Capture (The Machinists Book 4)

by Craig Andrews

  He still chaffed at being singled out and had taken out more of his frustration on Liam than he’d intended to. For all his worth, Liam had remained calm and had even gone himself to ensure that their people were treated with the respect they deserved on their final journey back to the Klausner Manor.

  If the matter hadn’t been so disheartening, it would have been a day to marvel at. The sun was high in the clear, blue afternoon sky, not a cloud in sight, and fields of emerald green stretched for as far as they could see. Butterflies flew and bees buzzed, and the very air smelled of the sweet wildflowers that grew among the rolling grasslands.

  Allyn stood near the back of the funeral gathering, beside Kendyl, Liam, and Nolan. Kendyl had returned the previous afternoon, and Allyn had spent the day bringing her up to speed on recent events and grilling her about what she’d discovered at the magi capital. Unfortunately, her trip to Ukiah seemed to have been a wasted effort. The captives there had provided no additional insight into Liam’s discoveries.

  Part of him had wanted to press Kendyl and understand in tremendous detail what questions she’d asked and how the prisoners had answered. He couldn’t believe they had nothing new to add. When it came to it, though, he trusted her judgment and didn’t have the energy to press any harder.

  Instead he took solace in knowing that even if the battle hadn’t taken a turn for the worst, they still wouldn’t have been able to move forward as he’d originally planned. It seemed each of the winding paths of life led to this same place, and he didn’t know why, but something about that made him feel better.

  The service itself was short. The arch mage’s decision to speak of the fallen as one sped up the process, but it lacked the deep, emotional resonance Allyn yearned for. When it came time to look upon the fallen for the final time, Allyn lingered beside Nyla’s body, memorizing her fair features.

  Leira had personally seen to preparing Nyla for this final moment, and she’d done a masterful job. Even having seen the aftermath of the explosion firsthand, Allyn could barely make out her injuries. She didn’t appear to be sleeping—Allyn had seen too much death to make that mistake—but she did look peaceful. And as far as final memories went, it was better than he had ever expected to have, and more than he deserved.

  Tears sliding down his cheeks, he leaned over her, longing to cup her face and run his hand through her hair one last time. After a whispered goodbye, he left the proceedings, making her a final vow.

  I will not let your death be in vain.

  Chapter 18

  Sedric’s Knights led the magi prisoners into the Patron’s chamber like a pair of cattle dogs rounding up a group of stubborn stragglers. They prodded the magi with the barrels of their guns, barking orders, making examples out of those who attempted to resist. The magi’s heads were covered with black cotton blindfolds, their hands and feet bound, and they moved with a sluggish gait that hinted at their having been drugged.

  Not trusting that the magi wouldn’t attempt to hurt the Patron, Sedric had ordered them sedated—nothing that would render them unconscious, just enough to slow their movements and inhibit their abilities to wield. He couldn’t risk them lashing out. Not again.

  The last time he’d brought his prisoners to the Patron had resulted in an unexpected fireball flying in his direction and a fresh bullet hole in the offender’s forehead.

  Any goodwill Sedric had gained with his ability to abduct the magi had quickly vanished, and the Patron still hadn’t forgiven him. As well he shouldn’t. If one of my men had made such a terrible mistake, he might have found himself dead on the floor, too.

  The Patron wasn’t as exacting as Sedric, though. He hadn’t even informed Sedric’s superiors of the mistake—something Sedric filed away for future use. For all his pretense, the Patron wasn’t as ruthless as he liked to pretend, and Sedric wondered how much of the man’s persona was an act.

  The Patron waited in the center of his chamber, his arms crossed over his chest. It was night outside, and none of the lights inside the room had been turned on, leaving the Patron as little more than a shadow against the cityscape.

  Sedric imagined the Patron wearing an expression nearly as sharp as his black suit and tie. The combination created an element of awe and what the Patron no doubt thought was a heightened sense of mystery. A successful businessman with a reputation for always finding a way to “yes,” the Patron was ever the showman, even when his audience was a group of frightened men and women.

  Sedric’s Knights lined up the magi in the center of the room and forced them to their knees then ripped the black blindfolds from their heads, giving the magi their first glimpse of their new prison. They looked around the room, eyes squinting from the city lights pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room was identical to the one where the Patron’s daughter rested, except this one was entirely empty—no medical equipment or machines or decoration of any kind. A deeper silence fell across the room when their eyes found the shadow of the Patron.

  “I imagine you’re wondering where you are and why you’re here,” the Patron began, his tone mild and somewhat consoling. “And while I obviously cannot tell you where you are, I can tell you that your purpose is a noble one. After all, I do not share the same… disdain for your people as the man standing behind you.”

  The four magi seated in front of Sedric looked over their shoulders nervously, their eyes widening with fear.

  “What I am curious about,” the Patron continued, “is what you’re capable of. What your abilities are.”

  The Patron strode deeper into the room, leaving his place of shadow behind. The city lights didn’t provide enough illumination to make out his specific features, but to Sedric’s eyes, the Patron looked worse than ever. His face was gaunt, almost ghostly in the dim blue light, his eyes hollow.

