by Steve McHugh
“I’ve heard it a few times. Also a demon, the devil, and a few others. The stories are always bigger than the truth. No dragons, I’m afraid.”
“Shame. I’ve never seen one.”
“If you two are quite done, Siris, can you tell us where Isabel is?’ Nanshe’s voice held only a hint of reproach.
“She’s on the roof. Don’t worry; she’s unable to fly, so getting off there would be quite the trick. I’ve discovered that people are more likely to talk if you allow them a little freedom. I wanted to know if she knew more than she was letting on.”
The three of us continued up to the roof, where Isabel greeted Siris and Nanshe while watching me with caution.
“This is Hellequin,” Nanshe told her.
As I was introduced to Isabel, I wondered for a moment if maybe there was something more between her and Mordred. Back when we were friends, Mordred had been with several different women, usually more than one at a time, and usually each relationship had burned brightly until it had extinguished itself and he’d moved on.
“Mordred sent me here,” I told her.
“Where is he?” Isabel asked Nanshe, ignoring me completely.
“Safe. He’s a dangerous criminal,” she assured her.
“He was never dangerous to me, just kind.”
“He told me you helped save him after he was attacked.”
Isabel appeared confused for a moment. “Yes, of course,” she said, and I wondered if that was a lie. “He’s my patient, so I would like to see him.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I told her. “Not now, not ever. He’s a murderer and all-round vicious bastard. You’re lucky he didn’t cut you into tiny chunks and feed them to the sharks.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about!” Isabel snapped. “Kindly leave.”
“What’s the connection between Mordred and yourself?” I asked. “Friends? Something more?”
Anger lit up Isabel’s face. “How dare you imply anything! You know nothing about me.”
“I’m not implying anything at all,” I explained. “I’m asking a question.”
I knew Nanshe wouldn’t be impressed with my question, but while it was her job to help lead the Mesopotamian deities, it was mine to ensure that Avalon was safe. And that meant sometimes having to annoy people I might not want to annoy.
“No, we are not lovers. We are friends: something I imagine you’ve been told several times given that I’ve been asked that question a dozen times over since becoming involved in this situation.”
“I’m not here to make you comfortable,” I explained. “I’m here to find answers, and try to make sure no one dies. So if you’re unhappy with any questions I might have, then I’ll just have to accept that irritation and move on regardless.”
Isabel stared at me for several seconds before her obvious anger drained from her. “I helped him, and that kindness was repaid by being locked away. They say I’m no prisoner, but then they have guards follow me everywhere. Feels like a prison to me. It makes me less than inclined to continue helping.”
“I thank you for your aid in this matter,” I assured her. “I promise it’ll be over for you soon.”
“I want to see Mordred.”
“I wish I could take you, but I can’t. Mordred asked me to get you out of the city, so we need to leave.”
“I’ll not go. My friends and life are here. He would not ask such a thing of me.”
“How long have you known him?” I asked, feeling the warmth of anger inside me. “A week? Two?”
“Three years, on and off. Although I don’t see what business that is of yours.”
Apparently we were going back to being uncooperative again. “I’m surprised to hear that Mordred has been here for so long, even on and off.” I was more surprised that he’d managed to live here without trying to kill a lot of people. Normally, he arrived somewhere, caused mayhem and destruction, and left.
“I’m being held in this building, whether you call it a prison or not, all the while Mordred, whom I trust more than any of you, is imprisoned. Why would Mordred ask me to leave? Why should I believe you? Where is it that you’re hiding Mordred?” She waved her hand at the city beside her. “I’m not going anywhere until I see him.”
I considering knocking her out and taking her from the city by force, but the thing about doing that is it doesn’t exactly lead to a lot of trust, and there would be a good chance that she’d just run off the first chance she got. I know I would have.
There was also the possibility that she was lying—that she was involved in whatever scheme Mordred had planned, or maybe she was working for those who Mordred insisted were a danger to the city and the Mesopotamian deities’ move toward uniting with Avalon. A move centuries in the making, and one that would change the face of power across a large chunk of the planet.
“I don’t have time for this,” I said to no one in particular. I turned to Isabel. “I don’t know you, I don’t trust you, and I damn well don’t trust Mordred. But he has information we need, and that information is reliant on your being taken to safety. If I take you to Mordred, and you try anything that jeopardizes why I’m here—and that includes trying to free him—you’ll never see him again. Do we have an agreement?”
Isabel looked around at everyone on the roof, as if trying to figure out if my offer was genuine.
“Just say yes, Isabel,” Siris said. “Mordred is on the way out of the city, and it’s easier than standing here arguing about it.”
“I agree,” Isabel said, making it sound like she’d gotten exactly what she wanted all along.
“Okay. We’ll go say hello to Mordred and he can tell you himself,” I told her. “At least that way Mordred knows we’re actually doing what he asked. He can’t feign ignorance later.”
We were soon all walking through the evening sun back toward Mordred, with Siris and Isabel up front, talking to one another.
“Siris seems very friendly with her,” I said to Nanshe.
