“I had been to the store only days before and you had no idea. Where were your spirits then?” While she spoke she watched Katherine come up behind Cayman. She didn’t let her eyes stray from Cayman’s face as she didn’t want to give away Katherine’s position.
Katherine swung her lantern at Cayman and Medea grinned. “You are a charlatan. Because if you really had power over the spirits you’d know that someone was sneaking up behind you right now.”
Cayman snorted. He didn’t turn around as Katherine swung the lantern. He must have seen the movement as at the last moment he flinched away. The lantern smashed. Covering him in oil. He collapsed.
Katherine danced away. “And stay down you jerk.” She grinned at Medea.
Katherine flicked out a knife and cut her hands free. Using the remnants of the rope she tied up the witch doctor who was no longer stunned by Katherine’s blow and moving. Before Cayman could fight back Katherine pressed down. Cayman yelped and curled over. Together they pulled his arms behind him and finished tying him up.
Rayne and Victor ran towards her from somewhere amongst the tents.
Rayne asked, “Need help with this one?”
Katherine said, “No, I think she has it.”
Medea straightened up from tying up Cayman. The woman who had been with the doctor in the tent came up behind them and Medea called out, “Watch out.”
Rayne glanced behind her and turned a smile to at Medea. “They are on our side.”
The woman said, “Is that the man taking out unique individuals?” Rayne nodded.
The woman dropped a chest at Rayne’s feet. “You deal with the case and we’ll make him disappear.” Medea twisted to see if there was anyone else with them. The large man with the red eyes stood behind the woman but there was no Everett.
Frowning she asked, “Where is Everett?”
Chapter Nineteen
Everett ran straight into the cannibal. He bounced off the side of the man as Everett ran through the tents looking for Medea. He landed on a tent and several lines snapped as he slid down. The cannibal growled and reached for him. Everett rolled but only tangled himself in the guide ropes. The cannibal caught him by his jacket and lifted him bodily out of the canvas tangle.
Everett twisted and jabbed his fingers at the cannibal’s eyes. The cannibal’s reflex was to drop him. Everett landed on his feet. He spun and kicked out. It was an awkward kick as he was still trailing a rope that had looped around his ankle. The cannibal was fast enough to dance backwards.
Lifting his meaty fists the cannibal swung down at him. Everett dropped his shoulder and rammed into the middle of the cannibal. His fists hit Everett in his back. The blow forced his breath out of him. Everett dug in his toes and pushed the cannibal back. The world tipped and they went down. Everett knew it wasn’t him so the cannibal must have tripped up. The cannibal rolled so he was on top of Everett.
Everett pulled his legs up against his chest. Kicking out he drove the cannibal off him. The cannibal fell into a cage, knocking it over. The monkeys squealed as the toppling of their home rudely woke them. Everett jumped to his feet as monkeys scrambled out the broken wooden slats the cannibal’s impact had smashed that. Smaller than the creature that was stitched to a fish, the monkeys though were many. They swarmed over the cannibal like bees on a honeycomb.
The cannibal cried out as the monkeys bit into his flesh. Everett glanced around and saw a mallet used to drive pegs into the ground half hidden by the canvas of a tent. The small monkeys scattered as the cannibal roared and rose. Some of the monkeys were flung through the air.
Everett was already halfway through his swing when the cannibal gained his feet. There was a crunch and snap as the cannibal’s shoulder took the brunt of the hammer. He screamed like an injured cow and stumbled back. Everett didn’t take the chance that the man would recover and pulled the hammer back for another swing.
A small monkey skittered between his feet forcing Everett to dance to avoid landing on his rump. The cannibal took advantage of his distraction and rushed him. Together they tumbled into another cage. This one smaller than monkey cage but this one didn’t have slats but rather solid walls. The wood shattered and showered them with splinters and wood.
Everett rolled when a hiss warned him to the contents of the cage. He hadn’t seen them the first time he had come through the circus but he had seen the posters for the reptiles.
The monkeys had completely scattered and the cannibal pummelled him with his single fist as his other arm hung uselessly against his side. Everett ducked as much as he could but the blow glanced off his head and stunned him. He was more concerned about moving away from the snake that slithered out of the broken cage than avoiding another blow.
Rolling aside Everett took the hit to his shoulder. Grunting with pain Everett braced himself for another blow but when it didn’t come, he finished his roll and saw that the cannibal was struggling with the reptile. It had coiled around his leg and the cannibal was wrestling with the head. But with only one hand it was a losing battle.
Bone snapped and the cannibal screamed. Everett found his feet and looked around for a weapon. The mallet was tangled up in the guide ropes. He yanked on it till it came free. When he turned back to the cannibal, he was on the ground and the serpent was stalking one of the monkeys quivering in the folds of the downed tent.
The cannibal groaned but his fight was gone from him. The hammer remained in Everett’s hands but he didn’t bother to attack the man.
Victor came running around the corner. “There you are? Is that the beast your sister wrestled the other day? I thought he was in prison.”
Everett found himself reduced to an inarticulate grunt and let the mallet drop from his fingers.
