Balefire

by Jordan L. Hawk

  “How has the sword cane served, Griffin?” he asked as Fenton guided the car out of the city and onto the lonely coast road.

  “Very well, thank you.” The cane had been a gift after Whyborne destroyed my original one. Unfortunately, he’d been stabbing his brother with it at the time.

  Niles had still loved Stanford, despite everything the man had done. And yet he’d put a bullet in him in an attempt to save Whyborne. I suspected that day—that moment—haunted Niles. He’d aged in the past few months, the lines on his face more deeply graven, his shoulders not quite so straight.

  Fenton pulled the car to the side of the road, and we made our way down to the hidden beach. The sun sparkled off the water, the retreating tide leaving behind strands of kelp. The others had arrived before us. Maggie Parkhurst perched on a rock, while Whyborne chased Persephone through the surf, yelling at her to give back his hat.

  Jack gaped at Persephone’s sleek orca skin, the tendrils of her hair, and her batrachian feet. He’d met the umbrae, of course, but they were vastly inhuman in appearance. The ketoi were similar enough to our species to be disturbing in a different way.

  “That’s Whyborne’s twin, Persephone,” I said with a nod.

  Whyborne stepped into a tidal pool and cursed loudly. Persephone put his hat onto her tentacles and laughed at him.

  “And they’re supposed to be key to saving the world?” Jack said incredulously. “You’re having me on, brother.”

  I winced. “No. No, I’m afraid not.”

  Niles sighed heavily, then called, “Persephone! Give your brother back his hat. Percival, it is beneath your dignity to run about shouting like some sort of delinquent.”

  “But she took my hat!” Whyborne objected. “Oh, very well.” He trudged up the beach to join us. Persephone sprinted past him, tossing his hat onto his head as she passed.

  “Hello, Father.” She grabbed Maggie about the waist, grinning cheerfully. “Do you remember my cuttlefish?”

  Maggie’s face went scarlet. At the sight of his sister hugging his secretary, Whyborne also blushed furiously. Niles sighed again.

  Perhaps in a fit of chivalry, Jack approached them. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Parkhurst, Miss Whyborne,” he said, as though there was nothing at all strange about the situation. “I’m Griffin’s brother. Jack Ho—Flaherty,” he corrected, having only recently changed his name back to the original.

  “Brother’s husband’s brother,” Persephone said. Jack glanced worriedly at Niles, even though I had assured him Niles was well aware of my relationship with his son.

  “Mr. Flaherty,” Maggie said faintly. Her nerve failed her altogether with Niles. “S-Sir.”

  “Hello, Maggie,” I said. We’d formed something of a friendship over the last few months. While Whyborne and Persephone practiced sorcery, or manipulated the maelstrom, there was little for us to do besides watch and talk. As a result, I likely knew more about her than Whyborne did.

  “Griffin. It’s, um, good to see you.” She took the opportunity to slip out of Persephone’s grasp, her face still blazing red.

  Niles observed the two of us, as if silently asking himself why his youngest children had to be contrary enough to not only have an interest solely in their own sex, but—more importantly—to have contented themselves with riffraff such as ourselves. He finally settled on offering Maggie a regal nod and a polite, “Miss Parkhurst. It’s good to see you under more pleasant circumstances.”

  “So.” Jack tucked his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I take it this isn’t just a nice family outing on the beach?”

  “No,” Whyborne said quickly, as though happy for any topic of conversation that might relieve the awkward atmosphere. “Iskander and I saw Rupert Endicott today.”

  I stiffened. “And Christine?”

  He cast me an exasperated look. “We weren’t there to murder the fellow, Griffin. At any rate, Iskander agreed to relate our conversation to her tonight, which is why they aren’t here as well.”

  “I like Christine,” Persephone said. “She would have been a great chieftess among the ketoi.”

  “I’m certain she would agree,” Whyborne muttered. The crash of the waves formed a backdrop to his words as he explained everything they’d learned from Rupert, as well as the request he’d made last night.

