The Crystal Lake

by L. J. LaBarthe

  “I can feel you staring,” Uriel said without opening his eyes.

  “I’m not staring. I’m looking.” Raziel shifted in the bath and reached out, laying a hand on Uriel’s stomach. A moment later, Uriel’s own hand was on Raziel’s, tangling their fingers. “You look peaceful.”

  “I feel it.” Uriel opened his eyes. “It’s a damn rare thing, Razzy. It’s nice.”

  “Yeah, it is.” Raziel gazed at him fondly. “Pity we don’t have a lot of time here.”

  “Here in Vinovia or here in the bath?”

  “Both,” Raziel said. “We should go and talk to Joseph soon.”

  Uriel nodded. “Yeah. Then we can go home. I wonder how the others are doing.”

  “I hope they’ve made some headway,” Raziel said. “Though between you and me, I’m not certain that Joseph will be much help.”

  Uriel quirked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “Well”—Raziel shifted again, getting comfortable on his side—“I’m not sure that knowing where the Grail was is going to be of use to us. We need to know where it is now.”

  “Yeah, but knowing where it was, we can figure out where it is by tracking its aura,” Uriel said. “And we could learn a lot from where it was kept—things like what sort of magic protected it, what Naamah would have to do to get past the wards that keep it safe. Details, Razzy. You’re the scientist; you know how important details are.”

  “I suppose. I’m just having a minor crisis of faith,” Raziel said.

  “So long as it’s a minor one,” Uriel said. He sat up and moved closer, his gaze locking with Raziel’s. “Seriously, baby, we need to know this. We need to know so we can make our plans and work out how much power we’ll need to get the thing back and safe.”

  Raziel sighed. “You’re right.”

  “Of course I am. I’m always right.”

  Raziel chuckled. “That’s debatable.”

  “Never,” Uriel said and leaned close, giving Raziel a chaste kiss. “Just think, you got to relive life in a Roman town, and that’s pretty awesome.”

  “That’s true.” Raziel brightened. “I don’t know why I feel so maudlin about this all of a sudden.”

  “I have a theory,” Uriel said.

  “Care to share?”

  “I think,” Uriel began, “that the longer the Grail is away from where it’s supposed to be, the more we doubt ourselves and our powers. Because it’s like psychic glue, it kind of helps us, too, keeping us confident about ourselves. God’s not talking to us, fuck knows why, and that’s actually really nervous-making. That and the Grail being gone and Naamah pissing about, well, it’s not really a feel-good situation, is it?”

  Raziel gazed at Uriel with respect. “Fuck, I love you.”

  “I’m awesome,” Uriel said. “Love you, too, by the way.”

  “I’m glad that you do.” Raziel was completely sincere. Then he grinned. “Psychic glue is a great term.”

  “Yeah, sounds like the name of one of those screechy punk bands Gabe likes,” Uriel said. He lay back again, closing his eyes. “How much longer have we got the bath to ourselves?”

  “Another fifteen minutes.”

  “Dammit,” Uriel said. “When we get home, I’m building us one of these.”

  Raziel laughed. “Okay. I won’t stop you.”

  “You’ll help me,” Uriel asserted.

  “You know I’m useless with tools, yes?”

  Uriel opened one eye and smirked. “You’re good with my tool.”

  Raziel burst out laughing. “Uri!”

  “So, we’ve got this festival tonight,” Uriel said. “Once it gets dark, it’ll be good cover for you and me to go find Joseph.”

  “Yes. I hope he can tell us what we need to know,” Raziel said. He was starting to worry again, he could feel it. The army of worries and paranoias were beginning to gnaw at him, and he was questioning his own decisions, doubting himself.

  He didn’t like it. Feeling insecure about what he was doing was not something he was familiar with. Raziel was accustomed to knowing everything there was to know about anything, and here he was, acting without guidance from God, without any knowledge that this trip back to Roman Britain was even worthwhile. He wasn’t entirely certain that his plan to get them all back to their original time would work, and he was worried that he would lose them, that they would be forever unstuck in time.

