The New Improved Sorceress

by Sara Hanover

  “We have news.”

  In the end, we didn’t tell the group everything Goldie told us. Without consulting each other, we left the names named out of the conversation, only that she hoped to have confirmation of the traitor soon. Hiram looked thunderous, resembling his father more than I’d ever seen him before. Mom stayed quiet and pensive, but I could tell she took things in and weighed them. I decided for myself that, despite what Germanigold had said, he couldn’t have gone Benedict Arnold on his father and family. Not just for myself, mind you. Evelyn was involved in it now, too, whether I wanted her to be or not, and neither of us needed to be disappointed in Hiram’s honor.

  Our plan stayed simple: contact Devian. Offer a trade for Scout and the Eye of Nimora (which would simply be referred to as the Queen gem), with a contract for Hiram’s services as a locator in its place. Hopefully, in the short hours between last night and today, Devian hadn’t had a chance to verify exactly what he had in his possession and what its true worth might be.

  Steptoe didn’t make an appearance until the last of our little convention, hanging back and leaning against the doorjamb. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him turn down a meal before. Or stay quiet. Marveling at these two things, I’d just cast a look at him when Carter said, “Don’t like admitting it, but I can’t see a way to get your tail into the negotiations.”

  “Likely not, guv’nor.”

  The two considered each other across the room. Hiram opened his mouth to say something, but Carter stopped him by putting up an index finger. “The way I do see it is that we are putting up a hell of a distraction while you go in and retrieve what you need. He’ll be watching us. You’ll be invisible. Devian will have exposed his cache, probably left it unlocked while he brings out the Eye, and that gives you the opportunity to get in and out, undetected.”

  Steptoe considered it, looking as if he sucked on a sore tooth before asking, “What’s in it for you?”

  “He won’t know what hit him until after the deal is done and over. Then, realizing he’s lost the gem, he’s likely to go through the remaining treasures to see what he has. When Devian realizes he’s missing a few items more, he’ll be unhappy and impatient and at odds. Distracted and off-balance. The longer we can keep him that way—”

  “The ’appier we’ll all be,” Steptoe finished. “A’right then. I know where I stand. When do we leave?”

  “Soon as Devian gets an answer back to us.”

  Steptoe moved to the table, pulling up a chair. “Any lunch left?”

  “Of course,” Mom said. “But then you all are on your own. I’ve a paper to work on.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” we all answered.

  My phone rang, and I turned away from the table to answer it. As if she knew she might be interrupting, Evelyn whispered a quiet “Hello” in my ear. And a yawn.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Sore. If I hadn’t gone to the ER, I’d think it was broken. The only good thing is that Dad isn’t upset too much with me, and my mom is waiting on me hand and foot, at least until I go to bed. I slept all the way home, but I’m still a bit (yawn) drowsy.”

  I covered my mouth before I gave a yawn myself. “Well, I’m glad you’re home and the dust has settled.”

  “Not quite.” And her voice changed a little, just enough that when she started talking again, the hairs rose on the back of my neck. “You’re in trouble, Tessa Andrews, in the eyes of a foe far more dangerous than any of you and yours can imagine. Take care before you take harm.”

  The tone of her voice took an icy dive into my inner self. “Say what? Is that you, Evie? What are you talking about?”

  A slight pause before she coughed a bit and said, “Sorry. Falling asleep right in front of you! Talk to you later, and I want you to tell me everything you know about Hiram.”

  Fat chance of that. “Sure,” I soothed her. “Later.”

  The phone clicked silent. I thought a moment before shoving it aside and facing our gang of good intentions. My insides still felt chilled. “So. Devian mentioned a boss. Any idea who that might be and if these guys have any relation to the big evil baddie we’ve been told might return? ’Cause at this point, it’s my opinion Malender is not our guy.”

  You’d have thought I dropped a conversation bomb in the middle of the table. Voices broke out at once, and Hiram’s deep voice shook the commotion into silence when he finally yelled, “Quiet!”

