Battle of Forces

by Ali Vali

  “Aside from the four who came with us, I don’t trust anyone else yet. It’s probably not enough, but we can’t chance anyone leaking information that might give us an edge.”

  “Do you have a chance with seven?” Lenore asked softly.

  “I don’t know, but one of the seven is the slayer of Bruik’s vision. Not that I need his prophecies to tell me Asra’s heart, but he was right about one thing. She’d fight anyone and anything for those she loves, especially Piper Marmande.” Morgaine kissed Lenore’s cheek to reassure her. “She’s so close to getting the life she’s only dreamed of, and that’ll make her hard to beat.”

  “Promise me you’ll put as much into the fight as she will. Once we’re done I want to show you the city I love. Henri stole that from me before, but I think you’d enjoy the place that’s been my home for a long time.”

  “I’d like that.” She kissed Lenore’s cheek again. They’d been friends for ages, and like Asra, Lenore had taught her when she’d first come to the Clan. Lenore’s lessons and help had been the main reason she’d achieved Elder status. “And I promise, what Bruik saw involves more than just Piper and Kendal. Rolla knows as well as we do the consequences of failure. Once we talk to Charlie we’re going to have to contact Rolla and tell him what’s going on.”

  “I’ll be happy to take care of that, but because the message is coming from us, he’s going to be skeptical. He knows how we both feel about Asra, so he’ll see this as a ploy against his wish to punish her.”

  “We’ll call him together, and if he ignores us, we’ll know we really are on our own.”

  Lenore stood and held her hand out. “I hope he can convince the others, but some of them couldn’t care less about the fate of mankind.”

  “Bruik’s prophecy stems from what the Elders decided, and that alone should make them realize mankind isn’t the only group in danger. If an old enemy really is awakened he’ll turn his vengeance on them before he concerns himself with the world.” Morgaine lifted Lenore’s hand with her fingers when she stopped walking. “Rolla and the others should’ve listened to you back then. You were right about the evil that dwelled in our ranks.”

  “They buried the truth because no one wanted to admit their mistake.”

  “We’ll know soon enough if they’ve learned anything from it.” She started toward the house again, glad the fog had lifted a little.

  “This really is a beautiful place,” Lenore said as they stopped at the road for traffic.

  “When she wrote me and told me about the land she’d purchased and what her plans were, I thought she’d finally gone crazy.”

  Lenore laughed and bumped shoulders with her. “Why?”

  “Back then I thought she was wasting time and energy building something for no reason. Because of who we are, we can’t stay in one place too long, so she’d only get to enjoy her effort for a short time.” The mist and the early hour made it easy to imagine the house then.

  “What do you think now?”

  “She’s wiser than I gave her credit for because she’s enjoying the effort now. With careful planning, the house and lands passed to the St. Louis ‘heirs’ so she could come back when she was ready.”

  “I’m a woman who loves books, but I believe we can all find what Asra has in Piper. I don’t want to spend eternity with the written word as my only passion.”

  “Where do you think you’ll find this great love?”

  “I, as well as you, will find it when we stop looking,” Lenore said with a smile as she released Morgaine’s hand and walked away.

  *

  Kendal and Piper were still wrapped in their blanket on the cushions Kendal had thrown on the floor. The fire had gone out, but Piper was happy to lie in Kendal’s arms lost in thought. One of the greatest aspects of being in a relationship with Kendal was her ability to let her be silent and not be intimidated by it. She hadn’t been in many relationships before this, and that was why. Most people felt compelled to fill the air with nonsense when they had nothing important to say.

  She heard Morgaine and Lenore outside but Kendal never moved, so she didn’t worry they were suddenly needed to run off somewhere.

  “What are you thinking so hard about?” Kendal finally asked after a few hours had passed.

  “Where exactly do they expect you to go and meet these people?”

  “The Elders’ compound in Egypt is where Rolla likes to get his henchmen together,” Kendal said, but didn’t sound concerned.

  “He’s pissed because of me, right?”

  “You have to understand Rolla and the others.”

  Piper moved so she was lying completely on Kendal so she could kiss her. Nothing she’d ever experienced made her worry more than this, not even the loss of the business. “What about them?”

  “I’ve served the Elders so long because they do stand for justice and believe in the protection of mankind, but they’re not perfect.” Kendal combed Piper’s hair back when she laid her head back down on her chest. “Neither am I, but my decision to give you that cup wasn’t wrong.”

  “Obviously he and the others don’t think so.”

  “They just don’t like change, but they hate imbalance more than anything.”

  She could hear the beat of Kendal’s heart and wondered what would happen if they were both locked in a cave somewhere. Would she have even this small comfort? “Do they think I’ve unbalanced something?”

  “No, their worry will come from me fighting for someone else or, more importantly, against them. Imagine an army of things like Henri, and we sit the fight out.”

  That’d be a nightmare, actually, and why Piper was glad she no longer slept. The sight of Kendal with that sword sticking out of her chest and her falling to her knees would’ve dominated her dreamscape for months. “So we’re going to Cairo?”

