The Pendragon Codex

by D. C. Fergerson

  “You can use magic?” Cora gasped.

  “Apparently! I don’t know how long I can hold this!” he shouted.

  “The coil is reset!” Madeline yelled into her comm.

  Cora’s brow furrowed. This fight would end now. She lunged forward, putting her shoulder into Julian’s back with everything she had left. He took a step forward, then another. Lucius was relentless, pouring on a constant barrage of endless flame. Cora pushed, keeping her eyes ahead, until she was close enough to move around the fire. Julian stepped forward again, crying out for more strength. With the next step, Cora wrapped her hand around the hilt of Excalibur on his back.

  She twirled around from behind Julian, yanking the blade off its magnetic sheath. She weaved under the shield positioned below Lucius’ jaw, free of the fire. She ran two more steps, down the length of his neck. She stopped, drew back her arm, and stabbed into Lucius’ chest. The blade glowed with light as it struck the dragon’s scales, melting through them on contact. The sword sunk six inches into his chest before it met any resistance at all.

  Lucius jumped backward to his hind legs, with a howling roar so loud Cora had to cover her ear with her free hand. The dragon’s neck danced like a snake, his foreleg clutching to the glowing wound in his chest. He stumbled backwards as though dizzy and cried out again. Cora gnashed her teeth and stepped forward, brandishing the blade as she prepared to press her advantage. Lucius took one look at the sword in Cora’s hand and stepped back again, to the edge of the roof. Nowhere left to run, he looked over his shoulder then back again. With a roar born of anger and fear, he turned his body at the midsection and kicked off. His wings unfurled and flapped, taking him to the air. Still clutching at the wound, he turned and hovered over the building, eyes narrowed at Cora. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. His tail whipped wild behind him. He spared a glance to examine his wound before flying away from the building. Her eyes stayed on him until he became a dot in the night sky and vanished.

  Cora’s arms fell to her side, barely able to hold the weight of the sword. Her breaths came heavy and fast. A cold chill coursed through her, not of the dark magic, but from the intoxication of so much adrenaline pumping in her veins. In a daze, she turned around. Julian still stood, alive and well.

  “Echo-3, do you copy?” Gideon asked, his voice nervous.

  “No!” the stranger yelled from the ground several feet behind Julian. Beaten, burned, and bloodied, he struggled just to get to his knees. He shouted to the sky, “Get back here!”

  Cora tapped her comm. “One minute.” She ran up beside the stranger and shook her head. “You’re in no position to fight.”

  His panting, heaving breaths came from puffy lips with a whistle. The man had serious internal injuries.

  “Please, come with us,” she said. “We have doctors. You’re an artifact holder, you should be with us!”

  “No! Damn you!” he shouted back, too weak to shove her away. His limp hand brushed against her chest.

  Cora knelt beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder. “What did he take from you?”

  The hairless man stared at her with eyes so blue she could swim in them. All they spoke of was sorrow. His eyes grew glassy. “He...he took everything. My people. My family. My lands.”

  “Who are you?” Cora pleaded.

  “It is of no consequence to you,” he replied, shaking off the emotion. Adjusting his hammer beside him, he pointed the handle up and used it to pull himself to his feet. “We fought together today, but if you should interfere the next time I encounter him, I will erase you from the battlefield.”

  “You know we’re on the same side, right?” she said.

  “She speaks the truth,” Julian said, stepping closer. He motioned to Cora. “She is the one fated to be against the dragon at the end.”

  “Prophecy?” the stranger’s lips parted.

  Vincent swooped over to Cora’s shoulder and cawed at the stranger. He startled at the sight of the raven. His mouth fell open, his rage falling away to astonishment.

  “You...you found your way...to her?” he awed, speaking direct to Vincent. A single tear streamed down his cheek. He sighed deep and put his attention back to Cora. “You may call me Henrik, though I pray we do not see each other again.”

  Cora shook her head and held out Excalibur to Julian. He took it and placed it on his back.

