Cross Keys

by Ally Shields

  Someone gasped, but Kam didn’t flinch. The situation called for extreme measures. “I understand, your majesty.”

  “I accept.” Seth’s voice was steady.

  “Don’t be too hasty to agree,” the king admonished. “Not until you hear the terms. As soon as you are through the portal, it will be closed and will only open for fifteen minutes two days from now. If you miss the opening, you could find yourselves trapped for an indefinite period, possibly the rest of your lives. Are you still willing to go?”

  They both agreed.

  “Then I wish you success and good fortune. Forty-eight hours. No more,” he cautioned. “If you become stranded, you must take every precaution to remain undetected.”

  His words sent a chill through Kam. He meant self-termination if discovered. She would just have to see that it didn’t come to that.

  The king gave them one hour to complete the transport Cityside.

  * * *

  Kam stood outside the palace gate and bit her lip. To go home or not. Her mother would never forgive her if something happened and she hadn’t said goodbye. Actually, she’d never forgive herself.

  Minutes later, she bounded up the steps of her parents’ home and found her mother and Esty in the sewing room. Like every proper elven woman, her sister was learning the fine art of needlepoint. Kam sighed as she watched from the doorway. They looked so domestic…and happy. If she were more like them, she wouldn’t be headed for New Orleans and have all these butterflies in her stomach.

  Then her mother looked up and came to greet her. “Kam dearest, we didn’t expect you.”

  She explained in general terms why she was in Elvenrude, that there was a crisis with the portals, and that she had to return to New Orleans in less than an hour. She couldn’t give them all the details, but her mother and sister knew something serious was happening.

  When Kam was finally on her way out, Esty gave her a kiss on the cheek, and Mother followed her to the front door to hand her a package. It felt warm to the touch and smelled of fresh blueberry bread. Kam swallowed hard, gave her a quick hug, and escaped out the door. If she let the tears show, she’d confirm her mother’s worst fears and never get away.

  When she arrived at the Ryndel Guild’s portal, Father was more reserved, but no less concerned. In his position with the king’s council, he was fully aware of the situation and the details of her mission. The worry showed behind his smile. Kam kept the conversation focused on business. “If the portals to the outside remain closed, what will you do with all this?” She spread her hands toward the workmen frantically moving goods in and out of the portals to make the deadline. When Kam and Seth transported, the guild would make a last shipment. She supposed Lormarc was doing the same.

  Her father shrugged. “I don’t know, but it won’t matter. We’ll all be in the same position. I’m more worried about you, and the crew that is staying over there to take care of these last loads. I won’t be content until you’re all safely home.”

  “How many are staying?”

  “Five. Thom Barrott and four of my best workmen.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Ask them for help, if you need it. The business won’t matter if you don’t get home.”

  “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll be back. I promise.” She shifted her feet restlessly. Seth really needed to get here…soon. They still had fifteen minutes to the transport deadline, but she didn’t want to dwell any longer on what it would be like to never see her family again.

  * * *

  Seth said goodbye to his parents. His mother cried. His father pulled him aside for a brief conversation, then clapped him on the back and wished him success. Afterward, Seth went to see his grandfather.

  “So you’re going to try to save us from ourselves, eh?” The old man held out his hand for Seth to come closer. “Did you come to say your farewells? Or were you looking for this?” He picked up a small ornate box laying on the robe covering his lap.

  “Both, sir. Father told me of his decision.”

  “I assumed that was the case. He spoke with me earlier.” Harad’s worn fingers found the latch to open the box. A silver ring nestled on a black silk pillow. A green emerald winked from the center of the band. “The Lormarc crest normally goes to the head of the house, and you should treat it as a loan. But right now I agree you need to have it.” He held out the box. “The magic is yours. Take it, and use it wisely.”

  “I am honored.” Seth slipped it on his right ring hand and immediately felt the ancient magic seeping into his blood, spreading through his system, tingling in his fingers and toes. He smiled to himself. From now on Kam wouldn’t be traversing the rooftops alone.

