. A little lower,’ Joshua said. The sword in his hand was total junk, but if he struck at just the right place . . .

At the very last second, the gryphon shifted its claws out of harm’s reach. As it passed close, one of the wings slapped against him, flinging him across the ground. The beast was playing
with him, softening up its meal.

With what sounded like a pleased croak, it sailed upward to begin another run. Joshua climbed to his feet and took stock: his left arm was bleeding and his sword lay in two pieces.

He looked around, desperate to find a weapon. A chain and shackles lay discarded a short distance away, probably from some other dead guy.

‘Hey, horse boy. Need some help?’ a voice said.

Joshua whirled to find Pat and his trademark smirk striding towards him. He had a quarterstaff in one hand and a sheathed sword round his waist.

‘Yeah, I do. You know how to use that stick thing?’ Joshua asked.

The question was promptly answered when one of the regent’s human guards tried to intervene. A quick swipe at knee level and the guy was on the ground, writhing in pain. The others took
note and backed off.

‘Not bad,’ Joshua allowed. When the scabbard landed at his feet, he pulled the sword out, pleased to find it was in good condition. He smiled: he knew this blade from the History
Channel, it was a hand-and-a-half sword, sometimes called a bastard sword. Sturdy and reliable.

‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘Is Reena OK?’

‘She’s good. She’s keeping an eye on Briar.’

That was exactly what Joshua wanted to hear.

Above them, the gryphon turned and began another approach.

Pat peered up, shielding his eyes. ‘Damn, that thing is big.’

They instinctively spread out, trying to judge how it would attack. Would it try to pick them both off at once or choose one as its target?

Joshua adjusted his position, and then had to do it again.

‘What is it doing?’ Pat called out as the creature changed course yet again.

‘Duck!’ Joshua shouted as it overflew him and dived at his companion. One of its claws caught Pat’s cloak and dragged him along the ground. He dropped his staff and fought with
the clasp at his neck.

Joshua raced to free him. Striking with his sword, he severed one of the claws, which fell into dirt, tiny cogwheels whirring inside as it spun in a slow circle. The gryphon screamed its fury
and rose higher in the air.

Pat climbed to his feet, breathing heavy as the claw completed two more circles, then ground to a stop. ‘Reena’s got some dust stuff that takes out the metal. It’s way
cool.’

‘I know,’ Joshua said. ‘Briar has some too.’

They traded looks.

‘They have the ultimate weapon and we have none?’ Joshua observed.

‘Yeah.’ Pat sighed wearily as he picked up the quarterstaff. ‘So a chick has to save our butts? That’s totally depressing.’

‘Beats being dead.’

‘Just barely.’

Briar had cheered when she saw Pat come to Joshua’s aid. If Pat was alive, that meant Reena might be as well. They might still pull this off.

First, she had to get close to the regent.

Before she could make her move, a metal hand clamped on Briar’s shoulder and dragged her backwards towards the oak tree. She fought, digging her heels into the dirt, but it was useless.
Kicking and striking the guard proved futile as his metal skin protected him from her blows.

‘You must stop this!’ the princess insisted.

Finally!

Villagers pressed in from all sides, ringing Briar and her captor. They weren’t trying to stop him, but they were slowing him down. The guard began pushing them out of the way, barking
orders, which they ignored.

‘Set the girl free,’ the princess ordered. ‘The young man as well. The executions are stayed.’

The guard paid no attention, but the distraction gave Briar the time she needed to reach inside her corset and extract the pouch. She didn’t dare waste the dust, so she fumbled with the
strings. Her captor abruptly surged forward, ramming his way through the onlookers, and the bag went flying out of her hands.

She cried out and tried to break loose, but it was impossible, the man’s grip was too tight. Then she spied the smithy’s son.

‘The pouch! Get it!’ she cried, pointing. For a second she thought he didn’t understand her plea, but then he dived in between the legs of his fellow villagers and
disappeared.

When he reappeared, the lad had the pouch in his hand. The instant she had it back in her grasp, Briar pulled open the strings and stuck three fingers inside to coat them. Tugging the strings
closed with her one hand and her teeth, she stashed the pouch back in her corset to keep it safe. Wriggling around as best as she could, all the while moving inexorably towards the tree and the
rope, Briar threaded her fingers down the guard’s arm, leaving sparkly streaks in their wake.

‘Tag, you’re it!’

He continued across the field, unaffected.
Why didn’t it
work?

As they approached the tree, Briar began to fail in mounting panic.

Her captor halted so abruptly she bounced off him. His hand began to ripple like lake water in a breeze, the metal disintegrating as whole sections fell away, revealing a tanned arm and a
homespun shirt. The guard’s bizarre metallic hair fell out in clumps, leaving behind short brown curls. With a cry, the man shook himself like a wet dog and pieces of silver went flying like
shrapnel.