Silver Tongue: A Novel in The Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Series (The Temple Chronicles Book 4)

by Shayne Silvers

  This might actually help out a bit.

  “Eae, since you seem to have an interest in my interactions, can I borrow your services?”

  “I’m not a lapdog,” He growled.

  I nodded, and turned to Greta, ignoring him. “Do you mind if I borrow your guardian Angel for a bit? I want to borrow his integrity to keep a bunch of people safe.” Her eyes began to narrow as she no doubt began forming excuses, both selfish, and objective. She had an Angel to speak with. How many questions would she have for him? I began to feel bad for putting him in this situation, even though he had deserved it for not trusting me in the first place. “Don’t worry, you’ll have all the time in the world to ask him your questions. Days, months… years…”

  I saw Eae’s shoulders tighten at the thought. He wasn’t really a talker, and was no doubt realizing the error of his choice in Greta. “Well…” she began, glancing back at the Angel.

  Eae cleared his throat. “I’m sure Nate has proper motivations for borrowing my time. I can’t get into any fights without you being directly in danger, so he can’t be stupid enough to try and use me to get into trouble.”

  I held up my fingers in a Scout’s oath. “No fights. Just a talk with a few friends of mine.”

  Eae watched me, likely wanting to get out for a few more minutes of freedom now that he had revealed himself. But there was also a glimmer of suspicion. He finally nodded. Greta slowly turned to me, and then let out an unconvincing nod herself.

  “Great. Thank you so much. We won’t take long.”

  “We will have to see about that. It depends on the conversation. I have been out of communication with the mortal world. This will be… enlightening. We don’t need to rush it.” His face cracked in a guilty hint of a smile as he urged me to agree.

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to impose…” I began.

  Greta was shaking her head. She glanced back at Eae and his mask slammed back into place, heavenly protector back in full view like a disguise. Tory chuckled to herself. “No imposition,” Greta murmured. “You boys have fun…” She smiled radiantly. “I need to see to the children anyway.”

  Eae leaned towards her. “Don’t do anything dangerous. Do not put yourself at risk in my absence,” he warned.

  She was shaking her head. “I’ve been around this long without your help, I think I can manage one more night. It will give me time to pray. There are many things I would like to discuss with you.” She glanced at me, shaking her head. “Of all the possibilities, who would have thought that you would bring me closer to the Lord.”

  Rather than taking offense, I blushed, standing as I motioned Alucard and Tory to get ready to leave. “The Lord works in mysterious ways…” I offered.

  Eae scowled at my blasphemy.

  But Greta missed it, nodding as her eyes closed slowly, and she murmured a small prayer at her good fortune. Once finished, she asked a quick question. “Just curious, but where could you possibly need to go at such last minute’s notice that you require an Angel’s assistance?” We were gathering to leave and I turned my face away so as not to burst out laughing.

  “A bar. I need to talk to a friend. One of the Four Horsemen might even make an appearance… See you there, Pigeon! It’s where we first met.” Greta squawked in disbelief, but I was already moving out the door and down the stairs, listening as Eae calmed her down. Alucard was shaking his head.

  “You’re unbelievably cruel…” I could only smile. Even if he was right. Payback for all the mailers and religious scrutiny I had survived over the years. “But I personally thank you. I still twitch at the sound of the mailman…”

  Tory laughed aloud. It was the little things. “Tory, don’t forget the damned cat,” I growled, remembering. But I needn’t have worried. They were glued to each other.

  Chapter 32

  “You’re back… unfortunately,” Achilles growled, washing the counter with a rag, back facing us. Then he stiffened. He turned slowly to face us, slowly blinking as he took in each face. Then he spotted the one he had been searching for. “You,” he said flatly. “This official?” he asked, tossing the rag down, leaving his hands free.

  Eae shook his head. “My… job description has temporarily changed. I’m with him.”

  Achilles blinked, turning surprised eyes on me. I smiled. “I know. Surprised the hell out of me too.”

  “Very temporary,” Eae clarified, “and watch your language,” he growled to me.