  * * *

  “You cut it rather short.” Kam’s curt tone revealed the impatience that had grown as their allotted hour slipped away. She looked a question at Seth, who had breezed in the back door of the Ryndel Guild with only five minutes to spare.

  “Sorry. I had things I needed to do, but I’m here now.” He glanced at her father and nodded. “Thanks for the transport once again, Mr. Ryndel.”

  “Take care of my daughter.”

  “Father!”

  Seth’s face lit with humor, and he chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”

  Sawyer Ryndel suddenly looked flustered. “Well, you know what I meant. You’d better hurry now.” He ushered them into the portal.

  Seth was still laughing when they arrived Cityside. “You should have seen your face.”

  She resisted a sharp retort and turned to the waiting guild master. “Hello, Thom. Has everyone transported who’s leaving today?”

  “The last ones just left. I hope you don’t mind me saying this is bad business, Kam. You shouldn’t be here, but I hope your father told you that we’ll help any way we can.”

  “He told me, and thank you. It’s good to know you’ll be here.”

  Seth collected his cell phone and their guns from the portal safe. He pocketed his Glock and handed Crain’s Smith & Wesson to Kam. “This isn’t the make I’d recommend for you, but keep it with you for now. We need to teach you how to use it.” He gave the cell phone to the guild master. “Will you have someone throw this off the pier? I won’t be using it again.”

  “You, without a cell phone?” she asked.

  “We’ll be picking up throwaways.” He grinned at her. “I’ve learned a lot from American TV and movies.”

  Kam turned back to Barrott. “What happened with the authorities? Did they come around?”

  “Oh, they were here. Just like you predicted. Searched the place, asked a lot of questions about when I’d last seen either of you. I denied that Mr. Lormarc had ever been here and was vague on the rest. They finally went away, and I haven’t seen them for several hours. Most of the police cars cleared out by dawn, and the wharf seems pretty normal today.”

  “I wouldn’t bet against them leaving someone behind,” Seth warned.

  “So where do we go from here? Won’t they be watching my place and yours?”

  “I sent Rhyden a message as soon as Seliwyn mentioned closing the portals. He’s staying on this side for the forty-eight hours, and he should have set up someplace safe for us to stay with a temporary portal for travel around New Orleans.”

  “And how do we get the coordinates?”

  “I already have them.” Barrott handed Seth a slip of paper. “He called nearly twenty minutes ago.”

  * * *

  Kam tapped her foot on the carpeted floor. Seth and Rhyden had been gone almost an hour. Seth’s cousin had been waiting for them when they stepped through the portal into a two bedroom furnished apartment. Rhyden had immediately suggested that he and Seth go out for phones and groceries. Kam had agreed to stay behind and unpack. She figured they wanted to talk about something—and not in front of the competitor’s daughter.

  She’d claimed the back bedroom as her own. It had more closet space. Not that she had a lot to put in it. Assuming she couldn’t return to her apartment, she had brought a few
things from home, but they’d all fit into one small bag. If she got a chance, she’d sneak away for a final shopping trip, not something that would be on Seth’s agenda.

  She looked at the bed. A nap would be good. They’d been up all night and it was past noon. She stretched her tense neck muscles. She was too wound up to sleep. Maybe later.

  The small kitchenette held a refrigerator, small stove, and a microwave, a luxury she’d grown accustomed to over the last months. She retrieved a teabag from her room, and sipped a cup of tea while she nibbled at a hunk of her mother’s blueberry bread.

  As time dragged on, she began to regret her decision to let the men go off alone. Where were they? She glanced at the clock on the wall and then at the door. Forty-eight hours was already approaching forty-six. The portal would open and close day after tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. local time.

  A click at the front door brought her to her feet. She fingered the amulet around her neck. If they’d been discovered…

  Seth walked in carrying several store bags, followed by Rhyden, who also had his arms full. They were laughing.

