Thaumatology 04 - Dragon's Blood

by Teasdale, Niall

  ‘Looking forward to it,’ Lily said, and Ceri hit the disconnect button.

  Okay, she needed to talk to Lily without the spooks hearing her. She had never tried the spell before, but there was a first time for everything. Actually, she thought as she undressed, “there’s a first time for everything” ought to be her motto. The undressing was not actually necessary, but she wanted to be comfortable before she started; Lily was going to abuse this one, she just knew it. She turned out the light and got into bed, pulling the sheet up around her waist and settling herself comfortably. Concentrating, she thought of Lily, fixing the image in her mind and willing the link between them to expand and…

  ‘Oh wow!’ Lily’s thoughts flashed through Ceri’s mind. Lily was lying on the bed naked. Lily was horny. When was Lily not horny? Lily was fascinated. The Ambassador’s name meant what? ‘Mei is the Sleeper?’ The words cut through the flurry of random thoughts, sharp and bright in Ceri’s head.

  ‘Do you think you could think less, Lil?’ Ceri thought at her. ‘It’s like talking in a disco.’

  ‘Hey, you’re not much better. Stop going over your presentation and yes I am going to abuse this, thank you very much.’ Ceri felt her cheeks flush. ‘Oh, that’s what blushing feels like. That kind of sucks.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Ceri said, trying to move on, ‘are they watching you, or have they given up on the house and stuck with me?’

  There was a flickering burst of images and thoughts of conversations with Twill. ‘Twill says they’ve left the gear in the flat they were using, but no one’s manning it.’

  ‘Okay, good. I need you to get in touch with Carter. See what he can find out about Mei.’

  ‘Of course. This is so cool, it’s like I’m in your room. It’s like I’m you and me at the same time!’ Ceri’s giggled response produced a flurry of happy feelings in Lily, which made Ceri giggle more. Then Ceri felt a hand stroke over her stomach, except that it was not her stomach it was Lily’s. ‘Oh my God you felt that? This is so awesome!’ Ceri felt her breast being cupped, her nipple being pinched, and Lily said, ‘Yes… totally open to abuse.’

  July 4th

  The closest thing Ceri could come to the experience was Fresher’s Week at university. The registration hall was packed to the gills with chattering academics and she could not even see the desk where she was supposed to pick up her badge and conference details. About the only good thing about it was that she had totally lost her tail. She had had a lousy night, waking up twice with half-remembered dreams of pain. With a sigh, she joined the queue to get to the table where a bunch of harried people were working like maniacs to get everyone registered.

  ‘Name and institution?’ The man behind the desk was about her age, wearing thick glasses and a lot of sweat, and obviously wished he was somewhere else.

  ‘Ceridwyn Brent, London Metropolitan University,’ Ceri replied as calmly as she could manage. She was a little wound up by now as well, not to mention bored beyond belief.

  He turned to a set of boxes behind the reception table and started leafing through one of them, returning after a minute with an envelope. ‘This is your badge and,’ he glanced at the envelope, ‘information on your presentation schedule.’ He handed her the envelope, barely waiting for her to grip it before letting go. ‘You must wear your badge at all times,’ he added, reaching down and picking up a bag. It looked quite good, actually, fairly roomy, in a black and red design with the MagiTech logo moderately discreetly printed in one corner of the flap. ‘Conference pack,’ the man said. ‘All the details are in there. The opening ceremony is at ten-thirty in the main hall.’ His gaze looked down the line before she could respond. ‘Next!’

  ‘Uh, thanks,’ Ceri said, and started off into the halls of the convention centre. Finding a quiet spot, she dropped down onto her haunches and opened the conference bag. There was a bundle of leaflets advertising various products of the sponsors; MagiTech, Kilburn Technologies the instrument maker, Grey’s Market the magical supplies chain, and various other companies Ceri had never even heard of. There was a small, but fairly thick book containing the seminar schedule. Ceri grimaced; it was going to take ages to go through it. Instead, she pulled out the freebies, because that was bound to be more fun than reading the booklet. MagiTech pen, kind of tacky and plastic, a slightly more high class propelling pencil from Kilburn, a notepad with the sponsors’ logos watermarked onto the paper, and then MagiTech made up for the tacky pen with a memory stick. On the off-chance, Ceri pulled her tablet out of her satchel and plugged the drive in, flicking on the screen with a click. She grinned as she found a program on there containing a fully searchable seminar database.