  He appreciated the faith everyone had in him, but now, sitting in the warm bath beside the love of his life, Raziel faced the fact that he had no idea what he was doing. Since the Grail had been stolen, he had been reacting to information, and none of it had been information that he had first. What sort of an Archangel of Mysteries and Secrets was he when he couldn’t answer the most important mystery of all—where was the Holy Grail?

  “Stop worrying.” Uriel’s voice was gruff. “If things get fucked, they get fucked. If we need to call on God to get us home, then we will. And if He won’t listen, then I will yell at the Thrones to get off their circular asses and get us home. We’ll find what we need, we’ll get back, we’ll rest up, and then we’ll head out and deal with Naamah and her bullshit and win.”

  “How can you be sure?” Raziel demanded.

  Uriel snorted. “Because this is us, Raziel. Your brains, my brawn. We built the greatest city on the face of the planet, remember? And then we hid it. The damn thing is still standing, still intact, and acts as a refuge to wildlife now, but so be it. What better use for Eden than as a sanctuary? We faced down armies of demons, legions of vampires, and shifters. You wrote the first ever book of magic, and I called down the Flood that sent Noah sailing around the world before he parked it on Mount Ararat. Honestly, Raz, we’ve got this in the bag.”

  Raziel was silent for several moments. Finally, he spoke, and he felt humbled. “You’re right.”

  “I know I am. And I bet, dollars to donuts, something external is trying to make you doubt yourself and fuck up. I’d put money on that being Naamah herself. So put up some damn shields and make it hard for her. If she wants to mess with our heads, make her work for it.”

  Raziel widened his eyes and then narrowed them. “That….” He concentrated, drawing on his power and building up a tight shield around himself, born entirely of his own Grace and power and a touch of Heaven’s light. Almost instantly, the worries and doubts that were assailing him vanished.

  “How the fuck did you know that was going on?” Raziel demanded.

  “I guessed,” Uriel said. “So I was right, huh?”

  “Yes!” Raziel swore. “Dammit. You need to put one up, too.”

  “I already have.” Uriel stood up. “Now our bath time is up, so let’s get back to the others, and have Agrat and Shateiel put up shields too. We might need to get an amulet or something for the kids, though.”

  “Yes, true. Let’s swing past the marketplace and get something for Angelique. I’ll use the collars for Danny and Lily.” Raziel got to his feet as well, shaking his hands. “My mind is clear. I feel better. Let’s do this.”

  “About damn time,” Uriel drawled, and he stepped out of the bath.

  Raziel chose not to answer that.

  They dried themselves off quickly and then got dressed, and Raziel gave the attendants each a coin as they left. Outside, the sun was bright and there were few clouds in the sky. It was a beautiful day, and Raziel said as much as Uriel joined him.

  “Yeah, everyone gripes about how Engl—Britannia”—Uriel hastily corrected himself—“is nothing but gray and wet and gloomy, but seriously? Summer is gorgeous. So is spring.”

  “Now you’ve jinxed it. It’ll pour with rain tonight, you watch.”

  “If it does, I will watch, from inside the inn,” Uriel said cheerfully. “Let’s go get Angelique an amulet.”

  “Right.” Raziel started toward the marketplace and the tabernae. There were quite a few citizens of Vinovia about now, and many of them smiled and nodded as Raziel passed them.

  Now that
he had put up a shield, Raziel’s mind felt very clear. He knew exactly what he was doing and, more importantly, why. He was also angry. He could not remember ever having had anyone play tricks on his thoughts, preying on his fears and paranoias. He had the primitive urge to return the favor and fill Naamah’s mind with terrors, but he reined in his impulses and thought instead about ways to find her and stop her. Stopping her plan—whatever it was—would be vengeance enough. He smiled to himself as he thought of the rage and fear she would feel when that happened. Her chagrin at her own failure, at being thwarted by the Brotherhood of Archangels, a group of Archdemons, and a large number of shifters and Venatores, would be, Raziel guessed, enormous.

  There was a tabernae selling pendants, and Raziel paused to examine the wares, thinking about what would make a good amulet. Considering his status as a Roman of wealth, he couldn’t buy something small and cheap. Raziel selected a pendant with a large ruby set in silver and got down to the business of haggling with the merchant.