  Achilles just shook his head. “Well, have a seat, I guess. Anyone need a drink?” Tory piped up that she definitely did. Achilles didn’t ask what she needed, just prepared a drink of his choice and set it on the counter.

  Tory smiled as Achilles tossed a bag to Alucard. “New shipment,” he answered the unspoken question. Alucard’s face split into a smile, but Eae looked disgusted.

  “Hey, it’s better than the alternative…” the vampire puffed, catching the bag of blood.

  “The final alternative is infinitely better,” Eae murmured darkly.

  Alucard’s eyes tightened, but he gave a polite nod before leaving for the far side of the room.

  Tory approached the bar, picking up her drink as she set the cat down. It began to prowl the room curiously. “Who do you think would win in an arm-wrestling competition, Myrmidon?” She asked, grinning. I had brought her up to speed on Achilles and his background, and she was fascinated by the legendary warrior. I watched her fingers again subconsciously tracing the swirls of wood on the bar, remembering her similar action at my store.

  Achilles smiled back, all teeth. “We’ll have to find out one of these days, little girl.”

  Tory grinned. “It’s a date.”

  Achilles watched as she left the bar to sit at the table beside me, looking amused. Too bad Tory was on the girl train. Well, had been recently anyway. I knew that she wasn’t really particular, more interested in the right person rather than the vessel that person was embodied in. She was ambisextrous. But I smiled anyway at her harmless flirting. It was good for the soul. And I had been concerned about her after Misha’s death, and particularly so after tonight’s fight with Baba Yaga.

  Achilles joined us at the table, leaving only Alucard to stand in the corner, pretending to stand guard. It was interesting how respectful he was being about Eae. Or perhaps he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop and for his presence to suddenly zap the sin out of him.

  “Okay. What gives?” The warrior asked, eyes flicking to Eae.

  “I spoke to Hope… sorry, Pandora.” Achilles leaned forward, suddenly eager, motioning for me to continue. “She expressed interest in seeing you also.”

  He slapped a palm down on the table delightedly with a big grin. Then I saw gears begin turning in his head as his smile turned wolfish. I got a bad feeling. “And him?” He asked.

  Eae merely shrugged. “I, too, am curious.”

  “Well, to let you guys meet, I need to take you to the Armory. And the contents are of a… sensitive nature. I need complete confidence that nothing will be… accidentally removed during your visit.”

  The Greek’s eyes tightened in warning. “Are you indirectly calling me a thief?”

  I let the silence grow. Tory’s posture shifted slightly, no doubt preparing for a fight. “The Golden Fleece is there.” His eyes widened. “And a thousand other things equally – if not more – tempting.” The silence was deafening.

  “I… understand.” The words sounded forced, and his eyes still danced with greedy thoughts. “The Golden Fleece alone would tempt even my honor.” His fingers were squeezing the table tightly, an intense inner struggle battling in his mind. Which was exactly why I needed Eae.

  It was almost enough for me to believe in Divine Intervention. I glanced at Eae to find him watching me thoughtfully. He nodded one time. I quickly averted my eyes.

  “Okay. Where do I sign?” Achilles finally rasped. “Quickly, before I change my mind.”

  I turned back to Eae. “I assume this is still wit
hin your ability?”

  He nodded back. “Speak the words, and agree by pricking your finger and dripping it into your glass.”

  “I don’t have a drink.”

  “Get one,” Achilles growled, still gripping the table. I motioned for Alucard to grab me a drink.

  “What do you want?”

  I turned to Eae. “Must match Achilles’ drink.” I glanced down to see a glass of wine before Achilles.

  “The red on the counter,” I urged Alucard, who instantly began racing to pour a drink. The sudden tension in the room hit me like heat waves from Achilles. I wasn’t sure if it was his apprehension or simply the power of the contract to come.

  I began to gather my thoughts, building a very basic contract from memory. As I opened my mouth to begin, the front door opened – newly replaced by me as a peace offering to Achilles.

  “I’m here!” A familiar voice called out. “Ready to get ravaged? Midas gave me a new game for us to try. It’s called Cards Against…” his voice trailed off as he noticed everyone in the room. “Oh, hello, Master Temple. Tory. Vampire.” His gruff voice exclaimed the last in disbelief. “An Angel!”

