by T. G. Ayer
Fathima paused for a moment. "She could. But I have a sense that there is dark magic entwined within the spell. If she's not comfortable with dark stuff, she may not get anywhere. "Fathima held out a hand and a small leather-bound book appeared on her palm. "Anyway, here it is. Let me know if your friend can help decipher this. I'll still keep looking for other options just in case she can't."
"Thanks." I studied carved leather the color of a ruddy sunset, intrigued and curious. A few moments later, I pocketed the book and looked over at Saleem and then at his cousin. "Anything else you have on Axiat that we don't already know?"
"Not really. It's almost as though there's some kind of conspiracy going on. Like there's this shroud of secrecy around the plane. Which only implies that Axiat is dangerous."
I nodded. "Well, I did find out something."
"From Horner?"
"Nope. I didn't tell him." Though Saleem's eyes were curious he didn't ask me why. I said, "I told Chloe about the whole thing and she knew a little about the place. She said from what she knows, the Veil grants permission to those who wish to enter Axiat. Other than that, we don't know much."
Saleem sighed. "Well, let's hope we find out something before I die."
Fathima snorted. "If that relic of yours doesn't kill you first.” Then she looked over at me. "If you'll give me a minute or two to investigate the whereabouts of your backup team, I'll head home and check."
I nodded, though she was already disappearing when I said, they weren't our team."
With Fathima gone, I looked over at Saleem. "How are you feeling?"
He smiled weakly. "I'm managing. I think I have to keep my activity to a minimum though, so unfortunately I'm going to have to give magic practice a miss for a little while."
My eyes went wide and I punched the air, expression filled with mock disappointment. "Dammit. And I was so looking forward to my first practice session."
Saleem smirked. "Idiot," he said softly, his eye shimmering with affection.
I didn't get a chance to reply because at that moment, Fathima returned, the expression on her face assuring me she didn't have good news at all.
When she spoke, her update wasn't what I'd expected. She shifted on her feet, then scratched the back of her ear. "You'll be glad to know that I have located the Sentinel team."
I tilted my head and studied her face. "Why does that not sound like good news?" I asked, gut tightening.
Fathima cleared her throat. "I guess because it kind of isn't good news."
Saleem grunted. "Fats, just spill already. We don't have time to waste."
She sighed. "Fine. The Sentinel team was picked up on arrival but at some point the wires were crossed and the group was incarcerated under suspicion of working for Ward and spying for Division 7."
"You've got to be kidding me," I whispered, though it was loud enough for her to hear me.
Fathima's lips twisted. "Not kidding at all. It appears we messed up on this one. I can take you to the dungeons where they are being held. I sent a message to the commander of the unit that's providing security for that particular jail so they will be prepared to release them. Only problem is they will need authorisation and confirmation."
"Authorisation from? You?" I asked. Fathima nodded. "And confirmation?"
"From you or Saleem that they are who they say they are. I'm sorry, Ifraim, he looks after the barracks there, he's a pedantic kind of guy. He'll swallow the rule book before he even considers breaking any laws."
I sighed. "Well, I guess I'm going with you then cos the prince needs his beauty sleep."
Fathima chuckled and gave Saleem a penetrating stare. “And let’s make sure he gets it. He’s looking a little rough around the edges so I’m sure sleep will help.”
He snorted. “I’ll sleep when I die,” he retorted. Then he looked pained. “Guess that could be sooner rather than later.”
Talk about a drama queen.
24
Fathima and I left Saleem to rest. Despite our teasing, he did look a little ill. His usually rich olive complexion was tinged with a sickly green and the sparling flames I'd often see in his eyes had faded to a flicker. It scared me to think about how badly being in Axiat could have affected Saleem. More so because we knew so little about the specific effects.
We'd just arrived inside the rebel army's little house in the Eastern Quarter of the city and I looked at Fathima, recognizing her concern as well. "I think we need to take Saleem to be examined but I'm not sure who I'd go to for his particular case."
