“I didn’t blow up the damn Archive or Honor,” I said, frustrated. “Why would I go through all that trouble? They already have a KOS on me, so what’s it going to be now? KOS Plus Ultra? Now they’re going to unleash all their might to move against me?”
“Tell me what happened.”
I explained the situation as best as I could to her.
“It was the book Ronin gave me that exploded. Which makes it look bad.”
“Things are not always what they appear to be, Grey,” she replied. “You of all people know this.”
“Well, this looks like I went to the Archive to blow it, and Honor, up.”
“There are some more questions I need answered,” she said. “But I will wait until you arrive. Disable all defensive runes on your vehicle. You and your apprentice will need to surrender your weapons upon entry.”
“Really, do the Wordweavers think I’m going to go from blowing up the Central Archive to storming the Cloisters? I’m insane, not suicidal.”
“It’s a lockdown protocol, and you will abide by it,” she said, her voice making sure it wasn’t a request. “I may lead these Wordweavers, but I’m not a dictator.”
“Of course I’ll abide by it,” I said. “Last thing I need is a bunch of angry Wordweavers after me.”
“This book…tell me about it,” she asked. “And tell me what he said exactly, in regards to getting information on the Tenebrous.”
“You know what it is?”
I could feel she was giving me a look like ‘you can’t possibly be this dense’.
“I meant—you know what it is.”
“Yes, I do, even though there hasn’t been one in this area since the war.”
“Well, this one can control rummers, make rummogres, and has some serious masking ability,” I said. “Oh, and it likes its targets scared—as in terrorized.”
“They thrive on fear,” she said. “What did Ronin say regarding the book and its delivery?”
I took a moment to avoid smearing a yellow cab and raced on to the West Side Highway, heading uptown. I tried to remember what Ronin had said about getting the book to Dragonflies, and Honor.
“He wanted information on the Tenebrous,” I said. “I informed him you wouldn’t let him near your library, at least not while he was breathing.”
“Close,” she said. “Division 13 and its operatives are not welcome within the Cloisters’ walls or surrounding property.”
“That’s when he suggested Honor and Dragonflies.”
“He suggested it? Not you? Think, Grey, this is important.”
“I would never suggest Honor or the Dragonflies. We weren’t on speaking terms. The last thing I would do is send Ronin, or anyone, to the Central Archives.”
“Is that when he suggested giving Honor the book?”
“He mentioned he didn’t have the access a dark mage does, then pushed the book on me, as a way to smooth over what happened between Honor and me.”
“The book was a ruse and you walked into a trap.”
“You think?” I asked. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. We can discuss the rest then.”
“Remember what I said about the defensive runes and weapons.”
“Got it,” I said. “No defensive runes on the Beast, and we hand over our weapons.”
“Exactly, Grey,” she said. “Remember your favorite saying.”
“I never forget it.”
“See you soon,” she added. “Oh, and don’t forget to get rid of that old rag of a coat. Wear something appropriate for once.”
“The old duster is getting a bit ragged around the edges.”
“You should really get yourself a new one, that one looks like it’s been stomped on by several ogres—at once.”
She ended the call. I got off the Henry Hudson Parkway and drove into Fort Washington Park, stopping at the Point, under the George Washington Bridge.
“Shit.”
“What is it?” Koda asked. “Why did you stop? Where are we?”
“You heard half the conversation,” I said, motioning for her to get out as I opened the door. “Extrapolate.”
“It sounded like she wanted you to disarm the Beast,” Koda started, “and that we’re supposed to hand over our weapons? Is that right?”
“She called my duster an ‘old rag of a coat’ right before she hung up.”
“Didn’t she make that coat for you?”
I nodded. “That sound like Aria to you?”
“No, she’d never say that about your duster or our weapons. Since when do we ever disarm the Beast? What’s going on?”
“Light Council must be parked in the Cloisters,” I said, moving to the rear of the Beast and opening the trunk. “C’mere.”
I handed her a pack. “What’s this?” she asked, hefting it in her hand. “A present? You shouldn’t have.”
“I didn’t. Go in the back of the Beast and change,” I said, taking off my duster and placing it on the ground. “Make it fast.”
She jumped in the Beast as I reached in the trunk for another pack similar to the one I’d given her. Soft runes glowed orange as I opened it.
“These are backup leathers?” she yelled from inside the Beast. “I thought you said you only had one set made up?”
“Less talking, more moving,” I said, removing an identical brown duster from the pack. “Hand me the ones you were wearing.”
In actuality, I’d had several sets of leathers made for her. The same way I had several dusters located throughout the city and in The Dive, in addition to the spare I kept in the Beast.
