by Helen Harper
***
Two hours later the fire was going and, much to Tipsania’s disgust, Taylor had managed to produce some more tins of beans. Sorley, Lyle and Kirk had wanted to stick around but I persuaded them to stay down by the border. Despite their oaths, I wasn’t sure I could trust them to not bop Byron on the head and slice off his ears. With everyone clued up, there were more than enough eyes to make sure that Byron didn’t spike my food or drink while I wasn’t looking. All the same, I was wary of his telekinesis Gift. He’d managed to switch drinks on me once before, so I still had to be careful. For his part, he didn’t act any differently to usual. Neither did Tipsania.
‘There is a huge dining room in there,’ she said, jerking her head towards the mansion. ‘Why aren’t we eating inside?’
I smirked. ‘There are cobwebs.’ I gestured to the door. ‘You’re welcome to go in if you wish.’
It was obviously a struggle for her not to snark out a reply. She managed it though. Barely.
Bob yawned loudly. ‘It’s so boring here. There are no nightclubs. There are no pubs.’ He pouted. ‘I need some excitement in my life.’
Brochan sneezed three times in quick succession. ‘Go back to your letter opener then. We don’t need you.’ He wiped his nose. ‘In fact, we’ll be better off if you keep away.’
‘Brochy baby, don’t be like that. Besides, you know very well it’s a scimitar, not a letter opener. And I can’t go back there yet. Daniel Jackson just died in Stargate. It’s too emotional for me to return to the scene of the crime.’
‘It’s a television show! There is no scene of the crime!’
Bob shook his head sadly. ‘You don’t get it. You have no soul, Brochy. I can help you with that. Get Uh Integrity to wish you one.’
‘Let me strangle him, Tegs,’ Brochan appealed. ‘Or at the very least tie him up.’
Bob instantly brightened. ‘Now that sounds fun! A bit of BDSM is right up my alley.’
‘You’re disgusting.’
The genie tutted. ‘It’s perfectly normal.’ He snapped his fingers and produced a length of rope. I was pleased to note that it was dyed hot pink. Atta boy. ‘Uh Integrity, you’d like to be tied up, wouldn’t you?’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Bob, once upon a time, I was a master thief. I can pick locks, break into vaults and I can certainly get myself out of any knot that you could tie.’
He puffed out his chest. ‘That sounds like a challenge.’
Tipsania was goggling at us like we were a bunch of maniacs. Byron, however, regarded me with interest and I raised an eyebrow in his direction. Did that kind of sex game float his boat? ‘Okay then, Bob. Give it a try.’ I held out my hands. ‘Tie me up and I promise you that I will free myself in three minutes.’
‘Done!’ he yelled. ‘But I’ll have you know that I used to grant wishes for Houdini.’ He crossed his fingers and held them up. ‘We were like this.’
‘Didn’t he die in a failed escape attempt?’ I enquired. ‘Was that because of one of your wishes?’
Bob looked affronted. ‘No, he died because of peritonitis. He’d wished to feel no pain, so he didn’t feel it when his appendix ruptured and didn’t seek help in time.’
Speck edged away from him and collided with Lexie. ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled.
‘I like it when you get close, Specky,’ she purred. He turned bright red.
‘Come on then, Bob,’ I said, drawing away attention from the embarrassed warlock. ‘Get on with it.’
Bob flitted over and winked, then made an elaborate show of looping the rope and circling it round his head. He flung it towards me, whistling to himself as he knotted it this way and that, tugging at various points and frowning. He seemed to take an age.
‘You know,’ I said drily, ‘if it takes longer to tie the damn thing than it does for me to get out of it, I’m not sure that it’s entirely fair.’
‘I’m done. Sheesh! Hold your horses, girl!’ He flew backwards and admired his handiwork before holding up his hand for a high-five. Unfortunately no one obliged.
Taylor leaned across the fire. ‘Byron, twenty quid says she gets out within sixty seconds.’
‘No! Don’t you dare!’
‘Oh come on, Tegs. It’s not a serious bet. It’s just for fun.’
‘I mean it, Taylor.’ I glared at Byron to make sure he understood how much trouble he’d be in if he took the bet.
‘Hey! I’ve not said a word? Why am I the bad guy?’ he protested.
Why indeed, I thought sardonically. ‘Just a warning,’ I said aloud.
