Faith focused all of her attention on the Daywalker. “May I ask you a personal question, Layla?”
“You may.”
“Have you told Toby, yet?”
Layla raised her head proudly. “I will tell him when I have complete information. Until then, it is a private matter, and I would have it remain so.”
Faith nodded. “All right. We’ll start with an ultrasound and go from there.”
CHAPTER 8
May 2042; Armistice Security Headquarters, Anchorpoint City, Colorado; Four weeks later
Nick looked down at the crystal chalice, following the runes with his eyes. “I’m impressed, Rory. You do good work. Are you sure the crystal matrix is aligned correctly?”
Rory slumped in his chair, exhausted. “Absolutely. The entire chalice is an unbroken carbon lattice.”
Take’s jaw dropped. “Are you saying that you made it out of diamond?”
Rory shook his head. “Natural diamonds have flaws. I constructed this one atom by atom to have a perfectly complete structure. The technique was lost when the founders slaughtered the Artificers back in the First Age, to prevent any further attempts to invoke the Pact Arcanum.”
“And now we plan to start the whole thing back up again,” Nick said bitterly.
Rory grimaced. “When we’re done here, I will destroy this one, and I’m the only person who still retains the knowledge of how to create them. The secret will be safe with me.”
“Then, we might as well get it over with,” said Nick. He picked up the chalice and set it down on the coffee table. He slashed his wrist with one talon and then directed the flow of blood into the bowl of the chalice until it was half-full. He healed the tear in his wrist and raised the chalice with both hands. Softly, he chanted the words of power he had stolen from Luscian’s memories, working the complex spell forms in his mind. The chalice blazed with multicolored light as he intoned the ancient spell. When he completed the invocation, he lifted the chalice to his lips and drank the mystically charged blood. After draining the chalice, he raised it again over his head, while he felt the spell wrap around him. Quickly but carefully, he recited the final incantation. His muscles went limp as he collapsed, paralyzed. The chalice fell to the floor and rolled away.
Rory knelt beside him. He picked up the chalice and bled off power from the Grace, channeling it into the crystal until it glowed brightly. Then he slammed it against the floor with his full strength. The crystal shattered, and the light of the released magic coalesced in the air before settling into Nick’s chest. Pulling Nick into his arms, Rory drove his fangs into the Daywalker’s neck and began to feed deeply, until Nick’s heart raced desperately, on the verge of giving out. When Rory drew back, the room froze, and there was silence.
Nick stood in spirit from the floor, unsurprised to look down on his own body, and waited. A pure white light suffused the room, the light that he had dreamt of so many times before, of what lay beyond the Gates of Morning.
A voice thundered in his mind. “Ask and ye shall receive.”
“I wish to speak to an agent of the White Wind,” said Nick.
“Then speak, Nicholas Magister Luscian. The Gates of Morning have opened to hear your petition. Ask and ye shall receive.”
“I want to know the nature of the child that grows in the womb of Layla Magister Curallorn, and I want to know your purpose in bringing it into existence.”
“That knowledge will be costly. Are you willing to pay the price required?”
“Name it.”
“Service.”
“What kind of service?”
“This child is a harbinger of things to come. You will stand as its teacher and guardian, its protector against all enemies, right or wrong, until such time as it chooses to release you. Say yes, and we will tell you all that you wish to know.”
“You want me to be its champion?” Nick asked, incredulous. “It’s Toby’s child. I would have protected it anyway.”
“Even so. The child will live beyond the span of years allotted to the father. You will be the father’s voice in its life, after the true father has gone to his reward.”
Nick swallowed in sudden fear. “Wait, are you saying that something is going to happen to Toby?”
“That question is beyond the scope of your petition, Nicholas Magister Luscian. You have no claim on that information.”
“Then I’m changing my damn petition!”
“Accurate knowledge of future events is forbidden to beings of your level of reality. If you pursue this petition, you will not be allowed to return to your plane.”
Nick scowled. “If I ask what happens to Toby, you’ll kill me?”
“Yes.”
Nick hesitated. “If I die here, will I be able to change Toby’s fate?”
“No.”
“What about if I go back? Will I be able to change it then?”
“The future is infinitely mutable. Your free will remains intact, as does his. Whether your brother survives what is coming will depend on his choices, as well as yours.”
“Then answer my original questions.”
“You may make only one petition and no other. Are you prepared to pay the price?”
“Yes.”
“The pact is made.”
Nick shuddered at the music of the voice, the notes reverberating against the memory of the Light that he carried within himself.
“Your brother’s offspring is the beginning of a new race, one that will lead the Children of Magic once the Red Wind is defeated. It is the first child of a union between the Sentinel Gift and the power you know as the Grace. It will be the future of your people once the Great Work is complete, and the Children of Darkness and the Children of Twilight cease to be.”
Nick remembered Faith’s words from the week before. “Is that why Daywalkers can’t create new scions?”
“Yes. The Red Wind is parasitic, creating life from death. The children of the White Wind may create life from life, but only when they meet as equals, together.”
“What about after the Red Wind is gone and the Gift becomes dormant?”
“The Grace and the full Gift will create life, whether or not the Gift is kindled.”