  “The offer is still open, Henrik,” she said. “You may as well let us help you. I promise you, if you’re after Lucius, our paths will cross again.”

  He bowed his head to her and gestured her away from him. “Until then, I suppose. Stand back.”

  Cora took a few steps back, as did Julian. Henrik took a last look at Vincent.

  “Take care of her, Muninn,” he said.

  With his last reserves of strength, he held the hammer to the sky. Thunder rumbled above. A bolt of lightning struck him in a blinding flash. Cora covered her eyes with her arm. When she took it away, he was gone.

  Cora raised an eyebrow and turned her head to the raven. “Muninn?”

  “Caw,” Vincent said. He had no idea what that was about.

  Cora’s eyes narrowed. The bird wasn’t a good liar. That was a conversation for another day. She leaned into Julian and put her arm around his waist. Everything was sore. She grunted.

  “You’re going to have to show me that little trick with the energy shield,” Cora tried to laugh, but descended to coughing.

  Julian sighed. “I don’t even know how I did it. It was...one of the others in my head that knew. I can only imagine the old man will be quite excited.”

  “No doubt,” Cora said. She pulled herself into him. “You ready?”

  Julian nodded.

  Tapping the comm button on her ear, she said, “Doctor, get us the hell out of here.”

  Emergency Measures

  “Jesus Christ! You’re the worst one yet!” an Irish man shouted at Cora as she entered the room. He wore scrubs and looked older and more important than the other people in the room. He stared at Cora, astonished.

  “Well, nice to meet you, too, buddy,” she replied.

  He turned his head around to the medical beds bolted to the ground behind him. Julian and Madeline sat on the edge of their beds, one after the other. Doctor Tesla stood over Madeline’s shoulder, his face full of father’s worry. Two younger men in scrubs attended to the both of them on the left side of the room. Professor Crowley laid in a bed on the right, his eyes closed and hands folded across his chest. The man at the center of the room turned back to her and stepped forward.

  “How are you standing? Get in a bed!” he said.

  Cora looked down at herself. Her shirt was torn to shreds, glistening liquid making parts of her shirt shiny in the artificial light. She could only imagine her face was a mask of crimson, too, tacky with blood and soot. Other than a wicked headache and the complete drain of her magic, she felt fine. She looked up and waved him off with a smile.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” she said. “I...regenerate. So, I really need a shower and a bottle of Jack more than anything.” She walked into the room and stood beside Julian. “So, how are our patients doing?”

  The doctor cocked his head and looked at the three beds, pointing at Madeline first. “This young lady has a concussion and some contusions. Sergeant Penel has the same, near as I can tell, though he won’t let me do a proper examination.”

  “I’m fine,” Julian insisted. “It’s not necessary.”

  “It’s not necessary,” Cora aped with her hands on her hips and a fake British accent. “Would you just let him look at you? Your health is the ship’s health, right?”

  Julian rolled his eyes. “In a bit, then.”

  The doctor pointed his thumb over his shoulder to Crowley. “Our elderly fellow shows none of the typical signs of imprisonment - no malnourishment, signs of abuse or torture. Other than high blood pressure, I can’t see a thing wrong with him.”

  “Sound body, sound
mind,” Crowley replied, his eyes still shut.

  A shuffle and commotion at the entrance behind Cora grabbed her attention. Johnny, Michael, Giovanna and Gideon came into the room. Giovanna pushed through all of them and ran to Cora. She reached forward as if to hug her, then thought better of it and stopped herself.

  “You’re gross, patatina,” she said, curling her upper lip. “I guess I should be used to it by now.”

  Cora shrugged. “Yeah, well, I clean up real pretty. I’m glad to see you all.”

  Gideon shook his head and blew out a breath. “I can’t believe we pulled that off.”

  “Let no one say,” Johnny smiled, holding up a finger for emphasis, “that a Sprite can’t take a beating. I couldn’t believe that chopper stayed in the air after that dragon started blowing fire at it.”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t get burned hanging out of an open cargo door,” Michael laughed. He pointed at Johnny. “This man is a hell of pilot.”

