Federal Agents of Magic Boxed Set

by T. R. Cameron

  Cara stepped closer to speak softly into her ear. “And we trust this?”

  Diana gave the signs for silence and surveillance and advanced without a reply. It would have been rude to wear comms, and the danger of their hosts noticing was too high.

  Still, I wish we had them.

  They walked for about ten minutes before the Kilomea led them through another gate. Diana’s legs burned after five. She tried not to think about the fact that they would need to walk up these same stairs to leave. Finally, they stepped free of the tunnel and slowed to a stop. She almost pitched headlong out of sheer wonder.

  Bryant had described it as another downtown, but her mind hadn’t grasped the sheer size involved. It was undoubtedly the largest cavern she had ever seen in person or on television, let alone heard of. It stretched for at least a mile ahead. She performed the eye sweep that would call up her glasses’ display to find out for sure, and they failed to respond.

  Of course, no signal. I bet our phones don’t work either. Still, it was worth a try, and now we know for sure.

  Two varieties of stalactites hung from the ceiling. One looked like traditional stone generated by the vagaries of moisture and minerals. The others were comprised of glowing faceted gems that emitted a purple light that spread across the entire ceiling. She heard an indrawn breath behind her and echoed it as the magical potential of the place washed through her. She hadn’t noticed the emptiness inside her until the crystals’ power filled the hollow space. It felt incredible.

  So that’s what Bryant meant about magic fuel. Wow.

  The lower portion of the cave formed a bowl, and she grimaced at the number of stairs that lay between them and the bottom. The layout resembled a child’s drawing of sunbeams. Streets of varying widths flowed away from the semi-circle that held the palace grounds and reached all the way to the sides and back. Terraces climbed the slopes everywhere, except behind the palace, and each was dotted with what appeared to be small houses. She noticed a shimmer of motion below and realized it was foot traffic. Again, she reevaluated the scale of the place and shook her head. “We should’ve brought an energy bar or five.”

  Tony moaned. “There has to be an elevator to take up, right?”

  Cara slapped him on the shoulder. “Not to worry. It's probably an Uber-like service, only made of people who can fly.”

  Diana laughed. “Dragon express. Fifty percent discount if you get burned on the way.”

  Their escort raised a skeptical brow but otherwise, remained silent. She took a deep breath and resumed the descent. Groans sounded behind as her team followed.

  The stairs were precarious enough that they had to go slowly, but they finally reached the bottom twenty minutes later.

  It gives credence to Cara’s idea, really.

  The staircase ended at the widest street, which carved the bowl into two equal halves. It appeared to run unbroken to the palace. People flowed in both directions, and Diana took a moment to recover her breath and her wits before moving on. The revelation of the Kemana equaled the surprise of the discovery of her magic so many years before.

  She turned to her team. “Okay, this is far, far beyond my experience. I presume it’s beyond yours as well?” They both nodded. “Right. Here’s what we’ll do. We walk straight to the palace, so we don’t lose our way. A reasonable speed should get us there about fifteen minutes before noon, assuming no time or distance-altering magic are employed between here and there.” She grinned. “I know, that’s a huge assumption, but we have to start somewhere.”

  Cara squinted at the ivory building across the cavern. “It seems there’d be no need for it, except as a defensive measure, and then you’d think it would be active, not passive.”

  Tony nodded in agreement, and Diana chuckled. “We have two priorities. First is to get a sense of this place, as we’ll probably visit fairly often, assuming things go well. The second is to not tick anybody off. I know that might be hard for you, so I’m officially asking you to dial it back a little.” The offended looks the comment inspired warmed her heart, and she spun to lead them on before they could muster a counter-insult.

  They merged carefully into the foot traffic on the right lane of the main street. People walked far enough apart to avoid bumping into anyone and so they would have time to react to unexpected actions committed by those in front of them. Despite this, the total number of travelers still doubled or tripled what she’d estimated on the city streets above. She identified beings she was familiar with—dwarves and elves walking alongside wizards and witches. She also noticed goblins, Kilomea, and several other creatures she didn’t recognize.

