by Claire Buss
Gradually others began heading towards the Druid stone circle in a sort of furtive, circling pattern. People would walk past the entrance in ones or twos, slow down to stare inside for as long as possible without actually going in, and then continue on their circuit. Some of the spectators were peeping Toms – George and Jack, actually – but others were first timers feeling too nervous to go in and some were waiting for their mates to join them. Ned sighed heavily. He could do without this tonight, but a promise was a promise and Kendra had done a bang up job with her healing. Joe looked around with interest as they crossed the courtyard and entered the stone circle. Some of the newbies followed in their wake trying to look anonymous in the small crowd.
Kendra was waving enthusiastically. It made certain things move in a rather pleasing way. Joe moaned slightly as Ned barked a laugh.
'Just think of dead bodies. Or if that floats your boat consider Mrs Wicket in the altogether. Everything will behave itself don't worry.'
Joe was turning redder and redder and trying not to look. The problem was there were naked people everywhere so in order not to look he'd have to crane his neck to look up at the sky and then he'd probably start bumping into things, the thought of which made him even redder still. Jenni took pity on him and cast a small spell. It made everyone's bits and pieces look like a blur. Everyone was still naked and Joe's Adams apple was still bobbing up and down excessively, but at least he could look where he was going.
Ned bowed slightly at Kendra as they came close. 'Evening Kendra. What's the ritual tonight?'
'Oh, you know, the usual. A moon blessing for the city and a small sacrifice. The Emperor, may he live for ever and ever, has requested a power vigil in order to catch the Rose Thief.' Ned rolled his eyes, Kendra mistook his meaning and gave a tinkly laugh. 'I know, don't worry, we all know the thief-catchers will catch the thief but maybe a little bit of positive thought will help? Sorry to rush off but I'm on newb alert tonight. Just get comfy and find your places. See you later.'
She darted off, gathering nervous looking people from various nooks and crannies. There were many stammers and blushes as she efficiently began helping them undress and get ready for the evening's events.
The High Priestess was chanting by the entrance, a standard secrecy spell – a bit like the one Jenni had cast on Joe. The people outside could still see into the grove but they could only make out blurred shapes and now that everyone had arrived, no-one would make it through the entrance barrier either. There would be no late comers and no surprises. A good thing when everything is hanging in the breeze. Ned stripped off and shook his head ruefully at Joe who was hanging onto his undergarments fiercely.
'No-one will judge you, this is a safe space.' Kendra was back with her string of newbies. 'Why don't you all stand together on the other side of the altar?' They looked and realised that it offered a modicum of screening from the rest of the group and there was a swift march over. Ned stood next to Kendra, at ease and seemingly not bothered by anything. Just because he'd taken some free spirit pills before he left his house, didn't mean he wasn't concerned about being seen, mentally weighed up and measured. It meant that there was no reason to get all gnarly about it, man. He was in the perfect state of mind for a Druid service.
There was little for the onlookers to do. The High Priestess was hurtling through the incantations and the proper Druids were channelling all their inner energy and focus. The reason they allowed visitors and newbies was so they could use their energies as well. It saved on time and made those attending feel like they'd been part of something as their vital life force was drained from their bodies. It sounds worse than it is. That vital energy is replenished as people sleep - a lot of energy goes to waste normally. It tends to be the source of dreams and nightmares, so if you fancy sleeping like the dead, get yourself down to a Druid Circle and offer up a bit of life force. It also makes a pretty light show as newbies tend to be bright and colourful and old hands darker and more sinister. They know what goes bump in the night.
The final ritual of the night was the power vigil. It required everyone to focus hard on the Rose Thief and his capture. Visualisation was key and indeed the smell of roses started to fill the air. Ned peeked at Jenni who wore a mask of innocence. But it seemed to buoy the group up who began chanting, low at first and then louder and louder – 'Catch the thief, catch the thief, catch the thief.' It seemed to Ned that the energy was hardening at the centre, near the altar where the High Priestess stood. It was getting brighter and brighter, smelling stronger and stronger of roses and yet something dark was revolving in the centre of the altar. Faster and faster until Ned realised it was a figure. He shouted a warning but it was too late, the warlock manifested in a blaze of spiky red power and Joe fell to his knees with a scream, clutching his head.
'You rang?'
The voice sounded powerful over the sudden silence but the Rose Thief wasn't really there. The figure had no depth and it was impossible to see its face. It was a magical projection. Ned's heart began slowing and he took a step closer to get a better look. There was something about the manifestation that tickled at his brain. If he squinted hard and tried to look past the shadowy figure Ned thought he could see columns in the background. Very familiar columns. The ones from the third best interview room at the Emperor's Palace. Ned knew them intimately.
Chapter 12
Panic ensued. Everyone was milling with gusto. The power vigil had broken and the warlock had disappeared once the magical focus was gone but not before draining every magical item in the vicinity. The only person who seemed to be unaffected was Jenni. Nursing a killer headache, Ned tried to file away that piece of information, it seemed like it might be important. All the Druids were flat out on the floor, some had nose bleeds, others concussion, but most were beginning to rouse. All except the High Priestess. There was a small crowd gathering around the naked, prone woman. Kendra checked for signs of life, her hands trembling as she touched the still body. There was no breath. There was no heartbeat. There was no aura.