“Siris is friendly with everyone. I’ve never met anyone who makes friends as quickly as she does. The thing is, she actually wants to know everything about the people she meets. She’s not faking the enthusiasm, either: she’s genuinely interested in people.”
“What is she?”
“Water elemental. A powerful one, too—much more powerful than her position within the old deity system would have suggested. I don’t think she was ever thrilled about being the goddess of beer.”
“No. I can imagine that is a job that would get boring fast.”
“She’s invaluable, and I think she’s looking for a more important role during the transfer of our power to Avalon. I don’t think she trusts them. No offence.”
“None taken. Merlin will do all in his power to ensure that you keep the influence you were promised. And his power is vast. Besides, Elaine Garlot is helping, and I trust her completely.”
“Isn’t she related to Mordred?”
I nodded. “Mordred’s aunt. She’s a good person, though. She has given no suggestion that she’s in league with, or even supports, Mordred in any way, shape, or form.”
“If Mordred has been here for three years, why only now make it known that there’s a plot? Why not get Isabel out of here when all of this started? The negotiations for the Mesopotamians to join Avalon started about then. What’s changed with regards to his relationship with them, and with Isabel?”
“I assume it has taken them all a long time to actually organize something, whoever they are. I am curious as to why Mordred came here so long after the war ended. Usually he can’t go anywhere without a body count following him. I’d have expected him to wade in to the middle of the war, but turning up when it’s all over? That’s a new one.”
“I assume you agree with my assessment that Isabel and Mordred are not lovers.”
“I’ll admit you’re right on that one. I’ll see them together before confirming my suspicions, but there didn’t appear to
be any romantic spark when she was talking about him.”
“Do you have any theories about what Mordred’s plan is? I assume you think he has one.”
“He always has one; I just have no idea what it is. Maybe his old partners didn’t go far enough and he wants to start a new crusade between the humans to get everyone killed. It’s not like humans need much of an excuse. Although neither do we.”
“Were you here during the crusade?”
“Thankfully, no. Although I had to remove a few thorns after it was over. Some people committed unforgivable atrocities and needed to be held accountable for their actions. There are a few who escaped punishment, but they won’t forever. Merlin doesn’t take kindly to people in power abusing his trust.”
We reached the building where Mordred was being held and Nanshe took Isabel inside.
“Thanks for your help,” I said to Siris.
“Glad to. I’m not a fan of Avalon and us merging, but I don’t want Mordred running around causing chaos. Anyway, I need to get going. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
I entered the house as Siris walked away, and descended the stairs to Mordred’s holding cell. When I arrived, Isabel asked him why she had to leave the city.
“Why did you bring her here?” Mordred demanded as I entered the room.
“Because she refused to leave, and because I don’t have time to play games. Frankly, I trust her about as much as I trust you, and I wanted to see whether or not you’re both playing some elaborate game. I don’t give two shits if she lives or dies. Hell, if she’s involved with you, I’ll slit her throat right here and watch her bleed to death. But you seem to care, and I want to know why.”
Isabel looked at me with genuine shock on her face. She hadn’t expected me to sound so cold and callous about the death of someone else. That was the evidence I needed, and I knew she wasn’t linked to whatever Mordred was planning. There was no way to fake the disgust at having someone tell you they’d be fine with killing you.
“Don’t you dare threaten her!” Mordred snapped. “I will kill you if you hurt her! I swear it: I will kill you, Nathan.” Apart from the usual hate and bile in his voice, there was something else: affection. There was a deep affection for Isabel, and it made me pause.
“We need to leave,” I told Isabel, and turned to Mordred. “She’ll be taken somewhere safe.”
“Not until you tell me why,” Isabel snapped.
I was beginning to wonder at what point stubbornness was going to turn into something that would get Isabel killed.
“They are coming soon,” Mordred said. “They’re going to kill as many people in this city as possible. The streets will run red with blood. You can’t be here when that happens.”
“I can take care of myself.” Tears streamed down Isabel’s face, which was flushed with anger.
Mordred shot off his chair, the chains at his wrist stopping him from going further. “Go! Run!”
The sounds of running echoed in the chamber before the door was flung open and Gilgamesh entered. “Hellequin, Lady Nanshe: we’re under attack.”
Mordred crashed to his knees, his head in his hands. “It’s too late. They moved the timetable up. They’re already here.”
CHAPTER 7
September 1195. City of Acre.
I rushed out of the building with Nanshe just behind me. We’d told the guards to keep an eye on Isabel and Mordred; hopefully they’d be safe.
Night had settled since we’d been inside the building, and as I didn’t know the city well enough to lead the way, I followed Nanshe as we rushed through the streets. People were hurrying back to their homes and places of safety. The city had seen warfare not long ago, and many here would still bear the mental scars of what happened. No one wanted to see a repeat of it. No one wanted to be in the middle of a new battleground. I hoped the walls and soldiers would be able to hold off whatever had arrived.
It didn’t take too long to reach the first group of soldiers, all of whom were running toward us. They stopped before us, a dozen men-at-arms all ready to fight. It was the one thing I could guarantee they’d get their chance at.