  ‘There you are,’ Cheryl said from above her. ‘I told you it would be easier to register last night.’

  ‘And you were right, but I needed to talk to Lily about something.’

  ‘Well, come on, we have to sit through the opening speeches before we can have lunch and get down to the good stuff.’

  Ceri stood, slipping her tablet into her satchel. The conference bag looked to have been designed for a laptop, but was currently full of marketing rubbish; she would empty it out later and use that, she decided. ‘This is going to be horribly boring, isn’t it?’ she asked.

  ‘Probably. It depends on the speakers, really.’ Cheryl led the way down the corridor and through a double doorway into the huge main auditorium. The place was packed full of people, all seated, or getting seated, in ranks of fixed chairs which rose up from the stage at the bottom.

  ‘I didn’t think there were that many thaumatologists,’ Ceri said.

  ‘It’s not just academics, of course,’ Cheryl said as she edged along a row of seats to where there were two together. ‘There are people here from various magical technology companies, commercial magic companies, and private people attending for business reasons. Didn’t your parents ever attend one of these?’

  Ceri thought about it. ‘I think Dad did go to one. I was about twelve. I think they decided it wasn’t worth the expense.’

  Cheryl grinned and took her seat, Ceri sitting down beside her and pulling out her tablet to go through the conference schedule. ‘No Ed?’ she asked.

  ‘We’ll meet him at lunch,’ Cheryl replied.

  Ceri nodded and began flicking through the information on the database. The lights went down for the beginning of the ceremony and Ceri dimmed her display with a few taps to avoid annoying anyone. The lecture schedule was considerably more interesting than some big wig from the Cambridge thaumatology faculty going on about great advances in science over the last year. She did notice that he did not mention who had made the greatest of the advances, that was actually left to Alfred Barnes.

  Ceri looked up when the old man walked on. Even at this distance she could see a little of his son in his face. He was considerably more portly, and actually wearing a smile. Ceri could not remember Matthew genuinely smiling on any of the occasions she had seen him. No, that was not quite right, he had looked genuinely happy when he was going to kill her. Ceri went back to her tablet as the elder Barnes began speaking.

  She starting paying attention again when Cheryl elbowed her. Alfred was mid-flow. ‘…looking forward to hearing Doctor Tennant’s presentation on the discovery. MagiTech has an interest I should declare, of course. Doctor Tennant and her assistant, Ceridwyn Brent, have come up with a most interesting power generation system which we are currently working on commercialising. There are military applications for powering some novel weapons, but aren’t there always military applications’ There was a rumble of laughter from the audience. ‘However, I think I’m most excited about the application of this technology for emergency power generation. Imagine a generator at a hospital which can provide megawatts of power at a moment’s notice in case of a blackout. Or a truck which can be wheeled into a disaster site to power all the equipment there. This is how I like to see MagiTech’s resources used. Better living through magic and technology, you might say.’

/>   He paused to allow another rumble of laughter to die down. ‘While I’m mentioning Doctor Tennant’s work, I’m also looking forward to sitting in on her assistant’s presentation this year. Ceridwyn Brent’s PhD thesis sent a number of shockwaves through various parts of the arcane science community with her study of the metaphysical change process in were-creatures and lycanthropes. This is a young thaumatologist we should all be keeping our eyes on, if only because she might make us all obsolete.’

  Ceri developed a strong desire to sink into the floor, but Cheryl was there laughing like a drain. ‘He knows you so well and he’s never even met you,’ she giggled.