'She's dead. He killed her.' Her words were met with a stunned silence. No-one knew where to look or what to say. One of the acolytes with limited power had recovered enough to begin ushering people back to their clothes and saw to it that extra blankets were provided. After pulling on enough to be decent Ned grabbed a couple of blankets and brought them over to Kendra who remained slumped on the floor by the dead woman.
'She was my mentor – she was everything to me.' She raised her tear-stained face to look at Ned as he wrapped the blanket around her. 'What will I do now?'
'Carry on. That's all you can do.' Ned gently covered the High Priestess.
Jenni, now fully dressed, bought over a steaming cup of something. 'This'll perk ya, Kendra, drink it – do you good.' She shoved the cup into Kendra's hands who accepted it automatically and raised the cup to her lips. After the first sip made her splutter and cough she suddenly gripped it tighter and drank it down.
'What was in that?' Ned wanted to know whether he should have one.
'Stuff, but not for you, Boss, you need a clear 'ead.'
Kendra was starting to droop again but she somehow managed to pull herself together enough to grab Ned by the arm fiercely.
'Promise me you'll catch that warlock.'
'I will. I promise.'
Kendra nodded, then fainted dead away and Jenni motioned for a few young Druids nearby to pick her up and take her into the inner sanctum.
'Do you fink you can, Boss?'
'Hmm?' Ned was putting his jacket and boots back on.
'Find the warlock?'
'I've got a good idea where to start.' He marched over to where Joe lay on the floor, passed out by the look of things. Ned kicked Joe's foot and was rewarded with a groan so he hauled the young man up to sitting and slapped him, hard. Joe sprang to life.
'What? What's going on?'
'That's what I want to know.'
'I can't... she'll kill me.'
; 'Then you won't be the first. Put some bloody clothes on. Jenni – call the others in, we've got a confession to witness.' Ned waited until Joe had scrambled into his trousers and shirt then grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and began to walk out of the grove. By now the privacy magic had faded away and there was a large crowd of people outside. Shoving Joe in front of him, Ned used him as a human shield to push through the throng. There were a few complaints here and there but when they caught sight of the thunderous face of the thief-catcher they soon shut up. It helped that Ned was frantically drawing power back into his spell-caster wells. Little crackles of lightning were actually rippling across his body. For once he didn't seem to be blocked in any way. Clearly anger focused him well.
They reached HQ in no time and Willow was climbing back in the window as they trooped in. Sparks was already on his shelf.
'Jenni, seal the room. Sparks, set the recorder. Willow, bind him to the chair.' There was a flurry of motion. The spells Jenni weaved were thick and fast, the air practically humming as all the entrances were closed and six different kinds of wards put into place, preventing anyone from coming in. Sparks retrieved the power supply for the ancient recorder that sat in the corner of the office. No-one liked using it because it was heavy, noisy, and awkward to move. It always recorded the truth, even when no-one was speaking it and it absolutely could not be tampered with. This was a good thing, in theory, but when the interviewee was thinking about what to have for dinner instead of answering the interrogators questions the recorded file could end up somewhat unintelligible. Ned was fairly sure he'd be able to keep Joe focused. Fear was a wonderful motivator. Willow had encouraged nearby vines to wrap around Joe who was sitting dejectedly in a chair in the middle of the room.
'Talk,' ordered Ned.
'What do you want me to say?' asked Joe.
'Tell me why you are claiming to be a common spell-caster and not admitting to be a warlock. Tell me why the brother of a powerful warlock is pretending to be a thief-catcher at all. Tell me why your deranged sister is playing at being a thief.' Ned's face was dark with anger. 'How many other innocent people have you killed in this sick partnership of yours?'
'Hey - I am a common spell-caster. My twin sister got all the warlock power. I've had to train and train and train to get where I am. Just because the warlock blood in my veins prevents me from drowning and stuff, I am not, nor have I ever been, a warlock.' Joe was red in the face and shouting. He took a breath and continued more calmly. 'I came here to join the thief-catchers in an effort to keep an eye on my sister and stop her from doing something she would live to regret. I don't know why she's in the Palace – we're not exactly talking. I've never killed anyone and I don't plan to either.' He closed his eyes for a moment. 'I am deeply sorry for the death of the High Priestess and I will do everything in my power to help you. By now my sister will know where I am. I've avoided her attention so far but she will come and find me. It won't be long. There's nothing you can do to stop her from getting to me.'
'Why would she want you?'
'I amplify her power. So I try to stay away. But she knows where I am now.'
'We'll see about that. Jenni – are we snatch proof?' asked Ned.
'Only if they ain't my lot.'
'Speak to Momma K, then, see if you can swing it so that it's not worth taking this particular job. Willow, I need your grapevine network to be in constant touch – anything that moves out of place I want to know about it.' He regarded Joe solemnly. 'I have more questions.'
'Fine.'
'Why is your sister stealing the Emperor's roses? What could she possibly want with some bloody flowers?'