She nodded. "I see what you mean. But you were there yourself and you weren't affected."
"Not that I can tell. I'm exhausted though, but that could be attributed to a bunch of things. Like getting hit in the head by a flying SUV."
Fathima grimaced. "I heard about that. Did you get hurt?"
I pursed my lips. "Just a bloody scalp. Steph took care of it so I figure I'm good for now."
She offered a smile, her eyes shimmering with sympathy. "The old people would say that you need something on you to ward off the evil eye."
"Evil eye?" I said, laughing. "I've wondered, although I don't think my particular situation fits. But come to think of it, I seem to be a magnet for bad shit."
Then Fathima giggled. "Maybe you need to have your stars read. You could have alignment issues."
"Don't even joke about it. My Dad used--" I stopped speaking, shocked now that I'd had an actual memory of him as I pictured his face, the quirky smile, his words about reading the stars to see if there were any obstacles in my path, both present and future.
I blinked to find Fathima shaking my shoulder gently. "Hey, where did you go?"
After taking a shuddering breath, I said, "I just had a flash of a memory."
"You still struggling with those blanks in your mind?" she asked gently.
She'd been privy to pretty much everything that had happened to me since I'd met her, and even though she'd been a veritable stranger, it had only seemed natural that she know the truth about my memory wipe.
I nodded. "I just remembered something my dad used to say about reading the stars to check for obstacles in my path. I'm not even sure where that came from."
Fathima's smile was sad as she said, "Well, perhaps you remembered because it could help you?"
I blinked and then looked away. "That's possible. I’m going to see Darcy later. If I live to have that chat."
"What do you mean? Don't tell you're also going to be a negative nanny?"
I snickered at her words. "I've just had a long day."
"Hungry?" she asked, waggling her eyebrows. "The kitchen is still open downstairs even though the soldiers have all returned to their original posts. We can grab something from there before we leave.
Though tempted, I shook my head. "I don't have time to waste. Let's get this done so I can face the music."
The djinn warrior snorted and gave me a dark look. "I really don't see why you need to take responsibility for this. Gilfillan knew what he was getting into. The team was arrested and had no identification on them. And he didn't mention your name, didn't say he was with your team either."
Frowning, I said, "That's odd. I'd have expected him to jump at the chance to name me--" I stopped instantly and then scowled. "Well, maybe not if I didn't want to blow someone's cover."
Fathima let out a soft groan. "Seriously. He should have had a better way to communicate with you to ensure you were safe. He and his team have been kept as far away from the action as was possible. I don't think they even know what's going on."
"Ugh. That just makes things all the more worse. I forgot about them altogether. Makes me responsible."
Her eyes narrowed. "And so will Logan, and Kai, and our queen."
I rolled my eyes, knowing she had a good point. "Okay, fine. Let's get him out of here so I can see the rest of this pathetic day through."
The djinn warrior chuckled and held out her hand.
Fathima jumped me to a dunge
on hallway lit only by the golden flickering glow of a nearby torchlight. The large stones on the floor had patches of grass growing from between them, and along the walls, little puddles of water were interspersed with blue-green moss. The wall beside me glistened with water that seeped from the ceiling which, though also lined with stone slabs, were also dotted with grass and the trailing wormlike ends of tree roots.
Fathima waved me forward and I followed in silence, feeling the chill from the stone around me. We walked to the end of the passage, took a right and met with a thick wrought-iron gate, guarded on each side by a heavily-armed djinn warrior. I recognized one of them as a rebel soldier from HQ--we must have passed each other by at some point. He gave me a nod confirming his recognition.
He moved forward without encouragement, used the fat key tied to his belt to open the gate, then stepped aside to let us by. Efficient, silent, dangerous.
The broad-shouldered guard on the other side of the gate smiled mischievously, golden eyes sparkling as he quirked a dark eyebrow at Fathima. "Which of you two are here to be thrown in our best lodgings."
