Chapter 7: Saving phoenixes

When I walked in the back door I knew someone else was here. I looked around as Dragon shifted and leaped into the air. Griffin and the drakes screamed from the study and I moved quickly. Two guards were fending off the creatures when I ran in. I waved Griffin and the drakes back and walked towards the two men, “Why are you in my house?”

They were flush faced and one turned to snarl, “We go where...”

I kicked straight into his groin and spun to grab the other mans hand as he reached for me. I twisted and turned before kicking into his knee. I stepped and knelt as I pulled my dagger and grabbed the first mans hair. He screamed as my dagger touched his throat and I stopped, “I will ask once more. Why are you in my house!”

He swallowed, “The wizard Silver requested you in the King’s court.”

I barely glanced at the other man as he moaned and held his broken hand and knee, “Why?”

The guard swallowed, “The King needs his help and he needed something from you.”

I stood and put my dagger away, “Where is my companion?”

He looked at the other man, “We had her taken to the King.”

I gestured, “You come into my house again without being invited and I will kill you.”

I looked at Dragon on the shelf, “Where is Sapphire and Emerald?”

She tilted her head before looking towards the study room door. I frowned as she leaped and flew to my shoulder and walked out. She pointed me to Jasmines work room and I hesitated before opening the door. The two cats slipped out looking pissed and I shook my head, “Jasmine left you in there so you would be safe?”

They nodded and I sighed, “Well, it looks like Silver is in trouble and we get to save him, stay close.”

I turned and started for the door trying to think of what Silver might have done. When I walked up to the King’s court four guards barred my way. I smiled, “I am expected, either move or die.”

They looked at each other before one nodded and they stepped aside. When I walked through the door Griffin and the drakes swirled in and Sapphire and Emerald walked beside me. Dragon was almost growling as I walked and started checking everything around me. The wide hall was empty except for six guards, the King, Silver and Jasmine who looked angry.

Jasmine smiled when she saw me and I saw her small hawk hiding in her hair. I walked towards Silver, “What did you do now old mage?”

He smiled as the king snorted. The guards shifted as I ignored them and stopped to caress Jasmines cheek and whisper, “You okay?”

She nodded and I turned to look at her father. Silver sighed, “The King has a serious problem. Someone sent a Phoenix into his chambers.”

I glanced at the King, “So?”

He raised an eyebrow as Silver snorted, “They cursed it.”

I waited and he sighed again, “I need something from the room before I can help.”

I looked at the king, “For this you sent guards to my home to kidnap my companion and attack me?”

I looked at Silver as the king’s face reddened, “Why should I help?”

He smiled, “You will need a Phoenix to enter where the book you received led you.”

I kept looking at him before sighing, “What is the curse on the Phoenix?”

Silver looked at the king, “It will attack the king and burst into flames.”

I waited and Silver shrugged, “If it is killed it will burst into flame and turn to ash before being reborn to keep trying.”

I nodded, “And what is in the room you need?”

He grinned, “A feather from the Phoenix.”

I laughed, “You want me to steal a feather from a Phoenix?”

He nodded and I turned to look down the empty court as I thought. I glanced at the two cats, “Why don’t you two go ask the Phoenix if I can borrow a feather?”

They looked away and I sighed, “My business, my chore.”

I looked at Dragon, “Take your friends up to look around the chamber.”

She nodded before leaping into the air. Griffin and drakes appeared from where they had been watching and followed her out a high window. I looked at Silver, “This time I want something else.”

He glanced at the king, “What?”

I smiled as I looked at Jasmine, “I would like to picnic with Jasmine in the King’s private garden.”

Jasmine’s eyes brightened as Silver looked at the king before nodding, “Done.”

I turned and headed towards the King’s entrance, “Do you know who sent the Phoenix yet?”

Silver did not answer and I stopped to look back. He sighed, “The mage Gelsipie I think.”

I sighed, “This just keeps getting better.”

Mage Gelsipie was not a real name it was something a shadow mage used to spread terror so he could use it to gather power. I turned and walked through the kings archway and down the hall ignoring the several guards that followed. One nodded to a set of stairs which I ignored and passed. I slipped into the kitchen a few minutes later and they all turned to stare.

I smiled politely, “Lovely cooks, could you tell me if you have had any strange visitors or deliveries?”

The head cook, a large older woman stepped forward, “A strange man wearing a dress left a package of rotten meat.”

I grinned, “Did you get rid of it?”

She snorted, “Of course, I tossed it to the king’s hounds.”

I nodded as I slowly walked around the kitchen ignoring the cooks and the guards. I found the small hidden glyphs beside the outer door frame. Magic from it spider webbed up the wall and I turned, “May I borrow some salt?”

The cook frowned but nodded to one of her kitchen helpers. She handed me a small bowl of salt from beside the stove and I used my finger to shift through it before taking a large pinch. I used the salt to rub out the glyphs and opened the door. Another set was on the outside and I used more salt to destroy those too.

I walked back in and through the kitchen. I went to the stairs leading up and followed them up and then walked down the hall to stop before a set of doors next to the king’s chambers. I opened the door into the queen’s study and looked around before crossing to the door out onto her balcony. I glanced to the left at the king’s balcony and the open door.

It was easy to go over the rail and move along the wide ledge to the king’s balcony. I carefully looked on each side of the open door and used more salt to remove the glyphs that spider webbed each wall. I stepped into the large chamber and Dragon dropped onto my shoulder. The phoenix was on the bed canopy and spread its wings nervously.

I ignored it and glanced at Griffin and the drakes spread around the room. Each was beside a glowing spider web of magic. I looked at the guards standing in the chamber’s open door before moving to each set of glyphs and rubbing it out. After the last one I walked to the bed and looked up at the colorful bird, “Hello, need help?”