by Ally Shields
Her heart leaped into her throat. Resisting an urge to ask for details, she grabbed her notebooks. He tugged her toward the door.
“Shouldn’t we tell someone I won’t be doing the interviews today?”
“I already did.”
They didn’t talk again until they were outside. A brisk wind forced her to pay attention to fastening her cloak before demanding the details. “Was she hurt? Who did this?”
“We don’t know exactly what happened. Merik and I rode out to once again urge her to come to town, but we were too late. She wasn’t there, and her cottage had been ransacked. It looked as if many of her magical items and ingredients had been taken from the pantry. I’m sure Kurzi’s rebels have her.”
“But why? She isn’t going to help them by making anti-magic.”
“I’m sure they’ll try to force her.”
Oh, Sweet Mother Earth! Force her how? Threats? Torture? Esty clenched her fist. Besides the horrible danger to Murielle, the peril to Elvenrude was mind-boggling. “What can we do? Who’s looking for her?”
“Merik’s gone to tell Brunic. I’ll join the search as soon as I know you’re safe.”
“Safe where?” She stopped and faced him. “I want to go with you.”
“You’d only slow us down.”
“I wouldn’t. I promise.”
“Yes, you would. Oh, hell, Esty.” He reached out and drew her against his chest. “Don’t look at me like that. I can’t take you. I’d be worried about you, instead of stopping the rebels and rescuing Murielle.”
Esty closed her eyes and breathed in the warmth, the masculine scent of him. Put like that, what could she say?
The moment was over quickly. He took her hand and strode toward the swinging walkway. “I’ve sent a message to your father. I suspect he’ll be home by the time we get there.”
Sawyer Ryndel was indeed waiting, and Rhyden was out the door two minutes later. Esty stood with the door open a crack and watched him run along the suspended walkway. When he reached the end and disappeared, she shut the door and leaned against it. She didn’t like being left out or deposited with her father. For a few seconds she’d thought Rhyden might kiss her, that he finally saw her as a woman, not a child. Why did he have to be so confusing?
She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. None of that mattered right now. The only important thing was getting Murielle back…and stopping Jermon.
* * *
Rhyden had shocked himself. Oh, not the embrace. He’d had plenty of women in his arms. But the accompanying rush of emotion…and the really poor timing. He’d let his heart get involved again, after spending nearly two months shaking off her spell. When this was over…well, he’d worry about it then.
He’d agreed to meet Merik in half an hour, and time was running short. But he had to warn Seth and Kam of Murielle’s abduction. If Jermon was close to needing a mage’s help, then an assault on the portals was imminent.
He entered the Lormarc guild on the run, sped past startled workers, and leaped into the portal. As soon as he materialized in New Orleans, he called Seth’s cell phone. “Where are you?”
“Kam’s office. We’re getting ready to leave for Cairo.”
“Why Cairo?” Rhyden asked, momentarily diverted.
“There’s a newly revealed statue in their museum. Black obsidian, right size. We think Jermon will go after it.”
“Don’t leave yet. I need to talk with you. I’m on my way.” Rhyden stepped back into the portal and transported to Kam’s office. Seth and Kam were waiting when he materialized.
“Murielle’s been kidnapped,” he said, not wasting precious time.
Seth’s face darkened. “How? When?”
“No, not Murielle,” Kam protested, shaking her head. “We should have made her hide somewhere. The bastards. They better not hurt her.” She looked at Seth. “We’ve got to get her back.”
“But her abduction means Jermon is close to performing the ritual. He plans to have the statue soon—by tonight or tomorrow. Someone has to go to Cairo.”
“You should go. We’ll find Murielle,” Rhyden said. “But why this particular statue? You seem awfully sure.”
Seth and Kam exchanged a look. “Just trust us,” Seth said. “It’s the most likely thing we’ve seen.”
Rhyden frowned. There were pieces of this story he’d missed while he was in Elvenrude involved in the duchaen rebellion. Apparently a few his cousin wouldn’t or couldn’t share. Well, he’d kept his own secrets, hadn’t he?
