Lady Alayne shook her head, and the gems that dangled from her ears swayed in time to refract the purple light. The sight made Diana wonder.
Can you wear power stones and always carry a refill of magic with you?
Her musings were interrupted as the lady spoke. “We understand they are seeking artifacts and presume it is with the goal to distribute them amongst their followers to increase their magical capabilities. It is likely that these actions are meant as a form of preparation to initiate some act of importance to them.”
She nodded. “That sounds very much like what we believe, Lady Alayne.”
“If they continue as they have been, they will attempt to sow chaos wherever possible. We expect the monster attacks in Europe are connected, although we lack clear proof. Of course, the protests against the prison here are their doing.” She said this as if it was beyond question.
“Of course,” Diana conceded. “Do you know anything about the mysterious figures at the top of this organization?”
“Removed as we are from those on Oriceran, we are not privy to this information. We are only sure it is not a single leader, as it was in Rhazdon’s time, but a group with a shared purpose. Like Rhazdon before them, they embrace any follower, so long as they share their belief in the primacy of magic and possess the will to act toward that end.”
“It sounds like we need to get back to work, then. We were already reasonably certain that the event at the museum was part of this, but your words have removed whatever small doubt remained.”
The lady nodded. Her emissary stepped forward without instruction, and Diana remembered that she had a final question to ask. “May we have permission to finish the connection between the Kemana’s tunnel and the one from our facility you are doubtless aware has been reaching toward it?”
Alayne grinned in confirmation of that knowledge. “Granted. However, please connect beyond the outer door. It would not do for anyone coming through your tunnel to have unfettered access. In truth, the guard’s primary responsibility is not to keep visitors out but to send a warning ahead of those who enter.”
Diana nodded. “Thank you, Lady Alayne.”
“You are welcome, Diana Sheen, Tony Ryan, Cara Binot.” She nodded to each of them in turn. “Please visit us as often as you feel the need. We have no wish to see all the gains our people have made together destroyed by those with limited vision.”
The emissary hustled forward during their polite farewells and escorted them from the building, then vanished behind the closing doors.
Tony sighed as he peered out at the city. “So, about that elevator?”
Cara added a humorless laugh. “I didn’t see one, or any dragons for rental.”
Diana looked at the immense staircase on the opposite side of the cavern and exhaled. “Leg day has just become leg week, people. Start walking.”
Chapter Twenty-One
A chill wind rippled through the broken structures. They were gray with scorches of black, cracked and weathered by the years since their partial destruction. The stone remembered the battle of long ago, a conflict that ended in a loss for the followers of Rhazdon.
A crackling echoed from the collapsed forms and rebounded from the columns and pedestals that still remained, however decrepit they had become. An oval of energy formed in the air, then filled with darkness. The nominal leader of the Remembrance, first among equals, stepped through. The rift sealed behind him, and the wizard gazed suspiciously around the chamber. His wand was held low in a pale hand. Only the stones were present to greet him, and they were far from welcoming.
Dreven nodded in satisfaction and advanced toward the round basin set in the middle of the ruined courtyard. His dark purple robes ended an inch above the ground, and heavy, warm boots showed beneath. He used his wand to clear the littered path before him. Debris and dirt that had accumulated since his last visit swept easily aside under the force of his magic. When he reached the fountain, a swirl and flick of his wand gathered the algae, leaves, and other detritus that had settled in the water. The residue of the magical conflict from long before ensured that though it struggled, life would not gain a stronger foothold there than it already possessed. While they had not yet succumbed, the mottled trunks of the trees indicated clearly that they fought a losing battle.
Not unlike the humans.
A final twitch of his wand sent the collected debris elsewhere, leaving only clean liquid that shivered beneath the caress of the breeze.
He strode to his position at the northernmost point of the circle created by the fountain. The wind sifted his hair like wind chimes. The long braids he had tied it into were less pliable than his unbound hair would’ve been but still not heavy enough to resist nature’s force entirely. At the appointed moment, four portals appeared a notable distance from one another. Various beings stepped through each and crossed the distance to take their designated places around the fountain
A dwarf had arrived with a metallic clink that suggested armor under the robes and cowl that partially hid his face. He took his place quickly on the left.
Next in line stood a female Kilomea, whose bulk was larger than the greatest male of the species he’d ever seen. Her massive teeth and broad, bony forehead communicated a love for violence. The mammoth sword handle that extended over her shoulder confirmed her readiness to meet any challenge with force. She wore a perpetual half-grin that mixed confidence and condescension in equal measure.
An underground gnome stood beside her. This branch of the gnome species was rarely seen and seemed darker and harder than their servant cousins. The creature spoke infrequently, but always with significant insight.
He may be the most dangerous of them all.
Finally, the witch to his right arrived to close the circle. Her magic was fearsome, and her cruel beauty mystified her opponents until the moment at which she ended their existence. Rumor painted her as everything from a powerless gold-digger running a long con to an icon of pure evil who consumed the souls of those who crossed her. Even he was drawn by her elegance and had to constantly remind himself that power, and only power, mattered to the witch. Nods of greeting were exchanged—some neutral, some almost pleasant, but all sharing the hard edge of suspicion.
