by Ally Shields
“Funny thing, though, I didn’t feel any different or notice anything until he said he could see me.”
“So they won’t realize they’ve materialized, at least for a while. That could give us a brief advantage. How are we going to dispense it? Is there enough for everyone?”
“There’s plenty. We’ve sprinkled the ground outside both guilds, and the jar still looks full,” Rhyden said. “We haven’t talked about what to do with the rest. You and Kam should definitely carry some. You’re the most likely targets.”
“Let’s keep the rest near the doors. That way anyone going outside could take some with them.” Kam finished off her pizza and wiped her hands on a napkin. “What are we doing about the meeting tonight? Trystan expects to retrieve his people, and he’s only going to get Andolf. That won’t make him happy. How do we convince him Bria’s here by choice?”
“Is he going to believe anyone except her?” Esty asked. “I wouldn’t.”
Rhyden shrugged. “She has a point, but Bria already tried.”
“Are you suggesting she meet with him again?” Caleb demanded.
“It might be the only way.” Kam appealed to Bria. “What do you think?”
“Tryst is stubborn, but given a little time I think he’ll listen to me.”
“What if he tries to force her? She’d be trapped in the middle of a fight.” Caleb frowned at Kam. “You shouldn’t encourage this. She isn’t like you.”
“Hey, wait a minute.” Bria put a hand on Caleb’s arm. “Tryst wouldn’t do that. If I can help, I want to go. My decision, Caleb.”
“I don’t have to like it.”
“How sweet of you to worry.” Bria smiled up at him.
Go, Bria. Kam stifled a chuckle at the softened expression on Caleb’s face. Bria had already figured out how to deal with his alpha side.
“Now that’s settled…” Kam gave Caleb a pointed look. “Can we figure out how we handle this meeting, especially with Brunic standing there? He’s been ordered to detain at least half of us.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Seth said. “What if we intercept Trystan before he reaches the guild?”
“I like that idea. But how do we know what route they’ll take? Do we follow them from the portal?”
While they worked out the details, Kam sat back and sighed. They were stuck in the center of the conflict, forced to defend themselves from both Cyrilia and Elvenrude. Getting in the middle had been pretty easy. But how were they going to get out?
* * *
By eight o’clock that evening, Kam and Seth were patrolling the rooftops of New Orleans nearest the swamps. Since it was still daylight, they were both cloaked in invisibility. Seth hadn’t offered to return the Cyrilian ring, and Kam hadn’t bothered to ask. It was obvious he’d gotten hooked on the new ability.
Although they didn’t expect Trystan before dark, they kept an eye on several routes the Cyrilians might take.
“Did you see that?” Kam pointed to a group of shadowy figures, nearly indistinguishable in the lingering daylight.
But Seth had already teleported to the next rooftop. She caught up with him, and they watched the faint images move quickly through the streets.
“I count at least eight of them,” Seth whispered. “But where are they going? They’re not on a direct path to the guild.”
“A decoy group? Did they know we’d be waiting? Or is Trystan the decoy to keep us busy while these guys do…whatever?” Kam was thinking out loud.
“Let’s split up and find out. One of us should stay here and wait for a second group. Want to toss a coin?”
“No, you go. I’ll stay.”
“I’ll call when I know what’s up.” His soft footsteps moved away.
Kam turned back and resumed her watch. When twilight came and deepened, she glanced at the time on her phone screen. It had been an hour. Where were they? And where was Seth? Maybe they shouldn’t have split up. Even with his gun, he’d be at a disadvantage—eight to one—especially with an injured shoulder. Maybe she should call.
Movement on the sidewalk two blocks away drew her attention. A group of five or more adults was walking in her direction. Late tourists? She moved closer for a better look, springing over the gaps between buildings.
Kam drew in a sharp breath and dropped into a couch. The Cyrilians’ pale hair was hard to miss. Kam waited for them to pass beneath her and peered at their faces. Trystan and his brother Tad were in the lead.