  Asterion, the reformed-Buddhist Minotaur approached our table eagerly, boots thudding into the aged wood like rubber hammers. “Oh, this will be the best game yet! Have any of you played before? Midas was laughing as he handed it to me, so I presume it is a most comical game.”

  Everyone stared at him. Whether in disbelief that he was about to play the most inappropriate card game ever created, or the fact that he and Achilles apparently had a scheduled game night, or that he was interrupting a very serious situation, or the fact that the freaking Minotaur had just asked an Angel to play a game that could only have been designed by demons, or even that the Minotaur had just entered the room at all.

  “Asterion, we’re kind of in the middle of something. Can you pump the brakes for a few minutes?”

  He snorted in embarrassment. “Of course. My apologies.” His meaty fingers implored us to proceed as he stepped up close to our table. He instantly darted back, snorting again before his hand went instinctively to his prayer bead necklace with wide, thoughtful eyes. Apparently, he could also sense the power I was picking up. He took another step back, and didn’t press. His eyes shot to the floor and he gasped. “Tiger!” And he scooped up the feline excitedly, nuzzling it with his wet snout. The cat batted his nose ring playfully, causing him to smile.

  Achilles glanced up, eyes bloodshot as I opened my mouth to begin reciting my impromptu contract. “Wait.”

  My mouth clicked shut.

  “What you ask me is very profound. You are asking me to make a binding contract to never touch an artifact from your Armory, when it sounds likely that many of the artifacts would be strong enough to remove the oath barring me from interacting directly in the supernatural world.” I blinked in surprise, but finally shrugged.

  “I’m not sure what could or couldn’t break the oath. I haven’t fully inventoried the Armory. And I don’t know the oath currently binding you.”

  He took a breath, nodding. “Be that as it may. What you’ve told me sets the scene for what I just told you. Also, you are asking me to agree to this in exchange for meeting someone who has informed you that they would like to see me also.” My eyes tightened as the sickening feeling began to return. “You are profiting twice. Your ward, Pandora, is getting off without a price.” I finally nodded. “So… I need something more to agree to this. I feel like this bargain has me overpaying.”

  I began to argue but he held up a finger. “And then there’s the door. The one you destroyed.”

  “But I replaced it.”

  “You didn’t replace the memory of it. The memory of you disrespecting me.”

  I groaned. I had been waiting for this moment. I knew he wouldn’t have just let it go. He had been waiting for the perfect moment to exact his repayment. “I looked into that vampire problem for you in the sewers,” I offered weakly.

  He nodded, wolfish smile growing wider. “And I told you that the vampire situation was a ruse to give you information you desperately needed. I benefited nothing from it. Especially when the girl died, and you befriended the vampire.” His eyes flicked to Alucard meaningfully.

  I and Alucard both protested immediately. “Those were renegades using my name under false intentions. I had nothing to do with it. Nate punished – eternally – those responsible for the fraud.”

  “They were your coven, yes?” Achilles asked Alucard without looking at him.

  Alucard sighed heavily. “Yes.”

  “So…” Achilles grinned. “You owe me.”

  I tried one last time to argue, but then he dropped a doozy on me. “We had a… disagreement a few months back. You did something I didn’t appreciate. In front of witnesses.” He didn’t elaborate, but I remembered exactly what he was referring to. I had been annoyed that he played me with the vampire angle, and I had pressed his buttons in return.

  Specifically, I had hurt him in his one weak spot – not with any fatal intentions – but to simply prove that I wasn’t a pushover and to express my anger at what he had done. Still, Indie, Gunnar, and Death had witnessed me using magic to hurt his heel. Then we had exchanged vague threats for a second before coming to a temporary peace.

  I had hoped it was behind us.

  Apparently not.

  My head sunk as I stared down at my wine. “Understood.”

  His resulting chuckle was triumphant, but not overly so. I looked back up into his eyes. I had expected to see him gloating, but I was surprised to find that this was actually him bestowing a mercy of sorts.

