by Mark Hayden
‘I’ve got it covered,’ said Rick. ‘Conrad’s shown me how to load the dishwasher.’
Mina wiped her hand and looked down the table. ‘Myvvy and I were hoping to join you, Dr Somerton.’
Li Cheng, who had been the quietest diner, laid his fork down and cleared his throat. Li has a special role to play in the Watch, and gets his own title: Royal Occulter. It’s his job to cover up manifestations of magick. He’s also a pioneer of using technology to aid and direct Lux. He created Vicky’s sPad, for one thing. Li is a very talented man, and very far from being a geek. He comes from old Chinese money (via Singapore, I believe), and his casual outfit cost more than all the women’s put together.
‘With all due respect to the excellence of your hospitality, Miss Desai, I don’t see a place for the ungifted in this ritual, and I cannot run the risk of Miss Lewis’s bindings having an impact on the summoning. Sorry.’
All of a sudden, it went very quiet. Mina looked down at her plate, Myfanwy bit her lip and Rick developed a fascination for the antique kitchen clock. This might be my house and my ancestor, but it was Li’s operation. I could ask nicely, but I couldn’t order him.
‘Myfanwy isn’t bound when she’s on my property,’ I suggested. ‘The Cloister Court have allowed her to practise all magicks at my discretion. I don’t see a problem.’
‘The bindings are still there,’ snapped Li.
‘You’re the expert,’ I said. ‘But you should know that no one pushes a Desai. If Mina wants to walk up to the well, I’m not going to stop her.’
Li gave a flash of a smile. It was over between ticks of the clock. ‘Perhaps we should call the Peculier Constable for guidance,’ he said, knowing that Hannah would go ballistic if she found out that Mina was involved in any way.
Francesca picked up her napkin so that she could throw it down again. ‘Don’t be such a prig, Cheng. I thought you were better than that.’
Vicky looked alarmed. She doesn’t like confrontation at the best of times, and this was too close to home for her. ‘I think you’re being a bit harsh,’ she said to Francesca, then turned to glance at Li Cheng. I was about to get annoyed with her, then she turned back to the Keeper. ‘He won’t like me saying this, but I don’t think Cheng’s being awkward. He’s not a Summoner. He’s just being careful. It’s not personal, is it?’
That put Li in a difficult place. He either had to say that it was personal or admit that he was scared. Saying the first would make a lot of enemies, saying the second would mean losing face.
Francesca turned to Desi. ‘It’s a good job you’re here, my dear. If we put you upstream of Conrad, could you act as a cutout for Mina and Myfanwy? I can show you how if you haven’t done it before.’
Desi didn’t want to answer that question. She had been very quiet since the London party arrived and was looking very uncomfortable. Whatever she said would upset someone.
I don’t like Li Cheng. He’s a dickhead in all sorts of ways, but I do respect his magick and his intelligence. He used the latter to step in. ‘That would work, Keeper. An excellent suggestion.’
‘Good,’ said Francesca. ‘Is someone going to make coffee? We haven’t got long before sunset.’
‘We’ll sort it,’ said Vicky, meaning her and Desi. ‘Go through to the lounge.’
‘And I’ll start clearing up,’ said Rick.
Mina joined me in the outhouse, to where I’d been driven by the near-total smoking ban indoors.
‘Thank you,’ she said, pulling me down for a kiss. ‘Will he go telling tales to Hannah?’
‘Mmm. Yes and no. We haven’t told him about Pramiti, yet, and I wouldn’t ask him to lie in his report, so yes, you’ll be there. If he’s got any sense, you’ll just be a name in an appendix.’
‘Good. I’m going to get changed.’
The foul weather we’d been having had blown over and the sun had left behind a cloudless sky when we set off from the house. Li, Vicky and Desi went ahead to suss out the scene, followed by Mina and Myfanwy, leaving me to offer my arm to Francesca as we brought up the rear.
‘The house hasn’t changed much since I was last here,’ she said, looking round, ‘though I’m sad to say that the gardens have deteriorated a bit. I’m sure you’ll have them in hand.’
‘That’s Myfanwy’s project.’
‘Couldn’t think of anyone better.’