“I hope you’re right, but there’s also the portals. The attack on them could happen anytime.”
Kam audibly sucked in her breath and nodded. “We’ll take care of it…and warn Trystan. Murielle might not be the only mage in danger.”
Seth caught Rhyden’s arm as he turned to leave. “King Seliwyn will be tempted to close the portals, but make him wait as long as possible. If Jermon knows they’re closed, he’ll go underground and wait weeks or months for another opportunity. The gods only know what the rebels would do to an old woman left in their hands. We need to end this now.”
“I’ll do my best.” Rhyden flashed a grin. “Actually, I’ll put Harad on it.”
Two minutes later, he was back in Elvenrude. The guards on the portal had been doubled in his short absence. They wore titanite chain mail and openly displayed bows, knives, and swords. Merik had clearly instilled Captain Brunic with a sense of urgency.
Rhyden collected his horse from the hitching post outside the guild where he’d left it before retrieving Esty and went in search of Merik. He noted additional guardsmen were already on the streets, knocking on doors, searching houses and even businesses for the missing wise woman. He reined his horse to a halt when a dozen or more riders galloped toward him. Captain Brunic and Merik Trevain were in the lead.
“We couldn’t wait for you any longer,” Brunic said, barely slowing his mount.
Rhyden nudged his horse forward until he was on the captain’s right flank as they rode out of town. “Where are we going?”
“We’ll start with the Everins farm and the hunters’ shelter. But we’ll keep searching until we find her.” Brunic threw Rhyden a dark look that held equal parts of determination and desperation.
“I saw you’d increased the portal guards in case they try to smuggle her out.”
“Jermon has to know we’d reset the portals to deny her transport. The guards are just extra insurance. She’s here somewhere. I’ve dispatched riders in every direction. They have orders to search each house, tree house, farm, or anywhere else she might be concealed. I’ve also sent word to the mines. I don’t care if I offend someone by invading their home or if it causes panic.” After a moment, he added, “It might be time to panic.”
Since Rhyden couldn’t dispute any of that, he nodded and urged his horse to greater speed.
The small farm owned by Kurzi’s cousin was empty, including the horse shed. The house was untidy, drawers and doors carelessly standing open. That seemed to answer the question whether the cousin was involved. It looked like they’d fled, anticipating a visit from the authorities.
The hunters’ shelter in the woods was another dead end. The cold ash in the fire pit and the stale, musty smell indicated it hadn’t been used for days.
“We’re guessing from here.” Brunic’s eyes were bleak. “How much time do you think we have?” he asked Rhyden, keeping his voice low.
“Before they make the anti-magic?” He shrugged. “I just talked with Kam and Seth. They don’t think he has the obsidian yet, but they’ve located a statue at the Egyptian Museum that’s exactly what Jermon wants. They expect he’ll attempt to steal it as early as tonight, and they were transporting to Cairo to intercept him.”
“If they fail or he doesn’t show?”
“Then we’d better find Murielle in the next twelve to twenty-four hours.”
Brunic gave a curt shake of his head. “Not a lot of time. We’d better split up.” He sketched out
a division of territory, marking small sections for pairs of searchers.
Rhyden and Merik were assigned the hilly farmland on the far side of Brierwood. To get there, they had to ride through the village, which fit with Rhyden’s plans. Once they were on their way, Rhyden explained his side errand to Merik, that he needed to enlist his grandfather’s assistance in keeping the portals open.
“The king may not listen to anyone, but Harad Lormarc is exceptionally hard to ignore.”
Merik nodded, a ghost of a smile on his face. “I know his reputation.”
Upon arriving in Brierwood, Rhyden swung down and tied his horse outside his grandfather’s home.
“I’ll wait here.” Merik was still seated on his horse.
“You’ll get me in trouble if you do. Harad will want to meet you.” He stopped with one foot on the bottom step. “Come on.”
