Cloak of Dragons

by Moeller, Jonathan

  That didn’t make sense. I had encountered people like Malthraxivorn’s treasure hunters, and none of them had ever possessed cybernetic arms or particle weaponry. Then again, I suppose it was possible Blaster Boy had been a normal human once, and whatever he had found in the Catalyst base had changed him into what he was now.

  Disturbing thought, really.

  “Do you know what exactly Malthraxivorn brought into the US from the Ural Mountains base?” said Riordan.

  “I don’t know for certain,” said Edina. “When I was with his lordship in the warehouse, I saw five crates. Each one was about the size of a car. There was also a box of old books. Lord Malthraxivorn said he would need to destroy some of the volumes.” He sighed. “Presumably that was the box that contained the copies of the Summoning Codex.”

  “That crate of books,” said Riordan. “Were they ever taken from the warehouse?”

  “I don’t believe so,” said Edina. “None of the crates from the Ural Mountains were removed from the warehouse. Nor did I ever see Mr. Freeman away from the facility. I suspected that his lordship hired Mr. Freeman as a guard for the technology, but he would never speak of it, and I knew better than to ask.”

  Riordan looked at Della. “I think we can assume that whoever sold those books works at the warehouse.”

  “Do you think Neil sold those books to Watkins?” I said.

  Riordan shook his head. “I doubt it. I think that Neil is being compelled or coerced to help whoever sold the books.”

  “He still killed my uncle,” said Della, her voice harsh. “No one else could have inflicted such a wound upon him.”

  “Agreed,” said Riordan, “but I think someone else was the brains behind the plan. Neil Freeman was just the weapon.”

  Edina looked aghast. “You think that one of his lordship’s employees betrayed him?”

  “The evidence would seem to indicate that,” said Riordan.

  “Well, Edina?” said Della. “Any ideas on who would have betrayed my uncle to his death?”

  Edina paused and frowned with concentration.

  “I hate to say it,” he said at last, “but the logical suspect is Hamilton.”

  “Who’s Hamilton?” I said.

  “Kenneth Hamilton,” said Edina. “Lord Malthraxivorn’s warehouse manager and security chief. Other than his lordship, he is the only one who would have access to the secure area of the warehouse where the books and the crates were kept.”

  “So would you,” I said. “Aren’t you the manager of Dragon Imports?”

  “The art gallery,” said Edina. “Not the warehouse.” He grimaced. “I suppose the timing of this will be suspicious, but I never liked Hamilton. He was a martinet, and far too puffed-up about his own position and responsibilities. Dealing with him was a constant headache. I don’t know why his lordship tolerated him.”

  “Likely because no one has ever successfully broken into the warehouse?” said Della.

  “What were you doing in here?” I said. “Don’t you have your own office?”

  “I do,” said Edina. “However, his lordship’s death has created…er, something of a bookkeeping mess. I would have needed his lordship’s signature on several documents. And while “Max Sarkany” was only his lordship’s human guise, it was nonetheless a legal person. There are a great many accounts that need to be closed or transferred to Lady Delaxsicoria’s control. I was looking to see if Lord Malthraxivorn had left a copy of a will in his desk.” He sighed. “That would expedite this entire mess.”

  “The mess my uncle’s death made for you,” said Della, her tone as cold as one of my ice spells. “Such a dreadful burden that must be.” Edina flinched at her tone. “Have you not yet contacted my uncle’s attorneys?”

  “I have, my lady,” said Edina, spreading his hands in a gesture no doubt meant to be mollifying but only looked terrified. “They say your uncle discussed making a will with them but had never gotten around to it. Dragons live for a long time, my lady, and no doubt Lord Malthraxivorn assumed he had millennia of life left.” He sighed. “Humans are prone to a similar mistake, though not on quite a long timescale.”

  “Very well,” said Della. “I think I have learned all that can be learned here. Come.”

  She swept from the office with a hauteur that would have made Tarlia proud. Helen and Shawn followed her at once. I looked at Nora and Riordan, shrugged, and we followed Della into the hallway.

  We went back downstairs to the art gallery. Della paced a few times back and forth, frowning, and then turned to look at us.