So who was Seth following?
* * *
Seth watched his quarry gather outside a familiar address. He and Crain had spent several hours in a van just down the street doing surveillance on the drug gang’s headquarters. That had been what? Less than a week ago.
Another attack appeared imminent. Did he owe Crain a call? A warning? Any further deaths would bring the CIA down on their heads. He and Kam already had their hands full. He dug for his phone and had it in his hand when it vibrated. Kam’s photo popped up.
“Any action?” he whispered.
“Trystan, his brother, and three companions just arrived. They’re not cloaked and walking down the street in full view. I’m following them now.”
“Are they going to the guild?”
“It’s hard to tell yet. Where are you?”
“Outside the headquarters of a drug gang. Looks like another raid. I’d like a good look at them, but they’re cloaked. I was about to call Crain to break this up.”
Kam swore softly. “So Trystan is playing both sides. This had to be coordinated. While he’s making peace with us, he’s striking out at the humans. It’s senseless, but I suppose he’s getting desperate.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Are you sure it’s wise to involve Crain?”
“I don’t have another choice. Maybe he can scare them off and prevent further bloodshed.”
“OK, I’ll stay with Trystan. I’ll try to wait for you, but we can’t miss the chance for Bria to talk with him alone.”
“I’ll be there when…if I get this situation under control.” He disconnected, scowled at the Cyrilians moving toward the building, and called Crain.
“This time I need your help,” he said. “If you send a couple of official cars with lights and sirens to the gang building we watched, we might prevent another fight. The sirens should scare them away.”
“Geez, Seth. Give me some details. Should I send SWAT?”
“Just send the cars. There isn’t time for a debate.”
“What’s going on? I need some kind of explanation. Who are these guys and what do they want?”
“Just send the damned police.”
“I already did,” Crain snapped. “You should hear them any second now. But we’re sitting down, and you’re going to tell me everything.”
“Not tonight, but I’ll call.” Seth heard the distant wails and disconnected. He’d worry about Crain later. The flashing lights of the first cruiser approached from the far end of the street. When the Cyrilians didn’t budge, Seth moved to the roof edge directly above them. He continued to watch, hoping they’d take off on their own.
A second cruiser came from the opposite direction. Still the Cyrilians didn’t move. They were depending on the magic to hide their presence. With a sigh, Seth dropped to lie flat on the rooftop. He took a baggie from his pocket and cupped a small amount of citerin dust in his hand.
He could see himself now. The anti-magic dust worked quickly.
He peered over the edge. Still there. The cruisers neared the building, and Seth held his hand out, letting the particles trickle through his fingers. For a few seconds nothing happened as the dust drifted downward; then the Cyrilians suddenly materialized.
One of the police cars turned a spotlight on them. An officer shouted out the window and raised a gun. The Cyrilians looked at each other, realized the police could see them, and scattered, running down the street. The police cars gave chase.
Seth backed away from the edge. He stood and dusted off his ha
nds, the fine powder dispersing in the air. The police wouldn’t catch the elves. He figured they were halfway to the portal by now. But this was only a temporary fix.
* * *
Trystan and his companions wove through the city, avoiding close contact with people on the sidewalks. Their ridiculous headbands brought a few odd glances, but there were all kinds of unusual outfits in New Orleans. Kam shrugged. At least the bands concealed their pointed ears.
When it was obvious the Lormarc Guild was their destination, Kam called Saul Henre. Brunic was already there and waiting. Three blocks from the guild, she ran ahead in an intercept path and leaped down to the street. She decloaked but continued to wait out of sight. Where was Seth?
Less than a minute later, he dropped beside her. “Sorry it took so long. Ready?”
She nodded. “I was about to go it alone.”
They stepped around the corner. The Cyrilians halted a few feet away.
“I knew it was a trap,” Tad said. He and the three men with him immediately cloaked. Trystan did not.
Kam tossed a small amount of citerin dust, turning the other four visible again.