“We thought the Sentinels would cease to exist once the Nightwalkers were gone.”
“Once the Children of Darkness are removed from the field of play, the Children of Starlight will be the inheritors and caretakers of magic on your world. Then, and only then, will there be peace between the races.”
Nick took a deep breath and let it out. “Will the child be Sentinel or Daywalker?”
“The new race will be an amalgam of the most useful traits of each race. They will be strong like the Children of Twilight, but their free will shall remain unfettered. They will be long-lived like the Children of the Dawn, but they will retain their mortality. They will chart their own destiny from out of the ashes of your war. This is our gift to you, that you shall understand your legacy in taking up the protection of the one who will someday lead them.”
Nick kept silent for a long time, digesting the information. “I think I understand.”
“Then your questions have been asked and answered, Nicholas Magister Luscian. Your fealty is accepted. You are the child’s sword and shield from this moment forth. Go now, in peace, the way you came.”
Nick’s eyes snapped open where he lay in Rory’s arms, and he took a shuddering breath.
Rory held him tightly. “Did it work?”
Nick mustered a weak answer. “Yes.”
Take leaned forward. “Then what did you find out?”
“Later,” he said, trying to sit up. “Takeshi, where is Toby right now?”
Take frowned. “He’s in England, with Andrea. Why?”
“He’s in danger,” Nick said, his voice full of dread. “I don’t know why, or when, but something bad is about to happen to him.”
CHAPTER 9
Oxford Botanic Garden, Oxford, England
Toby and Andrea
walked silently down the path until they reached a park bench, while their Secret Service escort formed a perimeter around them at a discreet distance. She sat and looked at the overcast sky that blotted out the sunset.
“Storm’s coming.”
Toby snorted. “This is England. Rain is part of the scenery.”
She laughed at his tone of disdain. “You get used to it.” She looked at him with interest. “So where do you live when you’re not in Washington?”
Toby sat on the bench next to her. “San Francisco mostly, but my apartment is being, um, remodeled, so I’ve been crashing at my brother’s house in North Carolina.”
She leaned back against the bench. “I guess family is good for something after all.”
“Come on, Andrea,” said Toby. “Surely your dad has some redeeming qualities?”
Her expression turned sour. “Not lately. In the beginning, it wasn’t so bad. I enjoyed the campaigning, once I was old enough to understand what was going on. But when he hit the Oval Office, everything changed. The work took center stage, and he never had time for us. My mother was the only thing holding our family together. After she died, it seemed like there was nothing left of our relationship to rebuild. I went back to Washington for the funeral and the state functions, but he didn’t need me. He just pressed on as always. I’m surprised he noticed I was there at all.”
Toby took her hand gently. “Andrea, forgive me for saying so, but at least half of that was complete bullshit, and you know it.” He glanced at Jack Anderson, who leaned against a low stone wall, casually sharpening his sword with a whetstone while he watched the shadows for threats. “If your father didn’t care, then we wouldn’t be here.”
She grinned at him. “You know, Tobias, I was really building up a nice head of self-pity there. You’re ruining the whole effect by trying to inject perspective.” She cocked her head quizzically. “So when do you suppose you’re finally going to let me in on the big secret?”
Toby started to reply, but the voice of his AI interrupted him. “Tobias, Layla Magister Curallorn is trying to reach you on a high-priority secured channel.”
Toby sat there with his mouth open like a fish, then snapped his jaws together and stood from the bench. He gave Andrea a sheepish look. “Will you excuse me for a few minutes?”
She nodded. “Sure. I hope things work out better than your last conversation.”
“So do I.” He walked a short distance apart for privacy. “Put her through, Strings.”
A virtual screen opened in front of him, showing Layla with the Council Chamber in the background. Nick and Faith stood to either side of her.
Toby frowned at the presence of his siblings. “Layla, is this a business or a personal call?”
Layla stood straighter. “Both, actually. It seems our relationship is about to become an affair of state.”
Toby waited silently for a moment, then looked at Nick. “Is someone going to explain that remark?”
Nick and Layla looked furtively at each other, weighing which of them should speak. Faith shook her head in disgust. “Toby, you’re going to be a father. Congratulations.”
Toby just stared at her. “Is that supposed to be funny?”
Faith grimaced. “Do I look like I’m laughing, little brother? She’s between sixteen and twenty weeks along, and the fetus appears to be developing normally.”
“Whoa. Just wait a minute.” Toby tapped his hands together in a time-out sign. “Even if that were at all possible, we’ve only been going out since December.”
Faith gave him a hard look. “Then you must’ve got off to a fast start.” She shook her head in annoyance. “Typical.”
Toby swallowed and turned back to Layla, who watched him with a challenging gaze. He considered and discarded his next words several times. It had to be true, or Faith wouldn’t go along with it. And Layla certainly wouldn’t be caught in such an obvious fabrication. Finally, he simply asked, “Are you all right?”
Her expression softened slightly, and she allowed herself a small smile. “I am well, Tobias. Thank you for asking.”
Toby licked his lips. “How did it happen?”