  “What do you think, Worldburner?” said Della. “Was Edina telling the truth?”

  “I think he was mostly telling the truth,” I said. “He doesn’t like you very much, but he’s terrified of you. If anything, once you have full control of your uncle’s property, I think you should pay for a good outside audit. I could be mistaken, but Edina seems like the kind of guy who would pad his retirement by skimming off funds from the gallery’s accounts.”

  Della scowled. “You think he was stealing from my uncle?”

  “He might have been,” said Riordan. “He gives the impression of being a physical coward, but it doesn’t take much bravery for embezzlement.”

  “Was he telling the truth about Hamilton?” said Della.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I think he was. How well do you know Hamilton?”

  “Not well,” admitted Della. “I did not often deal with most of my uncle’s employees. Sometimes his lawyers when they helped me with a music deal or the legal requirements related to it.”

  “I met him several times, my lady,” said Shawn. “He always struck me as a solid man, good at his job. Didn’t tolerate any nonsense in the people under his authority.”

  “It seems our next step should be to go to the warehouse and speak with Mr. Hamilton,” said Riordan.

  “He should be there now,” said Shawn.

  I hesitated. I thought that Edina was mostly telling the truth. But I had been mistaken before. Maybe I ought to insist that we make sure we had the entire truth from him. But how would we do that? I suppose Nora and Riordan could beat him up. Or I could use the mindtouch spell and rummage around inside his head. But I really didn’t like doing that. I didn’t enjoy digging around inside other people’s heads.

  I had enough bad memories of my own. I didn’t want to see anyone else’s.

  “Nadia?” said Riordan.

  I took a deep breath. “Let’s go to the warehouse and have a chat with Kenneth Hamilton. And even if he’s not there, I want to have a look at those crates from Russia. I think it’s past time to find out just what we’re dealing with here.”

  ***

  Chapter 15: Iceboxes

  Before they left, Della tried to order Shawn and Helen to remain behind.

  “I shall be in the company of two Shadow Hunters and the Worldburner,” said Della as they stood behind the parked SUVs. Riordan saw Nadia grimace a little at the title. “I will be as safe as I can be under the circumstances.”

  “At least let us drive you and remain in the SUV, my lady,” said Helen. “If you need us, we will be close at hand.”

  Riordan supposed it spoke well of Delaxsicoria that her people had such loyalty to her.

  “They really came in handy the last time,” said Nadia. “If Shawn hadn’t shot Neil in the back, we might not have gotten away.”

  Della looked over them and sighed.

  “Very well,” she said. “You have stood by me this long, we shall see the end of this together. But you will remain in the SUV unless I call. You have been good and faithful retainers, but I am more resilient than you. A glancing blow from the cyborg knocked me unconscious for hours. A similar blow would have crippled or killed either of you.”

  “We shall do as you command, my lady,” said Helen.

  Della snorted. “After you have persuaded me to agree with you, no doubt.”

  With that, Helen, Shawn, and Della got into their SUV, and
Riordan, Nadia, and Nora got into his. As before, Nadia took the back, and as Riordan backed out and left the parking ramp, he heard Nadia unzip her backpack and start to unpack her weaponry. Nora sat back with a sigh and closed her eyes for a moment.

  “You sure you’re up for this?” said Riordan, glancing at her.

  “Ready and willing, boss,” said Nora. “Della Sarkany isn’t the only one who wants to see the end of this. It’s not every day I get shot in the stomach, and I want to find out why.”

  “Yeah, getting shot sucks,” said Nadia from the back seat.

  “And fourteen people are dead because of Ricci and the Summoning Codex,” said Nora. “More, if you include Ricci and his little coven of wannabe summoners. And Anthony Watkins. He seems like he was a wanker, but maybe if someone hadn’t sold Ricci and Watkins copies of the Summoning Codex, then Ricci would still be a restaurant owner with delusions of grandeur and Watkins would still be a cranky old man.”

  “And those fourteen people would be alive,” said Riordan.

  “Yeah,” said Nora. “I’m seeing this through to the end. Besides, when the Firstborn gives you a job, you finish it.”