  Persephone’s expression grew more and more grim as he spoke. When he finished, she folded her arms over her chest. She was no longer Whyborne’s light-hearted sister, but the warrior-chieftess of the ketoi. “They ask much.”

  “I know.” He spread his hands. “But what choice have we?”

  “The Endicotts tried to kill us. They would have slain all you land-dwellers. Mother nearly died because of them. And now you say I must send an envoy to my sister chieftess and ask her to ignore her own history with the Endicotts and make peace?” Her hair lashed around her shoulders. “I do not like this, brother.”

  “I’m hardly fond of it myself,” he shot back. “But I’d be far less fond of the Fideles using the power of Morgen’s Needle to drop half of New England into the sea.”

  Niles’s frown grew deeper and deeper. “I dislike the idea of either of you leaving. We don’t know when the masters will return, and we’ll need both the land and the sea to have a chance at defeating them.”

  “The rest of us could go,” I suggested. “I have my shadowsight, and Christine and Iskander know how to fight sorcerers. Christine’s even been practicing with the bow and arrow, since those won’t explode in her hands if a sorcerer decides to use fire magic against her.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Jack offered. “If you think I’d be more useful there than watching your business here at home.”

  But Whyborne was shaking his head. “The Endicotts want me. If I don’t go, they won’t give us the key to the Wisborg Codex.”

  “I don’t see they’re in much of a position to make demands,” Niles replied. “Really, Percival, you never did know how to negotiate. You should have brought me to this meeting.”

  Whyborne’s face took on the mulish expression he often wore around his father, and I mentally resigned myself to a stubborn outburst. After all these years, Niles should know any criticism on his part would inevitably cause Whyborne to react defiantly. It was a habit neither of them seemed able to break. “I’m not staying here and just hoping the Fideles don’t kill us from afar. The Endicotts have plenty of experience fighting sorcerers, and as useful as Griffin’s shadowsight is, he’s only one man. They wouldn’t have asked for me unless they believed my presence greatly improved their chances of taking back Balefire Manor.”

  “Damn it, Percival, listen to me!” Niles took a step forward. “I won’t pretend I entirely understand this business with the maelstrom. But what happened in the Draakenwood made one thing clear. Whatever role the maelstrom means you and your sister to play, you are critical to the defense of this world when the masters return. You cannot risk yourself on some fool’s errand to Cornwall.” He gestured vaguely in my direction. “The rest of us may fall, but as long as the two of you are still standing, we have a chance.”

  Whyborne’s eyes widened. “Don’t be absurd! I’m not sacrificing anyone so I can sit back in safety, let alone my friends!”

  I braced myself for his reaction, but it had to be said. “Niles is right.”

  His lips parted in shock. Then his brows dove down, eyes narrowing in anger. The wind picked up, flinging foam across the beach. “I can’t believe you think so little of me.”

  “I don’t,” I protested. The fear and worry I routinely suppressed struggled to rise to the surface. Whyborne and Persephone were meant to face the masters; it was why the maelstrom had made them in the first place. They would be on the frontline, in the thick of whatever terrible forces the masters could wield, and the thought terrified me. But at least it meant he should stay here for now, rather than risk dying on behalf of the Endicotts on the other side of the Atlantic.

  Nile
s glowered at Whyborne. “I thought you’d finally learned to accept your place in this town. The old families, the librarians, the police, all stand ready to fight at your command. And you want to abandon them and go haring off, with the Endicotts of all people?”

  Whyborne’s face smoothed into the expressionless mask that bespoke true fury, and I silently cursed Niles for making everything worse, for daring to imply Whyborne would abandon the responsibility he’d had such difficulty coming to terms with. The waves smashed into the strand with greater violence than before, and the wind turned to a snarl over the cliff. “I accepted that it is my duty to protect Widdershins,” Whyborne said coldly. “You are my general, Father, and I’m leaving you with whatever army I can muster. But I will not sit here while the Fideles plot to use Morgen’s Needle against us. I will not cower at home, while my husband and my friends attempt the task that is rightfully mine.”

  Niles’s nostrils flared. “Persephone, tell your brother he’s a fool.”

