by Guy Antibes
“What did I really do to Yvessa with Takia’s Fire and the fire from my orb?”
“You burned her physical body up. What else can make a goddess scream like that? The difference between a wizard’s fire and what you used is the very source of the power. Takia’s bowl and the orb pull its fire from a different magical plane, the one the gods use. She was very damaged.”
“You heard?”
Ari nodded. “Barely. I didn’t dare get close to the fissure when she closed everything up. The rope sailed out of the crevasse, and Yvessa exercised her powers to make sure there weren’t any witnesses. She tried to put us both to sleep since that would be the easiest way to destroy us. Penny and I would not have survived a night out in the open.”
Jack looked around at the clear sky. “It doesn’t look that bad.”
“Yvessa would have made it as bad as she could.”
“Did she spell the bad weather when Penny and I got married?”
Ari shook his head. “Doubtful. She can’t detect you with those bracelets. You said she set wards to warn her of intruders. Otherwise, we would have gone in and gotten out without incident.”
They reached the horses. Jack held Penny’s hand and sent a flood of healing power into her, followed by a few pulses of energy. In a few minutes, she stirred.
“You do that rather well, Jack,” Ari said.
“How did we get back here? What happened?” Penny asked.
“Fasher!” Jack said. He instantly connected with his mentor and told him what happened. He didn’t give him as much detail as Ari did, but Fasher did agree that Yvessa would be out of the goddess business for a few years, he said.
“There,” Jack said. “Let’s look at the mask.”
He pulled it out of his pack. The wood looked weathered but preserved. “No power,” Jack said, handing it to Ari.
“All I can detect is that Yvessa might have made this herself eons ago. It has no power. Put it over your face.”
Jack was hesitant to do so, but Ari pushed the mask toward him. He looked out the eye slits. He felt nothing.
“Maybe we can make a trade. If Yvessa really made this, it will still be a holy relic.”
“She didn’t make Adoree’s Mask,” Ari said.
Jack let Ari put it over his face, and Penny felt good enough to do the same.
“Did you cry over my comatose body?” Penny asked when Jack helped her up.
“Did you want me to?” Jack asked.
“Not really. The tears would probably freeze on my clothes and make me colder than I already am.”
“Then let’s get out of here,” Jack said.
~
“What do we do now?” Penny said as they approached Bristone.
“Find a way into the main church,” Jack looked at the cluster of spires jutting from the Bristone skyline.
“You still wear your wedding rings?” Ari asked.
Penny pulled off a mitten and waved her fingers.
“Twist it around,” Ari said. “That will get you into the church.”
“Oh,” Penny said. “The pin and the ring.”
Ari nodded. “I wouldn’t advise the pin, but the rings will. First, we have to find out how the insurrection is going, since we won’t have to flee from Yvessa.”
“You are sure we won’t have to worry about her?” Jack asked.
“Positive,” Ari said.
Chapter Thirty- Four
~
A s they rode through Bristone, Ari took them past the main church where the archbishop ruled. Jack looked up at the edifice. He couldn’t help but shiver a bit. No one in Antibeaux history had treated Yvessa like Jack had, but he had to remind himself that the goddess would have killed him if he hadn’t fought back.
None of them spoke as they traveled on the surface streets of the city. A few drifts of snow had piled up in all the corners, but the streets were mostly clear. Jack and Penny said farewell to Ari at the stable once their horses were taken, and they retrieved their personal belongings from the packhorse.
“I will be in contact tomorrow. You two should get a well-deserved rest. consider your honeymoon successful.” He smiled and waved as he rode off with the packhorse in tow.
Penny loaded down Jack with some of her bags as they walked to the townhouse. Oscar opened the door for them.
“You are a wonderful sight,” Jack said. “I didn’t know if I’d be setting my eyes on you again. How is everyone?”
“A few developments, Jack, but not negative ones,” Oscar said, taking some of Jack’s bags.
They trudged up the stairs. Jack gathered his things and teleported to his room, checking on the mask before doing the same with Penny’s bags.
They collapsed in the sitting room after accepting Oscar’s offer of a snack before dinner.
“We are really here!” Penny exclaimed. She took the chair, facing Jack.
Jack nodded. “Our mission isn’t over, but it feels like it is.”
Lin and Sera entered the sitting room. “Were you successful?” Sera asked.
“It depends on how you define success,” Jack said with a sigh. “Did we retrieve the mask?” He shook his head. “Not the real one. We found an authentic-looking fake that Yvessa had embedded in the ice a thousand years ago.”
“Were you attacked by the archbishop?” Lin asked.
“Not personally,” Penny said. “Jack had to fight Yvessa.”
“And the goddess didn’t win?” Lin looked astonished and leaned forward for the answer.
“No.” Penny looked at Jack.
“I, uh, damaged her a bit. She won’t be bothering us anymore on this trip.”
Lin snorted. “How can you damage a goddess?”
“With objects of power,” Penny said. “I’m sure Jack doesn’t want to get into the details.”
“A few details won’t hurt,” Jack said to Penny, who narrowed her eyes.