  “I’m so bloody glad we all love each other so much,” the doctor chimed in. He waved his arms around the room. “This is a sickbay, and the lot of you are filling it.”

  Johnny nodded and held up his hands in mock surrender. “It’s cool, doc. We can clear out.”

  “Wait,” Julian said. His eyes became intense. “There’s something I need to say to all of you.”

  Cora raised an eyebrow. Julian didn’t seem the type for speeches. He looked around the room at everyone and took in the moment.

  “One of you in this room is working for Lucius,” he announced. Cora did not think that was where he was going, especially with Crowley, the doctor, and the nurses present. “I don’t know which one of you it is...yet. Know that you’re selling out your own people, but if you’re a double agent, I doubt you care. Know that I’m aware of you. I will find you, and I will kill you myself. In the meantime, we are taking steps to avoid Lucius knowing our location. I’m certain if Camelot’s position is not already compromised, it soon will be.”

  The room was silent. Everyone stole glances at everyone else. The poor nurses in the background looked especially tense, given the conversation was far above their pay grade. Julian turned his attention to them.

  “It goes without saying, but what I’ve said doesn’t leave this room.”

  The nurses and doctor nodded in silent agreement. Michael raised his hand.

  “Sir, is it time?”

  Julian locked eyes with him and nodded. “Doctor Tesla’s work seems like the missing puzzle piece. Initiate the emergency protocol immediately and set course.”

  “Aye, Sergeant,” Michael replied. He looked at Johnny and smiled. “I’ve been waiting months for this!”

  “For what?” Johnny replied.

  “You’ll see in about eight hours!” Michael said, weaving around everyone and double-timing it out the door.

  Julian turned around on his bed to Tesla. “Doctor, how do you feel about having a larger lab to conduct and further your studies?”

  Tesla shrugged, disaffected. “If not lab, I use napkin. Stupid American voice in my head, he never let me sleep. Always new idea about FUCKING MACHINE!”

  Cora held up both hands. “Okay, let’s walk it back. I think Julian would like to know if you and Madeline would join us.”

  “Oui,” Madeline said, speaking for both of them. Her eyes looked exhausted. “We are with you as long as you are after Lucius.”

  Julian turned back around. His eyes went to Cora. “And you?”

  “I won’t speak for my team, but I don’t have a choice,” Cora replied. Her face soured. “I don’t know that I ever did. I have to see this through to the end.”

  “As long as you stop benching me, I’m in,” Giovanna reminded. She was playful, even if she wasn’t kidding.

  Johnny crossed his arms, his shades hiding whatever went on behind his eyes. “I haven’t been on a Navy ship in good while. Could be fun.”

  Gideon raised his hand. “I get to use the NeuralNet interface chair, right?” He laughed and waved off the comment. “I’m kidding. I go where you go, Cora.”

  Cora smiled at her team and turned back to Julian. “Well, I guess there’s your answer.”

  “Wonderful,” the doctor chimed in. “So glad that’s settled. Can I treat my patients now?”

  “Of course, Doctor,” Cora laughed. His older, cantankerous bedside manner reminded her of Pops. She liked him already. “I need to go clean up, anyway.”

  “And how,” Giovanna ribbed, fanning a hand in front of her nose.

  Cora nudged her with an elbow and lead her team out of sickbay. As they moved down the hall, the clank of their shoes on the metal plates of the floor was the only sound. Once they were far from Julian, Johnny walked up alongside her.

  “What’s this? We’ve got a rat problem?” he asked.

  “Afraid so,” Cora replied. “Lucius meeting us on that roof, he had to know the plan we devised in the computer room. It was only the eight of us.”

  “Well, it should be pretty easy to narrow it down,” Gideon replied. “Theoretically, we should be able to eliminate anyone on the Project Phoenix list, which is Cora, Julian, Madeline, and Tesla.”