  I sat very still, hoping my mother would not come out of her study unhappy. Or at all. Hiram looked about the table. “Decorum,” he suggested, before sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Precisely,” the professor said, looking squarely at me. “What is this about?”

  “Not that I wasn’t grateful and glad to see you guys, but you weren’t the first to come charging to my aid. Malender was, and I’ve no idea how or why he did, because it was all I could do to breathe, let alone call anyone. And Devian threw the name Nico in his face.”

  That brought the voices up again, and I put my hand out. “Can’t tell you that,” I answered Hiram, who wanted to know if he knew about the Eye. “Or that,” I said to Brian as the professor grunted, “Why didn’t he blast Devian into smithereens?”

  But it was Carter who caught my attention, the expression unreadable on his face, eyes intent and that offset cleft going white against his jawline. “Was anything else said about Nico?”

  “No, although it seemed he might have a hold on Malender somehow. So . . . what is this black cloud that’s around him? Is it of his making or did someone curse him with it?” I leaned on my elbows.

  “We don’t know, and it’s nothing you should be investigating. We only have some very old familial memories of Malender, and they all suggest that he is a powerful being none of us should be involved with if we can help it.”

  “He stopped Devian in his tracks. I was being floated out of the casino toward the archway when I thought I’d hit a brick wall. So even if he didn’t turn the elf into dust on the asphalt, he did stop him long enough that you guys could catch up, and that was more trouble than Devian wanted. And he had a reminder for the professor about being the Fire he needed.”

  Brian had a mild coughing fit but blamed it on the sweet tea going down wrong. The rest of us stared at one another.

  I finally added, “But who is Ni—”

  “No one you should worry or ask about.” Carter’s gruff tone made it an order rather than a suggestion.

  “Oh-kay then. Our minds are full and our plates are empty, so we wait to see what kind of rendezvous awaits us.” I smiled brightly in hopes their stormy faces would clear.

  I didn’t get much of a response as I stood to clear the table, so I leaned over Hiram. “Evelyn wants to know allllll about you.”

  He brightened. “And, lass, you need to tell me about her!” And he talked about his impression of my bestie until the room cleared in self-defense.

  * * *

  • • •

  Devian’s choice of a meet wasn’t anywhere near the casino, or anywhere else in town. He chose an area near the Powhatan Mills Quarter golf course, west and a bit north of town, a quiet area with quiet money. Green and forested, with beautiful two- and three-story gray-stoned estate houses laid back off the looping roads, it looked too peaceful for a devious elf and nefarious plots. But there we were, about to meet one and step into the other.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  THE DOG BARKS AT MIDNIGHT

  HIRAM BROUGHT HIS SUV to a stop at the curb. The house and meet in question stood elegantly set back on what was about three acres of ground with a three- or maybe it was a four-car garage behind it. A stable and arena occupied a good deal of the side acreage, but no sign of equines, not even a pony. On the other side of the winding brick drive, stood a tiny house that turned out to be a chicken coop, complete with an outdoor run pr
otected by chicken wire. Steptoe made a tight noise.

  “Chickens.”

  “Looks like. Maybe elves like really fresh eggs.”

  “They’ll sense me.”

  I looked from Simon back to the henhouse. “Oh. You think?”

  “Bloody feather mops. Geese are worse, but they’ll cluck their ’eads off.”

  “When Scout sees me, he’ll start barking. That should set them off anyway, right?”

  He shrugged, his face sagging in a disheartened expression.

  “This is going to work, Steptoe.”

  “It’s a big ’ouse, innit?”

  Carter said, “He’s right. Time isn’t on his side.”

  I stared down the driveway, looking for icy-eyes to make his appearance. “I have an idea.”

  The other three said, as one, “No.”

  I sat back in the car seat, carefully folding my arms over my chest. The bracers had stayed home because everyone had agreed that Devian liked sparklies and would have negotiated for them, somehow, in the bargain. Brian, however, had been okayed to bring his blasting stick, the crystal knob on the cane not yet clear and diamond-like, but definitely improved to a slate-gray appearance. He’d deemed the minor magical setback in its restoration worth the risk and that it would not attract the elf’s attention too much because of its impaired state. Never mind the oddity of a strong, good-looking twenty-year-old leaning on a cane. If Brian couldn’t use it, I had plans for the sturdy stick.