  We really are running out of time.

  The thought brought him little comfort. The last group of prisoners hadn’t netted a single cleric. For precisely that reason, three of the four prisoners he’d chosen were female.

  He didn’t have any hard evidence that suggested more women filled out the cleric ranks than men, but it made sense. Women were motherly, nurturing, and by their very nature, more empathetic and compassionate. Men, on the other hand, were selfish, violent creatures. Who would really expect an uncompassionate brute to sacrifice his well-being to treat another? Sedric almost laughed at the thought.

  “Fortunately,” the Patron said, “I don’t have to pry the truth out of you. We have more efficient ways.”

  As if on cue, two men dressed in white lab coats stepped forward, each carrying a needle and syringe. The magi, surprised by their sudden appearance, fought against their binds, their imaginations no doubt scarier than what actually awaited them. Sedric waited patiently, allowing his Knights to restore order, and by the time the technicians made it to the magi, the Knights had wrestled them back under control.

  Without waiting for further instruction, the technicians plunged their needles into the upper arms of the two nearest magi, and the syringes immediately began filling with blood. Once they were half full, the technicians removed the needles and pulled the blood-filled syringes free. From their lab coats, they removed separate vials filled with blue liquid, which they poured into the syringe before giving the mixture a quick shake. Sedric waited with bated breath. The Patron mimicked his expression, even leaning in as if to watch more closely.

  When the two liquids were properly mixed, the technicians held the vials up for the Patron to see. Even in the dim light of the room, Sedric could see that the blue liquid had turned to a bright green.

  “What does it mean?” Sedric asked, his voice little more than a whisper.

  “It means,” the Patron said, his face breaking into a smile, “we finally have a proper sample. You’ve done it, Sedric. You’ve held up your end of our bargain.�
�� He cast a weary eye at the two technicians. “It’s time my team does the same.”

  The Patron dismissed the rest of the occupants with a flick of his wrist. The technicians fled, no doubt ready to begin work immediately, while the Knights yanked the magi to their feet and shoved them from the room. Sedric was alone with the Patron.

  “What happens now?” Sedric asked.

  “Now we see if funding your operation was worth the expense or not.”

  “What of my cause?”

  “You mean what happens to the rest of the magi?” the Patron asked. “Give me forty-eight hours. If I have what I need, you’re free to continue.”

  Sedric bit the insides of his cheeks to keep from smiling. The news was too great, though, and the smile split his face. In forty-eight hours, there would be no more conflicting agendas or contrary orders. In forty-eight hours, the extermination of the magi would begin in earnest.

  Chapter 19

  Liam circled the Rakkaran BearCat that Allyn and Nolan had stolen during their flight from the Heilig Estate. The intimidating vehicle had a thick matte-black reinforced steel exterior and beefy, oversized mud-terrain tires. Mud covered it and the shattered LED lights that stretched across the top of the cab, but save for the twisted steel front bumper, the vehicle showed little signs of having been in a serious accident.

  The inside was just as utilitarian in design, though each of the front seats were made of surprisingly thick leather—likely to make up for the rough ride from the stiff suspension and aggressive tires. Behind the front seats was a pair of benches that extended down the rear compartment. Beneath were small cubbies storing extra helmets, flak jackets, knee and elbow guards, and more. At the rearmost portion of the compartment was a pair of wall-mounted racks. They were empty now—the magi war council had removed the additional weapons, ammunition, and explosives.

  Liam eyed the rear compartment, attempting to ignore the bloodstains the cleaners had missed or been unable to fully remove, before turning around in the driver’s seat. He ran a hand along the steering wheel, imagining what it would be like to drive such a large vehicle, then pulled the key from his pocket and turned the ignition into the on position. Lights filled the cab and passenger compartment, and the dashboard dinged to indicate the door was still open.

  Doing a quick check to make sure no one else was outside, Liam pulled the heavy door closed. Nobody had told him he couldn’t inspect the vehicle, but nobody had said he could, either, and it was best to avoid any uncomfortable questions.

  Taking in the interior of the vehicle, it was obvious that the Knights had valued strength over comfort, simplicity over technology—except in one place. Despite there being power to the system, the dash remained dark.

  Liam traced his finger across the digital display and pushed the power button in the upper-righthand corner. The screen displayed a short loading message before coming to life. By the looks of it, the vehicle had access to satellite communications and GPS, as well as other hands-free features. Liam selected the GPS function then pulled his laptop from his bag, plugging it into the USB port on the dash. After a few quick commands, the two computers were linked.

  On the vehicle’s touchscreen, Liam toggled through the Favorite Destinations folder in the vehicle’s GPS. Finding it empty, he muttered a quiet curse. The Knights may not have expected the magi to take possession of one of their vehicles, but they hadn’t been careless enough to store their locational information in its onboard computer, either. At least not on purpose.