  My offense was literally enough to send us toe-to-toe, where only one of us would walk away. Of course, me being a modern guy, I hadn’t taken it that way. But… I was dealing with a guy millennia older than myself, with an entirely different view of honor than most. It was literally duel-worthy to him.

  But instead, he was offering an olive branch. He nodded, acknowledging the understanding look that was apparently plastered on my face. I bowed once like a fencer acknowledging an impressive strike, and also thanking him for the alternative to a most certain death… of one of us.

  His voice was soft. Everyone watched in rapt attention, even the Angel, although Eae was opening up the game Asterion had placed on the table. “Sweeten. The. Pot.”

  I thought furiously. What could I possibly do to appease his concerns? I couldn’t give him anything from the Armory. He leaned back, waiting.

  Then I had a thought. As the ramifications hit me, a smile began to split my cheeks. It was perfect. Well, I needed to ask permission first. “A minute?” I asked. Achilles waved a hand for me to do as I pleased. I stood from the table, grasping Asterion’s hairy bicep and leading him far from the group, out of earshot. He followed. I obviously wasn’t strong enough to physically force him to follow. Which would have been an embarrassing attempt.

  Eae suddenly burst out, “That is… appalling!” His face was ashen white as he furiously rubbed his hands together, wings practically quivering as he took several steps back, dropping the cards to the floor as if they had burned him. Alucard burst out laughing. The Angel had read some of the more risqué cards, and they didn’t warrant the Heavenly stamp of approval. I chuckled briefly before turning to Asterion.

  I began to speak to him in low tones, explaining my idea. At first, he was nodding, and then a big old horse grin cracked his serious features. “That is a might more than sweetening the pot. Actually, I would have to say that this idea is putting him ahead of you on the deal.” I nodded, smiling.

  “It’s worth it.”

  “Well, I have no issue with it. In fact, I can’t believe none of us thought of it sooner.” He grew silent, pondering the idea as he stroked the cat in his arms. It seemed to be sleeping, but I could hear a deep purring sound. He held up a finger. “You will, of course, have to request permission first. Not from me.” I nodded and he tapped his giant nose ring on a
particularly large rune that was carved into the metal. “But I don’t think he will have any concern with it. He might even find a way to make it profitable, knowing him…” His eyes twinkled, mind no doubt racing with the potential of my plan. “I say proceed with your agreement contingent upon final permission.” I slapped him on the back in relief.

  “Thanks, Asterion.” He nodded, still grinning, but looking distracted at the possibilities. Which was perfect. If my plan had Asterion – the most reserved creature I had ever encountered – this excited, it must be a great idea.

  I sat back down in my chair and told him my plan. It had a similar effect on everyone around the table. Even Eae looked intrigued. But Achilles simply stared at me, unspeaking, and I began to grow uneasy. As the silence built, I noticed that his breathing was becoming shallower, and more labored. And that his posture was locked rigid. Then he began to tremor – ever so slightly – as his eyes slowly closed.

  Was he freaking seizing out?

  Just when I was about to jump to my feet to demand assistance, he opened his eyes, and his body slowly relaxed. A single tear fell from his scarred cheeks to splash into his drink. He blinked several times, looking just as surprised as everyone at the table.

  Achilles had probably never been called a crybaby. But I didn’t want to tempt fate.

  “It’s been said that his tears can cure cancer… but he never cries…” Alucard whispered.

  “No, that’s Chuck Norris,” Tory whispered back softly, sounding distracted.

  Asterion looked poleaxed, as if he had just been simultaneously hit between the eyes and the legs. His eyes flicked from the ripples in the glass to Achilles’ face in disbelief.

  Achilles drew every gaze as he cleared his throat. “I… I haven’t shed a tear since Patroclus…” his voice tightened, coming back rougher, like gravel. “Since Patroclus died.” He finally looked up. “What you propose would allow me to…” he struggled for the right word. “Circumvent my oath at least. It has been almost one hundred years since I’ve been able to act. This…” He finally smiled, looking about a hundred years younger, if that was possible. “This will more than suffice.” He dipped his head in admiration and… affection? “Bravo, Temple. Bravo…”