He swung his wand in an arc from left to right above his head, then another from forward to back, and a pinprick of light appeared high above at the intersection of the paths. It swelled in all directions to form a transparent semicircular shield that pulsed when it reached the ground. The barrier blocked the wind and would conceal them from magical eavesdropping. It also rendered the gathering invisible by cloaking the courtyard in an illusion of normalcy.
Not that anyone would come here to find us, anyway.
With the security measures fully in place, he finally broke the silence. “Welcome, my friends.” The Kilomea snorted at the designation and drew knowing smiles from the others. “It is a genuine pleasure to see you again. Without these regular meetings, my happiness would be but a shell of its former self.”
As always, sarcasm prevailed among them.
The dwarf rolled his eyes. “Oh, me as well. True joy.” No one else added anything, so Dreven spoke again.
“Today, we must discuss plans ahead and failures behind.” He paused briefly and the dwarf shook his head slightly. As the next in the circle, the Kilomea accepted her turn to speak.
“Let us begin by speaking of failure, then. You did not capture the ambassador.”
The gnome added a quiet, “Indeed,” and the witch nodded.
Just as I expected.
“Let us begin there, then. I have invited another to inform us on this matter.” A rune sketched in the air with his wand pierced the protective shell enough to permit a portal, and a circular gesture brought it into being. His underling stepped through. Further gestures banished the rift and resealed the barrier. “My subordinate was in charge of the effort to secure the ambassador. I thought it best we heard from him directly. Do explain, Nehlan
.”
The elf shivered. Dreven had deliberately failed to warn his minion about the chill temperature that permeated the battle site.
Petty, perhaps, but he’s earned it.
He nodded encouragement, and Nehlan suppressed his trembling to speak clearly. “The plan was a good one. It should have succeeded. However, an unexpected variable intervened.”
Dreven’s lips twitched at the illusory features that had replaced the council’s true faces. He hadn’t concealed his own since he had nothing to fear from his subordinate. The elf thought he was clever with his bunker, his poison fruit, and his stolen power, but Dreven could and would end him at any time he felt the urge.
The dwarf’s voice was low and gravelly as he spoke first. “What was this unexpected variable?” he asked scornfully.
Nehlan shuddered. “A group of human meddlers more powerful than most we’ve seen.”
The Kilomea growled. “Then you should have killed them all before they had the chance to interfere with the ambassador’s capture.” The elf flinched reflexively from her anger.
Nehlan straightened his spine, and a look of contempt drew his lips down as he met the hulking brute’s eyes. “We attempted to. The result was that one of your people now languishes in a human prison. Perhaps I simply trusted the wrong person. Or the wrong species.”
The aggressive female moved to take a menacing step forward as a ferocious glare settled over her illusory face. “I will show you how I deal with my inferiors, tiny elf.”
Dreven’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he flicked his wand and a gentle wave of force radiated from it—not enough to be rude and only enough to draw attention. “Keep it polite, please.”
The gnome declined to speak, but the witch’s sultry voice asked, “What of your lieutenant, the one we gifted with the artifact? Did he perform as expected?”
Dreven turned with his servant as Nehlan turned to face her. The illusion she displayed was flat and disguised her true beauty, but his subordinate’s response carried a note of respect, nonetheless. “It worked as you said it would. It made him increasingly pliable the longer he wore it. By the end, I believe he would have killed himself or anyone else at a word from me.”
The witch inclined her head, and it was again his turn to speak. “Wait for me beyond the circle, Nehlan.” The elf walked away, and Dreven parted the shield momentarily to allow him to exit.
The dwarf’s growl was satisfied. “The alterations we have made to the artifacts are working, then.”
The gnome nodded. “They certainly appear to be. It was an inspired thought.” He acknowledged the witch beside him, and she grinned as her perfect red lips tilted in a smile. “My idea, but all of our efforts. So long as they continue to only influence willingness to serve but not thinking ability, they can only make the Remembrance more powerful.”
Dreven stuck his hands in the pockets of his outer robe. The cold radiating up through the stone had become an irritant, and he tried to keep his annoyance out of his voice. “The failure to abduct the ambassador is but a minor setback. Several paths branched forward from that moment, and we have simply been redirected onto a different one. Unknown to my underlings—and something I have not yet shared with you—is that I have been aware of this new organization for a while. Our source in another of their agencies was quite irritated about them and spoke at some length.” He rolled his eyes, and the others laughed. “We have interfered with their supply shipments and put plans in place for attacks on their leaders. However, it will take weeks for those to fully develop.”
“And what of the new prison?” the dwarf asked.
Dreven nodded. “Yes, the new prison. It is controlled and operated by this same group. Plans are in motion for that, as well. Our minions have inflamed the city in opposition. However, it is time to make a statement, as we agreed.” He stared across the circle at the Kilomea. “Are your people ready for the event?”
She bared her sharp teeth with a decisive nod. “We are. When the humans riot, we will use the chaos to launch a strike against the facility.”
