by HP Mallory
I sighed. “And there lies the rub.”
The moment I said the words, I felt a buzzing starting within my sword that began to travel up the blade, the pommel and inside me.
All of a sudden, it was like a projector screen dropped in front of my eyes. I could suddenly see an elaborately detailed Grecian urn as clearly as if it were sitting right in front of me. It bore some type of ritual markings around the base. A man suddenly appeared beside the urn and as I watched, he began scratching a copy of the runes into the battered dirt beside the urn, next to a copse of trees.
Just as quickly as the vision came, it left. And then I was left with this intense desire to leave the structure we were currently hiding within and travel east. When I closed my eyes, the feeling only intensified and even though I couldn’t see it, I had the definite understanding that the urn was calling to me, pulling me towards it. My sword continued to buzz.
Bill caught the look in my eyes first. “Nips, why you got that weird expression on yer face?”
I looked down at my guardian angel. “I think… I think I just got a vision.”
“A vision?” Jeanne repeated, suddenly extremely interested.
I nodded. “It felt like… the urn was reaching out to me… maybe through my sword? Either way, I think we’re meant to travel east.”
Tallis shook his head. “Even with proper rest, we’re nae in any shape tae take the Urn.”
As though right on cue, Bill’s phone emitted a ringtone and a buzz. He looked at it like it was an alien artifact. “Yo, since when did I git cell tower receptionary?”
Glancing over his shoulder, I saw a text of the picture of an urn. It was the same urn I’d just witnessed in my vision, right down to the weird markings on the ground and the trees in the background. In addition to man who was sketching out the runes in the dirt, this picture also revealed a bunch of worm demons and armed humans who were standing around the urn and protecting it, for lack of a better description.
I quickly waved Nicolas over and pointed at the picture. “Is this the Urn?”
Nicolas gaped at the sight of it. “Mais oui, it most certainly is.”
Tallis looked over our shoulders. “Who in the name o’ the Morrigan sent that picture?”
While the sender was marked “Unknown”, Bill scrolled up until I saw a signature on the bottom. “Ain’t Nothing But A G Thing?” he asked.
Tallis groaned in annoyance. “Gwydion… only makes sense the miscreant would know how tae use a cell phone in this place.”
“Who is this Gwydion guy and what’s his deal?” I asked, shaking my head. “First, he lures us into not one but two ambushes in his private, little Eden. Then he helps Bill and Jeanne escape the second ambush with his Tree twins. And now he’s sending us useful info about an Urn we just happened to be discussing?” I swallowed hard as I wondered if the vision I’d just seen was from Gwydion as well? Somehow I didn’t think so. No, there was a sureness within me that the vision had come from my sword.
Tallis frowned in resignation. “Gwydion spoke the truth when he said the only side he takes is his own. Sae while he may have nae love fer oos, he’ll nae necessarily be the ruin o’ oos either.”
Bill spread his hands out. “Still leaves a lot of real-deal estate between those two spots, Tido.”
By this point, Perenelle joined us. She tapped her index finger on the picture. “I can tell you those runes the man is drawing in the dirt have all the proper markings for the ritual we mentioned before. And if someone has control of the Spites through the Urn, it would be catastrophic.”
Harry shook his head hard. “But Tallis just said we haven’t got the numbers to take the urn. So maybe we need a plan B?”
“The shortcut to the Dark Wood?” Addie reminded everyone.
Tallis frowned. “Would that we could…”
“We can’t just leave!” I insisted. “If we allow Alaire to take control of the Spites, that means his power just increased a hundredfold.”
“Aye,” Tallis nodded. And then he shook his head. “It jist sae happens that particular plot o’ land that would lead tae the Dark Wood is the same location of the urn and Alaire’s men.”
“You mean the picture Gwydion sent,” I started and Tallis nodded.
“Is the exact location o’ the exit intae the Dark Wood.”
“So we could attack, take the urn and retreat through the shortcut?” I asked.