Bob sniffed. ‘You do realise, you’ve already had forty seconds?’
‘What? That’s not fair! Come on, Bob, I’ve not started yet!’
He shrugged. Exasperated, I turned away and began to extricate myself. It didn’t take long. In barely three breaths I faced them, dangling the length of rope in my hand. ‘Piece. Of. Cake.’
Bob stared at me. ‘You cheated.’
‘Nope.’
‘You did! You cheated. Was it one of those Gifts of yours?’
‘No magic involved.’ The corner of my mouth curled up. ‘Frankly, your rope work is so poor that I imagine even a toddler could break free within seconds.’
‘I want a re-match!’ Bob demanded.
‘I’ve already won.’
‘Best of three?’
‘No. Give it up, Bob. You’re a sore loser.’
His bottom lip jutted out. ‘I’m very good at rope work, it’s just that you’re either incredibly lucky or some kind of prodigy. Speck! Let me try it on you! I bet you won’t be able to get free so easily.’
Speck pushed his glasses up his nose. ‘No, thank you. Hemp brings me out in hives.’
Bob turned to Brochan. ‘No,’ said the merman. ‘Don’t even think about it.’
‘You guys are shite,’ the genie whined. ‘You’re dull and boring and—’
‘Shite?’
‘Yes!’
Byron stood up. ‘I feel sorry for the wee man. Go on. You can try it on me, Bob. Tie me up.’
I felt a flurry of excitement. ‘You don’t have to do this.’
He shrugged. ‘Where’s the harm?’
‘At least someone around here is vaguely interesting,’ Bob said, zapping over to Byron before he could change his mind. He grinned as he looped round his hands and between his wrists, taking the rope with him. ‘Is that too tight for you?’
Byron wiggled his fingers. ‘Nope.’
‘Damn.’ The genie seemed disappointed. ‘Do you mind if I tie your ankles too? I did such a bad job with Uh Integrity that I need to save face.’
For a moment, I thought Byron would refuse. Apparently Bob did too, because he didn’t wait for a response but flew down to the ground, magicked up another rope and started tying Byron’s feet. ‘Okay!’ he sang out. ‘Your time starts now.’
I scowled. ‘Why does he get a warning about the start time and I don’t?’
‘Quit complaining, sweet cheeks.’
We fell silent and watched Byron as he twisted one way and writhed another, straining against Bob’s bonds. His face was taut with exertion but it wasn’t long before it was clear that he couldn’t free himself. He yanked at his hands and tried to wriggle out of the knots at his feet. When that didn’t work he paused, and I could sense him trying to use his telekinesis Gift. Frustration clouded his eyes before he eventually shrugged and winked, as if to show he was a good sport. ‘I guess I’m just not as skilled as Integrity,’ he said. ‘I give in. You win, Bob.’
Bob eyed him suspiciously. ‘You’re not just trying to be nice to me, are you? Pretending that you can’t free yourself to massage my ego? Because I have other body parts that you can massage instead—’
‘No,’ Byron interrupted. ‘You’ve got me. I’m well and truly stuck.’
I raised my eyebrows at Taylor. He nodded and loped over, checked the knots and gave me a thumbs up. I smiled. Lexie reached over and tossed me Byron’s bag. I glanced inside, rum
maging around while his expression grew darker and darker.
‘Undo the ropes, Bob,’ Byron said.
‘Can’t do that, golden boy.’
Byron look from the genie to the others and then to me. Lexie couldn’t keep the smirk off her face. Tipsania got to her feet. ‘I’ll do it.’ She turned to Byron and began to fumble. For a moment I felt worried but Bob grinned and gave me a minute shake of his head.
‘They won’t budge,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘You used magic.’
Bob bowed dramatically. ‘I’m a genie. Magic is my raisin debtor.’
‘Your what?’
‘Raisin debtor,’ he repeated patiently.
‘Bob,’ I said, ‘it’s raison d’être. It’s French.’
He stared at me for a second. ‘I know that! I’m a magnificent being!’ He turned and glared at Taylor and I instantly understood what had happened. No doubt my old mentor had been playing around with Bob and telling him porkies. I sighed inwardly. There had probably been money involved.
Bob sniffed. ‘I was just testing you. Although,’ he mumbled, ‘I did wonder what raisins had to do with it.’