The witch folded her arms and shook her head. “I must reiterate that I dislike this plan. It is too conservative, doesn’t address the Kemana beneath the city, and doesn’t end the larger threat of this opposing group. It is a symbolic action and a waste of our time and resources.”
Dreven shrugged.
We’ve been over this too many times already.
“Does anyone other than Iressa desire to change our direction?” The circle remained silent, and he nodded. “Then, Pesharn, I wish you greater luck than my subordinate had.” The Kilomea inclined her head in acknowledgment. “Now, you all must excuse me. I need to have a serious conversation with Nehlan about his failure.” The other members of the Remembrance chuckled as he turned and dropped the shield.
A very serious conversation.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vincente sat behind the battered metal desk in his office and admired the objects before him. There had been unexpected treasures among the artifacts. Some were items he had yet to deduce the purpose of and others were clearly Rhazdon artifacts he would be obligated to surrender to those above. His hands itched with the desire to claim one for himself. Once he had, though, only death could steal it away. He pulled the offending member back, cognizant of the fact that those above would not hesitate to spend days killing him for being so bold as to claim one for himself.
As a distraction, he selected one of the clear crystals scattered among the other treasures and held it to the light. The most unexpected bonus was the gems used to counter magic. He would leave them unreported to those above and use them to the benefit of his own branch.
Perhaps, with a few more successes, I will be granted an artifact all my own.
As his fingers stretched toward them again, he shook his head and covered the powerful items with a black cloth. He bound it tightly around them so they couldn’t tempt him further.
The coin in his hidden pocket warmed, and he swallowed hard. Without delay, he scooped up all the items on the desk and carried them to the safe. He spun the lock quickly and yanked the handle to deposit them inside. Then, he withdrew the small figurine his superiors had provided and placed it on the desk in front of his chair, retrieved the coin, and set it on the base. He rotated it so the tiny raised bumps were in the proper position. The crystals in the artifact glowed to indicate the activation of the device, and shortly after, an image materialized above the statue.
In the foreground was his master, the wizard Dreven. Behind him, a strange elf writhed in agony under the ministrations of the rippling tentacles that held him suspended a foot off the ground. The one across his mouth muted the screams, but they still caused Vincente to cringe each time the tortured being expelled them.
The image spoke in a deep, resonant voice. “Greetings, Vincente. Allow me to introduce you to another of my most trusted people.” He gestured at the being behind him. “He failed me and failed the Remembrance. Because of his previous successes, he will be allowed to live and atone for his mistakes. Possibly, anyway.” The tentacles squeezed harder and drew a second round of anguished screams from the tortured elf.
Dreven shook his head as he turned back. “I share this knowledge with you because the organization that interfered with his success is present in your city as well. You must account for them in your planning.”
“We are aware of them, master, but we’ll redouble our efforts where they are concerned if that is your will.”
The wizard nodded his approval. “I have the details for your next task.”
Vincente suppressed the desire to stand and pace and leaned on his desk instead. Pain throbbed in the back of his skull and beat in time to the screams of the tentacled figure behind his master.
“The humans provided useful cover for your operation with their protest of the prison. Now, we must build upon that success and turn them into a mob. Others have begun this process, as you have doubtless noticed.”
He nodded.
Even if I hadn’t, I sure as hell wouldn’t admit it.
Of course, he’d seen the lawyer speaking on television and had discerned the hand of the Remembrance pulling his strings.
The wizard continued. “Mixed with the humans, your people will break into the prison and do whatever damage you can. Sow chaos in all directions. Most of all, attempt to discover the weaknesses of the place and of the organization behind it. If it is possible to destroy it, do so, but it is our belief that this occasion will amount to only a probing attack. The information gained from the guard we took is incomplete. It seems their compartmentalization is significant.”
Vincente scratched at the back of his head to sooth the banging pain. “Their defenses are sure to be impressive, master.”
The wizard grinned. As usual, the elf’s eyes always seemed to stab directly into Vincente’s brain to probe his deepest thoughts. “Your thirst for power is a testament to your ambition. You may claim one of the Rhazdon artifacts as a reward for your efforts and as our commitment to your future successes.”
Now, he grinned in return. A wave of pleasure suffused him at the thought of the strength such a boon would bestow.
“We may provide one to your second-in-command as well. However, we must…empower it additionally first.”
His eyebrows drooped in confusion at his superior’s words, but he quickly banished the worry. I’ll have an artifact. That’s what’s important here.
“You must create a spectacle of the attack on the prison. Draw as much attention as possible.”
Vincente grinned. “The man who leads the human side of my organization is very good with explosives. I will have him find others with similar skills. As the humans like to say, we will light up the night.” He paused to consider whether asking his master for anything else would be a smart idea. To be presumptuous could leave him in a similar situation to the elf. But then again, it might be worth it, and he was still needed for this mission. Having weighed his options, he shrugged and proceeded. “We’ll need inside information beyond that which we have.”
Federal Agents of Magic Boxed Set Page 38