Herd Mistress (In Deception's Shadow Book 2) by Lisa Blackwood Page B

tendrils into
the grey world of the Wild Path.
    Once a few strides in, Sorsha’s Larnkin
turned Shadowdancer to look back toward the archway. At the Larnkin’s silent
command the thick braids of power turned upon the bone white archway, crumbling
the stones one piece at a time until the whole of it crashed to the ground and
dissolved.
    Her Larnkin watched the spot
where the archway had been, its white stones and powerful magic now reduced to
nothing more dangerous than a few bits of swirling silvery mist. With a shiver
of power, Sorsha’s Larnkin relinquished its hold and she felt her body was once
again her own. While they might be safe from both Acolytes and Tomb Guards, she
and Shadowdancer were also firmly stuck on this side with no way of finding
their families.
    Sorsha screamed once in frustration.
Then drew breath for a second venting, but fought the urge. Screaming her fool
head off wouldn’t bring her loved ones safely to her side. She fisted her hands
and vowed in the depths of her soul to find them. No matter what. Even if she
had to go through every Acolyte on this side of the ocean to reach them.

Chapter Eleven
     
    The first sting of failure finally penetrated Sorsha’s
mind as her self-righteous anger slowly cooled. They’d left Lamarra, Winter’s
Frost, and Summer Flame in the hands of Tomb Guards. If she’d tried to convince
her Larnkin to fight the wall of fire, there might still have been time to go
after their friends while the Acolytes and the Tomb Guards fought. If she’d
only done something more, tried harder to control her Larnkin instead of being
controlled by it.
    “Sorsha,” Shadowdancer’s mind touched hers. His emotions came clear across the link.
Shame ate at him; he’d left members of the herd behind. Worse, he’d possibly
been responsible for leading them all into the trap. “Forgive me.”
    “Oh, Shadowdancer, it’s not your fault. It’s mine.
Lamarra and I were followed from River’s Divide. I should have hidden our back
trail better. I’m sorry.”
    “It is not yours either. We were both acting on the
commands of the Elders. But I understand your grief and worry. Know I feel the
same sense of helplessness.”
    Sorsha leaned down and hugged her arms around his
neck. The simple gesture wasn’t enough. She wanted to sooth away his shame and
hers as well. “We’ll find Lamarra, Flame and Winter’s Frost.”
    “They’ll take her to the Elemental City of Grey
Spires. It is their home as well.”
    “What?” Sorsha released his neck and straightened.
    “The Tomb Guards protect the Dead Rulers; the guards
will take Lamarra to their lieges.”
    Sorsha was speechless. Thoughts couldn’t even form in
the chaos his words created in her soul.
    “I don’t understand,” she said at last, her voice weak
and young sounding to her own ears. “How can the Elementals allow evil to dwell
under their very feet. I thought they fought the darkness.
    “The Dead Rulers are ancient and powerful, but they
are not of the Dark. They serve the Light and protect the City.”
    “Then why take Lamarra and the others?”
    “Perhaps to protect them.” Shadowdancer didn’t sound convinced.
    “That didn’t look like protection. And why didn’t they
try to take us too?”
    Shadowdancer pondered his thoughts for a moment before
he spoke. “I think they did try, but the Acolytes were between us and them.”
    “Yes, yes...but why didn’t they just attack the
Acolytes in the first place—neutralize the immediate danger. By the way the two
Gryphons took those Acolytes apart they looked like they were capable of
dealing with the rest of the priesthood. Why take the time to try to subdue
Lamarra and the Santhyrians? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “Actually, it might,” Shadowdancer said with growing concern.
    “What aren’t you saying?”
    “I think they wanted Lamarra. It was her they went
after first. Winter’s Frost and Summer Flame may just have gotten in the way.”
    “You think