  Ceri flicked away the schedule database and pulled up her presentation files to go over again. Oh no, there was absolutely no pressure to have everything perfect. None at all.

  ~~~

  The food was surprisingly good. Not Twill good, but Twill did not cook for several hundred hungry conference delegates. Ceri sat stuffing curry into her mouth with a fork while going over her slides… again, and barely noticed Cheryl eyeing her food jealously.

  ‘How is it,’ her boss said, ‘that you seem to be able to eat whatever you like and I have to watch calories?’

  ‘Fast metabolism,’ Ceri said. ‘I’ve always had it. I was a rake when I was a kid. Mind you, I’ll be happy to sit down after and I hardly ate yesterday.’

  ‘You’re hardly fat, Cheryl,’ Ed commented.

  ‘Because I watch what I eat.’

  Ceri looked up at her boss. ‘Look at it this way, you get to have boobs.’ She was going to say more, but the same odd sensation washed over her, like there was something in the room.

  ‘You’re not entirely lacking,’ Cheryl said. ‘Your problem is that you have Lily to compare yourself… Is something wrong, dear?’

  ‘I’m so glad that line of conversation stalled,’ Ed commented. ‘You were looking the same way yesterday in the Head. What’s the matter?’

  Ceri shrugged. ‘I wish I knew. I keep getting this feeling. It’s like when there’s magic around me, but far less distinct, and random.’

  ‘Well,’ Ed said, his face going all serious, and studious, ‘let’s be systematic. When have you noticed it?’

  ‘Now, yesterday, and… the Jade Dragon. It was when Mei was visiting.’ A thought occurred to her suddenly and she tried hard to keep the shock out of her face.

  ‘And was anything happening then which could possibly be happening now?’ Ed asked.

  Ceri made a play of looking thoughtful; it was not hard, she was thinking. If Mei was a transformed dragon, perhaps Ceri was sensing that. But if that were the case it would mean there was a dragon at the conference, and that dragon had also been at the Wizard’s Head. That did not make sense really. Did it? ‘I guess it’s some sort of magic,’ she said. ‘There’s all sorts of things flying around at the Dragon, the pub was full of practitioners, and I’d imagine there are quite a few here.’

  Ed looked at her appraisingly. ‘I’m sure you’re right. It’s something to work on though. Your arcane senses are developing. You already have an unusually precise form of the Sight, perhaps you are growing into further forms of mystical sense. It might be useful in your work.’

  ‘Her Sight certainly is,’ Cheryl commented. ‘She’s not as quantitative as a thaumometer, but she’s a lot more portable and you don’t have to plug her into the mains. Unless…’

  Ceri frowned. ‘Unless what?’

  ‘I was wondering whether there’s a battery compartment you haven’t told me about.’ Cheryl smirked mischievously and Ed chuckled.

  Ceri looked back down at her tablet. ‘No, there isn’t,’ she said, ‘but don’t ask where the recharger plugs in.’

  Half the hall looked around trying to work out what Ed was laughing at.

  ~~~

  ‘Anything interesting in the lectures after you got mortified at the opening ceremony?’ Lily asked.

  ‘Nothing brain shattering,’ Ceri replied. ‘There was a theoretician with some interesting views on trans-dimensional thaumiton flows. There are a couple of interesting ones coming up tomorrow afternoon.’

  ‘Cool. You in bed?’

  Ceri grinned. ‘Yes, I am. How’s Carter?’

  ‘He’s fine, busy working on stuff, y’know?’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘Michael’s here, he wants to talk to you?’

  Ceri blinked. ‘Oh, sure, put him on.’

  There was the scuffling of a phone being passed over and then Michael’s voice. ‘Hey Ceri, how’s the conference going?’

  ‘Well, it’s just the first day. A bit boring, to be honest,’ Ceri replied. ‘Tomorrow I have my presentation, and then the afternoon looks more interesting.’

  ‘Cool. I’m sure you’ll be absolutely great, y’know?’

  Ceri smiled. ‘Thanks. I’m nervous as Hell, to be honest, but Lily will tell you I usually am.’

  Michael chuckled. ‘Yeah, she’s nodding. A lot. Look, um… This is kind of… Maybe it’s knowing I wouldn’t see you this week… um…’

  Ceri giggled. ‘Spit it out, Michael.’

  ‘Well, is it okay if me and Lily… y’know? I wouldn’t normally… I just feel really… But it’s you that’s my mate and we won’t if you say no.’

