by Ally Shields
* * *
Kam bristled at her captain’s decree. He was right about one thing—the guards were her responsibility. Why should she send any of them on an errand she was better equipped to handle? The voodoo queens and priests weren’t going to talk to just anybody. But the worry in Seth’s eyes convinced her to do it Brunic’s way.
Thornton Rimee was the logical choice. Having experienced an attack by invisible assailants, he would be the most motivated to find an antidote. He also knew his way around New Orleans and was outgoing enough he wouldn’t hesitate to ask questions. She spotted him on portal duty. Boring assignment. He might welcome the chance at something more exciting. She took him aside and laid out the situation.
He eagerly agreed. “Anything you need, Lieutenant.”
“We’re getting a late start. Take a break and plan on leaving within thirty minutes. We haven’t seen any recent blips on camera, but I want you to transport to the Ryndel Guild. You’ll be safer starting from the wharf.”
“I’ll grab something to eat, change clothes, and be right back.” Rimee took off with a grin on his face.
Kam called another guard to take his portal station, and she went to find Seth. He and Rhyden were drinking coffee and finishing the last of the blackberry bread.
“I’m sending Rimee,” she said in answer to Seth’s questioning look. She sniffed the cup of coffee he handed her. “Smells great, thanks. Anything new on the cameras?”
“Still nothing. Maybe they’re working on a new plan.”
“Or sleeping. Or taking a shower. Even bad guys need personal time,” Rhyden said. “Speaking of which, I’d like to visit my apartment and maybe sleep in my bed tonight. Do you think they’re still outside?”
“I was wondering that myself.” Kam took another quick sip of coffee and set it down. “I’m about to find out. I’ll use the amulet to check around.” She dug in her jeans’ pocket and pulled out the silver ring. “Anybody want to go with me?”
“You bet.” Seth snatched it and flashed Rhyden a quick grin before his cousin could react. “But how will we identify them?”
“Outside my apartment I could see them as ghostly shadows when I was cloaked.”
He frowned. “But doesn’t that mean they can see us too?”
“Probably. But if we keep moving, we’ll be hard to catch. It’s not like a distinct picture. A little more substance than the cameras are catching but still just glimpses.”
“All right, but we go prepared. We stick together, and we take the handguns.”
“I have mine.”
Seth patted his belt. “Likewise.”
Kam paused with her hand on the door while Seth slid the ring on his pinkie finger and faded from sight. She signaled the two guards to open the door, grabbed her amulet in one hand, and stepped outside. Seth flickered beside her. As soon as the door clicked behind them, they moved along the side of the building. Kam studied the shadows, the trees, the doorways hidden from the afternoon light. They completed two trips around the guild and expanded their search area to include the streets in front and behind. There was no sign of the Cyrilians.
They returned inside and reported their findings. After a brief discussion, Rhyden and Seth decided to take a chance the Cyrilians wouldn’t return for a while. Both men insisted on visiting their apartments and then the Lormarc Building to make arrangements for the family business. The guilds wouldn’t be shipping out or accepting orders for a few days, and that meant notifying other merchants and buyers.
Kam agreed to stay at the guild. She made her own business arrangements by phone and then called Crain. In all the excitement, no one had told him she’d returned.
“Where were you?”
“Unavoidably detained,” she said, thinking just how accurate the trite phrase was. “Sorry. Nothing I can talk about. But thanks for supplying the helicopter for the swamp search.”
“Yeah, no problem. Is that where you were?”
Kam laughed at his persistence but refused to say more; he finally sighed and let it go. For a man who lived with secrets, he wasn’t very happy others had them too.
Her last call went to the young elves who worked as spotters around the world for the Antiquities Acquisition Office. Those who were working and living outside of New Orleans were probably safe enough, but she sent the local spotters back to Elvenrude via the Ryndel Guild. Indulging the royal hobby wasn’t important enough to risk their lives. A few days off would be a vacation for them and fewer targets for Trystan’s bands of raiders.
