by Dianna Love
Not a surprised face anywhere in this meeting.
Standing up, Evalle said, “I’ve removed it, goddess, but on my honor as a Belador and on my life, I swear I did not kill a Medb warlock on top of Stone Mountain.”
“Then explain that body,” Cathbad yelled.
Tzader had had enough. He stepped forward. “We will. I request appropriate time to do so.”
Sen spoke up. “I suggest the Alterant be put into VIPER custody in the meantime.”
Tzader shouted, “No!” He turned to Sen. “Who are you to have any say in these proceedings? You’re only a delivery person. Stick to your job.”
For a moment, Tzader thought there might be some risk from the saying “if looks could kill,” because murderous intent filled Sen’s eyes.
Justitia announced, “All argument regarding this evidence and claim is to be delivered to this Tribunal only.”
That was her reprimand of both Tzader and Sen.
Tzader quickly said, “I intend no disrespect toward the Tribunal, but as Maistir I have a responsibility to every Belador alive when I represent Macha. I require Evalle’s aid in determining exactly what happened for her dagger to end up in this body.”
Cathbad muttered, “We know what happened.”
Tzader argued, “What we have is inconclusive evidence. Yes, that is Evalle’s dagger and, yes, she would have had to be the one to order the dagger to stay put, but there is no evidence to prove that warlock was not in the form of a demon when she faced him.”
Cathbad snarled, “There you go again, blaming the Medb for creating demons.”
“That’s not exactly news considering the history of the Medb, but we’re here for one concern and the Tribunal does not want to listen to constant complaining about an old issue.” Tzader caught the nods of the deities, letting him know he’d earned a few points. “Let’s focus on this issue only and resolve it satisfactorily for both sides.”
“You’re just delaying the inevitable and wasting Tribunal time,” Cathbad countered, picking up a few points of his own, dammit.
Tzader asked, “If you’re so certain that Evalle killed your warlock, explain why she hasn’t lit up red in this Tribunal every time she claimed not to have killed him?”
Silence answered Tzader’s charge so he added, “Evalle has been proven truthful in this Tribunal. For that reason alone, she has a right to bring proof that she did indeed kill what she believed was a demon. If that warlock was in demon form when she killed him, the Medb have no legitimate complaint, but should they take an interest, this Tribunal would certainly have the prerogative to question why a Medb warlock was disguised as a demon. Since Evalle must prove her innocence, I request that she be granted leave of absence from her duties as the Medb-Belador liaison until the question of her innocence is settled.” Cathbad’s jaw clenched at that. “I also ask for an additional day to gather evidence, so that I can fulfill my duties while I determine the truth behind this killing. Without that additional time, the lack of my availability to VIPER may create more imposition for the Tribunal.”
The deities huddled and Cathbad scratched his chin.
Did I throw you a curve ball, druid?
Loki turned back around. “Agreed. You have forty-eight hours to deliver your counter argument with evidence.”
Tzader blew out a breath. The argument about her not turning red should have been enough to clear her name, but at least she’d be going home with Storm.
Now he had to make sure Storm didn’t grab her and run for the hills.
Chapter 27
Veronika watched two warlocks from her perch on top of a two-story building, where she was hidden by early morning dark and cloud cover from turbulent weather brewing.
Few vehicles moved in the hours beyond two in the morning here, but Atlanta would soon become a noisy place as human businesses started a new week.
Loud music blared from a lone car creeping by.
She missed the KievRus castle, where music never sounded like animals screaming in terror. Too many buildings and too much noise here for her, but she would change all of that once she held control.
The warlocks below were arguing. Why?
Veronika had located dark witches with deep purple auras walking everywhere in this city, which confirmed that the Medb really had been allowed to infiltrate the human world. Thanks to Ragan’s power pulsing through Veronika, she’d had no trouble identifying the Medb auras, even if she hadn’t been close enough to smell the Noirre majik around them.
These two warlocks had been the first to show any potential for what she needed.
The larger one had cornered a troll an hour ago, and while she gave him points for capturing the nasty beast, he hadn’t shown any inclination toward killing it, even though she’d heard him mention using a troll to power a spell.
What was the warlock doing?
He did have the dark aura color, but he did not emit the repugnant smell of a Medb. She wanted a warlock capable of doing her bidding, and he seemed to fit her requirements for a minion. Having a powerful being to hunt Adrianna would allow Veronika to remain hidden as long as possible.
And once he found Adrianna, he would find the woman Ragan’s twin had brought with her into the ancestral realm. The one who had shifted into something the Guardians called a gryphon. Why would a Sterling team up with a gryphon instead of a Medb, who might have been more helpful?
Veronika certainly appreciated Adrianna’s poor planning, but it did make her wonder about the dark witch’s intelligence.
The Medb were a deplorable coven, but a powerful one.
Once Veronika took control of both white and dark witchcraft, she’d weed out the weak and control the powerful leaders. Then she would teach them how to properly run a world.
KievRus had always watched over the people, but they’d wasted their talent on mere humans.