She handed me the leathers she’d had on. I placed them on the ground next to my duster. This part was going to hurt.
Koda stepped out of the Beast.
“Care to share what we’re doing?”
“Someone wants us out of the way,” I said, and gritted my teeth against the oncoming pain. “You’re going to want to get back in the Beast.”
“Seriously?”
“Only if you want to keep breathing.”
“I like breathing.”
“Beast, now then,” I said, pointing to the car. “This will take a few minutes, then I’ll explain.”
Aria had just let me know we were heading into a trap.
TWENTY-TWO
I formed Izanami and began the spell.
“Not much of a choice,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Someone on the Light Council is playing dirty and using Division 13 to set me up.”
I looked over at the Hudson River. Above us sat the George Washington Bridge, leading into Jersey. Farther north, past the bridge, sat Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters. Around me, I could swear I smelled the slightest hint of cinnamon.
“I know. My entire life has been pain. We’re good friends.”
“I need you to plant a beacon simulating the tracking spell on these items. Can you do it?”
“That’s what I just said. Yes or no?”
“So you keep reminding me,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Can you do it? Dawn will be in a few hours, and I don’t intend on being here at sunup.”
“I’m not questioning your godly powers, but we’re pressed for time. I figure once they notice we haven’t moved, they’ll come for us.”
I glared at the blade.
Of course I’d get a dark blade with a snippy goddess. Why couldn’t I get a not-so-dark blade with a laid-back goddess? One who felt an afternoon of eliminating beers was an afternoon well
spent? No, I had to get the blade with a goddess who had an ego the size of the city.
I walked several meters away with the clothing and plunged the blade into the ground, next to the pile. The runes in the clothing immediately flared orange.
“If the shovel didn’t speak, then, yes, I would bond to it,” I said, gesturing. “At least it would be quieter in my head.”
I whispered the spell and gestured. Black energy erupted around me, followed by the sensation of a hot knife plunging into my skull. I nearly screamed at the searing pain. Being this close to the river meant I needed about twice as much energy to cast this spell. Double the energy, double the excruciating fun.
The area around the clothing turned black and began consuming the materials. A black cloud of lethal mist filled with glowing red runes floated up from the ground, remaining in place, immune to the gentle wind. It would expand for a few more meters and then set off a runic beacon.
“I had to compensate for the river.”
“How many others?”
I let my senses expand for a few seconds. Nothing triggered my radar.
“I’m not sensing anything. You sure you aren’t overreacting?”
“What you are is a pain in my ass,” I said. “I just need to get Fluffy here while I take care of some things downtown.”
I absorbed Darkspirit.
The spell served several purposes. One was to create the impression that we were at this location. In order to do that, I needed to use items that were immersed in our energy signatures. My duster and her leathers were ideal for this spell, but they were also the fuel for the process.
I was going to have to make some serious apologies to Aria later for destroying them. I knew a spell of undoing this advanced would distress Aria considerably. She prided herself in having her garments being nearly indestructible. One of the things I learned early on: Every spell has a counter. It all depends on if you’re willing to pay the cost.
The reason for the spell was to get Fluffy’s attention and bring it to this location. I was going downtown and preferred the creature going in the opposite direction.
If it was hunting mages, this spell was like setting a plate of the finest food in front of a starving man. I only hoped we were close enough for it to sense the energy signature from the Wordweavers. I closed my eyes and let my senses expand. The Cloisters lit up on my radar without trying. We were close enough.
I didn’t want the Light Council to feel cheated when we didn’t show up.
If I got this wrong, Aria was going to be incredibly pissed. If I got it right, the Tenebrous would head north and crash into the Cloister’s defenses, keeping the Wordweavers busy at least until dawn, and hopefully removing enough of the Light Council from the property that I could pay Aria a visit later without having to fight for my life. Either way, we were headed in a different direction for the time being.
“Let’s go,” I said to the camouflaged Koda as she materialized next to me. “We need to get scarce before Fluffy gets here.”
“How did you see me?” Koda asked, angry. “What the hell?”
She stomped ahead of me to the Beast.
“Maybe you’re losing your ability.”
She stopped walking as I headed back to the Beast, passing her.
“That’s not even a little funny, old man,” she said, pointing at me.
“I don’t know”—I shook my head—“first the Archive stops you cold, now here out in the open. What good is a camouflage if everyone can see you? Seems more like cannot-flage.”
“You didn’t know I was there,” she said after a pause. “There’s no way you knew.”
She was right, of course. I just took a guess, knowing her nature to defy direct orders. I was about to answer when I felt the chill. Behind us, I felt the familiar presence.
“Hello, Grey.”
“Oh, shit,” I said, turning slowly. “Seems like I miscalculated the strength of the spell.”