“The Gift and Grace are mystically compatible,” Nick answered. “The White Wind apparently always meant for Daywalkers and Sentinels to start a new race while the Great Work progressed.”
Toby frowned at him. “And how do you know that?”
Nick shrugged. “They answered my questions when I asked.”
Toby’s eyes grew wide. “Pact Arcanum? How did you—” He broke off suddenly. “The higher powers never give up anything for free, Nick. What did you have to pay for the information?”
“They asked me to protect the child in your place, for as long as necessary.”
“In my place? It’s my kid,” Toby said hotly. “I can protect it!”
“They said you might not be around.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means you’re in danger.” Nick gave him a diamond-hard stare. “I want you to break off your assignment and come home. You’ll be safer here.”
“What about Andrea?” Toby protested. “You want me to throw her to the wolves?”
“She still has her security detail, including Anderson. We’ll send someone out to replace you when we can set up a suitable cover story. Set up whatever wards around her that you can, but hightail it back here as soon as possible.”
Toby was about to argue further, but Nick cut him off. “Just do it, little brother. Please. I don’t want to lose you.”
There wasn’t much Toby could say to that, so he just bowed his head. “Can I speak to Layla for a moment?”
Nick and Faith stepped away from the screen, leaving the two of them with a modicum of privacy.
Toby looked at her helplessly. “I’m sorry.”
Layla shook her head. “I am not. I have often wondered what it would mean to be a mother, although I have sired a legion of scions. I choose to view this as an opportunity. I might even learn something.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Toby murmured. He reached into his shirt and pulled out the gold charm so that it lay visible on his chest. “I’m sorry I got so angry.”
She sighed. “You had a right to be incensed. I should not have given it to you.”
“The gift didn’t piss me off, Layla,” Toby said in an earnest voice. “It was that you tricked me into accepting it. Why didn’t you just tell me the truth beforehand? I might even have welcomed the extra protection if I’d had a chance to think about it.”
Layla ran her fingers through her loosely braided hair in frustration. “We have always rushed into things, have we not? The relationship itself was ill-considered. Your brother has said it often enough.”
“I don’t regret being with you, Layla,” said Toby. “I just don’t know if we can make it work in the long term. This … this is just added pressure.”
She smiled at him. “Consider it a challenge, Tobias. You have never balked at any obstacle before. If we work together more often, who knows what we could accomplish?”
Toby grinned at her transparent attempt to push his buttons. She knew he was extremely competitive, and he didn’t like to back down. But I know that you know, and you’re just doing it to make me feel better. He appreciated the gesture of support, but she would just have denied it if he thanked her, so he said nothing. When did we get to know each other so well? I never even noticed. “I’ll see you when—”
At that moment, the virtual screen winked out and Toby staggered when a piercing squeal of static burst in his ears. Blinking away tears of pain, he spoke to his AI. “Strings, what the hell just happened?” Silence. “Strings?”
Toby manually activated the internal diagnostics routine for his implant network, but couldn’t even bring up a test pattern. He was offline. Turning to the security detail in suspicion, he saw the Sentinel bodyguard shrugging out of his jacket to free up his sword arm.
Jack dropped his jacket to the
ground and spoke over his shoulder to Toby while he scanned the shadows. “My AI network is down. Can you jump her to safety?”
The other Secret Service agents started running toward Andrea. Toby opened his senses fully, detecting the jumper block as soon as it solidified. He moved to Andrea’s side in a blur, calling an ebony magician’s staff to his hand while he tapped his Gift for speed, reaching her ahead of the agents. He grabbed her wrist and immediately cast kinetic shields over the two of them, feeling the air ripple with magic all around them.
“Multiple teleports, incoming!” he yelled at the security detail. “Do what you can to keep them off us while we take them out!”
Jack shrouded himself in invisibility, and the first of the vampires appeared in flashes of white light. He cut them down from concealment as fast as he could reach them, but the Nightwalkers were jumping in on all sides.
Toby summoned fire to his fingertips and let go of Andrea’s arm. Around him, the agents had all drawn their guns and were picking targets. “Bullets won’t stop them!”
“Watch and learn, Sentinel,” said one of the agents, opening fire.
Toby stared with disbelief when the vampires went down screaming, some on fire and others with huge chucks of flesh blown away. “What the fuck?” he said, pushing Andrea behind him.
“Alternating explosive and white phosphorous rounds,” Andrea said in shock. “Standard issue for Nightwalker engagements.” She gritted her teeth as she hissed in his ear. “They already knew, didn’t they? What does the Court want with me?”
Toby didn’t answer, just leveled his own brand of fireball at the oncoming Nightwalkers while they regrouped. Then he probed the surroundings for the spellcaster who had cast the jumper block.
The Nightwalkers kept coming, swarming over the Secret Service agents one by one and tearing them to pieces, until only Jack and Toby were left, the magician casting a sea of fire in all directions while the swordsman cut down the ones who made it through the flames. Then, suddenly, a sphere of white light about two feet across flew out of the shadows and enveloped Jack’s head. The Earth Sentinel staggered and began to cough, then collapsed on the ground. Toby heard a weak telepathic burst just before the other Sentinel passed out, containing only one word. “Gas.”
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