  Steptoe squeezed my elbow. “Never mind, ducks, it’ll work out.” He slid out of his coat and began turning it inside out. A second later, he disappeared from sight.

  “How is it you do that?”

  “Trade secret.” A muffled moment later, he said, “Open the car doors, so I can get out.”

  So we did, and that’s when I spotted the figure at the far end of the driveway, pulling a golden lump behind him on a leash. I jumped out of the back seat and an unseen hand stopped me in my tracks.

  “Easy, luv. Too eager and ’e’ll take advantage. The pup is likely a’right, just stubborn. Wish me luck.”

  “Luck, Steptoe.”

  “Too right.”

  And then he was gone. Or I think he was, not seeing him and all. The chickens that had been pecking around in their fenced yard did throw up their heads and begin to cluck a bit and beat their wings about. I whistled at Scout and, bless his heart, the pup threw his head up and began barking sharply back at me. Who knew exactly what had disturbed the poultry?

  I could see the man at the driveway’s end clearly now, although not the color of his eyes, but Devian couldn’t be mistaken. Dressed sharply, like a country gentleman, he approached us deliberately, and the Eye of Nimora dangled from his free hand.

  I breathed in, saying to myself, “Don’t. Drop. It.” The brick expanse we trod might be infamously damaging to the ruby if they met suddenly. Scout had gone from being dragged to bounding ahead of Devian and pulling furiously at his leash. I trotted out a few steps ahead of the guys.

  “Scout! Good boy, there you are!”

  Ears flopping, tail wagging, tongue lolling, he bounced around gloriously at the end of his lead, yanking the elf this way and that way. Devian lost the arrogance to his gait and fell into simply keeping on his feet and following after the dog.

  I bent over and slapped my palms on my thighs. “Who’s a good boy? You are!”

  Chickens and pup went wild. Scout lunged toward me.

  Devian fell to one knee, and I could hear a sharp command that crackled through the air like lightning. Scout yelped and somersaulted. When he got up on his paws, he whined loudly and strained to get to me. I think I might have growled in response. Brian held his cane out, blocking me.

  “Not yet.”

  Scout’s piteous noisemaking shook me, but I knew Brian was right. So I steadied myself and waited. Devian untangled himself, dusted himself off, and drew close enough for me to clearly see not only his icy-blue eyes, but the deep anger in them. He took a breath as if to steady himself.

  “You keep appointments promptly.”

  Carter barely inclined his head in agreement. “We’re ready to fulfill our bargain.” He looked past Devian, assessing the estate, and I wondered if he, like I did, caught the nearly silent opening and closing of a side door. “It might be easier on you to let the dog go first.” His gaze dropped to Scout, who had stopped jumping but sat at the length of his lead, which was stretched taut between them.

  Devian took a leisurely moment to look down at his arm, and hand, and then the dog, as if deciding. “Does she know,” he asked, raising his gaze to look at me, “where he comes from? His heritage and his breeding and training? Does she,” and he gave a slow, mean, smile, “does she know that he’s a hound of the Huntsman? What will happen when his true owner comes to take him back?”

  I heard a hiss of breath to my flank but had no idea who it came from. “What Huntsman?”

  “Have you never heard of the Great Hunt? Gentlemen, you are remiss in her education!”

  I cut my hand through the air. “Heard of him. Seen real hounds, and he’s nothing at all like them, if I even believed in the Hunt. Do you lie? I heard elves couldn’t.”

  “We cannot.”

  But he didn’t say they couldn’t deceive by bending the truth, a nice dodge on its own. The hand I’d cut through the air I now fisted. “Give me back my dog.”

  “All in good time. I believe we are bargaining.”

  “Bargaining?” I swung around on Carter. “I thought this was a done deal.”