With her business concluded, she poured herself another cup of coffee from the pot in Henre’s office and walked out to lean on the balcony rail that overlooked the first floor. The guild felt off. Too quiet and subdued. There wasn’t much activity below without the normal flow of merchandise. Most of the workers had returned to Elvenrude; a few stayed to help guard the doors and the portal.
What kind of cat and mouse game was Trystan playing? If today’s visit was a scouting trip, would he be back with greater numbers? Kam frowned. How large were his fighting forces? She hadn’t seen enough of Cyrilia to judge, and she hadn’t asked Bria. A bad oversight.
They’d talked about the population—it was only half of Elvenrude’s seven thousand—but nothing about those trained to fight. They had palace guards, but Bria hadn’t mentioned career warriors or wars or crime. Did that mean their forces were as small as Elvenrude’s two hundred? Of course that number was somewhat deceptive. Most Elite men had trained at the Academy, so the king could call on a much greater number of trained fighters if needed. Some of them, like her father, would be pretty rusty.
Kam sighed. She should have asked Bria about weapons and military training. Instead, they’d compared clothes and dating customs, favorite foods, holidays, and beliefs. In retrospect, those things could have waited. Yet it had been so intriguing. Still was…or would be when they got a chance to talk again.
Someone cleared his throat. “Lieutenant?”
Kam started and turned around. Thornton Rimee and his partner, Matteau Hayne, stood no more than four feet away. “Yes, guardsmen, what can I do for you?”
“I’m ready,” Rimee said.
Hayne stepped forward. “I’d like permission to accompany him.”
“Granted. I’ll feel better knowing there are two of you, but it will be harder to blend in. Rimee, you’re in charge. You’ll have to work quickly…and avoid unnecessary attention.” She looked at Hayne. “Has Rimee explained what you’re going after and why?”
“Yes, Lieutenant. I’ve actually visited one of the voodoo shops. It was just out of curiosity, but I talked with the shopkeeper quite a while. It’ll be a place to start.”
“Excellent. Make sure you return by dark, nine or nine thirty at the latest. That only gives you a few hours today. Despite the recent attack, our enemy usually prefers the dark. I don’t want you caught outside. If you haven’t found the information on the citerin by then, we’ll try again tomorrow. May the gods speed you.”
Kam transported with them to the Ryndel Guild and watched the two men exit into the wharf area. Except for the early forays, there hadn’t been anyone near this guild since Andolf was captured. Strange. Had Trystan somehow missed the fact there was a portal inside? That didn’t seem plausible, and yet…the lack of attacks was puzzling. Had wharf security somehow kept them away?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Seth and Rhyden returned to the guild an hour later dressed for action in jeans and hooded tops. Kam and Guild Master Henre sat in his balcony office talking with Brunic, who’d just arrived with news from Elvenrude.
“I was surprised too,” Brunic said. “It’s not often the king and his council come to a consensus this quickly. But the people don’t want war. And frankly, we’re not prepared for one. Brianya doesn’t think Cyrilia is either. She says they don’t have an army. Officially, only the palace has guards, but the younger men make a sport of informal competitions.”
“What was the king’s
decision?” Seth asked, sitting down next to Kam.
“To defend the portals with extra guards stationed on both ends. But no firearms. I tried to convince him. He wouldn’t budge, because the council wouldn’t budge. We’re closing the portals at night. The Cityside guilds are restricted to day operations and existing clientele until we figure out a better solution.” Brunic shrugged. “They really hope we can fix this.”
“Figures.” Rhyden shook his head. “Did they have any ideas how we fight someone we can’t see?”
Brunic shrugged again. “They don’t know.”
“Then let’s hope Rimee and Hayne find the citerin powder.”
But the hours passed without anyone hearing from the two guards. Kam didn’t worry until the clock reached nine thirty. They were now officially late.
She paced the balcony; her phone rang ten minutes later.
“This is Matteau Hayne. We have a situation. I’m pretty sure we’re being followed. We doubled back to shake them, but they’re still behind us. I can feel them watching.”