“If the tides o’ loock favor oos, aye,” Tallis said as he looked at me with an expression of worry.
“Lo! The fell monster with the deadly sting!”
-Dante’s Inferno
TWENTY-SIX
TALLIS
“We’re fucked,” Harry said.
Kay shook her head as she faced me. “There’s got to be another way to at least get up to the next Circle to get out of here?”
Addie took a step back. “And then what? Even if we’re able to get up to next level, that would leave us with what? Seven more Circles we’d have to get through before we’d make it to the Dark Wood?”
“Hey, there ain’t no point in leavin’ if we ain’t got that urn with us,” the angel started.
“Fuck the urn!” Addie yelled back at him. “I’m at the point where all I care about is surviving this place.”
“If Alaire takes control of the Spites, your survival will be limited regardless,” Besom said. Then she shook her head. “Our number one goal is taking that urn. Escaping needs to be number two.”
“Sounds impossible to me,” Harry said.
“And you can count on that blonde asshole who nearly annihilated us trying to do it again,” Addie continued.
A droning racket in the sky reached me ears. Judging from the frightened looks upon each face, I knew it wasnae just me what heard it. The angel looked up to see where the noise came from and squinted hard. Though I saw naught but clouds, he began sucking in his breath which told me he saw something more.
“Got an antiquified propeller plane kamikazing us, yo! We gotta duck fer cover!”
“Get as far away from the opening of this building as you can and crouch down,” Nicolas said as everyone scattered to the far corners that were still intact.
“We’re going to die if they bomb this place!” Harry yelled.
“They dinnae know we are in here fer certain,” I responded. “As far as they’re concerned, we could be anywhere.”
“This place is a pretty good guess though,” Kay said.
The droning grew louder. After another few seconds, the sounds of explosions ensued but though they were loud, the building ‘round us remained. But ‘twould nae remain as such for long.
At the sound of the propellers retreating, I stood up from me hiding place and approached the opening in the building. It took a moment for the dust from the explosion which was mayhap thirty feet from us, to clear. But when it did, I saw a brown plane flying low in the sky. ‘Twas close enough that I could make out its markings.
Harry stared up with fear as he came alongside me, “It’s retreating?”
The plane gradually soared out of sight.
“Nae, lad. They’ll be passin’ through here agin soon enow.”
Kay frowned so intensely, I feared she’d be saddled with a permanent scowl. “Now what? There’s no way we could survive all seven Circles to get out of this place so where does that leave us?”
“That jist leaves one way oot…”
Everyone but Jeanne looked at me with a stunned expression. Jeanne’s nod and answer revealed she understood exactly what me plan entailed.
“Obstacles or no, the camp contains the only immediate exit from this Circle, n’est-ce pas?” Once I nodded, Jeanne looked upon the others. “Although it is less than ideal that we should have to face additional danger in order to make our escape, we can surely agree that any better way is presently beyond our reach.”
“Then we’re going to attempt to make it to the short cut to the Dark Wood?” Addie asked. “Which means ge
tting by all Alaire’s men and Gwydion?”
“Yes, you all are going to attempt to get to the short cut,” Besom said with a quick nod. “But I’m not letting that urn go without a fight.”
Nicolas nodded. “Me too.”
Jeanne grinned at him with angelic sweetness. “Indeed, it is in our best interest to frustrate the designs of those who would gain control of the Spites.”
Perenelle appeared less than certain. “But are we, who have so few resources and suffer from terrible exhaustion, up to such a formidable task?”
Jeanne touched her arm with genuine care and tenderness. “I am as sure of our ability to manage such a feat as I am certain we shall depart from this horrible realm very shortly. I can think of no one else I would rather attempt either task with than Tallis Black. I trust him and I believe all of you should, as well.”
I had to admit, the lass had the gift of oratory. The way she spoke encouraged each person within our tribe and I was honored to know she placed such stock in me abilities. I said as much. Then the stookie angel broke the spell by flapping his arms while he squinted.
