Chapter 17
"The first thing you need to do is ditch the bus," Graeme advised Sydney as the bus in question pulled into a dark farm lane. "It's the only thing tying us to the breakout."
"Does your friend have other transport we can borrow?"
"I can get you transport before first light, don't worry."
"From another friend, I presume? Who exactly are you to have this kind of support anyway? Emily assumed you dead too. Why?"
Graeme chuckled. "I am the Master of this pitiful island of Ireland or at least I was until Micah teamed up with my right hand man to stab me in the back. I do mean literally. I'm lucky the idiot he employed to kill me wasn't the best shot."
"Wait, are you the one responsible for Lana's father's kidnapping?"
Graeme glanced toward the front of the bus and shuffled closer to Sidney. He spoke so softly, a human wouldn't have heard him at such close quarters. The deochfola at the front of the bus paid them no heed. "I can assure you that Alfred volunteered his services. Not to me but to Micah the day I received an arrow in my back."
Sidney also lowered her voice in response. "That's not how Lana tells it."
"A daughter blinded by love for a parent? Of course she said he'd been kidnapped and forced to do Micah's bidding. We'll talk more on this later."
The bus slowed and then stopped alongside an illuminated barn. "Shall we go and greet Luke, my human servant?"
Sidney raised an eyebrow in Callie's direction. Did you get all that? she broadcast to Callie's mind.
I did. Do you believe him about Lana's dad?
That part I don't doubt. It would explain what she's been trying to hide from me. I can't hear his thoughts either, which is a major inconvenience. Someone's taught him how to shield, not just his thoughts, but his power levels too. I'd trouble picking up that he's a vamp never mind a Master.
What do you need me to do?
Keep an eye on the others while I talk to him. She nodded her head in Graeme's direction. I need to pump him for information. There's more to all this than meets the eye, I'm sure of it.
As they entered the dimly lit barn, Sidney watched Graeme closely and strained to hear what he said to someone in the shadows. With a rustle of rich, layered fabric, a petite woman stepped into view, bowed her head and hurried off. She returned a few minutes later with a following of humans.
"Supper," she said by way of explanation. "You must be hungry after your journey. Please, drink your fill. Master Graeme will join you as soon as he arranges your accommodation for the day."
"Wait," Sidney instructed the woman, catching her by the upper arm to stop her retreat. "I thought humans were scarce?"
"Those four are the only ones left within an eighty mile radius, Micah had his minions gather the others and last I heard, they were shipped west, to some sort of camp."
"Do you know why?"
Graeme placed a hand on Sidney's shoulder, interrupting her chat with the woman, who scuttled off as soon as Sidney released her. "Two reasons that I'm aware of. The first is to starve deochfola out of hiding and second to do his bidding as daor."
Sidney frowned in recognition of the word. "Why does he need slaves? Daor."
"Take a walk with me." He nodded his head in the direction of the door. "You may ask your questions in private." He waited until they were out of earshot of the barn. "In answer to your question, to build an army from his offspring."
"He aims to turn them all?"
"Hardly. If he did that, his new offspring would have no food." Graeme snorted. "No, he will change the champions and use the rest as food."
"You've lost me, what do you mean by champions?"
They stopped at a chest high wooden fence that penned cattle, Graeme resting his elbows across the top rail, Sidney leaning her back against the same section so she could keep an eye on the barn.
"The humans will face a series of trials to test their strengths. These strengths will most often be enhanced after the change. The champions of each trial will become his progeny, an army of deochfola."
"Where does the witch's father fit into the equation?"
"That, I'm not yet sure of, but whatever it is, Micah has him under guard day and night. I did however hear a rumour that he can open doorways to other realms."
"Ah." Sidney nodded. "Like father, like daughter."
"I think perhaps it's time to question the witch."
Sidney had been thinking the same thing. "Agreed," she said. "Now, why does Micah need an army?"
"Why does any master require an army but to expand their territory?"
Graeme's words sent shivers of dread through Sidney. If Alfred could open a portal to her world then Sam and her friends would be in grave danger. Her presence in this parallel world took on a new perspective for her, success became imperative for whatever reason fate had brought her to this strange land.
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