  “Here we go,” Liam said, punching in a few other commands. Almost immediately, data began flowing into the laptop. It wasn’t readable in its current format, so Liam couldn’t make sense of it, but as soon as the transfer was complete, he would build the necessary programs to decode it. Several minutes later, when the transfer process was complete, Liam unplugged the USB cable, snapped his laptop closed, and exited the vehicle.

  Night had fallen over the manor, but its occupants were on edge. The council had set a wider perimeter guard, positioning magi in three layers that extended down the mountainside. If the Knights tried to attack, they wouldn’t be able to do so without the magi having some level of warning. Of course, Liam doubted the Knights would attempt another attack on the manor. Not while they were still in possession of the Blood Wand. And not after they’d just handed the magi their largest defeat.

  Liam nodded to the magi stationed outside the main doors and entered the manor, making straight for his room. Once inside, he closed the door behind him and got to work.

  Before long, he had a working program that could decipher the GPS data, and not long after that, he found something useful.

  He sat back in his seat and smiled. Allyn and Nolan had unwittingly provided the magi with two things of incredible value—hope, and something they could use to trace the Knights’ location.

  Now it was just a matter of deciding what to do with the information.

  “What you’re looking at,” Liam said, “is the route the Knights’ BearCat took to the Heilig Estate. Now, I’ve gone ahead and traced it back to its original location, which is… here.” Liam toggled between windows, pulling up a street view of a nondescript two-story warehouse with a pair of oversized garage doors. If he’d passed it on the street any other day, Liam wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but looking at it now, it appeared to be every bit like a location the Knights would use.

  “Wait…” Nolan held up a hand, looking confused. “Back up. What are we looking at again?”

  Liam smiled. It was exactly the type of reaction he was hoping for. He’d never been an overly theatrical person—he’d never really had the chance—but something about giving a presentation brought it out of him.

  Allyn, Nolan, and Leira had come as soon as he’d called. He had toyed with the idea of taking the information directly to Arch Mage Westarra, but he selfishly wanted to play an active role in deciding how it was used. Taking it to the arch mage was a surefire way to ensure he was left out of that process. Instead, he’d brought it to his inner circle first, thinking they might be able to come up with an alternative idea.

  “I hacked into the GPS of the Rakkaran assault vehicle,” Liam said, “and pulled a log of every trip it’s taken in the last three months. This”—he gestured at the image projected onto the white wall of his room—“has been its most-frequented location.”

  “You can do that?” Nolan asked in disbelief. He turned to the others. “He can do that? How?”

  “I stopped asking that question a long time ago,” Allyn said.

  “But what we’re looking at is real?”

  “Yes,” Allyn said, not waiting for Liam to speak up. It was nice knowing Allyn had full confidence in him and his abilities, and it had allowed them to develop something of a shorthand in situations like this. Allyn gestured at the image of the warehouse. “What are we looking at? It doesn’t look like a normal garage.”

  “I’m glad you asked,” Liam said, “because I did a little digging. The warehouse is leased by an organization by the name of the Infinity Corporation, but when I looked into them, I couldn’t find anything. They’re a subsidiary of another organization, who I couldn’t find anything on, either. The more I dug, the less I found.”

  “Definitely sounds like the Knights,” Nolan said.

  “Exactly,” Liam said. “It’ll take some time to untangle the corporate knot they’re hiding behind, but it has to end somewhere. When we figure that out, we might finally be able to discover who’s behind the Knights. Or at least who’s funding them.”

  Allyn rose from his seat and stepped toward the image, getting a better view. “Where is it? Zurich?”

  “Stuttgart.”

  “Germany?”

  Liam nodded.

  “That’s where the arch mage believed the Knights were originally founded,” All
yn said.

  “Yep.”

  “And if they’re storing their vehicles there, their base must be close.”

  “Now you understand why I wanted to talk to you about it,” Liam said.

  Allyn stroked his chin, his fingers tracing his lips. “Who else has seen this?”

  “Nobody.”

  Allyn gave him a knowing look. It appeared he was thinking along the same lines Liam was.

  “And what are we supposed to do with this information?” Leira asked.

  Liam crossed the room and took a seat on the edge of his bed. It really is cramped in here.

  “That’s what I brought all of you together for,” Liam said. “The way I see it, the moment we take this to the arch mage, we lose any control over how it’s used. And since Allyn’s been removed from the council, we won’t even know if it’s used.”

  “Wait,” Leira said, her voice suddenly thick with concern. “Are you suggesting we don’t take this to the council?”

  “That’s one possibility, yes.”

  “Why?” Leira scanned the room, no doubt looking for support. “The council was formed to defeat the Knights and ensure the safety of our people. Withholding information undermines their ability to do so. What good could possibly come from keeping this from them?”

  Liam shared another look with Allyn before turning to his sister. “We have concerns with the council’s strategy.”

  “Then take it up with them,” Leira said, exasperated. “You’re a grand mage now—bring it up with the Forum.”

  “We have,” Liam said. “Maybe not since I rose to this station, but the council is well aware of our desire to shift strategies.”