“Where are you?” Kam gestured frantically at Seth then waved at Rhyden and Brunic.
“About ten blocks from Lormarc. Shall we go there instead of the wharf?”
“Yes, give me your exact location, and I’ll meet you.”
“What’s going on?” Seth demanded, reaching her first.
Kam relayed Hayne’s concern as the other two arrived. “Watch for us,” she told Hayne. “We’re leaving now.” She looked at the three men. “Who’s coming with me?”
“We can’t all go,” Brunic said. “What if this is a trap to draw us away from the portal?”
“Let Kam and I take this,” Seth suggested. “We’re both armed. That leaves Rhyden and his gun to help protect the guild.”
Rhyden nodded. “I’m good with that.”
“Watch your back,” Brunic called as they ran toward the door. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Kam handed Seth the silver ring again and pulled her amulet from under her shirt. If any of Trystan’s men were watching, the magic would make them harder to spot. They slipped out the door, and it was secured behind them.
New Orleans bustled as twilight plunged into night. Tourists thronged the streets of the French Quarter, and pubs poured music into the streets luring revelers inside. The aroma of Cajun cooking mingled with the heady fragrance of exotic flowers. The open markets still brimmed with last-minute shoppers seeking fresh fish for supper or a last souvenir to take home.
To avoid this heavy sidewalk traffic, Seth and Kam leaped to the rooftops and raced across the intervening distance. Only blocks beyond the teeming nighttime activity, they dropped to the street, now shrouded by darkness, and decloaked. Kam spotted Rimee and Hayne half a block away and scanned the area around them.
“There.” She waved a hand toward the opposite side of the street. “The gray shadows.”
“I see them,” Seth said grimly. “At least two more are a few feet behind. I don’t think they’ve noticed us yet.”
A longbow arrow whizzed by Matteau Hayne’s head. He yelled in surprise, and the two guards sprang into a defensive back-to-back stance. A second arrow hit Rimee in the arm. Unable to see the Cyrilians, they were sitting targets.
“Run,” Kam shouted at them. She grabbed the crossbow from her hood and raced down the street. “Seth, those shots came from the courtyard on our left.”
The guards reacted to her command and sprinted up the street. Kam dropped to one knee and fired at the closest shadowy figure to cover their retreat. Seth cloaked himself, but the soft swish of his bow indicated he was still right beside her. The thump of a body hit the cobblestone street a few yards behind the fleeing guards. A grunt and suppressed oath from another position verified a second hit.
“Keep going. No arguments,” Kam ordered as the guards reached her. They sprinted past and ducked around the corner. She dove to the side to avoid a shower of arrows from the Cyrilians’ longbows. When she looked around, she saw Seth’s crossbow arrows coming from the courtyard.
At a sound behind her, she whirled to find Rimee and Hayne firing their bows in a wide pattern to cover her position.
“Get back,” she said, scrambling toward them. “You can’t even see what you’re firing at.” When the three of them were safely around the corner, Kam glared at the two guards. “I appreciate the thought, but Seth and I have the magic to conceal us. And we know what to look for to find the Cyrilians.” She glanced at Rimee. “How bad is the arm?”
“It’ll do.”
“Then get back to the guild and tell them what’s happened. Now. Hustle.”
Kam turned away. She’d made her point, and there wasn’t time to explain or argue. She cloaked herself in magic and leaped to the top of the building. Crouching, she moved swiftly along the edge and scanned the scene below. Where was Seth? Vague shadows moved in the street, and she paused to study them. They were grouped in one spot, and no one was shooting anymore.
She froze at the sound of a soft footstep behind her. Someone was on the roof. She eased her gun from her inside belt holster and waited.
Nothing moved. Whoever was up there with her was also waiting.
She took a chance and whispered, “Seth?”
“By the gods, Kam. I nearly shot you.” Keeping his voice low, he materialized, his gun dropping to his side.