‘I’m afraid that I was unconscious for most of our last meeting,’ I said, slowing down even more. ‘I wish I’d got to know your brother properly. I’m so sorry.’
She patted my arm. ‘Thank you, dear. It’s not how he wanted to go, but it summed him up completely, sacrificing himself like that. He’ll be furious that he couldn’t save the young girls. Furious.’
That was ominous. The use of the present tense was either a sign that she was losing the plot, or…
‘Keeper, are you saying …?’
‘That he transitioned successfully? Yes I am, but I’m the only one who knows. He had to leave more behind than he wanted, and he’s made a lot of enemies in the Spirit world over the years. He’ll be keeping his head down until he knows whether he’s viable.’ She smiled. ‘Hurry along, they’ll be wondering what we’re up to.’
‘Whose idea were these?’ said Francesca as she lowered herself into a camping chair. Vicky and I had been up to the well earlier to tidy things up a bit and make arrangements.
‘Mine,’ I said. ‘I don’t want Vicky standing on that foot any longer than she needs to, and you…’
‘…and I’m an old bat. Not going to argue if I get a seat.’
Given that she was there on sufferance, you’d think that Myfanwy would keep her head down, like Mina was doing. Oh no. ‘I’m so looking forward to this,’ she said.
‘Really?’ said Francesca.
‘Oh yes, Dr Somerton. I’ve seen some of what Vicky does, but not proper Quantum Magick.’
I could see her point. There are as many magickal traditions in the world as musical ones, and that’s why even the allegedly science based approach of the Invisible College still refers to it as The Art. The Invisible College made even a poor Mage like me a Master of the Art of Alchemy, and graduates of Salomon’s House are known as Chymists. Myfanwy, of course, is a Druid.
All music makes sound waves, and all magick makes a change in the nature of the universe. It’s how you get there that counts, and the biggest difference in schools of magick is that QM does without most of the sideshow elements – incense, candles, long speeches in Latin. That sort of thing. They still go in for circles, though.
The dagger with which Rick had dispatched the Pyromancer is a Dwarven steel weapon with a twelve inch blade. Vicious. Li Cheng has a dagger, too, but not one designed for combat. Solid gold does not take an edge well.
The Royal Occulter checked that we were all ready, then began to prepare himself, drawing the short bladed gleaming Artefact and holding it in front of him. When the summoning began, Li was going to stand two metres from the well, and we were all in our support positions. Vicky would be at his right shoulder, resting her left hand on him, just as Francesca would do with her right. They were his supporters and would contribute some of their Lux to the ritual.
I was to Francesca’s left, then Desirée, then Mina, then Myfanwy. All of us would be touching, making a chain, as soon as Li had finished the circle.
He started at the north point, on the other side of the well, and began saying a mantra to help him focus. He spoke in Cantonese – the words didn’t matter, only that he used them to draw Lux as he processed counter-clockwise round the well, enclosing us all in a Work of Alchemy that would confine any summoned creature. At least, that’s what he was supposed to be doing. For all I knew, he could be reciting a Chinese nursery rhyme, something that the Keeper spotted.
‘You can’t see a thing, can you?’ she whispered.
‘Nope.’
‘Let’s join up. That way, your girlfriend can see it, too.’
I place
d my hand on Francesca’s shoulder, then Desi and the others joined in. Francesca was still seated, and I was too tall for Desi to put her arm comfortably on my shoulder, so we were holding hands. She wasn’t happy about that.
My arm tingled, as if it were going to sleep, and my head throbbed as if my heart had relocated there, beating behind my eyes and blurring my vision.
‘Ow!’ said Desi. ‘Don’t squeeze. Take deep breaths.’
‘Sorry.’
I relaxed my fingers and closed my eyes. The pounding lessened to a dull thump of pain, and I risked opening my eyes. Wow.
I could see the pole star above us, which was wrong, because it wasn’t dark yet, and it seemed as if Li’s golden cord were being drawn down from the sky. It hovered at waist height as he drew it round the well, paying out behind him like a climber’s rope, and like a rope, it was braided with colour. Two of the threads were pure gold, the other flashed from rust to silver to orange in pulsing lights.