“Shh! It’s comin’ back ‘round.”
Everyone immediately returned to their crouched positions within our crude shelter. The plane drifted back into sight, once again, casually scouting the ground for any sign of us.
This time, the plane stayed close to the ground before flying back up into the sky and redoubling its efforts. Clearly whoever was flying the contraption was searching for us.
Jeanne kept her eyes focused upon me. “Is it possible this flying machine came from the camp we seek?”
“Anythin’ is possible, lass.”
“But is it probable?” Lily continued.
I thought about the question before I began to nod. “Aye, most probable.” Me own eyes darted between the sky and the devastated landscape ‘round us. “Follow the plane an’ we’ll most likely find the camp.”
Jeanne stepped out of her hiding place, turning ‘round to address us all. “Then let us embark.”
Kay stepped up and put a sisterly hand on Jeanne’s shoulder. “I’m in.”
The stookie angel stood beside her. “Ditto.”
Besom looked at all of us before joining Jeanne. “It’s going to be tough, but then, what isn’t tough down here?”
I stepped up next and one-by-one, all the others followed. As Jeanne and I agreed, there was truly no other way.
***
We began moving towards the opening of the building once more. The plane was circling overhead, thus it wasnae safe to venture forth.
Nicolas strode up to me position. “While I applaud your determination to make the best of this terrible situation, Monsieur Black, there is still the small matter of trying to maintain the least number of casualties as possible.”
I nodded at him. “Aye, be best if we could send a scout tae the camp tae determine the weak points in their defenses.”
Jeanne was suddenly at me right shoulder. “Perhaps I can be of some assistance?” She hummed. “If I follow the plane’s path, I have no doubt I shall arrive at our destination.”
I hesitated. She gave me a shrewd look.
“But that is not your sole concern, oui?”
And I thought Besom the only woman who could see through me. “Aye, Ah seem tae recall that Cauchon takin’ ye prisoner was how we first met.”
She shrugged. “Only because I permitted Cauchon to imprison me. The voice of which I cannot speak informed me of two souls in grave peril. The only way to save them from certain doom was by allowing myself to be captured.” She paused. “Can we both agree this observation was proven true?”
From anyone else, I’d have called her excuse a boastful way of preserving her honor. But from Jeanne, it made sense. Nae one wanders the Underground City for centuries without learning how to avoid those who would bring them harm. But, still, I wasnae willing to let her go. “It cannae jist be yerself doin’ the scoutin’, lass. Be best if ye had at least one other along with ye. Ah could…”
She smiled and touched me arm. “You are needed here to guide the others. In the meantime, Harry agreed to accompany me on this reconnaissance mission. With your blessing, we shall leave forthwith.”
I felt a lurch in me heart. Whatever secrets she kept to herself, Jeanne was braver than many men. I only hoped her skills were equal to her courage. I put a concerned hand upon her shoulder. “Jist come back safe, aye?”
Putting her own slim hand over mine, she squeezed it. “Oui.” With a kiss on me cheek, she released me hand and fell back in line before talking to Harry in low tones.
I felt the eyes of Besom upon me and turned to find her watching me with a sly smile upon her face. I recalled the kiss Jeanne had placed upon me cheek and shrugged as though to say ‘twas nae my doing. Besom laughed and waved me away with an unconcerned hand.
That woman was going to be me undoing.
Nicolas looked at me with an earnest expression. “My wife and I need to examine our remaining compounds. I have a hunch at least some of them will be immediately useful to us.”
“Aye,” I nodded.
Just as he fell back, Jeanne and Harry walked ahead in quick strides before lookin over their shoulders and waving. When I waved back, I noticed I was flanked by Besom at me right shoulder and her inept guardian angel at me left.
“Do you think she’ll make it?” Besom asked, her voice low.
“Ah dinnae know, lass,” I answered. “Boot if anyone can do it, Ah believe Joan of Arc has the best o’ chances.”