  “You made the same speech during our job in Paris,” said Riordan.

  “What happened in Paris?” said Nadia. “I haven’t heard this story yet.”

  “It was about twenty-five years ago,” said Nora before Riordan could speak. “Suppose you hadn’t even been born yet, tigress. There was a Dark Ones cult operating out of the old catacombs under Paris. The Family sent Riordan and me to take care of it. It was one of my first missions as a full Shadow Hunter, and I didn’t want to screw it up. And I didn’t want to look like an idiot in front of the legendary Riordan MacCormac.”

  Riordan scoffed. “Legendary. What a thing to call a man. Almost as bad as calling him doting.”

  “It’s true, though,” said Nora. “Other than the Elders, you’re the longest-serving Shadow Hunter in the Family. Hell, if you live long enough, you’re going to be the Firstborn one day.”

  “Heaven forfend,” said Riordan.

  “Anyway, what happened in Paris?” said Nadia. Riordan came to a red light and brought the SUV to a stop. Next time, he resolved, he was going to have Nora drive, simply so she would not have the time to regale Nadia with anecdotes from his past.

  “Our first meeting with the cult went bad, and I got shot a couple of times,” said Nora. “Riordan got me out of there, and we holed up until my Shadowmorph healed me. He tried to insist that I go back to our branch office in London, but I refused.” She smiled. “Then we tracked down the cult and finished them off. They had killed forty-seven people as sacrifices to the Dark Ones, but it stopped that day. Suppose that saved you the trouble of nuking them back in July, Worldburner.”

  “Oh, shut up,” said Nadia, frowning as she unloaded and checked one of her pistols.

  “But if it wasn’t for your husband,” said Nora, “I wouldn’t have gotten out of there, and the cult would have escaped.”

  “You give me too much credit,” said Riordan.

  “No, I don’t,” said Nora.

  “For once, I agree with Nora,” said Nadia. “I think you’re pretty great.”

  He saw her smiling in the rearview mirror, and Riordan found himself smiling back.

  A car horn blared out.

  “The light turned green,” said Nora.

  Riordan sighed. “Next time, you’re driving.”

  It was just a little past noon, and so the traffic was heavy but navigable as Riordan followed Della’s vehicle across Manhattan towards Brooklyn. He tensed as they took the tunnel under the river. If Neil wanted to ambush Della, the relatively cramped confines of the toll tunnel would be a perfect place to do it. But the traffic kept moving through the tunnel, and they emerged into the sunlight without any difficulties. Riordan’s tension returned as they drew nearer to the warehouse.

  He saw Nora holding a gun, and Nadia doing the same.

  By prior agreement, they parked several blocks from the warehouse. Riordan got out, hand resting on his holster beneath his jacket, and looked around. The street was deserted, and while the day had started sunny, the sky had turned leaden gray once again. Riordan had the feeling that it was going to be an unpleasant winter. Nadia and Nora got out of the SUV, and Della emerged from her vehicle.

  “Anything?” said Nora.

  Nadia shook her head. “I don’t see him. But I think we should watch the rooftops. If Neil’s smart, he’ll snipe at us from above. Doesn’t have to worry about us fighting back then.” She blinked. “Hey, do bullets work on dragons?”

  “Not usually, no,” said Della. “Our nature is sufficiently magical that more powerful weapons are required to do us lasting injury.” She sighed. “Such as particle weapons and cybernetic fists, apparently.”

  “Nadia, Nora, please keep an eye on the rooftops,” said Riordan. “Lady Delaxsicoria, you and I will watch the sidewalks. If Neil decides to ambush us, we’ll be ready.”

  “If he does come for us,” said Della, voice cold, “I shall slay him for my uncle’s death.”

  “Might want to think about taking him alive,” said Nadia. Della narrowed her eyes. “We’re pretty sure that Blaster Boy wasn’t operating alone. And you will not have complete vengeance for your uncle unless we find whoever betrayed him.”

  “A good argument,” said Della, the annoyance passing from her expression. “Shadow Hunter, Worldburner, lead the way.”