  As he’d expected, despite haggling over the price, it wasn’t cheap. The silver, was, however, mined in Britain, and Raziel managed to save a few denari by pointing out local materials were cheaper than imported ones. He hefted the pendant as he and Uriel returned to the inn.

  “She should like it,” Uriel said.

  “That’s really quite irrelevant.” Raziel went inside the building and headed to the stairs. “It’s whether the stone can absorb the protections and keep her safe that’s important.” He began to climb up, taking the stairs two at a time.

  “Rubies are good,” Uriel said from behind him. “They’re pretty strong and can hold heaps of psychic energy.”

  “When did you get so knowledgeable about precious gems?” Raziel asked, shooting Uriel a curious look over his shoulder.

  Uriel shrugged. “I just remembered it from something Eleanora said. She said rubies and sapphires were some of the strongest and most charged stones for magic work.”

  “Huh.” Raziel bounced up the last of the stairs and entered the common room. “We’re back,” he announced.

  “About time,” Angelique said. “Papa,” she added hastily.

  Raziel gave her a florid bow. “A gift for you, dear daughter.” He held out the ruby and silver pendant.

  She took it, her eyes widening. “This is a priceless gift, Raziel,” she said in a low voice. “It’s beautiful. You didn’t have to, you know.”

  “Yes, I did, because it’s going to have a twofold purpose. It won’t just look pretty, but it’s also going to be an amulet to protect you.” Raziel looked around at the others. “Uri will fill you in,” he said to Agrat and Shateiel. Then he turned back to Angelique. “Put it on and then hold the ruby out and let me do the rest.”

  She quirked an eyebrow at him but did as he asked. Once the ruby was in her hand, Raziel covered the stone and her fingers with his own hand and concentrated, creating a shield and protection sigils. It didn’t take long, and when he’d finished, he nodded once.

  “All done.”

  “Thanks.” Angelique let the ruby fall against her skin. “I can keep this, though, right? When we get home?”

  Raziel shrugged. “If you wish.”

  “I do. I’ve never had anything like this in my life.” She looked down at the floor. “I’d like to hold onto it as a memento of one of the weirdest and most interesting fun jobs I’ve done.”

  Raziel ruffled her hair. “Then keep it with my blessing and my love,” he said.

  She looked up at him. “Thanks, Papa.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, are we ready for the festival this evening?”

  Angelique chuckled. “We are. That Roman dude you spoke to at the gate when we first arrived, he was here earlier, and he asked me if I’d do him the great honor of dancing with him tonight.” She laughed then, a throaty, wicked sound. “I love how polite the men are here.”

  “Just don’t go scampering off into dark corners to have wild sex,” Raziel admonished. “If you get pregnant by fucking a Roman from two-thousand-odd years before you were born, that might seriously fuck up the universe.”

  Angelique’s eyes grew large, and she gaped at him. “Right, I’ll be good,” she said hastily. “No random sex with hot Romans, check.”

  “Good girl.” Raziel sat down and looked at the others. Uriel had finished explaining the situation and was now using the slave collars around Lily and Danny’s necks as amulets. Agrat and Shateiel were looking at each other, their expressions studies in intense concentration. Raziel could feel the tiniest crackle of power, barely a whisper. They were being extremely discreet, and he approved.

  THE FESTIVAL began with a feast with ten courses of dishes and more wine than Raziel could remember seeing in one place. He admonished his companions not to drink too much even as he lifted his cup with each toast that was made and pantomimed taking a sip.

  They ate grapes and blueberries, cheese and breads, legumes and roast meats. They ate the delicacies of the Roman Empire, and Raziel had to hide his laughter behind a cough at Danny’s horrified expression when Agrat told him he was about to bite into a candied dormouse. The inn was full of laughter and conversation, and plate after plate of food, and amphora after amphora of wine.

  Outside, music started, and the diners moved as one, abandoning their plates and goblets to rush outside to the center of the vicus where musicians were playing a lively tune. Some of the citizens of Vinovia began to dance, and others joined them, while others moved to take advantage of the tabernae and market pavilions that were still doing business. There were wine sellers and cake sellers, and torches burned atop long poles that had been set into the grassy earth, lighting up the middle of the vicus.