  “Easy,” Carter said, but his mouth quirked to one side as if he realized the game I played. “There may still be a few details to iron out.” At Devian’s wince, he amended, “Straighten out.”

  Hiram rumbled at me, “Elves don’t like the thought of iron.”

  “Oh, so that rumor is true?”

  “More or less.”

  “Mostly less, or we would not still exist here,” Devian stated.

  “Still, it’s an interesting concept.”

  The elf would not look at me. “Carter, I thought when you came to treat with me, you would keep the riffraff out of the process.”

  Brian straightened, and the end of his cane thumped the bricks. “Riffraff, are we? While you were playing gather ye rosebuds while ye may, I was studying how to better the world.”

  “And forgot all you learned and then some, from the looks of you.” Devian’s cold silver scorn swept over Brian, lingered a moment on the cane, and came back to Carter and Hiram. He fastened on Hiram. “You, I take it, are Mortimer Broadstone’s son.”

  “I am and proud to acknowledge it.”

  “Dwarves and elves have long stood apart, but your father had a good reputation among my people. It’s unfortunate I do not agree with them.”

  Hiram might have taken a step forward, but Carter’s tall frame blocked him.

  I couldn’t let that one go. “You’re just full of good things to say.”

  “You were in my power once. It won’t take much to put you there again.” And he pulled back on Scout’s lead and I finally saw what he had done. The leash was little more than a rope with a slip knot, the loop around Scout’s neck—and every time Devian yanked on it, the noose tightened. Evelyn wanted to be like me: a badass, and I decided I wanted to be all over that elf-man for hurting Scout.

  Now Carter blocked me. “Terms decreed this to be a peaceful parley. We need to honor that.”

  “He’s already broken it! He’s strangling my dog!” I grabbed Brian’s cane and, with a yell, launched at the smug elf. I didn’t expect to reach him, pixie dust being at his disposal and all, but then Devian didn’t seem to realize I’d throw myself at him in an all-out tackle until too late. I hit him and laid him low, cane at his throat like a hockey stick in my hands, before anyone even knew I had m
oved.

  Except for Scout. He jumped at the same time I did, and went for his enemy’s ankles.

  To be fair, Carter had put a pretty heavy glamour on me, none of us wanting Devian to get a feel of the maelstrom stone in my hand. To be even fairer, I thought it was worth it to knock his ass down. A stunned silence hung in the air for about five seconds.

  And then the fight started.

  I’ve been in some good brawls in my life. Most of them started on the field in high school because I walked around in a lot of anger for those last two years, and I don’t like people who think they can get away with bullshit. I’ve grown since then, but sometimes those old skills just come in really handy. Devian threw me off, I rolled over and began to swing cane, fists, and feet while Scout dodged in and out, growling and yipping in excitement, fangs flashing. If the elf had a magic spell he could use, he didn’t have time to prep it, let alone send it my way. He tucked the ruby inside his fancy broadcloth shirt and came back at me. We rolled over and over on the fancy bricked driveway, in an old-fashioned donnybrook. He slapped me once hard enough to make my ears ring. I recoiled, gathering my strength, watching his eyes to see what his next move would be. Devian had no fear about hitting a woman. Or maybe it was because I was human riffraff. I knotted my muscles and went after him with a haymaker, knew I’d miss, and ducked away from his parry, contacting instead with his rib cage with all I could muster. The wind exploded from him, and he reeled back, eyes closed, fighting for breath. That sort of thing can counteract most spoken spells.

  About then, Carter and Hiram got into the fray. Brian stood back, visibly shaken, hands empty. Hiram took hold of me about the time I thought of the flash-bangs I had on me, wondering if elves could swallow them. Or should.

  Hiram held me in midair by my shoulders as I glared down at Devian.

  Carter had the other, on his knees, arms behind his back. That beautiful blond hair looked frightfully mussed and not at all alluring, and the expression on his face told me he was mad enough to spit nails. Blood trickled sluggishly from a split lip.