"Be quiet, Rahiz. I sent word already and we don't have much time."
His face fell and I was a little sad for him that she'd shot him down so quickly, but when he turned to lead them off, she shoved her finger into his back and said, "You'd better be on your best behaviour or I'll have to tell Aunt Zarina that you’re messing around on this assignment."
He simply threw her a dark glare over his shoulder and kept walking. "You wouldn't dare. If you say anything to spoil this, I'm going to have to spill a secret or two."
"Bah," she replied, false bravado in her tone. "You got nothing on me, kid."
"Yeah? You keep thinking that. But just remember this word: Verindia."
Fathima choked then, cleared her throat. "Don't you think it's best to start your military career free of things like blackmail, cousin?" she asked archly.
He didn't reply as we'd reached a second gate which he opened with his key, then shut it behind us. We followed him, shoulder-length midnight hair swaying with each lengthy stride, and within seconds we entered a square atrium that led off in two directions.
The left passage was dark while a soft glow of light lit the right corridor. We followed the direction of the light along a tunnel that contained dozens of cells all barred by iron gates that gave off a low electric pulsing.
"Electric bars?" I asked, thinking it's a bit of overkill.
Rahiz shrugged. "It's what's offered by this particular prison facility so we use it." Then he waved at a bunch of cells to the right where moving bodies cast strange patterns on the stone floor. "I'll need a list of names, addresses, and designations depending on who they are and where they are from."
Fathima nodded and aimed a thumb at me. "This is Melisande Morgan, Agent of the Supreme High Council, and she'll vouch for their identities. I'm here to give the authorisation that they are okay to release.
Rahiz didn't answer and even if he had I didn't hear his words as my attention was focused entirely on Director Gilfillan who was leaning against the far wall of his cell, blond head bent as he carved a piece of wood with a short-bladed knife.
When he looked up, the expression on his bearded face told me this was not going to be a happy reunion.
25
He blinked and pushed off the wall, then threw his knife and carving onto the bed at the right of the cell. From a quick scan of his ‘lodgings,’ it appeared he'd been treated well enough. The mattress was thick, bedding comfortable and clean. The floors were spotless and there was a small brazier against the wall where a fire burned, dulling the edge of cold emanated by the stone. Not exactly the most normal manner in which to house prisoners.
"Director," I said, hearing the apology in my tone.
He nodded, steely gray eyes watchful. "Agent Morgan. Good to see you at last." I'd expected some malice or anger, but his voice held nothing other than businesslike appreciation that I was there.
I took a breath. "I would like to apologise, sir. I didn't know you'd not returned home at the same time that we did. I'm afraid I only received word a few hours ago of your absence."
Gilfillan nodded slowly, his expression revealing no emotion. "No need to apologise. We could have been released a while ago already so you're not responsible for our stay here."
I arched an eyebrow. "Once the drama was over you could have told them you were with me." I knew I sounded harsh but I couldn't help it. Horner had implied that I was responsible for Gilfillan's absence and I'd agreed with him instantly.
The director simply shook his head. "I have had next to no information from outside this compound. There was no way to tell if you'd failed or succeeded other than guesses and assumptions from the new guards, and the arrival of new prisoners."
"I see. Well, I still take full responsibility. I ought to have ensured everyone was out. I knew you were in Mithras. We received confirmation that you'd be assigned to one of the patrolling squads alongside the rebel teams. But after that things got a little hectic. Once it was all over, some of us were injured and needed rest, myself included, and it slipped my mind to check that you were home from the mission."
Gilfillan smiled, and I was surprised at how much the grin changed his face. He almost looked amenable as he said, "Again, I will reiterate that under the circumstances, you bear no responsibility for our current situation. We had no identification on us when we were caught. and the two rebels we accompanied on patrol were killed in an ambush when we were taken. We believed we were being abducted by Division 7, who eliminated the rebel warriors thinking we were part of their own team. But their ambush was ambushed almost instantly by a new rebel team who simply arrested us and sent us here. No questions, no information. Just an assurance that someone will come to see us for an explanation as to what we were doing here and who we were. To be honest, I was prepared for a much longer wait. So you being here right now, is more than I expected."