“You called?”
“I did,” I said, backing up slowly. “Koda, you want to get close to the Beast.”
It was a young mage this time. Younger than the broken one in the park. He was dressed in torn jeans and an old leather jacket. His hair was a mess, and his face was covered in bruises. It was the eyes that convinced me, though. There must have been a small part of the mage left, and that infinitesimal trace of the mage’s mind was screaming in sheer terror.
He turned in a circle, arms outstretched, and laughed.
“How do I look?” the mage asked, looking down at his body. “He’s not strong and won't last long, but I couldn’t resist when you called me so powerfully.”
“Grey, what the fuck?” Koda hissed. “Who…what is that?”
“Where are my manners?” the mage said with a bow. “My apologies. Would you like me to make the introductions?”
Behind the young mage, I sensed them. Rummers, and something more.
Something worse.
TWENTY-THREE
“Hello again, Grey. It really has been too long.”
“Not long enough,” I muttered under my breath.
“Grey,” Koda said, and I could hear the fear as her eyes glazed over. “I’m scared. The walls, they’re closing in.”
“And it’s delicious,” Fluffy said. “You didn’t tell me you had such a meal, Grey.”
“Koda,” I said. “Koda! Is that how you’re going out? You’re going to let some piece of shit creature scare you to death?”
Some of the light came back to her eyes, and she focused. Her hands were trembling, but it wasn’t from fear.
“What…the…royal fuck?” she yelled at the mage, materializing her fans. “You tried to get in my head? No one…gets in my head…and lives.”
“I did get in,” Fluffy said. “So much fear. You’re like a ten-course meal. I’m going to take my time with you. Do you mind, Grey?”
“First of all,” I said, “stop calling me Grey like we’re friends. It’s ‘Night Warden’ or ‘Mr. Night Warden.’ And, secondly, do I know you? The face doesn’t seem familiar. When did we meet?”
I needed to push his buttons. Get him off-balance.
“You’ve forgotten me so soon?” Fluffy said, motioning with his hand. “Let me refresh your memory.”
Two rummogres appeared next to him. Each rummogre was accompanied by twenty rummers. The foghorn of doom reverberated in my head. This was going to be bad.
I may have pushed the button too hard.
“Oh, I think it’s coming back now,” I said, drawing Fatebringer and forming Darkspirit. “Is that you, Fluffy?”
“I’m going to enjoy breaking you, Warden. You’re going to watch as I make your little friend beg for her death.”
I saw the hatred behind the mages’s eyes. I knew it wasn’t just the name, something deeper was going on here, but I was going to milk the name for all its worth. Because I was considerate like that.
I narrowed my eyes, looking at the mage. A cloud of runically charged darkness enveloped him. The Tenebrous was redlining his body and burning him out. The mage didn’t have long before he ended up broken and dead.
From where I stood, I could see the dark liquid trickle down one nostril. Blood.
“Fluffy, that mage isn’t strong enough to contain you. Let him go.”
“Seems like my time is almost up,” Fluffy said, wiping his nose. “Mages, they just don’t make them like they used to.”
“Release him.”
“He’s already gone. Once I occupy a bo
dy, the mind is broken beyond repair,” Fluffy answered with a smile. “But don’t worry, right after I kill you, I was thinking of a new home.”
“A new home?” I said, stepping closer. “I know an awesome gerbil you can use as a host.”
“Your attempts at goading me won't work, Grey.”
“I told you, don’t call me—touché.”
Mages—always a touchy bunch. He gave me a slight nod.
“Gerbil? No, I don’t think so. I was thinking another mage. Someone a little stronger than this”—he pointed to his body—“shell. Someone like a deranged mage you may know. Does the name Street ring a bell?”
“You’re going to have to kill me first,” I said, firing Fatebringer.
Fluffy cast a shield and rolled to the side, avoiding my rounds.
“That’s the plan,” he said, casting another shield. The rummogres closed in on him and blocked any frontal attack with their bodies. He was using them as shields.
I holstered Fatebringer and closed on him. From my earlier experience, taking out the host wouldn’t affect the rummogres or rummers, but having one less enemy to deal with made sense. I didn’t want to kill the mage, despite what Fluffy said about him being already gone. Maybe Rox could help him if we got him to Haven in time.
Time…it was the one thing we were running out of. Every second the Tenebrous spent inside his body, he was doing damage. I needed a fast solution to deal with the mage. Preferably one that didn’t kill me.
Koda had closed the distance on the rummers with a yell. Forty rummers, two rummogres and one monstrously inhabited mage. The odds seemed slightly against us.
Somehow I knew I was going to regret this.
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