___
Medea couldn’t take her eyes off Cayman. Charani jerked him in place as they tied up his feet. She patted his shoulder almost fondly and said, “You won’t be getting out of that.”
Charani glanced over her shoulder. She must have given a signal as there was a bright flash of blue light that carved haunting shapes out of the tents.
Medea heard the dragon before she could see again, her night sight ruined by the bright flash. By the time she could see again Charani was climbing onto the dragon’s back. The dragon was almost black he was such a deep red. She had thought all dragons were gold but this one was certainly not gold.
Cayman took advantage of everyone’s distraction and rolled to his feet and tried to hop away. The dragon reached forward with one of his large claws and slammed Cayman to the ground.
Medea had lunged forward and had to catch herself. Her muscles complained and she had to shuffle her feet to get her balance again.
Charani laughed. “You won’t try that again old man.” Cayman’s only response was to groan.
Charani turned to Rayne. “You alright with the chest?”
Rayne nodded. “I’ll bring them to justice the ones who are on the island. I’ll send you the details for any one on the continent.” Charani shrugged. She patted the scales in front of her saddle.
The dragon swept out his wings and everyone ducked to avoid either being buffeted by the wind or outright knocked over by a wing. Medea covered her head as the dragon took off and it threw sawdust at speed.
Coughing she looked up into the night sky but she couldn’t see the dragon or Cayman clasped in the dragon’s claw.
Katherine said, “I have to get the Collector and the cannibal to a doctor.” With that announcement, she wandered off. Everett took a couple of steps towards his sister but the wince of pain on his face made it clear that he wasn’t up for it.
Medea went to his side and slipped an arm around his waist. “You also need to see a doctor.”
He shook his head. “Just take me home.” He hobbled along at her side.
Victor and Rayne argued as they left to deal with the fire and bodies. She wasn’t worried about them as they bickered good-naturedly like an elderly couple. Victor stopped and ran back.
He grinned at them as he picked up the chest from the doctor. “Almost forgot.”
One out of the circus they sat with the carriage while they waited for the others to return. It was only after other constables arrived to deal with the fire and the bodies did Rayne return with Katherine and Victor.
Everett asked, “Did the men survive?”
Katherine huffed. “Are you doubting my abilities? Of course they are still alive and they should stay that way as long as they are looked after properly.”
Rayne said, “They wouldn’t let her go with them. Apparently she already has a reputation.” The last was said through barely held in chuckles. Katherine threw a look at Rayne that muffled the laughter only slightly. Medea didn’t have siblings but if she did this was the kind of family she would have wished for.
When they returned to the house Rayne helped Medea to take Everett to his room.
Rayne dropped a medical kit on the bed. “Take your shirt off. You are bleeding.”
Medea was about to leave when Rayne said, “I have to see to Victor. Can you fix up his bandages? If Katherine finds out he undid her work she’ll have kittens.” Rayne barely waited for her to nod her head before she left.
Medea blushed but opened up the medical kit to dig out some clean bandages. She kept her head down and refused to catch his eye as she worked on cleaning up his wound and replacing everything.
Medea reached behind Everett to wrap around the bandage for the last time. The stitches had stayed but the wound had oozed blood during his fight with the cannibal. She tied off the end and patted his side, “All in place.” She glanced up to catch Everett gazing down at her.
He reached out and ran just the tips of his fingers over her hair. “You are stunning.”
She flushed and hated it as she knew the blush would travel over her entire face and be clearly visible to anyone in the room. She glanced around and to see if Rayne had returned.
Medea tucked her hair behind an ear. Her hair was frizzy and difficult to control. Usually she would have it in a tight braid but in the frenzy of attacks, most of it had escaped.
Everett offered, “Here let me.” He caught her shoulder and turned her so he could tackle her braid. He spoke while his fingers ran through her hair. “With the dragons taking Cayman you really don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
There was a long silence and she wasn’t sure if she was supposed to fill it but Everett continued on before she worried she had missed a signal. “That means you don’t have to run anymore. I could do with some help in the store. I’d be able to do more work if I wasn’t distracted so much by people coming in.” He coughed and she glanced back to see he was blushing.
She frowned, unsure what he was embarrassed by. He turned her head to finish with her braid. “That is if you want to stay.” The emphasis on the last word told her everything.
She let him finish her braid in silence as she thought. She wanted to be able to look in his eyes when she spoke to him.
He finished and his hands briefly ran over her shoulders. The lightest of touches as if he feared she would reject his caress if he was too bold. She pulled the braid over her shoulder and inspected the work.
She smiled. “I can tell you have sisters.” He grunted as his only comment. She turned so she could see his face but was too scared to lift her head as she spoke. “I would love to work for you. But I don’t know about the rest.”
When he was silent, she glanced up. He offered her a small smile. “I can live with that.” She wanted him to know there was more. It was only that she knew her being in his life would only complicate things.
She was an ex-slave and he was the son of a duke. There would be rumours and people that would never accept her. If she let the small flutter of care and love grow she knew she would condemn him to be ostracised by his own people. She wasn’t sure yet if he had people around him that wouldn’t care. People that would be able to accept her as well. She wanted to explore it though.