  Persephone had listened to their argument in silence, the look on her scarred face grave. “Among the ketoi, a chieftess leads from the front. Fire in His Blood may have the form of a land dweller, but his heart is surely of the sea.” She met Whyborne’s gaze. “I’ll keep watch for us both. And I’ll send an envoy with you.”

  “Thank you,” he said. He swept a withering glare over the rest of us. “I’m going home. The rest of you can do as you please.”

  “Ival,” I said, but he had already turned away and stalked toward the path leading away from the sea. His abruptness stung, but I knew Nile’s words had hurt him.

  “I agree Percival should stay here, Niles,” I said, “but he’s no coward, and you can’t simply insult him until he agrees with you.”

  “Bah. You talk to him,” Niles said, waving an annoyed hand. “Perhaps he’ll see sense.”

  “Perhaps.” But as I left the beach and hurried after my husband, I rather thought it was too late for that.

  Chapter 8

  Whyborne

  I rode in the front of the touring car beside Fenton, my arms folded across my chest, with Griffin, Jack, and Father in the back. Miss Parkhurst had elected to remain behind with Persephone. No one spoke, but I could feel Father’s disapproval beating on the back of my neck the entire trip home. As soon as the motor car stopped in front of our house, I hopped out and stalked toward the door without saying good night.

  Jack and Griffin joined me on the porch, Jack looking rather unsure. “Should I come to Cornwall with you?” he asked, glancing back and forth, as though not certain which of us to direct the question to.

  Griffin gave me the chance to answer. When I didn’t, he rubbed at his eyes. “No. Stay here as we discussed earlier.” He pulled his keys from his pocket and held them out. “Actually, why don’t you keep the house while we’re gone? It will be more comfortable than your boarding room, allow you to see clients, and watch over Saul. You can use the motor car as well, should you have need.”

  Jack nodded. “I’ll come by in the morning with my things. See you then, Griffin.” He hesitated. “Goodnight, Whyborne.”

  “Goodnight,” I said, a bit stiffly, but my anger wasn’t directed at him.

  As Griffin had relinquished his keys, I was forced to uncross my arms long enough to let us inside. Saul bounded to meet us, and I picked him up, cradling his warm little body to me. He purred and butted his head against my chin.

  I carried him to the study, Griffin trailing behind. “Very well,” he said. “I know you wish to argue, so out with it.”

  It was difficult to decide what part of the conversation had made me angriest. I sat in one of the chairs and settled Saul in my lap. “You think me faithless,” I decided at last. “Or a coward.”

  Griffin let out a long sigh. “Ival, you’re the bravest man I’ve ever met in my life. Do you recall when we first encountered the otherworldly, all those years ago? The Guardian in the warehouse?”

  I frowned suspiciously at the apparent non sequitur. “Yes.”

  “Instead of running and screaming like a sensible person, you stood by me. We returned here, to this very room, and that was when you asked to be a part of my investigation. Not when it seemed to be an ordinary, if potentially risky, case. But when it became undeniable that anyone pursuing things further would be placing themselves in the sort of danger neither of us had even imagined could exist.” His pointed to the other chair near the fire. “And I sat right there and fell completely, madly, in love with you. So please, don’t insult me by suggesting I think, even for an instant, that you would act the part of a coward.”

  My heart softened, despite myself. I recalled the moment well, even though of course I’d had no idea Griffin desired anything of me past a brief joining of forces. “You told me you worked alone.”

  A smile curled near the corner of Griffin’s mouth. “And you invited me to make use of you. Though, sadly, not in the manner I wished to.”

  I flushed at the recollection of my clumsy words. “Then why would you suggest I remain behind now?”

  My husband bowed his head. “Because Niles is right. We must think strategically. Not act according to our hearts.”

  I hesitated. Father had fought in the War Between the States under General Grant, had commanded men on the field and off. Griffin’s experience with the Pinkertons was far different, but he had at least planned ambushes when pursuing bank robbers.