Merik briefly locked eyes with him before dismounting. “How can I saw no? I wouldn’t want to get you in more trouble than you seem to find on your own.”
Rhyden grinned. He could actually get to like this guy.
When Beesom answered the door, he acted as if Merik’s presence was unremarkable. So did Harad.
“Have a seat,” the old gentleman offered. “I would stand to greet you properly, but these bones don’t move as quickly as they once did. Would you like tea or something stronger?”
“We can’t stay.” Rhyden quickly explained the events of the last few hours and Seth’s concern King Seliwyn might close the portals too soon. “It may come to that, but until we know what happens in Cairo, he hoped you could calm his majesty’s fears. With Brunic busy elsewhere, others may encourage his impetuous side.”
“Very diplomatically said.” Harad gave a deep hoot. “I’ll do what I can. But don’t wait too long before giving us the go-ahead to save as many of our people as we can. I have no desire to have our race snuffed out by a magical Armageddon.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kam called Noah Crain as soon as Rhyden left. “I need those special ops teams within the hour.”
A moment’s hesitation. “What’s the situation?”
“The fugitives are on the move, and we’ve seen increased preparations for their arrival here. Their Mexican thugs could show up anytime to take over the guilds.”
“We haven’t picked up recent border activity, but they could have come across earlier this week or by some other route.”
“I’m betting they’re already here. In any case, we have to prepare for the worst. Seth and I are going to Cairo, and we may be able to intercept the fugitives there. But the guilds must be guarded while we’re gone.”
“Ok, kid. This is your call.”
She frowned at his sudden agreement. “How soon?”
“Is thirty minutes soon enough? I sent a signal to the teams the moment you called.”
Then why were they still talking about it?
He went on as if he’d heard her. “I just received their confirmation. We’ll meet you outside the Lormarc Guild. I think it’s the most vulnerable.”
Kam disconnected and turned to Seth. “We just have time to change.”
They transported to their condo. She switched into her black, ninja-style duty clothes; he put on the dark green khakis he favored on missions. Both armed themselves with elven bows, knives, handguns, and their usual magic items. They arrived at the Lormarc Guild seconds before the CIA agent drove up in a black van. He opened the rear door and motioned for Kam and Seth to join him.
“Meet your protection teams. Max and Sarge are the team leaders.”
Kam nodded to the two men and then to the others inside. They looked like combat-fit soldiers in jeans or army fatigues, long-sleeved black shirts barely containing impressive muscles, and steel-toed combat boots. Each carried a large duffle bag of weapons and ammunition.
“Good to have you on the job.” Seth shook hands with the two leaders. “Stay out of sight and take no action unless necessary, but don’t let anyone near that building with a gun or an explosive.”
“Yes, sir. We’ve been briefed,” Max said. “Your building will be secure.” He looked at Crain. “If this continues beyond twenty-four hours, we’ll need a relief team.”
“You’ll get one.”
Max stepped out of the van and motioned for five men to follow him. They faded into the surrounding streets and shadows.
“Want a ride to Ryndel?” Crain offered. “You’ll have to check us in with the guards on the wharf gate.”
Kam rode in the front with Crain; Seth elected to ride in the back. He was probably talking guns with them. “If they’re half as tough as they look, you chose well,” she said. “I still wonder if six men are enough.”
“Two men on each team are snipers who could cover the entire area by themselves.” Crain grinned. “The other four are just backup.”
The guard at the wharf entrance eyed the men in the back of the van, but Kam and Seth’s credentials were in order. A few minutes later, Sarge’s security team dispersed among or on top of container stacks, loading equipment, or roofs of other warehouses, and Crain drove away.
Kam took a last look around. Even her keen eyes had trouble finding them. She nodded with approval, and she and Seth went inside. They spoke briefly with Guild Master Barrott, then stepped into the portal set for Cairo, Egypt.