I nodded and let out a slow relieved breath. Then I glanced over at Fathima who'd stood there silently all this time. I said, "So what's the procedure? Are we signing something to allow them to go home?"
She looked away down the passage. "Rahiz, can I get that paperwork please? We don't have all day."
A grumbling Rahiz hurried closer, a roll of paper in his hand. Fathima took the paper, spent a moment reading, then passed it to me. "We just need you to sign the release, and we'll need a list of all the people who were part of the team."
I took the declaration and looked around for a place to sign it somewhere other than the ground or my leg. The cell door clanged as Rahiz opened it then pointed at the desk on the left hand wall. I took a seat on the wooden stool, then shifted the books and paperwork already stacked onto it, with little piles of wood shavings form Gilfillan's carvings.
Along the head of the table against the wall sat half a dozen strange little animals, none of which I was able to name. One looked like a ear-less squirrel though its tail looked like a bunch of porcupine quills. Another appeared to be a bat with feathered wings, and tiny horns.
I blinked and focused on the document, read it through then looked over at the Director. "I'm happy to sign this off, but can you fill in the details of your team. We need a list of names, designations, and something to confirm relationship with Sentinel. Maybe like an ID number or something."
As Gilfillan nodded and walked over to me, I vacated the seat and allowed him to take over. Soon he was scribbling away, using a quill from the stack that Gilfillan had on his desk. I looked over at Fathima. "Can we have the cells all opened and have them all sign against their names. And I'll need a copy of the document if that's possible."
"Of course. I'll get that copied for you when we return to HQ."
A few minutes later, Gilfillan's team filed into his cell, signed against their names then went to wait outside in the corridor. They all looked in good health and it good spirits too as they talked among themselves and made fun of R
ahiz who seemed to have made friends with them. I didn't comment, though I did see the strange look Fathima sent him which he ignored.
Gilfillan stood and held out his quill. "I'm done. I've added a small declaration of my own to ensure the full responsibility remains with me. If possible, I'd like a copy as well for Sentinel records and for the SHC archives."
Fathima nodded again though she remained silent as I signed the declaration then handed it over to her for her signature. Only then did she say, "Right. This should be it. I'll arrange for you and the team to be taken to the nearest portal for your return home. You'll see that I've also removed the clause regarding deportation which I don't think applies in this case. You and your team are welcome to return to Mithras at any time. Unless of course it's a SHC mission, which is when we'd require you to inform our security department in advance."
Gilfillan nodded, his expression solemn. "Thank you. And I'd like to also thank you for ensuring we were treated well throughout our time here."
"Apart from him," I said, pointing to a short platinum-haired agent in the hall who bore a stunning black eye and swollen lip.
"Oh, Manly over there deserved it. He's still learning how far he can push things."
"You're condoning physical violence to one of your team members by guards who should be abiding by the laws of the SHC that cover the treatment of prisoners?" I asked, unsure what Gilfillan was trying to say.
The director simply smirked. "We were not treated badly. We were fed and clothed, allowed to bath, given comforts like books and writing implements and hobby tools to pass the time. Manly is a little bit arrogant and a lot impatient. He tried to make his grand escape, got caught, and was taught a lesson. Don't bite the hand that feeds."
Then it hit me. "Ah. I see. Who dispensed the punishment then?"
"Not me. And not a punishment. Just a fair fight, started by Manly. Which he lost."
Eyebrows raised, I understood he wasn't about to reveal who had given Manly his beating. And I had to wonder if it had been Rahiz and Gilfillan was protecting the new soldier. At that same moment, Fathima looked over her shoulder at her cousin, suspicion glowing in her eyes.