  “We need the Wisborg Codex,” I said at last. “Otherwise we’re fighting blind. Surely you must agree any knowledge of the masters will give us a strategic advantage. Do you truly believe the Endicotts will give us the key if I refuse to go?”

  “We could try—”

  “No.” I looked down at Saul’s ears. “No, Griffin. My mind is made up.”

  “I know.” He came and knelt down by us. “I expressed my opinion, and now I must accept your decision. Don’t be angry with me.”

  I cupped his cheek with my unscarred hand. “I hate to quarrel.”

  “So do I.” He turned his head and kissed my palm. “I love you, Ival. More than I could have imagined, that long ago night.”

  I leaned over and kissed him, dislodging Saul from my lap as I did so. The familiar contours of his lips drew a gentle warmth into my chest. “Darling.”

  Our foreheads rested together briefly. Then Griffin pulled back. “Come to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day for us all.”

  Chapter 9

  Griffin

  The next night, we awaited the arrival of the ketoi at the Melusine’s berth.

  The day had been one of frantic activity. Iskander and I devoted ourselves to packing and transporting our things to the Melusine, while Christine and Whyborne secured the director’s permission to desert the museum for a few weeks. The man seemed to have become resigned to such sudden trips; though not a member of the old families, he rubbed elbows with them at clubs and galas, and knew enough to acquiesce without much grumbling.

  All was in readiness by mid-afternoon. I said goodbye to Jack at home. Iskander and I met Christine and Whyborne at Marsh’s for dinner, then made our way to the docks around sunset.

  Rupert waited at the base of the gangplank. “The ketoi haven’t yet sent their envoy,” he said with a frown. “Though we are less beholden to the tide than most ships, I see no need to expend our energy on water magic without true need.”

  “Even in Widdershins, the ketoi can’t parade up and down the docks in broad daylight,” I replied. “They’ll come.” Persephone wouldn’t have changed her mind after siding with Whyborne last night.

  We’d buried our brief quarrel; I’d always found it hard to stay annoyed once he wrapped his arms around me for the night, and he was the same. Still, I wished he’d agreed to at least try to bargain with Rupert. The entire situation sounded exceedingly dangerous, and we didn’t know enough about Balefire Manor to anticipate what we might face. If something happened to him…

  It would crush me, of course. I couldn’t bring mysel
f to even picture a life without my Ival. But more than my happiness depended on his safety now.

  I wished we knew why, exactly, the maelstrom had decided to split off twin fragments of itself. To command the armies of land and sea against the masters seemed the most likely explanation, but surely there were easier ways.

  The maelstrom was an inhuman sentience. But such a long, careful plan must have some understandable strategy behind it.

  “There.” Whyborne pointed at the water, interrupting my thoughts.

  The waxing moon had broken the horizon a few hours back, and now hung high enough in the sky to reflect off the heaving waves. Fins breached the surface of the water just off the dock. First a few, then more, and still more. I shifted my weight uneasily and wondered just how many of her people Persephone had brought with her.

  While most of the ketoi remained in the water, some swarmed up the pilings and onto the dock. Persephone came first. She ordinarily wore at least some ketoi jewelry—and not much else. Tonight, however, she dazzled the eye, with gold, coral, and pearls reflecting the light of the ship’s lanterns as well as that of the moon. A tiara held back her ever-shifting hair, necklaces hung low across her chest, and layers of bracelets and anklets chimed with every step of the batrachian feet.

  She cut a commanding figure. I wished Miss Parkhurst was here to see her.

  An honor guard of ketoi carrying spears followed her and took up position to either side, their eyes hostile. “Hello, cousin,” Persephone said to Rupert with a smile that revealed row after row of shark’s teeth.

  Rupert inclined his head slightly. “A pleasure to see you again. Is one of these your envoy?”

  “No.” Her hair seethed over her shoulders. “Before I send her with you, I want assurances, Endicott.”

  Annoyance flickered across Rupert’s face. “I’m sure Dr. Whyborne informed you as to what is at stake should the Fideles use Morgen’s Needle.”

  “Some of your lands will become ours,” Persephone replied, cocking her head to the side.