Joe gulped. 'I don't know, I really don't. It doesn't make any sense. The other roses are just flowers. If she was going to steal roses for magical means, all she'd need is the red one. That's where the magic is.' His voice took on a pleading note. 'You have to understand I don't keep close tabs on her. I try to stay as far away as possible to be honest but we're bound by our magic and usually I only manage to stay away a maximum of a hundred foot radius. I can't get any further.'
'But you've been with us, what, a few months now?'
'Which means my sister has been here, in the city, planning.'
'And you have no idea what her eventual plan is?' Ned did not sound convinced.
'I think, I mean, maybe, she wants to kill love. Why else would she want the red rose? The rest is just... having some fun, I guess.' Joe trailed off, he really had no idea why his sister was doing what she was doing.
Willow was in tears and began stroking the various plant life that had gathered round her in consolation. 'Why would she want to kill love?' she sobbed.
Joe tried to shrug. 'I don't know. She got dumped by this bloke and she didn't take it very well but it feels like it's more than that. I said at the time I thought she was over-reacting and she kinda flew off the deep end. Ever since she's been thwarting relationships. I didn't think anything of it until we came here and I found out about the enchantment on the red rose. I mean who puts that kind of spell into play?'
Ned couldn't help but nod in agreement. He caught himself and continued with the questioning. 'Why murder Two-Face Bob? He was obviously involved, helping your sister in some way.'
Joe shook his head. 'I don't know. I don't think she did. She's never had the strength to release a wraith before - I didn't even know she knew how to do things like that. It's really not her style.'
'But killing the High Priestess is?' Ned's retort was sharp.
Joe turned pale. 'You have to believe me, she's never done anything like that before either. Do you know how much power it takes to drain someone magically? There's no way that was her.'
Jenni piped up. 'E's right, Boss. S'tricky. Gotta have a fair amount o' juice for summink like that.' She had been listening intently, as had all the catchers.
Ned sighed. 'So what, you think someone else is pulling your sister's strings? Doesn't sound very likely to me.'
'I don't know. I'm sorry. I just don't know.' Joe slumped in defeat.
Everyone was quiet as they absorbed Joe's confession. Ned checked the recorder, Joe thought he was telling the truth, no lies. He clicked the recording machine off. Joe broke the silence with a cough.
'Er, Boss – do you think I can get unvined? They're a bit tight.'
'No. Willow, keep Joe tied up will you please. I've got somewhere to be.' Ned turned to go and then stopped abruptly. 'What's your sister's name?' he asked Joe.
'Amelia. But she's not a fan, prefers Mia.'
As Ned left the office, Jenni fell in step with him.
'What's the plan, Boss?'
'Did you notice? When the warlock appeared at the vigil? In the background, she was in the third best meeting room. She's in the Emperor's Palace. Something else is going on here and I mean to find out what.' Ned glanced back at the office door. 'Look, is he secure in there?'
'As snug as I can manage. I'm good, Boss, but even my magic ain't totally unstoppable. If she really wants 'im, she'll get 'im.'
'I want you to stay here then, keep an eye on the place. If I'm not back in an hour don't come looking for me, keep the team safe, alright?'
Jenni looked up at him soberly before giving a quick, sharp nod and disappearing back the way they had come. Ned walked slowly towards the Palace. Clearly Joe's sister had infiltrated the Palace in some way but how exactly? Was she masquerading as a servant? Or had she done something to the Emperor? It all felt very fishy and Ned was determined to get to the bottom of it. He wasn't having some warlock destroy the delicate balance that Roshaven had developed with its unique take on crime and payment. It worked because everyone followed the rules. More or less. Everyone knew their place. Ned didn't care much about the loss of a flower or even the loss of love. It was an inconvenient emotion and one of the main reasons why the thief-catchers had such a high turnover. People kept falling in love and their new spouses suddenly didn't appreciate the all-hours, all-day approach required by the
role of thief-catcher despite knowing all about it when they were courting. But Ned did care about his city and he wasn't going to let anyone saunter in and destroy it.
Ned realised that he was walking in shadow. The bulk of the Palace loomed over him. He cut left and headed towards the kitchens. It was the safest way in.
Chapter 13
'What did you do?' Mia asked in a shaky voice as she tried to get up from the floor. 'What was that?'
'That was me taking advantage of an opportunity you were clearly too blind to see.' Her father's projection looked rather pleased with himself. 'You should be thanking me. The death of a High Priestess is a small price to pay for the amount of power I was able to extract.'
'Power? What power?' Mia shook her head, trying to clear the fuzziness from what had happened. 'I just wanted to surprise them at the vigil, not murder anyone. How did you do that?'
The sorcerer sneered down at his daughter. 'You are not ready to learn such arts, child.' He spat the last word at her in disgust. 'At times I wonder whether I chose the right offspring to assist me with my endeavours. You show increasing weakness.'
'I don't understand,' Mia frowned. 'You used me as a power conduit? How?'
'A familial link can be a powerful thing child. It is, after all, your connection with your twin that amplifies your gifts when you are together. I assume you felt his presence at the Druid Grove?' The sorcerer glared at her, as though challenging her to lie.