Trystan glanced at his companions and back at Kam. “So you’ve discovered the anti-magic.”
“With Bria’s help.” Kam deliberately used the young woman’s name.
“I told you.” Tad shot a triumphant glance at his brother. Then his face flushed with anger. “That makes Bria a traitor. You can keep her, but where is Andolf?”
“Tad, I have this.” Trystan scowled at his brother. “Take the guards and wait for me at the end of the street.”
“You can’t—”
“To the contrary, I can.” Trystan’s stern voice befitted the king he would be one day.
Tad turned his displeasure on the guards. “Well, don’t just stand there looking stupid. You heard him. Big brother has dismissed us.”
Trystan turned back to Seth and Kam. “Where are my people?”
“I believe you’ll find Andolf waiting for you at the guild,” Seth said.
“I have the ransom.” The prince held up a leather bag. “But I want Brianya too.”
“We’re not here for any ransom,” Kam said. “You can take that up with Captain Brunic. If it was our decision, you wouldn’t be getting Andolf back until the murderer in your ranks was identified and punished.”
“Is this about the human criminal again? My people were not involved in his death. If he was indeed killed by an arrow, it is more likely one of yours.”
“Not a longbow arrow,” Kam retorted.
“Hardly conclusive.”
Seth shook his head. “He isn’t interested in hearing the truth. Let’s get on with why we’re here. Bria’s not returning to Cyrilia.”
“You’re forcing her to stay?”
“It’s her wish.”
“She’s already told you,” Kam said. “Did she sound or looked forced?”
Trystan shrugged. “She’s very young. Brianya doesn’t understand what she’s doing.”
Kam tapped her phone screen. “I guess she’ll have to convince you herself.” She listened to the ring until Rhyden answered. “We’re waiting.” She gave him the directions and told him to avoid the corner where Tad and the guards stood. She disconnected. “They’re close by. It’ll only be a couple of minutes.”
“I wish to speak with her alone,” Trystan said. “I will believe what she tells me in private.”
“I have no objection, as long as you don’t attempt to abduct her.” Seth’s look was direct. “We have firearms if needed.”
“I will not force her against her will.” Trystan cocked his head. “It won’t be necessary.”
Only moments later Bria, Caleb, Rhyden, and Esty, who’d refused to stay behind, approached from the other end of the street. Apparently, Trystan didn’t know Bria as well as he thought, and it didn’t take her long to set him straight.
She took the initiative. “I’m not going home, Tryst. We can talk all night if you want, but you’re not going to change my mind.”
Trystan looked at Seth. “You promised we could talk privately.”
“And so you shall,” Seth said. Caleb bristled, and Seth took hold of his arm. “It’s best this way. We won’t go far.”
They stepped away, strategically placing themselves between Trystan and Tad’s group at the end of the block. The conversation didn’t last long. After a minute or two, Trystan took her hand in his, but Bria broke away. “I won’t change my mind. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
“Brianya, wait.” Trystan sounded more hurt than angry.
She hurried toward her friends without looking back. A tear trickled down her face, and Esty put an arm around her.
“Brianya,” Trystan said again following after her. “Come back. I wasn’t finished.”
Seth put out a hand to stop Trystan from coming closer.
Bria turned to look at him. Her lashes were still moist. “But I am. I can’t watch what’s happening at home. Our world is dying, and the people have become…ruthless. I’m afraid for Cyrilia. And I’m afraid of her people.”
“Even me?”
“Yes, even you,” she said softly. She looked at Kam. “Can I go now?”
Kam nodded. Esty, Caleb, and Rhyden turned to leave with her.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Tad ran toward them, his bow notched. “Brianya, have you really chosen to stay with them?”
Trystan caught his brother and turned him around. “Go back with the others and put the bow away before you start something. This is her choice.”
“Traitorous wench.” Tad flung the words over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed, but he submitted to his brother’s authority and walked stiffly toward the guards.
“Once Andolf is returned, we will go,” Trystan said. “You’ve convinced me Brianya is lost to us.”