“I climbed down a fissure after we found the mask with the bone seer and the Battlebone. The mask was embedded deep in the side of the crevasse. I had to make a platform out of ice with the water that I melted with wizard’s fire. It was very cold in the fissure, so that wasn’t a problem. Once I reached the mask, Yvessa appeared on the platform. If I turned around, I would brush up against her. I pulled out my copy of Takia’s Cup and the orb, turned around, and bathed her with the fire.”
Jack sighed at the memory of that horrible screaming. “It appears that the fire from those two objects can hurt gods and goddesses. I don’t understand how, but it did. She fell from the platform and disappeared. Ari is more experienced in such things and thinks she is damaged and won’t reappear for years. Months would be good enough for me.”
“I don’t believe it,” Lin said.
“I do,” Sera said. “Jack is a hero, yet again.”
Jack shook his head. “It is nothing to be proud of,” he said. “It wasn’t me; it was the objects.”
Penny snorted just as Lin had earlier. “You fool,” she said. “Heroes don’t always use their bare hands. They use the tools at their disposal. No one else could do what you did. That is why Fasher sent you.”
Jack gave her a half smile. “But you helped as much as Ari.” Just telling the story drained him. The event was still too close not to feel the emotions of his act.
Penny smiled. “I did, didn’t I? We make such a wonderful team, being a married couple and all.”
Jack’s smile turned into a grin. “That is the case, isn’t it?”
“Where is the mask?” Lin asked.
“Up in my room. I have a use for it, but I will keep that to myself for now,” Jack said. “Lorton is out?”
“The queen’s sister requires a bodyguard and has asked Lorton to protect her as she goes to the marketplace,” Lin said.
“They are getting closer?” Penny asked.
Sera nodded. “It is the third time since the ball. As far as I can tell, they like each other.”
“Good for Lorton,” Jack said
. “Have the guardsmen shown up?”
“They were still disappointed you left Bristone and asked to be notified when you returned. They did meet once with Lorton.”
Jack thought Lorton could take care of the two of them, but Jack could focus a bit better on preparing to defend the city from the factions now that the trip north was over.
“I’m going to rest for a bit.” He rose from his seat. Penny did as well.
“Can I join you,” she asked, “husband?”
Jack sighed at the sly smile on her face, but then two could play that game. “Of course,” he said and took her hand, nearly dragging her into the hall.
He transported them to his room and threw his arms around her. “Is this what you meant?”
She pushed away. “You took all the fun away.”
Jack put fists on his hips. “You said you wanted to join me.”
Penny regained her composure by lifting her chin. “I was coy.”
“And I was being Jack.” He smiled and pulled her to him more gently. They kissed.
“You didn’t kiss me once when we were on our honeymoon,” Penny said.
“It wasn’t a honeymoon with Ari beside us the entire time,” Jack said, “in case you hadn’t noticed.”
She pulled her lips into a pout. “I noticed. When does this not become a ruse?”
“When we are ready. I don’t really feel ready, do you?”
Penny looked away. “Not really. But we remain dear, dear friends.”
Jack smiled and pulled her to him more tightly. “Kissing friends,” he said.
~
Lorton returned for dinner. He tried to keep from smiling, but the policeman was in a very good mood. Jack thought lovestruck might apply.
“You met with the two royal guards?” Jack asked.
Lorton nodded. “I did. Good men, both of them. They are nominally Royalists.”
“And do they have other loyalties?”
“Unaligned. They wanted to talk to you about the political aspects, but they are eager to pursue the clandestine investigation force that you mentioned to them.”
“Why didn’t they want to discuss it with you? I thought you were the perfect source.”
Lorton gave Jack a half smile. “You impressed them, I suppose.”
Jack shrugged. “It is the black uniform and the Masukaian sword.”
“Whatever,” Lorton said. “They don’t seem to mind me joining in when you were to return. I’ll suggest something tomorrow.”
“Not tomorrow. I need to go to the farm. I left everyone hanging.”
“Not literally, I assume,” Lin said.
Everyone laughed.
“I made sure that they knew I might not be coming back.”
Penny smiled from across the table. “I’m glad you did. I’m sure they will be, too, although not quite in the same way.”
Jack was getting a little anxious about the sappiness of their relationship. “You don’t have to come.”
“I might not. I might be getting a cold,” Penny said. She narrowed her eyes at him.
Did she think she got the cold from him? Jack felt fine. “Get some rest.” He turned to Lorton. “Do you want to see the farm?”
“I think I would,” Lorton said. “I’m finding myself more interested in what goes on in Bristone.”
Jack could see that, especially if he was developing a relationship with a princess. He had experienced that already.
Dinner was appreciated after nearly a week of trail food and the simple food served in the tiny inns along the way.
Penny went to bed early. She had begun to sniffle a bit in the ground floor sitting room. She led the rest, and soon Jack was alone on the main floor of the house. He grabbed a little snack from the cook, working on bread to rise during the night before she retired.
The next morning, with all the women asleep, Lorton and Jack set out for Delancey’s farm, with Oscar remaining behind.
“That is the church where you were married?” Lorton asked.