My fingers curled round an object at the bottom of the bag and sickness lurched through me. I didn’t think the trolls had been lying but physical confirmation of the ‘sleeping draught’ was not what I’d wanted to find. I pulled it out – a tiny silver vial with veins of red running through it - and held it up towards Byron.
‘Do you want to explain what this is?’ I asked softly.
Byron glared at me. ‘I’m certain you already know.’
I nodded to myself and dug out my phone, searching through the photos. When I found what I was looking for, I got to my feet and walked over, holding it up to his face. ‘Remember this?’ I asked. ‘This was the group shot of us before we found the Foinse. Can you see what your father is holding there?’
Byron’s eyes continued to flash cold rage.
‘Come on, babe,’ I urged. ‘Surely, you can see it’s your wonderful daddy holding a little vial identical to this one. Not long after this shot was taken, Lily MacQuarrie dropped dead from poisoned water. Poisoned water intended for me.’
‘The photo doesn’t mean anything because that is not poison,’ he said angrily. ‘The trolls. Lyle and Kirk. They gave me up?’
‘They did.’
He tried to get to his feet and failed. Muttering a curse, he exhaled instead. ‘Are we really going to do this here? In front of an audience?’
I didn’t answer.
Byron rolled his eyes as if he were the wronged one. I struggled to keep hold of my temper, counting to ten as he continued to stare at me. ‘I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Integrity. It would just have put you to sleep for a while.’ He was telling the truth. I closed my eyes for a beat. That was something. ‘And,’ he added, ‘I wasn’t even going to use it.’
Another truth. Feeling the others watching me, I gave them a stiff nod. Lexie and Speck relaxed slightly but I could still feel the animosity rolling off Brochan and Taylor. Bob, however, had magicked up a large popcorn and was watching us with a massive, cheesy grin and a pair of nonsensical 3D glasses.
‘Why bother bringing it at all then?’ I asked softly.
He shrugged with feigned nonchalance. ‘Going across the Veil is dangerous. It didn’t seem right putting you in that position. After all, if something goes wrong, there are lots of Moncrieffes. My Clan would survive. But there’s only one of you. In the end, I figured that you can make that decision for yourself though. I didn’t have much time once I received your summons and I was rash when I packed. It’s not the end of the world.’ He raised a pointed eyebrow. ‘I’ve not actually tried to spike your drink.’
‘You have before,’ I snapped, referring to when we first met. ‘Was all this your idea? To send me to sleep and go find MacBain’s body on your own?’
‘Yes.’
I gave him a sad smile. Couldn’t he see how his strings were still being pulled even though his father was hundreds of miles away? ‘You forget that I’ve got Kirsty Kincaid’s Gift.’
‘What the hell?’ Tipsania exclaimed. ‘You have her Gift? Truth Telling? The one she lost at the Games? And what exactly is going on here anyway? Byron—’
‘Shut up, Tipsy,’ he said tiredly. She flinched but he kept his attention trained on me. ‘Fine,’ he admitted. ‘My father suggested it. But it proves that he’s not out to get you because he wants to keep you safe as much as I do.’
I sighed. ‘You really do still believe that.’
‘For goodness sake, Integrity!’ he exploded. ‘If he wanted you dead, wouldn’t letting you cross the Veil be a good way for that to happen? There are still thousands of Fomori demons over there. It’s incredibly risky. Why would he want to stop you if not to protect you?’
‘Why indeed?’ I murmured. ‘Why indeed?’ I shrugged. ‘That’s a question for another time.’
A muscle ticked in his cheek. ‘I can see how this looks.’ He gestured with his bound hands at the little vial. ‘I’ll prove it to you. I’ll drink it and then you’ll see.’
I glanced down at the innocuous looking thing. ‘Except,’ I told him, ‘then you’ll be dead and I won’t be able to tell you I told you so.’ I checked my watch. ‘I have to go or I’ll be late.’ I turned on my heel and began striding off.
‘You can’t do this on your own!’ he shouted after me. ‘Untie me and I’ll come with you. No more sleeping draughts!’
‘You had your chance,’ I heard Brochan rumble. ‘Now you’re staying with us.’
‘Tipsania...’ Byron appealed.