  Kam relaxed, shaking her head and grinning. Maybe she’d been wrong about Seth’s interest in shopping. “What all did you buy? Is anything left in the store?”

  “Stores,” Seth corrected. “Grocery, clothing, sporting goods. You can give the Smith & Wesson to Rhyden. It’s too large for your hands.” He set his purchases on the table and pulled a box out of one. He opened it and handed her a Glock 19. “See how you like the feel of this. Still good stopping power, and I like the reliability. The size is much better for you.”

  Kam placed her fingers around the grip. “It’s not as heavy. I guess that’s a good thing.”

  Rhyden piled his armload on the counter. “Don’t mind him. He’s been fascinated with guns for five years now.” He started putting cartons, bottles and cans in the refrigerator and freezer compartments. “I bought plenty of beer.” He looked up at Kam and grinned. “If I’m going to hang out with you two, there’s got to be beer.”

  Hang out? Like he was staying here? Her stomach fluttered with a tinge of regret. This was the first she’d heard of it, but it was probably a good idea. Spending a lot of time alone with Seth was…problematic. Too much chemistry. Besides, there was safety in numbers, and she kind of liked Rhyden’s easy, brotherly ways. Instead of being uncomfortable living with two Lormarc men, the thought didn’t bother her nearly as much as being alone with Seth.

  She handed the pistol back and started emptying bags. Tooth brushes, tooth paste, hand soap. Hadn’t Seth brought anything with him?

  He sat down at the table and started programming three cell phones. “We did some surveillance in between stores. Our office, your office, all three apartments. They’re all being watched by armed men.”

  “Crain’s CIA people, you mean. If that’s really where he works.”

  Seth shot her a quick look. “He’s CIA all right. We’ve checked. But I’m not sure who’s sitting on our places. The arms dealers aren’t likely to be any happier with us than the CIA or local cops. Or even the crossbreeds, for that matter.”

  Kam paused with a can of coffee in her hand, thinking about how crazy her world had gotten in such a short time. She’d acquired a lot of new enemies over the past week. And now she was hanging out with two men who used to be her family’s oldest enemies.

  “Something wrong with the coffee?” Seth asked.

  “What? No, I was just thinking.”

  “None of that serious stuff,” Rhyden admonished. “Here, take a swig of this.” He handed her a beer, but she pushed it away.

  “Are you kidding? I’m dead on my feet. One drink and I’d be asleep on the floor.”

  “Speaking of sleep…” Seth stood. “I’m going to crash for a couple hours. I know time is limited but we can’t keep going for long like this. Which bedroom do you want?”

  “I put my things in the back. I’ll help Rhyden put away the rest of this, and then I’ll see if I can rest for a while.”

  “No, go on.” Rhyden waved her off. “I slept last night, and you just said you were tired. It could be a long time before you get another chance.”

  She hesitated. “If you’re sure, then thanks. I promise I’ll do my part around here later.”

  “No problem. What else am I going to do while you guys are sleeping?”

  Kam closed her bedroom door, stretched, and rolled her stiff neck. She really was tired. She kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. As soon as she pulled the covers up, she fell asleep.

  When she woke again, it was growing dark outside. She’d slept all afternoon! Kam leapt out of bed, fearing the men had gone out and left her behind. She charged into the hallway and stopped. Seth and Rhyden were at the kitchen table drinking beer and poring over a map. Seth had his back to her, but Rhyden looked up. “She lives.”

  “Just barely,” Kam grumbled, pushing her tousled hair out of her face. She must look a mess. “Why didn’t someone wake me?”

  Seth turned around, took one look at her and grinned. “Would you like some coffee?”

  She shuddered. “Definitely not. I’ll make tea.”

  He pushed back his chair. “I’ll fix it. Go grab a shower.”

  She hesitated, torn between the shower and the tea.