* * *
Cairo at midnight was still a busy urban setting. The streets of the largest, most densely populated city in Africa teemed with a mixture of honking cars, pickup trucks, bicycles, donkey carts, and pedestrians dashing through traffic that paid no heed to them.
The Lormarc sales office they’d transported to was in one of the city’s skyscrapers, high enough that it provided a spectacular view of the city. Kam stared out the window, struck by the contrast of dark areas and brilliant lights, emphasized by the black swath of the Nile cutting the extended metropolitan area in half. West bank, east bank. It was as much a part of Egyptian directions as left and right. The 1900s Egyptian Museum stood on the east bank to the north of downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
She called their spotter and met him near the front of the museum. Age had not diminished the building’s quiet majesty with its arched windows and statuary guards.
The young man had conducted rounds every few minutes since she’d first called. “Nothing unusual has happened. To give you a quick rundown, there’s an outdated alarm system and two night watchmen on the first floor. I’ve been in the restricted parts of the basement a couple of times in the past two years. Just looking around.” He grinned. “I think I know where the statue might be. Once new items are catalogued and photographed, they’re either placed on display or packed in crates awaiting transfer to the new museum. Since this piece isn’t staying here, it was most likely crated. They’re stored at the opposite end of the basement from the remodeled King Tut exhibit.”
“That’s helpful. Thanks. Call me if you see anything suspicious.”
Seth and Kam circled the building. When they found a dimly lit area that appeared unobserved, they activated the invisibility rings. She leaped to the rooftop, and he teleported to land beside her. They searched for an entrance from the roof and finally crawled through a large vent that allowed heat to escape from a building that was a century behind its time with no air conditioning. When they reached the end of the ductwork, Seth pushed out an interior vent on the balcony level, caught it with one hand before it fell, and pulled it into the airshaft. Kam dropped to the museum floor, and he followed bringing the vent cover. Kam leaped up and popped it back into place.
Even at night, dim lights illuminated many of the museum’s exhibits, and large fans ran constantly, struggling to remove the heat and humidity built up by thousands of daily visitors. They walked quickly past the rows of exhibits and down the lengthy stairs, moving carefully, alert for signs of intruders or the two night watchmen. The first floor held larger statues of pharaohs and Egyptian deities as well as huge glass and wood cases of statuet
tes, small busts, gold objects, embalming tools—a huge collection of Egyptian life, mostly from the time of the pharaohs and before.
They located the night watchmen first. One sat near the front door drinking hot tea from a glass; the other was reading a newspaper next to the side door in another hallway. Neither seemed particularly concerned about potential intruders.
Seth and Kam returned to the balcony to watch until they’d learned the guards’ routine. Rounds of every floor were made on the hour, and the two men switched positions at that time. The tea drinker was also a smoker. When he was on the side door, he often flipped a simple wall switch to turn off the alarm and stepped outside for a smoke. It would make their exit a whole lot easier.
Confident they could move around freely for at least thirty minutes out of every hour, Seth and Kam set out to explore the rest of the building on the off chance the museum had placed the statue on temporary display. Surrounded by so many artifacts, it was hard for Kam to contain her curiosity. She finally gave in and peered into a glass case. A mummified foot had an object attached to it that looked like a prosthetic big toe made of hardened leather. She nudged Seth and pointed.
He looked and raised a brow. “You’re sight-seeing?” he whispered.
She shrugged and moved on. When they’d made a cursory search of the upper floors, they arrived in the basement and quickly found the locked storage area the spotter had suggested.
Hundreds of wooden crates and packed containers of various sizes and shapes sat near the side and back walls at one end of the huge room. Statues draped with protective cloths stood in rows next to them like ghostly figures frozen in time. This orderly area was in sharp contrast to the far end, where untidy piles of boxes were covered with a layer of dust and uncovered artifacts lay on the floor and shelves. Several boxes stood open. Between these two contrasting sections was a row of tables where the process of cleaning and sorting could be done. With new items brought in every day, it would be a never-ending job.