  “Actually their compound is deep in the desert. Decades ago they decided to stay away from the big cities in a place where they could expand. It’s where Rolla spends most of his time, even though Morgaine told me he’s originally from Scotland.” Kendal laughed and Piper joined in because she sounded so carefree. “I thought the heat alone would’ve sent him running back to the Highlands, but he loves it.”

  “And no one’s ever seen a huge building in the desert?”

  “It’s all underground.”

  “I thought the sun is important to us now?”

  “It is, and the lack of humidity there allows Rolla to read outside without his ancient texts falling apart.” Kendal moved her hands to her back but her touch was soothing. “Of all the places that belong to the Clan, it’s big enough so that all of us have rooms there. It’s where I keep some of the pieces I was able to salvage from my father’s home.”

  “When do we leave? I’d like to see all that.”

  “What happened last night makes me think we need to put the Elders on hold. I find it a strange coincidence that, of all the swords I own, you picked one out and were able to describe it in detail. Before Egypt, we need to go to London.”

  “How long do you think we’ll be gone if we have to visit both places?”

  “You can stay if you want. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Piper moved so fast she was surprised that she startled Kendal a little when she lifted her head and pressed their noses together. “Get the fact that I’m not letting you go anywhere without me. I just have to think of a story to tell my grandparents if it’ll be more than a long weekend.”

  “I could always make it a quick trip for both things, and you can concentrate on what’s happening at Marmande’s.”

  Piper pressed her hands to Kendal’s cheeks hard enough to make her look funny. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to separate. My grandparents are really my only concern, not going with you.” She squeezed a little more and Kendal’s mouth was a tight O. “Stop trying to ditch me.”

  Kendal didn’t break Piper’s hold and enjoyed her smile. The elixir had increased Piper’s strength, so m
aybe she would eventually be interested in learning how to defend herself. Even if she retired from the Clan for a while, evil wouldn’t take a vacation from them.

  “I might have an idea,” Kendal said as she rolled them over.

  “Does it include me?”

  The logical part of her mind screamed it’d be a huge complication to bring the Marmandes, but it might also be a mistake to leave them behind. “Call your grandparents and invite them to come to England with us. Tell them I have business there and outside Cairo. They can stay at Farthington if we end up going.”

  “You won’t mind?”

  “Nothing should happen in England except some sightseeing and some nights on the town. On the off chance they see something hard to explain, how will they handle that?”

  Piper sat up and let the blanket fall away. “If I have enough time my grandparents will accept anything about me”—she reached out and tapped the end of Kendal’s nose—“even you.”

  “Let’s hope we always have the time to explain well enough that they won’t need intense therapy.” Kendal admired Piper’s body as she rose and stood over her.

  “Gran and Pops will roll with the punches, you’ll see,” Piper said as she offered her a hand up. “Now I’d like to see the sword room. Think we can sneak upstairs before anyone sees us so you can show it to me? A shower would be good.”

  Kendal stepped over their clothes and went to open the door. “I doubt we’ll have to sneak anywhere.” There lay two folded robes and a tray with a coffee service and a basket of croissants. “Our staff is as good at discretion as fulfilling needs.” Piper came and looked. “So, sword room or shower?”

  “Can’t I have both?”

  “Tell me why you’re interested in the sword room and you can have whatever you want.” She helped Piper put on the fresh robe.

  “I’m as curious as you are about how I picked one from all the ones you own. Maybe if I’m surrounded in your collection I’ll have another fainting spell so I can give you more answers.”

  “If you promise to stay conscious we can have breakfast in there and I’ll finish my story.”

  *

  “Don’t feed me a load of empty air, Morgaine. I gave you a task and I expect you to do it.” Rolla wasn’t screaming but she saw him start to breathe heavy. Their video link had taken longer since she’d asked him to empty the room he was in so they could tell him what Piper had seen.

  “Bruik’s prophecy about the slayer has been fulfilled,” Lenore said as she squeezed Morgaine’s knee.

  “What other fanciful daydreams will you two come up with to save Asra? I realize you love her, but she must face the Elders for what she’s done.”

  “My oath to you and the others is to chronicle history as it happens,” Lenore said with heat, and Morgaine returned the favor of putting her hand on her thigh out of sight of the webcam. “I’ll never mislead anyone, as has happened through time in different civilizations to glorify those who don’t deserve it, simply because someone orders me to.” Lenore pointed at the screen and Morgaine almost laughed. “I resent the implication that I’d go back on my word for friendship.”

  “It seems suspicious that Bruik’s vision would come to be at the moment Asra needed salvation.”

  “You’ve already decided her punishment to be that drastic?” Morgaine asked. “Did you think it’d be that simple? That she’d follow one of your puppets to her grave like a tamed lion?” His inability to see reason made her decision to break ranks with the Clan, should it be necessary, much easier.

  “Careful how you talk to me, Morgaine.”

  “Try your best to tear me down, but I’m going to send the others a message before they arrive for your lynching. That way when you’re facing defeat, and nothing’s standing between you and complete darkness, they and you will realize your inability to accept the truth brought about your destruction.”