  Trees and other plant life, some green and some vibrantly hued, filled the gaps between the shops that extended along the side of the street. They appeared to fill spaces that would otherwise connect one road to the next. Diana assumed the foliage would be thin enough that they could cut through, if necessary, but it would probably be frowned upon. Every so often, a narrow footpath would thread through the flora, and she guessed that would be the authorized shortcut.

  She studied those walking toward her from behind the anonymity of her glasses, which she had polarized to appear dark from the outside. They wore sharp suits and attractive professional dresses. It was odd to see pointed ears and long hair combined with business attire, but she imagined they would go to the surface from time to time, and it might be easier to use partial illusions, rather than full ones. As far as she knew, all these people were on their way up, although there didn’t seem to be anyone actually climbing the stairs.

  Diana stepped out of the flow of traffic and onto the sidewalk to admire a store window. Swords taller than she was made up the left part of the display. They descended in size and type to the throwing daggers on the far right. The metal gleamed in the white light emitted by a gem that hung above them, and all appeared to be exceptionally well-crafted. Each bore etchings and symbols in a language she couldn’t recognize.

  The next store was filled with food, and a display outside held what seemed to be fruit in colors and shapes she had never seen. The diamond-shaped one that reflected the purple light from above especially caught her eye. She turned to make sure her team still followed. Cara stared into the blade shop with what came close to adoration, and Tony kept his hands planted in his pockets while he carefully avoided getting too close to anything or anyone. She met each of their gazes in turn and tilted her head in a question. They nodded, and she faced forward and continued to their destination.

  They’re fine. Quit worrying, the mental voice that popped up at such moments argued.

  Yes, but first impressions matter, she countered.

  We’re making a fine first impression. Also, shut up.

  She was certain she imagined the snickering as her internal conversation fell silent.

  At the next window, she paused and peered inside. At that point, her brain slipped into a vapor lock. The space held an assortment of boots made from materials she didn’t recognize and fashioned in gorgeous styles she had never seen. One pair was tall enough to reach her thighs, while another looked like it would be as soft as silk. That pair’s material somehow managed to look tough and luxurious simultaneously. She'd lost track of how long she had stared when Cara bumped into her gently. “Keep a move on, boss.”

  Diana sighed. “We need to find out what kind of money they use down here. And I need to go back to that shop.”

  The three rejoined the flow and walked abreast. Cara shook her head. “Sure. That won’t be a telltale or anything.”

  She frowned. The other woman had a point, but she wasn’t willing to give up on the idea either. “Okay, maybe only in the evenings when the light isn’t good. And at home, of course. Oh, and the office would work.”

  Her voice trailed off as she identified a gathering of some kind up ahead that caused the steady movement in the street to become unpredictable.

  That could make us late.

  It looked innocent enough, but w
ho could say? She led the others down the footpath to the right. They merged onto another street so dramatically unlike the previous one that she could hardly believe they existed so close to one another. The artificial light didn’t seem to penetrate as well. Only two people could walk abreast, and the shops seemed somehow sinister, less welcoming, and more intimidating.

  She turned left and increased her pace. Halfway toward the next big intersection, a throaty laugh carried to her, and she couldn’t resist turning to find the source. A tall woman leaned in a nearby doorframe.

  Correction, a tall elf. The pointed ears are a dead giveaway.

  Diana’s eyes widened as her brain connected the dots. Not only was it an elf, her dark skin and pure white hair marked her as a Drow—one of the more dangerous Oriceran races according to everything she’d read and heard.

  The woman said something in a language Diana didn’t understand, and when she failed to respond, the Drow rolled her eyes. “Oh, very well. I will speak your simple tongue. Welcome to Stonesreach, humans.” Her voice made it seem as if they were anything but welcome.