She put her hand over his where it lay on his thigh. Squeezing his hand a little she tried out different arguments in her head. “I’m not sure people will accept us even being friends. Let alone more.”
He turned his hand over and grasped hers. “I know that. I also don’t care. I realised a long time ago that their opinion doesn’t matter. They wrote off Rayne years ago just because to them she was no longer suitable to be a decoration. I wouldn’t want you to be a decoration either and that would be all they would expect from you.” He didn’t add that like Rayne she would also be considered inadequate to be an ornament to the ton.
He lightly traced the tips of his fingers on her cheek. “I’d rather have someone who was brave and has integrity. Someone who I could trust at my back.” His fingers caressed her lips and he leaned in. She knew she shouldn’t but she also knew she wouldn’t stop him. She leant forward just the slightest bit.
Chapter Twenty
The chest made a cracking noise as Victor dropped it outside of the Yard. Rayne winced and hurried off Victor’s back to make sure the chest hadn’t taken any damage from the rough landing. She glanced away as Victor’s transformation filled the small yard with blue light. But once she could see without spots in her eyes she studied the chest. Running her hands over the side she saw that some of the veneer had peeled back but otherwise the chest was still intact.
She lifted it and sent a thought into her metal hand to maintain its grip. Even if she dropped the other side it would remain in her grasp. The doors to the Yard opened before they approached. It was Fields and he had a distinctly angry frown on his lips. He backed up as she stepped into the foyer.
The back door to the Yard meant they entered amongst the desks and officers waiting to go out on their rounds. She usually ignored the desks as the men there made her feel an outsider. It was Larkin who had to wade amongst them to gain the gossip she needed to stay ahead of the issues in the workplace.
This time she made a beeline for the desks and lifted the chest onto one desk. Scattering papers and wanted posters as she did.
Fields had followed her as she had made her way to the desk. “Ancaster what is the meaning of this? You can’t just arrive on a dragon.”
Victor cleared his throat and said, “I’m right here, Fields.”
Fields glanced in Victor’s direction but ignored his comment and added, “You will scare people if you go around like that and the last thing this organisation needs is to scare the populous.”
Rayne placed her mechanical hand on top of the chest and half turned towards Fields. “What’s that, Ancaster? I heard you arrested escaped convicts tonight is that to do with them? Oh, by the way, congratulations on uncovering several corrupt guards at the prison. We would never have known they were releasing prisoners if it wasn’t for your astute detective skills.” She raised an eyebrow and watched Fields. His frown deepened and his moustache twitched.
When he didn’t answer her mocking tone she patted the chest and said in answer to her own questions. “Why thank you, boss. It was hard work but I’ve found records of other criminals. Here are records of slavery here in the good old Wyvern Empire. We’ll all have to work together to catch these men.”
“Ancaster,” Fields said warningly.
She shook her head and waved her hand to indicate the others who all stood with mouths open or thin lips. “Admit it Fields I’ve done a good job here. I’ve done everything you’ve asked and more. Today I helped bring in a cannibal and murderers and yet you want to scold me. Ask yourself why? Is it because of my gender? I don’t get to choose what gender I am.”
Fields growled. “You could decide to work here.”
“So you think I should stay at home and raise kids?”
“This place isn’t safe for your kind.”
Victor said, “Ooo those are fighting words.”
Fields glanced at Victor but again ignored him. It made anger bubble up inside her. “Is that what all the rumours are about? Do you think you are saving me
? How arrogant to think you have any say over my life.”
Fields sniffed. “If your father had any control over you he would have…” she cut him off with a sharp motion of her hand.
“My father. My father! I’m married Fields. If any man had any say whatsoever over my career it would be Victor. As you can see he supports my career choices.”
“Very much so.” Victor added cheerfully.
Fields snapped at Victor. “Stay out of this.”
That had Rayne straightening her shoulders. “But he is in this. All the dragons are. They say women should be in the workforce. That it will help with equality and keep us safe. Women safe. Me safe.” Her words softened at the end.
“Forcing women to only stay at home traps them, Fields. What if they end up with an abusive father or husband? You’ve seen the atrocity humanity can sink to. You can’t tell me all men are good fathers and good husbands. If you pressure women out of honourable careers the only way to escape those men is to offer their bodies. Again you have seen this with your own eyes. Why can’t you see that by accepting me you accept other women and give them a place to be safe?”
Fields folded his arms across his chest. “So you working here saves women. I knew the nobles were arrogant.”
They all turned when Sir Rowan said, “But she isn’t wrong.”
Her godfather pushed past some of the men who scrambled to get out of his way. “We are the face of society. More and more people are looking towards us to know what the government and society in general want from the populous. We are not just bruisers who need to put a stop to a fight. We are the ones who serve and protect people. How we treat our own will send a message. At the moment we are sending the message that even competent members are not to be accepted if they are different.”
Sir Rowan waved towards Victor and said, “Victor has closed a dozen open cases just with the magic he does in his lab.”
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