From my left, I heard Mina whisper to Myfanwy. ‘Is it always like this? I can’t believe it.’
‘Oh no,’ said Myfanwy. ‘He’s good. He’s very good.’
‘Shh,’ hissed Desi. ‘I’ll lose my grip if you don’t focus.’
Li stopped to touch Vicky on the way past and draw some Lux, then moved quicker as he finished the circle. When he came back to his starting point, he didn’t tie a knot of light, he used both hands to sweep the lines together into an unbroken ring, and the faint connection to the sky withered like an umbilical cord. With a flourish, Li let go of the light, and it drifted slowly to the ground, still bright and unbroken. He let out a huge sigh of relief and moved stiffly to the well, where he sat down and picked up a bottle of water.
‘You can let go for a bit,’ said Desi.
When I released my fingers, she couldn’t help herself, drying her hand on her jeans to wipe away my sweat. As soon as I let go of Francesca, the ring of protection faded. I was tempted to put my arm back, just to reassure myself it was still there.
I looked around, trying to sense the it. Nothing. Then I saw a black shape in the sky, getting bigger. If I wasn’t mistaken… Yes.
‘Incoming raven,’ I said to the group. ‘I think we’ve got company.’
‘Good heavens,’ said Francesca. ‘You’re right.’
‘And that’s not all,’ said Myfanwy, pointing west, to where the sun had set behind us.
‘Two ravens?’ said Mina. ‘Hugin and Munin?’
The bird from the north glided softly down on a current, dipping his wings at the last moment and raising his claws to clamp on to the limb of an oak tree. So large was the bird that the branch shook. My former patron, Odin, was here in some sense. It felt like the stakes had just been raised and we weren’t playing for pennies any more. The bird cocked his head to look at us, then turned to the west and let out a mighty caw caw when he saw the other raven. He didn’t sound happy.
‘That’s not Odin,’ said Myfanwy pointing at the second bird. ‘It’s…’
‘Lord Jesus preserve our souls,’ said Desirée.
‘Oh, shit,’ said Li Cheng.
‘This is going to be fun,’ said Francesca, rising from her seat and turning to face outwards. Vicky was already on her feet.
The second raven had been coming from a long way away. Either that or it got a lot bigger as it grew nearer. Much bigger than a natural bird, so big that its wings became a cloak of black as it landed and shimmered into the form of a woman, growing even further to reach an impossible height that was definitely taller than me. Myfanwy dropped to her knees and said something in Welsh.
The newcomer was beautiful and deadly in equal measure, and hadn’t stinted on the accessories. Her hair was the colour of raven’s wings and it flowed down in a river, cascading off her shoulders and disappearing down her back. High cheekbones drew down to a sharp nose and sharp chin. The only soft thing in her face was the blood-red lips, matching her blood-red nails and toning in with the emerald necklace. Were those emeralds shaped into skulls? Yes. They were. Oh dear.
Her outfit was … different. On top was a low-cut, short, white tunic, held in to her waist with a black leather belt. Below the tunic she wore silver fish-scale leggings, black knee pads and no-nonsense black fell-walking boots. If you’re wondering how come I noticed her nail polish, it’s because her right hand was on the hilt of a huge sword that hung from her belt.
I was once in the presence of The Goddess. Briefly. Despite the protective circle, I knew that the woman outside was not at all the same being. A goddess, yes, but the Goddess, no.
Francesca and I bowed low at the same time. Mina joined us, as did Vicky and Li. Desirée took a step backwards and remained upright. Instinctively, Mina stepped left to be closer to me and stand sentry.
Desirée opened her mouth and began to sing. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil.’
And as she sang, to a gospel inspired melody in a minor key, the magick built round her, and she lifted her arms. Mina dived into the shelter of my arm and stared. Myfanwy looked aghast, shocked and awed, and Vicky looked alarmed.
It was Francesca who made the first move. ‘No, Desirée. Not here. Not now. We are all guests in this house. We are safe.’ She moved to the young woman and reached a hand to rest it in the small of her back. ‘Would I bring you to that valley? Here are only green pastures. Peace.’