  “Come now, the end is near. That’s going to be your cry of panic to save your pet?”

  “No, Rolla, it’s going to be that Asra has found the green-eyed seer of Bruik’s prophecy. Lenore woke her, and the first sight she had was of the Sea Serpent Sword and Erik Wolver.”

  “With no prompting?” Rolla fell back in his seat and closed his eyes.

  “Lenore’s touch made her fly back to that point in time.” She glanced at Lenore before Rolla opened his eyes. “Even if Asra had prompted her as a way of deflecting problems from what she did for love, she was never told all of Bruik’s vision. There was no way for her to have that sight as her first unless she’s extremely lucky.”

  “I’ll call everyone and tell them to prepare in case they’re needed, and you explain to Asra the importance of getting her head straight when it comes to her job. At this moment it’d be the worst thing for her to quit and lose the backing of the Clan.”

  “She’ll be ready—she has no choice.”

  *

  “What’s that about?” Bailey asked Travis.

  Travis had his ear pressed to the door, but the thick teak walls of Rolla’s study made it impossible to hear anything. Rolla’s obsession with recording everything that affected the Clan meant he could watch the video later. “It was Morgaine and Lenore, but he threw me out before they started talking.”

  “You didn’t hear anything?”

  “We’ll have to wait until they’re done. Just calm down.” He moved them away from the door and lowered his voice. “Anything yet?”

  “I checked again at sunset, and the cuts have completely healed, but nothing yet.”

  “Months sounds like a long time, but we’ve got a lot to do before we miss our window. I’m going to make your existence hell if this doesn’t work.”

  “Bruik saw it all, so it shouldn’t be long now. Have faith.”

  “It might be Bruik I bury right after you for all this crap he’s gotten everyone in a panic about.”

  “If you didn’t believe it you wouldn’t have done all this,” Bailey said, and appeared smug. “Admit it. You can’t quit in case the prize really is as great as what Bruik saw.”

  “I’m not quitting, but we’re already behind. It’s not going to be easy.”

  “Only those who are willing to fight for the reward will win it.”

  Chapter Seven

  After their shower Piper followed Kendal down to a room in the middle of the house. Kendal placed her hand on a green glass pane, and a door slid open to reveal a large room with only two chairs and a small table with more coffee and food.

  The weapons that lined the walls fascinated Piper. They seemed well cared for, but she noticed the nicks and scratches in all of them as she walked around to see them up close. The swords were used not only in the practice rounds like she’d seen Kendal lay out with Charlie, but in real fights with real monsters like Henri.

  “Before you came to find me, Lenore did a good job of telling you my story, but to me—these are what sums up my history. Every one of them has a story locked in the metal, and I can tell you every detail down to the moment I took possession of it.” Kendal didn’t stop her from walking around, but Kendal sat when she smelled the coffee she’d poured.

  “We never talked about all this, but I did have a question. Why swords? I can see their purpose when Morgaine found you, but why now? There’s got to be an easier way that’s safer for you.”

  “Vampires and the others I’ve faced don’t react to guns or modern weaponry. Silver bullets do work on werewolves, but they aren’t like the unthinking creatures you see in the movies. Like wolves in the wild, they tend to live in a family setting resembling a pack, and they aren’t a problem unless you go after them. I don’t think we’ll run into any of them soon, though, so don’t worry.”

  “Werewolves are real?” The truth of what existed and what happened in the night without anyone knowing was truly amazing.

  “Yes.” Kendal wore the type of smile Piper figured she would see often, since it appeared to be her attempt to be reassuring.

  “We
’ll get to that eventually. Right now tell me about the sword in my dream.”

  “What kind of world-history student were you?” Kendal asked, and laughed as if not to insult her. “I know you excelled at everything else.”

  “I did okay, but if I’m going to have a pop quiz about specifics, I might need a refresher.” Piper folded her legs up and cradled her coffee cup against her chest.

  “In 406 AD a great strategist and leader was born.” Kendal stretched her legs out and picked up a muffin. “Even if not everyone can remember the specifics of his reign and life, the greatest king of the Huns is a familiar name.”

  “That’s interesting, love, but what’s it got to do with your sword?”

  “Attila the Hun came this close to conquering the known world.” Kendal held her index finger and thumb slightly apart. “The vision you had took place during his last campaign. The men riding with me would eventually come to be known as the Vikings, and they’d followed me to the place you saw after I’d fought beside them for months.”

  Northern Italy, AD 452

  “Do you want to move on, brother?” Leif asked Erik Wolver as they stood together on a hill overlooking the Hun encampment.

  Leif and the others knew her not as Asra but as Erik, a warrior on a quest to find a peaceful place to settle. They’d all been suspicious at first since all she had in common with them was light-colored eyes, but when the first raiders of the season had tried to ride into their village, they hadn’t gotten past their new defender, who’d camped in the forest outside the clearing where they lived.

  After that their king had wisely offered her a place among them and a band of men to travel with her when the Elders’ message arrived. It’d taken them three months to reach this spot far from their home.