  There was an altar, too, dedicated to Jupiter and the triple goddess of the Celts. And to one side of that was a smaller altar dedicated to Mithras. Tributes were being laid on the altars as the festival continued, and the priests and priestesses in attendance smiled and nodded to each person who gave something to the gods.

  “Go and give a tribute to the altars,” Raziel hissed to Agrat. “Take Shateiel, get something from the stalls, and take the kids with you to do the honors.”

  “All right. What are you and Uriel going to do?” Agrat asked.

  “I think now’s a good time to hunt for Joseph,” Raziel said.

  “Good luck,” she said.

  “And to you.” Raziel took Uriel’s arm and began to lead him away from the festivities.

  “We’re going to find Joseph now, huh?” Uriel asked.

  “Yes.” Raziel moved into the shadows. “And we’re not taking no for an answer.”

  Uriel grinned broadly. “About damn time.”

  Raziel drew his sword, belted at his waist. “Let’s go.”

  They prowled through the darkened vicus toward the western wall, keeping their eyes and ears alert. At one point, a cat yowled as it shot in front of them, and Raziel swore, as his heart pounded in his chest.

  “Fucking hell,” Uriel hissed. “That damn cat, I nearly wet myself!”

  “That would have been gross and disturbing,” Raziel said. “You’re a fully grown Archangel, you don’t need a diaper.”

  “Shut up,” Uriel growled.

  Raziel laughed softly, and they continued on.

  The western end of the vicus was comprised of hovels built against the wall. There were no torches to light the way, although Raziel knew he and Uriel didn’t really need them to see. He probed the area with his power, a light finger of energy, and grunted as he found what he was looking for.

  “There’s a group of Christians in that one over there.” He pointed at a hovel that was slightly larger than the others. “They’re singing hymns right now.”

  Uriel snorted. “So do we show our wings and make a ceremonial visit of it?”

  Raziel blinked. He hadn’t actually thought of that. “You know, it would probably save a lot of hassle if we did. Let’s do it.” He unfurled his wings and gave them a little shake. “O
n three, we teleport into the room, okay?”

  “Right.”

  “One, two, three.” Raziel teleported, feeling Uriel move with him.

  They emerged in the single room of the hovel, which was lit by clay oil lamps and tallow candles. The assembled humans gasped as Raziel furled back his wings, and they stared at the two Archangels, their expressions wreathed in awe and fright.

  “Behold!” Uriel stepped forward. “I, Saint Uriel, Archangel of Sanctification and Glory, Guardian of the Gates of Hell, and Keeper of the Secrets of Eden, do appear before thee with Saint Raziel, Archangel of Secrets and Mysteries, Keeper of the Sefer Raziel, and Guardian of Eden, to speak unto him who is called Joseph of Arimathea.”

  “Really? Do you want me to blow a trumpet too? Maybe sound one of the Heavenly horns to announce ourselves?” Raziel rolled his eyes as he spoke in Uriel’s mind. “This isn’t exactly discreet, you know.”

  “No one outside of this revolting place can hear me. There’s no carbon apes lurking around, just this unwashed bunch. They stink. Also, there’s no demons or anything, because there are loads of sigils and signs of the Cross everywhere. I did make sure we wouldn’t be overheard.”

  “Fine, but warn me next time you decide to sound like you walked out of the Bible.” Raziel shook his head.

  “M-my lords,” stammered one young man, bowing so low that his forehead pressed against the packed dirt floor. “Joseph is abed.”

  “Then wake him up,” Raziel said. He didn’t bother with making a speech.

  “He is ill, Holy Saint Raziel,” the young man said.

  “Where is he?” Uriel demanded.

  The young man cowered away from Uriel and stammered so badly that Raziel couldn’t make out his reply.

  “Your reputation precedes you, babe,” he said, and Uriel grunted. “Young man,” Raziel addressed the prone form on the floor, “where is he? We need to speak with him urgently.”

  “He’s in the house next door,” said an old woman. She too bowed low, touching her forehead to the floor. “There is a door, holy ones, just to your right. Joseph is within.”