Jack nodded. “It is. The place doesn’t look so sinister in the morning light.”
Lorton laughed. “Penny has had a great time posing as a married woman, you know.”
Jack grinned along with him, but he said. “She is a married woman. It isn’t a pose, unfortunately. It has complicated our relationship.”
“And what is your relationship?”
“Boyfriend and girlfriend,” Jack said. “I’ve learned that marriage can be a little cloying.”
“It can at that,” Lorton said. “But it has its advantages.”
“I haven’t taken advantage of all the advantages,” Jack said.
“Ah, yes. I’m speaking of establishing yourself for the future.”
Jack sighed. “I’m not quite ready for that, but,” he shook his head. “It will be hard to extricate myself from the trap we both fell into.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Jack, I’m falling into a similar trap.”
“Princess Glorie?”
Lorton nodded.
“You are old enough to settle down.”
“Past being old enough. I never thought I’d find a woman that I’d like. Our complication is that she is a princess, and I’m a policeman.”
“A noble policeman,” Jack said. “In Bristone, that does make a big difference.”
Lorton nodded his head. “Indeed, it does. It has set me to thinking about what I would do if I settled in Bristone.”
“Wear warmer clothes,” Jack said. “If you really are serious about that, then listen closely to what I will be talking about today. Bristone is ready to break, and you might be more than interested in how it crumbles.”
Lorton nodded. “I’m not unaware of what is going on,” he said.
They rode down the wooded path. Leaves were falling, making it easier to spot the sentries. The place looked almost the same, but even in the week Jack was absent, the fields were spotted with more tents.
“It’s an army,” Lorton said. “I thought you were meeting with a few hundred men.”
“A few thousand will spend the winter here,” Jack said. “It looks like most of them have shown up.”
They went on to the farmhouse and were told to go to the conference room on the second floor.
Jamie stared at Lorton. “And this is?”
“The policeman I mentioned,” Jack said. “Lord Lorton Reedbrook, more importantly, Lorton is an officer in the Dorkansee police department. I brought him along to help train your troops in knife throwing.” Jack introduced Lorton to Manon, Jamie, and two other officers standing over the conference table. There were notes scattered around the table.
“I—” Lorton was going to object, but Jack raised his hand.
“I haven’t told him he was going to train.”
Jamie narrowed his eyes. “You trust him?”
Jack nodded. “I do. I think he might help us more with the city forces, but I wanted to introduce you.” He looked down at the city map. “Have you developed your alternative plans?”
“We have ideas, but no plans. I am assuming you can get us through the gates?”
“Maybe not all of them, but I’m not sure which one we will concentrate on. I have some other ideas that aren’t ready to discuss until I know a little more.”
Jack looked at the plan. “You might want to play around with securing the castle and the main church.”
“Why the church? Some of my people might not want to fight inside Yvessa’s church.”
“Not fighting inside, keeping people from entering.”
“You have another idea that you aren’t ready to share?” Manon said.
“That is correct. That might not be needed, but a little planning ahead might help us preserve the place.”
“You think the Double P might want to destroy it?”
Jack shook his head. “I am afraid that Payare Bellet might use the church as a fort of last resort.”
“Trouble from the WWS?” Manon asked.
>
Jack nodded. “There is a spiritual wing of the WWS and a secular wing. I’m worried about the secular wing, and I suspect Payare runs that wing with an iron hand. I have yet to verify it, but our planning work isn’t finished. We don’t want to conquer Bristone with Lord Delancey’s forces, but we want to liberate the right party when the time comes.”
They all nodded their heads.
“I don’t know if you haven’t thought about it, but make sure you have a way to get your forces to Bristone in a blizzard. Any better weather will seem like a relief,” Jack said.
“You do know all about blizzards on the way to Bristone, don’t you?” Jamie said with a grin. The other two officers smiled as well.
“Does everyone know the story?” Jack asked.
Manon grimaced, not showing amusement like the others. “Everyone.”
Even with Lorton’s objection, he spent the rest of his time in the camp with fighters with some wizardly abilities teaching them how to curve a knife throw. Jack was surprised the fighters never had heard of the technique.
Jack worked with those who had learned to touch the void, going over teaching techniques. He could spend all his time in the camp teaching when he needed to work on the royal guard in Bristone.
They left the farm an hour after lunch.
“I gather they are your occupation force?” Lorton asked.
Jack nodded. “I suppose that is the best way of putting it, although I would prefer them to be a loyalist force. Loyal to whom, I’m not sure. Maybe that is something we can work on with Ari.”
“Pulling me into your cabal?” Lorton asked.
“You have already been in my cabal when you agreed to come to Antibeaux,” Jack said. “We are getting closer to being prepared. The question is, when will the factions begin fighting each other?”
“Maybe they won’t,” Lorton said.
“And maybe there won’t be any more attacks on Princess Glorie or on us.” Jack looked more intently at Lorton. “Where are her loyalties?”
“To her sister,” Lorton said. “She is as nonaligned as one could be.”
“Have you picked anything up during the time you have spent with her?”
Lorton stared off into the adjacent field. “I don’t want to compromise our private discussions.”