  “Shower first.” Rhyden shooed her away. “Do whatever you women do to look presentable. The tea will be ready by the time you return.”

  She ducked into the bathroom and closed the door more firmly than necessary. She heard both men laugh. What did they expect? She frowned, then looked in the mirror at her tangled hair and clapped a hand over her mouth. Oh, no.

  After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she joined them in the kitchen area. The first sip of strong black tea brought her wide awake. “Oh, this is good. Thank you. What’s with the map?”

  “We’re discussing where to start a search. I want to eliminate the wharf area. Or at least leave it to last. Why would they go back where they know people are looking for them? Seth doesn’t agree.”

  She frowned at Seth, his head bent over the map. “Why don’t you just use your amulet?”

  He looked up. “You have to be within half a mile. This is a big city to search. Even if we get in the right area, I can’t use it, but maybe you can. You have to be able to picture the target.”

  “It might help to narrow the search if we figure out why they’re here.”

  “I thought that was obvious. They’re hiding,” Rhyden said.

  “Not necessarily. Maybe they came back to conduct more business and don’t even know the portal is closing,” she said. “Or maybe they know and have decided to stay. They might even have left the city.”

  Rhyden swore under his breath.

  Seth straightened. “If they’ve left New Orleans, our efforts are doomed from the start.”

  She set down her cup and leaned forward. “OK, so let’s throw out that possibility since we can’t do anything about it. I believe they’re here anyway. I was thinking in the shower. What if they’re aware of the portals closing, and they need one last shipment? Parts or something they didn’t have before?”

  “But the portal is closed,” Rhyden protested.

  “Except for when we return.” Seth stood and paced across the room. “There’s a keyholder involved. He may know everything that’s been discussed at the palace and passed it on to his associates over here. They could transport one last shipment in…” He looked at the wall clock. “Forty-five hours and forty-two minutes.” He cocked his head. “I wonder if the keyholder is over here with them.”

  “Why would he be? He wouldn’t have to,” Kam said. “With a deadline he knows exactly when to set up his own portal and pull the cargo through.” She compressed her lips. “I kind of hope he’s here so we can catch him, but he’s a fool if he is. You can bet Brunic will track down every keyholder in the next day or two. Anyone missing would come under automatic suspicion.”

  Rhyden grinned at her.
“Brains in a woman are so sexy.”

  “Thank you.”

  Seth shook his head at the two of them, and Kam wondered what he was thinking. Did he disagree with his cousin? If so, which part? Brains or sexy? She averted her eyes. After all, what difference did it make what he thought?

  She got back to business. “So if they’re waiting for a new shipment, wouldn’t that keep them close to the wharfs?”

  “Yeah, I guess Seth’s right,” Rhyden admitted. “It’s the best place to start.” He stood. “Shall we go look?”

  “I’d like to talk about something else first.” Seth looked at his two companions. “What do we do once we find them?”

  “That’s the easy part. We haul them back to Elvenrude.”

  “Which we can’t do until the portal opens. In the meantime, another shipment could be coming in, which means more humans involved, and the CIA is still out there watching for us or any suspicious activity. Holding captives for that length of time without being detected won’t be easy.”

  Rhyden sat back down and crossed his arms. “OK. Then we’ll just have to track them down and shoot them.”

  Kam jerked to attention. “You can’t be serious.”

  “He wasn’t,” Seth said. “But it would be the easiest solution.”

  She frowned, feeling that knot in her gut again. She understood what he’d left unsaid, that he hadn’t discarded it as a backup plan. “That won’t get us the name of the keyholder.”

  “Exactly.” Seth met her gaze. “We also need the names of the other conspirators still in Elvenrude and the location of the guns. So killing them is off the table—unless everything else fails.”

  “Maybe we’re over-thinking this. Let’s find them first, and figure out the rest from there.” She got up and took her cup to the kitchen sink. “It’s better than sitting here arguing.”