“Nabu had us come find you,” the first soldier said, a tall man with terrible burn scars across one side of his face.
“Nabu is here?” I asked.
The soldier nodded. “He’s with Gilgamesh and Ereshkigal near the front gate.”
“How many enemies?” Nanshe asked as we fell into step beside her. I let her take the lead, knowing the soldiers would find it easier and faster only talking to one person.
“Unknown at this time. Each of the gates into the city were attacked at the same time. We took nineteen casualties, but we’ve managed to close them all.”
“Nineteen dead?”
“Six dead, the rest wounded. The majority of them will be unable to fight tonight.”
“How many soldiers do we have here?”
“Two thousand men, six hundred Templars, and two hundred Teutonic Knights. There’s also a smattering of the Knights of St John, but they’re helping with the influx of anyone who was outside of the gates when the attack took place. They’re not exact figures for men, but that’s what I was told.”
The notion of the Teutonic Knights being part of the battle force made me somewhat happier. They were well-versed in fighting nonhuman opponents, possibly more so than any other branch outside of Avalon.
“Three thousand men in a city with twenty thousand people to protect. Let’s hope whoever is out there doesn’t like the idea of a lengthy siege.” Nanshe stopped walking for a moment, forcing the soldiers to do the same. “Does anyone know what we’re fighting here?”
The men glanced at one another, none of them wanting to speak up.
“Now, soldier,” Nanshe said, her voice forceful and leaving no doubt that she wanted an answer within the next few seconds.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” the tall soldier said, managing to sound part embarrassed, and part terrified. “But the reports of what attacked us are . . . odd.”
“I do not care. Tell me. Now.”
“They were monsters,” another of the soldiers said, his eyes darting to his comrades, as if seeking solace in their own fear. “Monsters made of rock in some cases.”
“And with fangs,” a third soldier said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the attackers outside might hear him. “They came out of the darkness. Vampires. Creatures of pure evil.”
Nanshe looked over at me. “Vampires and rock monsters.”
“This gets better and better,” I said.
We recommenced walking, and managed to find Nabu ordering several Templar Knights about. Nabu was considered the Mesopotamian god of wisdom, and it was a role that suited him. He was smart, cunning, and more than happy to treat his day-to-day life like a chessboard: a game I refused to play with him. He was a tall man, with long, dark hair that fell over his broad shoulders. His beard touched his chest, and he held himself with regal bearing. He wore chainmail but held no weapon that I could see. I’d met him several times over the years and liked him. He was smart and knew it, but never to the extent that he showed off or lorded it over other people.
“Hellequin, it’s good to have you here,” Nabu said, his voice was deep, the kind of voice that resonates in your mind long after he’s finished talking. “Although I think Gilgamesh will not relish any competition for defeated foes.”
“Gilgamesh can win this one,” I assured him. “I just want the battle ended without blood being spilled.”
“You know that’s unlikely,” he said. He kissed Nanshe on the cheek. “I’m especially glad you’re here. There are too few of our kin in the city.”
“This was to be a human city, run by humans,” Nanshe said. “I’d hoped that once we’d joined Avalon, they would station their own people here to protect it.”
“I’m sure they will,” I told them. “But right now, we’re all we’ve got.”
“Not all.”
> I turned at the sound of the female voice and watched as soldiers hurried out of her way. She didn’t seem to mind that none of them wished to touch her; she’d cultivated her reputation as someone to be feared over many years—a reputation that was completely true from what I’d heard.
“I am Ereshkigal,” she said to me. The torchlight around us showed off her long, dark dress, although the light barely did the intricate embroidery justice. A red and black cloak trailed slightly along the dusty ground. I was pretty certain that she would have been able to hide weapons on her person with little problem. “You may call me Irkalla. Everyone else does these days.”
She had been the one leading the negotiations for the Mesopotamians to join Avalon. I’d heard good things from Elaine about her and her skill at the game of politics. That it had taken so long for the two sides to settle on a mutual agreement was apparently down to Irkalla, and the fact that she was not someone to bend her knee to anyone without considerable compensation. It was something that had angered several high-ranking Avalon members like Hera, and made me respect her all the more.
“It would have been more pleasurable to meet under better circumstances,” I told her.
“I was just about to leave for Avalon. It’s a shame this happened now, although I assume you’ll be wanting my help.” The last part of that sentence was aimed at Nabu.
“It would be useful.”
“Everything I do is useful, Nabu,” Irkalla said matter-of-factly. “Tell me who I need to dismember and I’ll get it done. I don’t really want to be up all night fighting some horrific little monsters. Have the attackers been positively identified as something we need to worry about, or did the humans just panic at the first sign of something they didn’t understand?”
I left them to talk and climbed the stairs to the battlements, where I found several soldiers looking out into the darkness beyond. The torches that usually lined the road approaching the city had been extinguished.
“They don’t want us to see them coming,” Gilgamesh said as he stood beside me. I hadn’t heard him approach; he was stealthy for such a large man.