  She put on her most polite face and banished the frost from her tone. “Thank you. I am Diana.”

  The elf nodded with a small smile that transformed her features from neutral to predatory. “It is foolish to give up information so quickly, Diana. Although it is true, I already know so much about you.” Tony and Cara stepped near, one behind each of her shoulders. She sensed their willingness to act if it became necessary.

  “Oh? What do you know?”

  The woman gave a lazy grin and paused before she replied. Diana used the moment to assess her. She wore a black tunic with intricate embroidery that ran down the left and right sides. This particular female was curvy, unlike other elves Diana had seen.

  Definitely a head-turner.

  The Drow wore what looked like leather pants and high boots that appeared to have been made the old-fashioned way. They glinted oddly in the light. Diana pushed aside her envy over the footwear as the elf spoke. “The male behind you is nervous. He has no magic, so he has every reason to be so.”

  Diana felt Tony’s body tense.

  “The woman, on the other hand, clearly does have magic.” She tilted her head to the side and her eyes lost focus briefly. “Magic that speaks of fire and heat. Elven magic.” Diana looked at Cara, fearing she would be upset at the knowledge being so casually shared.

  I know I would have been.

  Cara simply shrugged.

  The Drow rose from her perch to face Diana with her full height and took a step forward. “And you, their leader, are different. Your power is a ferocious thing that comes in many flavors. You are one who bears watching.” She stepped back and extended her arms on either side as a thin smile blossomed over her face. “All of you are welcome in my shop. Anything you may need, I have. Or I can get, for the right price.”

  She marshaled the wit to reply to the sudden change in attitude. “We have no time to browse at the moment, but perhaps we'll come back.”

  The elf shrugged her shoulders. “As you please, Diana.”

  She led the others toward the castle and looked back only once. The Drow leaned against the wall of her shop and the same confident smile played on her lips. Diana shuddered and faced forward again hastily. They took the next path that crossed to the main street and found themselves in an area filled with restaurants. Beings of all kinds sat at tables with food or drink before them, many of whom were involved in animated conversations. It created as jovial an atmosphere as they had seen since their arrival and relaxed her jangled nerves. Even better, their destination was in sight.

  The remainder of their journey was smooth and uneventful. They arrived at the foot of the steps leading to the palace at the appointed time, and all three companions groaned in unison at the sight.

  Diana shook her head. “Every day is leg day in this town.”

  Chapter Twenty

  She led the way up the shallow but seemingly endless steps at the front of the huge building. They swept out in a graceful curve at the bottom and narrowed slightly as they climbed. At the top, six people could easily walk side-by-side without jostling one another. The palace was white, accented only by a few variations in the form of off-white features in the stone. It reminded her of marble.

  But marble doesn’t have that faceted glow.

  It most certainly wasn’t local, in any case.

  An ornate pair of double doors at least a story high stood before them, flanked by two figures in gleaming armor. Diana slowed, hoping to demonstrate that they weren’t a threat. A closer inspection revealed the guards to be elves with long hair in different shades of blond cascading down their shoulders from beneath the circlets they wore. Each gripped a tall spear in the hand farthest from the door. Their other hands hovered near the sword sheaths at their belts. Their bodies were encased in chain mail woven from a metal she couldn’t identify.

  Quiet, Diana. This is not the time for a Lord of the Rings reference.

  Her inner voice added a defiant, Mithril, in the appropriate accent, and she sighed inwardly.

  The doors swung wide with no reaction from the guards. The emissary she’d met the day before stood beyond the opening and beckoned them through as the guards relaxed their pose. “Thank you for coming, Agent Diana Sheen. I am to take you to the lady directly.” He turned and strode away, apparently assuming they would follow.