“Yep, her chances are as good as a two-headed-one-dicked monkey,” the daft angel said.
“Does that mean her chances are good or bad?” Besom inquired.
“Good,” the dunderheid replied.
“Leaves a question open,” I said, choosing to ignore the angel’s nonsensical conversation for the time being. “Who, exactly, does Jeanne hear that she cannae tell oos aboot?”
Lily shook her head and shrugged. “All I know about her are the basics… She was a French peasant girl who started hearing voices. She believed the voices were those of the angels. Next thing you know, she’s presented to the king, and ends up leading an army into Orleans. Then she was betrayed before being burned at the stake.”
“Jeannie got seriously dealt a bad hand,” the angel said as he shook his head.
“She believed the voices were angels?” I asked as I eyed the dunderheid with interest.
He backed away and shook his head. “Hey, don’t look at me. I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout any voices that Frenchie been hearin’! That ain’t my department!”
Besom put a hand on the wee fellow’s shoulder. “Someone’s still talking to her, Bill. If you’ve got any ideas about who it might be, that’d help us a lot.” Me Besom looked upon me with renewed tension on her lovely face. “I’m wondering if it’s Gwydion she could be hearing?”
I gave the matter some thought before making me reply. “Tha’s the sort o’ dastardly deception the Welshman would indulge in, true, but Ah’m nae seein’ it.”
Besom frowned. “One thing we can all agree on is that we still don’t know enough to figure any of this out and we also don’t have the time.”
“Aye… an’ Ah surely wish we did.”
***
Questions regarding Jeanne’s true identity aside, there was naething to complain about when it came to her scouting skills. She caught up with us a mile from the camp. Then she led us to a low rise that was part of a vast wall of debris.
As Jeanne told us along the way, the entire camp was ringed by that nearly solid wall of rubble. ‘Twas formed in the shape of a horseshoe. While our scouting perch was easy enough to scale, she assured us it was nigh impossible to do the same on the far end—an area that happened to be next to the trees and the magic circle. The latter was still being worked upon by a distant, squatting figure. Since I lacked the angel’s telescopic eyes, all I could make out were the black robes of the scribbler.
/> The sole entrance to the camp was guarded by a pair of machine gun nests that flanked either side. The Mephit worms were close by for backup. The activity in the camp seemed to be in preparation for another attack. Weapons were being uncrated and distributed, the troops were being drilled for hand-to-hand combat, and every person was coming and going between the dozen or so tents. I spotted the plane that had come after us next to an aerodrome. It was being refueled from its scouting flight.
The angel squinted in the direction of the circle of runes. Something he saw there made him grunt in disgust. “Well, dip me in honey sauce an’ call me a Chicken McNugget… they got Crowley workin’ on that artsy-fartsy project.”
Addie’s expression of alarm told me she recognized the name. “Crowley? As in Aleister Crowley, the occultist and magician?”
Nicolas sounded considerably less alarmed. “As in Edward Alexander Crowley, the son of a Christian Plymouth Brethren minister who spent his life pretending to possess great occult knowledge that he never, in fact, possessed. What he did not steal from his superiors, he created from a tapestry of falsehoods.”
Me lips curled back in contempt. “Aye, Ah remember the silly sod well enough. ‘The Great Beast’, my arse… after all that nonsense he spouted in life, sendin’ him down here was one o’ the few public services AE ever did.”
Harry nervously cleared his throat. “Hey, uh, this is fascinating stuff and all. But I’d kinda like to go back to the part where we figure out the ingenious plan that gets us outta here in one piece.”
Jeanne gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “As a point of beginning, you will notice there are no lookouts atop these walls.”
Kay shifted as the rocks underneath her made her slip. “Not to mention this pile of loose shit probably isn’t the best place to be walking.”
Jeanne pointed at our well-muscled compatriot. “Just so, mon ami, the enemy has enough troops to send out a scouting party in the event of anything untoward. Harry and I evaded one such party during our earlier reconnaissance.”