Veronika would follow in her ancestors’ footsteps, taking control of the powerful of all races who governed, and they would keep the sheep in line.
Witchlock had changed the course of history more than once ... and would again.
She dropped silently to the narrow street that stretched between two buildings. Her robe floated gently around her until her booted feet touched the ground and she could walk.
The warlock who appeared in control raged at his companion.
She’d listened from above them, but down here it was even easier to hear the taller one say, “We are grabbing two more trolls tonight, and a warlock, then I can try a change in the spell.”
“Bad idea, Donndubhán. Word is that VIPER’s cracking down hard, looking for the troll killers. We get caught we got more problems than VIPER. We’ll have to face Maeve and Cathbad, or have you forgotten what you told me they’d do to us?”
“I haven’t forgotten a damn thing, Imar. We’re in too deep at this point. You need to stop acting like a pussy and do whatever I tell you, especially after I saved both of our asses by handing that warlock’s body over to Cathbad. That was brilliant on my part. You do as I say or you’re gone, and I don’t mean walking away kind of gone.”
Imar mumbled something under his breath.
Donndubhán confirmed they were definitely Medb. He must be hiding his scent. Oh, yes, these two would be perfect.
Veronika wanted to test her powers now that she had Ragan close at hand. Her family would not be happy to find out she was testing her skills, but neither did they have her vision. Her family had spent years teaching her about world politics and how KievRus was the balance between dark witchcraft and light. She loved her family in spite of their limited points of view.
Every step Veronika made toward managing and wielding the power she’d gained thus far would shorten the learning curve for controlling Witchlock.
“Take your time learning how to handle Witchlock,” one aunt constantly cautioned.
“Do not try to direct the power too soon or Witchlock may turn on you,” her grandfather had warned.
&nbs
p; “Concede your will to Witchlock,” another had said.
Veronika’s lips twisted with distaste. She would not concede anything to anyone, certainly not her own will to a power that would be hers to wield.
Pushing away distracting thoughts, Veronika eased toward the warlocks. They were just the resource she’d been searching for in this city.
Ghouls had been approaching her, offering deals for a handshake.
What was that about?
She’d given them a wide berth. Ghouls couldn’t be trusted. They weren’t worth the use of her power to control since they were so limited in abilities.
Continuing toward the pair of Medbs, she noticed movement to her left.
A human scavenger, based on his rough clothes and the way he tried to sneak up on the warlocks.
He thought he could mug a warlock?
Oh, right. Humans didn’t know about the Medb or VIPER’s corral of mercenaries. Veronika would enlighten humans when the time came, but since this human had no idea whom he thought to attack, he’d slow her down and create an unnecessary delay.
Veronika had kept her sphere hidden by tucking her hands into the opposite sleeves of her robe. She brought it out now.
She called up a small sample of power and felt it roll through her arm as she pointed, sending an arc of light shooting to the would-be mugger.
The man froze with a look of disbelief on his face.
At the whooshing noise and bright light splitting the early morning darkness, the warlocks whirled to see what went on behind them.
Veronika’s beam of light struck the human, igniting him. He glowed red for a moment, then like an ember, blown upon to bring up the heat, he burst into a six-foot-tall tower of fire. The flames sucked into themselves and winked out of sight, leaving a chunk of black coal the size of her fist on the ground.
Hmm. That was expedient, and all the better that no one had seen it.
“Who are you?” the warlock called Donndubhán demanded.
Well ... no one except the warlocks had seen her little display. Which was exactly as she’d intended.
Donndubhán strode forward with Imar waddling quickly at his side.
She moved her hand so the sphere pointed at Imar and drew on the power again, but this time she directed the energy differently. White tendrils from the sphere covered her hand and shot a twisted bolt of white at Imar.
Donndubhán was quick.
He pointed at her, his power crossing her blast with one of his own, but hers knocked his aside as dust tossed by a strong wind. Her bolt streamed past him on its way to Imar.
When her twisted stream struck the shorter warlock, Imar lifted off the ground and his eyes rolled back in his head. He spoke in garbled murmurs for the next moment, then his feet touched the ground and he stared at Veronika.
She bent her finger, calling him to her.
He walked forward as Donndubhán watched, dumbfounded.
Taking control of Imar had gone better than she’d hoped, but he had not been much more challenge than the human. Disappointing.
When Imar reached her, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head. “I am yours, mistress.”
“Yes, you are, and I have plans for you. Stand to the side and wait.”
When he did as she ordered, she turned to Donndubhán, who threw up his hands. “Hold it. We can work out a deal.”
She tsked. “I thought you were a Medb warrior, but warriors do not beg.”
“I am a warrior and not just any kind. I’m Scáth Force, one of the most elite of the Medb coven. I do not beg, but if you attack me, you will waste the opportunity to gain a strong resource.” He walked forward with an arrogant stride. Brown fuzzy hair had been cut short, probably for convenience, since she couldn’t imagine how one would tame it otherwise. She’d seen bigger warriors than his decently muscled six feet, but she’d never known one to negotiate instead of retaliate.