  Riordan headed down the sidewalk, Nora walking at his side, Della and Nadia bringing up the back. If any enemies showed themselves, Riordan and Nora could engage them with guns or their Shadowmorph blades while Nadia and Della brought their magic to bear. But both the street and sidewalk were deserted, and no cars drove past.

  They turned the corner, and Sarkany’s warehouse came into sight. Riordan swept his eyes up and down the street, but nothing moved.

  “No one on any of the roofs,” said Nadia.

  A moment later they stood before the front doors of the warehouse. Still nothing moved, and there was no sign of Neil or of anyone else.

  “Wait a second,” said Nadia, and she reached into her backpack and drew out her aetherometer. The dials beneath the crystal lens spun and whirled. “There are a lot of active spells inside that place.”

  “My uncle employed warding spells to guard some of his more precious treasures,” said Della.

  “And,” said Nadia, “it looks like someone has summoned Shadowlands creatures inside the warehouse. Maybe within the last three days or so.”

  Riordan shared a look with Nora.

  “Hell,” muttered Nora. “It’s never simple, is it?”

  “Let’s see what we can find,” said Riordan. “Lady Delaxsicoria, if you would?”

  Della nodded, produced a swipe card, and ran it through the lock next to the door. It beeped and flashed green, and Riordan heard the dull thump of steel deadbolts retracting.

  “Let me go first,” said Riordan. “Nora, can you get the door?”

  He called his Shadowmorph blade into his right hand and pulled magic together for a spell. Nora drew open the door, and Riordan went through it low and quick, stepping to the right to get out of any potential field of fire.

  After his preparations, the interior of the warehouse was underwhelming. He found himself standing in a concrete room about the size of his condo’s living room. There was another pair of closed steel doors on the far side of the room, and smaller doorways on the right and left labeled UPPER FLOORS ACCESS. There was also a closed elevator door. The only illumination came from a harsh emergency light over the elevator. Banks of fluorescent lights were mounted in the ceiling, but they were dark.

  “It’s clear,” said Riordan.

  The others came inside. Nadia looked around, her eyes narrowed.

  “Is this place supposed to be so dark?” she said.

  “No, it’s not,” said Della, frowning. “The lights should be on.”

  Nadi
a crossed to the elevator and hit the button. Nothing happened.

  “Power’s off,” she said. “Door locks must have a battery backup.”

  Riordan and Nora shared a look.

  “Bet that’s not an accident,” said Nadia.

  “The power should not be out,” said Della. It seemed to offend her. “My uncle paid to have redundant emergency generators installed. Those should be running still. That contractor ripped us off.”

  “Contractors are the worst,” agreed Nora.

  “Maybe the contractor didn’t rip you off,” said Nadia, looking around the little room. “Maybe someone disabled the generators.”

  “Where would your uncle have kept the crates from Russia?” said Riordan.

  “In the most secure vault in the cellar,” said Della.

  “Can we take these stairs?” said Nora, gesturing at the closed doors to the stairwells.

  “No,” said Della. “The stairs to the cellar vault aren’t accessible from the front room. We’ll have to use the stairs next to the security manager’s office.”

  “Hamilton’s office,” said Riordan.

  “Well,” said Nadia, “shall we get on with it?”

  “Same order as before,” said Riordan, stepping to the steel doors on the far side of the room.

  Della nodded and crossed to the lock. Riordan stepped in front of the doors, holding his Shadowmorph blade and his spells ready. Nora moved to his side, and Nadia stepped back, flexing her fingers as she readied herself to cast a spell.

  “Ready?” said Della.

  Riordan nodded, and Della swiped her card through the lock. It beeped, and Della pulled the door open. Riordan went low and quick through the door, weapon and magic held ready.

  He found himself in a wide corridor with a ceiling two stories tall. Metal pull-down doors opened into storage lockers on either side of the corridor, and balconies ran down the length of the walls, with more metal doors behind the railings. Emergency lights mounted on the steel girders of the ceiling cast harsh shadows over the floor. A forklift was parked about twenty yards further down the corridor. Riordan swept his eyes over the balconies, but nothing moved, and no sounds came to his ears.