  The new moon was over and the werewolves’ blood would be starting to rise. They were not, like the werewolves of legend, forced to change under the full moon, but the phases did tend to affect their mood. Ceri smirked slightly. ‘Of course it’s okay,’ she said. ‘Lily made a promise she’d stay celibate while I was away, and I told her you were the one exception.’ She frowned slightly. ‘You might be a little addicted to her though so try not to give in too much.’

  ‘Ah, right, well I’ll keep that in mind.’

  ‘Good. Hand me back to Lil, would you?’

  ‘Sure. Night, Ceri.’

  ‘Night… Lil?’

  ‘Yeah, I’m here,’ Lily’s voice replied. ‘Best hurry though, I’ve got this hot stud stripping in front of me and I’m not sure how long I can keep holding the phone.’

  Ceri giggled. ‘Okay. Call me if anything comes up…’

  ‘It’s coming up as we speak.’

  ‘Not that! You know what I mean. Don’t make it too late, I have an early start tomorrow, and if he stays the night just remember when my presentation is.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Twill’s already filled the bucket. Night, Ceri.’

  ‘Night, love,’ Ceri said, and thumbed the disconnect. She glanced at the clock, grimaced, and turned out the light, settling down under the sheets and closing her eyes.

  After about two minutes she opened them again because she could feel what Michael was doing to Lily. Groaning, she turned the light back on and picked up her tablet. She might not be able to concentrate much, but one more check of her slides could not hurt. She certainly was not going to get any sleep.

  July 5th

  The presentation seemed to have gone well and there was just one thing left to do. ‘We have a few minutes left,’ Ceri said, ‘are there any questions?’

  There was silence for several seconds, and then a woman in the front row rose to her feet. She was beautiful. Tall, with black hair which fell down her back in waves. Her figure was trim, but carried an impressive bosom and what appeared to be a fair amount of muscle under the flowing gown she was wearing. It seemed a little anachronistic wearing a dress like that to a thaumatology conference, but you got all sorts. The woman looked up at Ceri with very dark, almost black eyes. ‘You recently discovered Brenin’s skull at Stonehenge,’ she said. ‘I felt it and know you. We will meet soon, Ceridwyn Brent. Athro will not tell you everything. Be watchful’

  Ceri looked at her and blinked. ‘Sorry? What was the question?’ Except that the woman was no longer standing there. Okay. Weird. ‘Any questions which do not seem to be a cryptic warning?’

  A man near the back raised his hand and she pointed up at him. ‘Uh, given your research seems to indicate that lycanthrop
es and werewolves appear to have some form of common heritage,’ the man said, ‘and obviously taking into account the variant transformation mechanisms observed in both species… why did you feel you should do your lecture in the nude?’

  Looking down, Ceri gasped to discover she was standing on the stage with no clothes on. She quickly tried to cover herself, turned around and…

  …fell out of bed with a loud thump.

  Groaning, she picked herself up and checked the clock. Seven am. ‘Crap.’ Well, she might as well get up now, since she was out of bed anyway. Walking to the sink, she began brushing her teeth. The worst thing about the whole dream was that she was going to have to give the whole lecture again in three hours.

  ~~~

  This time the presentation seemed to have gone well and there was not a tall, attractive woman in the front row wearing an evening gown; Ceri had checked before she started speaking. The auditorium was nowhere near as large as the main one, but it was packed, which had only made her more nervous, but once she had got into her subject she had lost herself in it as usual. She checked the time. ‘We have a few minutes for questions,’ she said. Various hands went up and she pointed at one of them belonging to an older man.

  ‘Ashbury Donovan, Birmingham University. Your research appears to indicate a linkage between lycanthropes and werewolves. Have you uncovered anything specific in this regard?’

  Hearing the question, Ceri absently checked her dress was still on before answering. ‘Well, that’s not really my field. When I did the scan of the lycanthrope I had a werewolf with me, for safety reasons, and he asked more or less the same question. It seems to me, from the similarities in the transformation process that werewolves are likely a mutation of humans adapting to the Reoviridae Lycanthropia virus. You would need to talk to a geneticist about that though.’