He’d piqued her curiosity, but she should clear up his confusion as to where he stood on the power scale. “Attack? That sounds as though you think there would be question about the outcome if you were struck by my majik.”
She admitted only to herself that she had no idea if she could control an elite Medb warrior—yet—especially one who showed no emotional vulnerability.
“Why put us both to the test when we could work together?”
“Are you so disloyal that you would leap away from the Medb without any thought?”
“Don’t judge my actions until you know everything. I’ve spent my life locked away in TÅμr Medb, serving Queen Flaevynn in the past. As bad as that was, Queen Maeve has returned with Cathbad the Druid. I’m tired of being a slave. I’m an elite warrior, but I’m reduced to little more than errand boy most of the time. I want to use the skills I’ve honed to perfection, and I’ve been looking for someone powerful enough to utilize what I have to offer.”
Interesting. “What have you been doing with trolls?”
He hesitated before speaking, but must have realized that she knew too much already. “Cathbad bestowed upon the the entire Scáth Force the ability to shield the Medb scent. We used that ability to take the life force of trolls, then use it to create demons that could never be traced to the Medb. Our warlocks have been disposing of demons and have thus won enough favor to gain access to VIPER.”
“You’re part of the coalition?”
“Yes, we are and we’re here to stay.”
“VIPER has changed significantly,” she mused. “Do they require witches to join the coalition?”
“No. Not yet, anyhow. Queen Maeve and Cathbad have made a strategic move, which opened the door to resources they can use to destroy the Beladors.”
“And you no longer wish to destroy your enemy, the Beladors?”
Donndubhán smiled with the confidence of a charmer. “I have but one goal. I want to be free to do as I wish. Given a position of authority and respect, I will serve a powerful witch whom the Medb cannot overpower. Are you Sterling?”
She laughed.
“What’s funny?”
“I control the Sterling witches.”
His dark eyes gleamed. “Are you as powerful as the Medb?”
“My people were more powerful than the Medb seven centuries ago.”
“Who are you?”
It took him long enough to ask. “I am Veronika of the KievRus coven. I am chosen to wield Witchlock once again.” This one would be simple enough to control even without her full powers.
“Witchlock? We had to study that. Everyone believes it’s a myth.”
“That’s because my family wished for you to believe such. Until now. Witchlock has only been controlled by a KievRus witch born with the mark of our first leaders, Heide and Volkov.” She extended the hand that held the sphere and pulled her sleeve back further to expose an ouroboros on her forearm. The emblem of a Celtic snake that swallowed its own tail was no tattoo created by a human hand. Veronika had been born with a circle birthmark the size of a quarter, with an eye and slash marks. It changed as she grew, forming into the final design when she reached the age of nineteen, two years ago.
Upon that birthday, she swore to bring her people to power again and set out to make the trade with the Sterling coven for Ragan. Her family had set a trade in motion when Veronika was born, but when Veronika was told of the most powerful Sterling to be born in seven generations, she knew that Ragan would be the first step in claiming Witchlock.
Donndubhán lifted his gaze to hers. “How do I know what you say is true?”
“Look into my eyes and you shall see the future.” Then she lowered her shields to allow him to peer into her glowing eyes, where he’d see witches across the world falling to their knees in front of her, because she whispered a quiet spell that compelled him to believe what she projected.
His face lost color and he fell to one knee. “I will swear fealty to you. I ask only that you give me a position of significance. I want to be more than a servant.”
Sh
e blinked, making her eyes normal again. “Do not swear fealty to me, because your word is meaningless. You stand here ready to break your oath to the Medb.”
“Give me a chance to show you what I can do.”
Should she take control of him now, or later when it would be so much simpler?
Later. He was a puppy anxious to please his master and he would serve her well.
If not, she would either take control of him or kill him trying.
Once she held the ability to take possession of his powers with no effort, she would make him completely loyal. “I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself.”
“You asked about the trolls. I will tell you all. I’m building an army of demons from Medb warlocks. Once this army is ready, I’ll lead them for you.”
“Where is this demon army?”
His eyebrows climbed high then dropped. “I ... have yet to produce a successful specimen, but I’m close.”
“You’re wasting your time and you will not waste mine. I have no use for a demon army. Once I have Witchlock, I will rule all witchcraft.”
The warlock angled his head in compliance, then stood. “Then what do you want me to do?”
“First, I must find two women.” Veronika knew Adrianna had come to the southeastern US, but still, she would have wasted time pinpointing the exact spot. The mark Veronika’s ancestor had placed on the gryphon woman had provided the gryphon’s location, leading Veronika straight to this city. She had not found the woman yet, but Adrianna couldn’t be far if the two were friends.
He crossed his arms, looking pleased with himself. “Give me enough information and I can find anyone.”
“One woman is a witch known as Adrianna of the Sterling coven and the other has dark brown, almost black, hair and kinetic ability, plus she can change into a gryphon.”
He started laughing.
She prepared to teach him to never laugh at her, but he must have noticed the change in her expression, because he immediately explained.
“I’m not laughing at you, er, your highness?”