“It needn’t be that way. Must we be enemies?” Seth asked.
“Our people have never liked each other. In the end, it won’t matter. Unless we become the people Brianya so detests and take what we need from someone…you or the humans…the Cyrilian race is doomed to extinction.” He drew in a deep breath, and his next words were not without bitterness. “Now I must collect Andolf before I lose even the authority to control my own brother.”
Trystan raised a hand for Tad and the guards to join him, and he struck off in the direction of the Lormarc Guild.
“By the way,” Seth called after him, “you can thank me for interfering with your latest raid on the drug dealers. Nice strategy to try to mislead us. But it didn’t work.”
Trystan shook his head from side to side but kept walking.
Seth frowned and lowered his voice. “I don’t know, Kam. Is it possible he’s telling us the truth?”
“It’s crossed my mind. But that means there’s a rogue group Trystan can’t or won’t control. He doesn’t speak for them…and they have their own agenda. In that case, the truce Brunic’s negotiating won’t be worth much.”
“Andolf may be one of them. That makes his release an even bigger mistake than we thought.” Seth turned away. “I guess that’s Seliwyn’s problem now. He sure isn’t asking for our input. Let’s catch up with the others and discuss this later.”
When they found their friends, Esty was chatting away, doing her best to cheer Bria, but the young woman didn’t look like it was working. She’d just cut her ties with Cyrilia, and she wasn’t welcome in Elvenrude. Her future must look bleak.
For that matter, Kam and Seth’s wasn’t looking so good either.
Seth voiced similar thoughts. “Rhyden, why don’t you go to the guild? Brunic has no reason to hold you, and we need to know everything that happens. While you’re there, sign the disbursements for Henre. I’m not sure when or if I’ll be able to return without running afoul of the King’s Guard.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The transfer of Andolf’s custody turned out to be anticlimactic. Rhyden gave the others the details when he
arrived at the New Orleans suites an hour later.
“It took all of five minutes. Brunic brought Andolf in a blindfold and didn’t take it off until they met with Trystan outside the guild. I had my gun out and cracked the door so I could see and hear everything. Trystan offered Brunic the bag of gems and gold, but the captain refused. He said Elvenrude doesn’t hold people for ransom.”
Rhyden shrugged. “That didn’t keep Brunic from demanding a guarantee the attacks on us would stop. Trystan agreed, rather curtly I thought, and that was that. Except for Tad. The little prick had to get in a smart remark or two.”
“Yeah, Trystan had better watch him,” Kam said. “Was anything said about Bria?”
“Not a word. I was surprised Brunic didn’t bring her up, but maybe he thinks she’s already gone home.” Rhyden held up a finger to keep their attention. “The really interesting thing was Trystan didn’t mention he’d just talked to us. Does anyone else find that odd?”
Kam lifted a shoulder. “He could have assumed Brunic already knew.”
“Or he was too angry to talk about it,” Esty offered.
“I don’t know, but he didn’t even look at me. He took Andolf and just left.”
“I pray that’s the end of it.” Bria’s tone was uncertain. “What about the attacks on the gang houses?”
“Let’s hope those stop too. Kam and I discussed the possibility Trystan may not control this other group, but at least we gave them a good scare tonight.”
Bria’s face lightened. “Then you’ve decided Tryst isn’t responsible?”
“I didn’t say that,” Seth cautioned. “We’ve told him about their activities. If he doesn’t approve, why hasn’t he stopped them? I’m sorry, Bria. Trystan is Cyrilia’s prince. That makes him responsible.” He turned back to Rhyden. “Did Brunic tell you the current situation in Elvenrude?”
“I tried to ask, but he kept cutting me off, saying ‘wherever they are, whatever they’re doing, I don’t want to hear about it.’ He finally turned his back on me and walked away.” Rhyden gave an impatient snort and glanced at Seth. “He asked Henre if you were OK. I think he’s torn between anger over your escape and relief you got away.”