  The inside of the castle featured the same material as the outside, although every block was polished to reflect the soft geode-based lighting above. Paintings and tapestries hung on the walls, separated by intervals of bare stone. It reminded Diana of the gallery crawl only a few nights before. The event seemed much farther away than that, given all that had happened in the interim. The art ran the gamut from portraits to landscapes to depictions of presumably historical battles. She recognized some of the new creatures they’d encountered in the city. Others were completely alien. Elves featured the most prominently.

  They turned the corner and entered a spacious throne room. The cavern’s purple glow filtered in from windows on the side and the transparent surface above. Support pillars rose at intervals to connect the floor and ceiling. A raised dais that supported a pair of ornate thrones was the room’s only other architectural feature of note. The smaller seat was empty, but the larger one held a Light Elf dressed in elegant finery and bedecked in jewels at her wrists, throat, ears, and brow.

  Tony breathed a soft, “Wow,” from behind, and Diana silently agreed.

  The emissary stopped them several feet from the base of the platform, then turned to address their host. “Lady Alayne, the human representatives you invited have arrived.”

  The woman nodded. The unreality of the moment relaxed as she smiled and her expression conveyed warmth, caring, and a kind of purity that Diana couldn’t quite put her finger on. She expected to feel her bracelet chill to indicate the presence of illusion, but it didn’t. The woman’s personality was simply that powerful.

  “I would like to formally greet you as the leader of the Kemana Stonesreach. From this time forward, unless you are informed differently by myself or my emissary, please consider yourselves welcome in this place. Do no harm, and no harm will be done to you.” They nodded solemnly in response. “Might I request the pleasure of your names and titles?”

  Diana nodded and spoke first. “Diana Sheen, Special Agent in Charge of ARES Pittsburgh.”

  “Detective Tony, Ryan, Agent.”

  “U.S. Marshal Cara Binot, Agent.”

  The lady rewarded them with a smile. “Thank you for accepting my invitation. As much as Ciannon enjoys amplifying the formal power the head of the Kemana holds, I am well aware that you could have declined.” The emissary scowled, and she laughed.

  Diana smiled. Maybe this relationship wouldn’t have to be so rigid after all. “We appreciate your thoughtfulness, Lady Alayne. We would have requested a visit, but we’ve been a little busy since reaching town and di
dn’t want to presume a welcome.”

  Alayne nodded her understanding. “That is appropriate.” Then, with a suddenness that surprised them, the edges of her mouth turned down. “The new prison in the city above—the Cube, I believe you call it—is causing trouble for magicals and non-magicals alike.”

  She nodded. “It appears so. However, it is necessary.”

  The elf’s head tilted to the side, her expression shifting between curiosity and skepticism. “Why?”

  The question set her back on her heels. The truth was that she had taken the presence of the Cube as a given and never really considered why it was essential. She shrugged. “This area of the country is a particular hotbed of magic. Our data shows that this is the closest large city to the center of it, which makes putting the prisons here a logistically sound decision. Also, having it near an ARES bureau is a logical idea.”

  “Why not in the country’s capital?”

  Diana grinned. “No one wants to put that substantial a number of detainees in such close proximity to so many legislators, Lady Alayne. The politicians might corrupt the prisoners.”

  Alayne’s laughter seemed almost to vibrate through the crystalline fixtures of the throne room. “Very well said, Diana Sheen.”

  She hesitated, then decided to simply go ahead. “May I ask a question, Lady Alayne?”

  The elf’s lips twitched, and she replied, “I believe you just have.” A small wave indicated the lady’s permission to proceed.

  “What do you know of the Remembrance?”

  The lady exchanged a frown with her emissary and sighed. “Too much, I am afraid. In Stonesreach, we hear talk of their ideas. It is not Rhazdon, of course, but others trading in her beliefs. We are not sure whether they are true believers or are simply using her principles as a tool to gain followers and power. In the end, the distinction is largely irrelevant.”

  Diana nodded. “That corresponds to our knowledge. We have identified a hierarchy with unknown members at the top overseeing others on Earth.” She tried to keep the note of hope out of her voice. “Do you know what their goals are?”