‘What?’ she snapped. ‘You’ve made your bed. You lie in it.’
I grinned humourlessly to myself. Clearly, she didn’t like being told to keep quiet, even by Byron Moncrieffe.
‘It’s not fucking poison!’ he yelled. ‘Integrity, you can’t do this on your own.’
I spun round. ‘Because it’s too dangerous?’
‘Yes! And because you know Chieftain MacBain won’t accept you doing this on your own. She doesn’t trust you.’
‘I don’t think I’m the untrustworthy one here,’ I snarled. ‘You’re not turning out to be much of a hero.’
Byron struggled to compose himself. ‘Fine. Give the vial back to me. You know from your Truth-Seeking that I won’t use it against you. And I’ll prove to you once and for all that my father means you no harm because I’ll take it to a lab and get it independently tested. Then we’ll both know the truth.’
Now that was a damned good idea. Taylor, sensing my shift in thought, gave me a warning glance. ‘Tegs...’
Byron softened his features. ‘You don’t trust me. Fine. But I don’t trust you either, remember? You stole from me while I haven’t actually done anything yet. Let me come with you.’
‘Why do you even want to come?’ I demanded. ‘And remember I will know if you’re lying.’
Two high spots of colour lit his cheeks. I blinked. Byron was embarrassed. He heaved in a breath. He seemed to be struggling with the answer. ‘Fine,’ he said eventually. ‘I want to come because I want to be with you. I want to make sure you’re safe. I want to help you out. I couldn’t give a toss about Matthew MacBain. He’s been dead for a generation. But I care about you.’
Nobody said anything. Lexie did clasp her hand over her mouth, however, and look rather delighted.
I bit my lip hard. Then I gestured towards Bob. He jerked up. ‘Really?’ I nodded. He shrugged to himself. ‘It’s your funeral.’
The tiny genie flapped his way over to Byron at the exact same time as Brochan stood up and wandered over. He flashed an uncharacteristically warm smile and then, without warning, drew back his fist and slammed it into Byron’s jaw with a sweeping undercut. Byron’s head snapped back and he collapsed with a heavy thud.
‘What the...?’ I sprang over.
‘He’s out cold,’ Bob pronounced solemnly.
I wheeled round to face Brochan. The large merm
an was rubbing his fist but he looked incredibly self-satisfied. ‘What did you do that for?’
‘You’re letting your emotions get in the way, Tegs,’ he said with an unrepentant shrug. ‘You can’t trust him.’
‘He was telling the truth! He wasn’t going to use the poison!’
‘But,’ Taylor interjected, ‘you don’t know that he wouldn’t do something later on when you least expect it.’
‘You too, Taylor? You condone this?’
‘Stop thinking with your heart, Integrity,’ he said sternly. ‘You know better than that. We win by logic not by heat.’
It had been such a long time since Taylor had acted like my mentor and told me what to do that I was momentarily bereft for words. I stared at Byron’s prone form. ‘We don’t do violence,’ I said finally. Tipsania snorted loudly but when I glanced at her she shrank back in what could only be a frisson of fear. Anger surged through me. This was why we didn’t hurt people. Ever.
‘He’s not dead,’ Brochan pointed out. ‘He’s just unconscious. You were already prepared to go without him anyway. Stick to the plan. It means you don’t have to watch your back.’
I hissed in frustration. This wasn’t the way we did things.
‘They’re right,’ Speck said, pushing up his glasses. ‘Bringing him along is too dangerous. You’re better without him.’ Lexie hit him in the arm but he ignored her in favour of blinking owlishly at me.
‘But...’
‘Do you trust him?’
My shoulders sank. ‘No. I can’t. Not with Aifric controlling his every move. Not with a price on my head.’
Taylor sucked air in through his teeth. ‘There you go then.’ He checked his watch. ‘You‘d better leave now if you’re going to make the Veil by midnight.’
I glared at him then at Brochan. ‘You still shouldn’t have done that.’
The merman’s expression didn’t change. ‘Stay safe, Tegs.’ He reached down and picked up my bag and handed it to me. ‘We’ll look after the princeling.’
‘You...’ I sighed and shook my head. I didn’t know whether I was supposed to be angry or relieved. ‘We’ll talk about this when I get back.’
‘I’m sure we will.’ He gave me a tiny shove. ‘Now go.’