“Likewise.” Kam moved away from the edge and released the invisibility magic. “I was afraid the Cyrilians had decided to come up here. I wonder why they haven’t?”
“No clue. Maybe it’s that dwindling magic thing.” He took a step to peer over the edge. “Still there. Got a plan?”
“I’m working on it.” She pulled out her phone and called Rhyden, speaking quietly. “Did they arrive?”
“Just now. Are you OK? Why are you whispering?”
“We’re on a roof directly above the Cyrilians. We’re both fine, but we might not be back right away. We’ll check in later.” She disconnected and looked at Seth. “What just happened down there? They were shooting to kill.”
He nodded. “I guess Trystan has changed his plans or at least his tactics. Surrender or else?”
“If it’s going to be war, the more we know about the enemy the better. I want to know what they’re doing and where they go from here.”
Seth grinned at her in the moonlight, the shadows giving his features a wicked look. “Are we going hunting? I’ve missed that.”
Kam’s blood stirred. “Feels like old times.” She grinned back at him, savoring the feel of their connection again. She stuck her gun in its holster. “Let’s do it.”
They crept to the edge of the roof and looked down. Two human couples were walking on the sidewalk across the street. The blurs of several ghostly figures huddled in the street near the two fallen men. What were they waiting for?
As soon as the couples reached the end of the block and turned the corner, five Cyrilians decloaked and crouched over the victims. Of course. They had to materialize to assess and treat the wounded.
Kam searched the faces for Trystan. He wasn’t there. Had he left this group behind to bring the casualties? Or were they up to something else?
As she watched, they wrapped a cloth around the leg of one wounded man and helped him to his feet. The other casualty hadn’t moved. Two men picked him up, and the entire group cloaked themselves in invisibility again.
“Looks like they’re taking their wounded and leaving,” Seth said. “You still want to follow?”
“It would be good to know if they have a local base or are still using the same portal.”
Kam and Seth stayed on the rooftops and trailed the shadowy figures to the edge of New Orleans. When structures grew scarce, they dropped to the ground. It was clear the Cyrilians were headed for the swamp. Soon the city lights were behind them. The band of elves cast caution aside and moved quickly, no longer bothering to check behind them. They entered the swamp with their feet nearly flying over the inhospita
ble surface.
Kam and Seth stayed close enough to catch an occasional glimpse. When Kam spotted a familiar grove of cypresses, she dropped to a walk. “The portal’s just behind those trees,” she said softly.
They moved among the gnarled branches, brushed aside hanging Spanish moss, and listened to sounds of tree frogs and night birds. At least twice Kam caught the reflective orange-red of an alligator’s eyes. They pushed through tall grasses and emerged to see the Cyrilians disappearing into a glowing curtain of swirling gold and silver.
Seth straightened and stared at the magical structure. “They leave it out in the open like this?”
Kam shrugged. “I guess they’re confident no one can access it. But why hasn’t anyone reported seeing it? Alligator hunters and tourists are out here all the time. I’d think rumors of an alien invasion would be all over the news by now.”
“Thank the gods it isn’t. But you’ve posed an interesting question. What if humans can’t see it?”
She stared at him. “Are you serious? It’s right there.”
“To us, yes, but we aren’t human. What if magic is outside the spectrum of the human eye? It would explain why Agent Crain thought we appeared out of nowhere that day at the guild. He’s never asked us about the portal.”
“As if he didn’t see it,” she finished, thinking back to the night almost eight months ago when Crain had learned their secret. “You’re right. It’s odd. He asks about everything else.”
Seth walked toward the portal, studying it. “I wonder if you can still access it.”
“Surely they’ve changed the code.” But she tried. Kam recited the Elfish code words and attempted to put her hand into the curtain. She touched a firm wall instead. “It won’t open. Trystan’s smarter than that.”
And a hands-on leader. So where had he been tonight? It wasn’t likely he’d leave his wounded for someone else to retrieve or appoint another man to lead a raiding party. He would want to be there to direct things.
She glanced at Seth. “I didn’t see Trystan, did you?”