Desi slowly lowered her arms, a flush of red rising under her dark brown skin.
Francesca took two steps towards the edge of the protective circle (which had flamed into life when Desi sang). ‘Great Morrigan,’ said Francesca. ‘You honour us with your presence. We are not worthy.’
‘Rise, child,’ said the visitor to Myfanwy, in a deep, throaty Irish brogue. To the rest of us, she nodded.
‘You are thrice welcome,’ said Francesca. ‘Would you accept our hospitality?’
‘Won’t that break the circle?’ whispered Mina.
‘That circle has just become the proverbial chocolate fireguard, my dear,’ said Francesca. ‘This is the Morrigan, battle goddess of the west and gatherer of the slain. Here, though, she comes as a guest.’
The Morrigan looked up at the tree, where Odin’s raven was staring back. Her fingers gripped the sword a little more tightly, before relaxing and dropping away. ‘I would drink of the well,’ she said, ‘for I am but a thirsty traveller.’
Francesca moved, until I put my hand on her shoulder. ‘This is down to me,’ I said. ‘My house, my well and all that.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes.’
In the holdall by the well was a pewter tankard, an eighteenth birthday present from my grandmother. I took it and reached into the well, skimming the top of the water. When I set off towards the Morrigan, I started to regret my decision the second I crossed the circle, which snapped and broke under my feet. With its scant protection gone, the smell of blood and earth washed over me.
The ten steps I took after that were the longest of my life. It felt like walking into the open door of a blast furnace. The magickal heat poured off her in a river of fire. I knew I wasn’t going to burn, but that didn’t help. Sweat ran down my neck, my titanium tibia heated up from the inside, and my eyes watered so badly that I was walking blind. I had to hold the tankard with both hands to stop it spilling everywhere. When the heat became a physical barrier, I had to stop.
‘Thrice welcome, my lady,’ I croaked. ‘You honour my home.’
‘The honour is mine.’
The flow of Lux diminished slightly, and I blinked the tears out of my eyes. Up close, she was so stark of face that she didn’t look human. Maybe she was one part human to three parts fire. She looked over my shoulder to the tree and called out, ‘Allfather! Would you drink with me?’
A loud screech came from the raven, and a beating of wings as he dropped from the branch and glided towards us. I stepped back to give him room to land, and the Morrigan stretched out an arm for a pe
rch.
Next to the goddess, the raven was a shadow. Literally a shadow, a black space where her magick didn’t flow. I moved to take advantage of the shade, and offered the tankard to the Morrigan.
‘Let him drink first. Saves putting his whole head down.’
I put my left hand under the tankard for extra support and offered it to the raven. He looked at me with one eye and blinked, then stuck his head into the vessel, yanking it back and craning his neck to swallow. He did it again, then shuffled his wings.
‘Stand back,’ said the Morrigan, and I moved just in time to avoid a wing in the face as the raven returned to the tree.
She took the tankard from me and drained it in one, wiping her lips. The blood-red colour in them didn’t smudge, it dripped slightly, running red down her chin until she wiped it again, leaving a rusty smear on her tunic.
She held the empty tankard in the air, and more Lux flowed from her. Around the side, the faded birthday message melted away and was replaced with gleaming silver writing in a script I’d never seen before. She leaned down (have I mentioned that she was seven foot tall? It certainly added to the effect) and whispered lava words in my ear. ‘When you wed, Chief Clarke, fill this cup from your well and call my name.’
With a graceful twitch of her fingers, she rotated the tankard to offer me the handle. I gingerly took it, and the runes vanished.
‘Thank you,’ she said, aloud. ‘Now hurry up, you lot. I’ve places to be.’
I limped back to the group, and Mina stepped forward to take my hand. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I think so.’
Li Cheng stood up and took out his dagger, then stopped and looked around. He hadn’t a clue what to do next.
With a clash of swords in her words, the Morrigan spoke out. ‘Hear all, this place is under my protection while here I stand.’
‘I guess we’ll skip the circle, then,’ muttered Li. ‘Places everyone!’
We reconvened and restored the magickal links. Francesca and Vicky remained standing for this part.