  Giovanna’s brow furrowed. She looked back over her shoulder to the hacker. “Michael has an artifact, too.”

  “Right, but his isn’t on the list,” Gideon raised a finger to correct her.

  Johnny shook his head. “Consider the source. That list came from Lucius. Besides, kid, if you’re right, that means the rat is one of the three of us.”

  Cora halted abruptly and turned around. She shook her head. “We’re not doing this. I know who I spilled blood with in Berlin and Heaven’s Crest. Until I have a damn good reason and a mountain of evidence, I refuse to believe it’s any one of you. We’re going to keep our eyes peeled on the rest of them and keep going forward. Clear?”

  The trio nodded. Cora’s mind tied up in knots. Her head pounded. Emotionally drained, she needed some solitude. She sighed. “I’m sorry, I need to get cleaned up. Catch up with you guys in the mess hall in an hour?”

  Johnny nodded and put a hand to her shoulder. “Sure. Of course. We’ll see you there.”

  Cora walked on ahead, to the quarters she had assigned to her. It was her first time in the room for any extended period of time. It was an officer’s room, larger and with more amenities than Julian afforded his knights. Her luggage sat on the bed, bags open and strewn about. She walked over and pulled through a duffel bag. Checking down at her body, everything had to go. Richard’s jacket needed a cleaning and some patching, the rest of the clothes just needed to be burned. She pulled out a fresh vintage rock shirt and blue jeans and tossed them by her pillow.

  Her muscles ached, but that was to be expected with the amount of regeneration her body went through. Those wounds would have killed a normal person. She was grateful it was her that took the hits and no one else on the team.

  As she entered the shower, her mind kept going back to the rooftop. The dark magic she used frightened her. Looking back, she wished she hadn’t used it at all. The nightmares were a precursor, though. The power was already in her long before she used it. Maybe that was the truth Crowley made her see, that the magic within her interacted with the dead as much as it did with the living. If he was to be her guide, she hoped he shared her morality. She wanted to temper the power and control it, not become corrupted by it like her father warned. The way the magic tried to expand from the first time she used it, to offer her power in exchange for letting it consume her, made it a thing to be feared.

  She tried to enjoy the stream of hot water as it purged the dust and dried blood off of her. She watched the ring of brown water go down the drain. She wanted to be free of the day and its events. Of all the things she regretted, the worst of them all was the one she could never admit to a single person. Guilt racked her mind every time she thought of Excalibur cutting into Lucius like a hot knife through butter. Of course, he had hurt her before, emotionally and physica
lly. The part she couldn’t let go of was their last meeting for breakfast. He said and did things to convince her he was cruel, that he was her enemy. He tried too hard. Little ticks and gestures, signs in his body language all gave clues that he was lying. He felt as driven by fate and prophecy as she had in Heaven’s Crest. Perhaps trying to incinerate her on that rooftop was his Living Wind moment, when he proved to himself fate couldn’t be fought against.

  Cora broke down, tears coming freely. She thought she was made of tougher stuff. This was the second encounter she narrowly survived against Lucius, alone in a shower, crying her eyes out when it was over. Still, even as she wished for it, she could not hate him. After everything he had done to her, everything she’d lost, everything that he had a hand in, it felt as though he’d done it all out of some misguided necessity. She couldn’t imagine what could have such a hold on him, and he only answered with telling her to find out for herself.

  Those that were on her side couldn’t be trusted. Even Vincent was keeping his little raven secrets. There was no one she could talk to about these feelings. Perhaps that was for the best. Whoever was on her side was fair game, a target for Lucius to use for leverage. For now, her feelings were best kept to herself. She let her emotions run free for a while longer before wresting control of herself and getting dressed.

  The Road Ahead

  “Feel your way there, Cora,” Crowley said, his voice soft. He talked to her like those NSA shrinks that did her psych evaluations, only British.

  Her eyes remained shut. She was to feel the icy tendrils protruding from her chest, to know the shape the magic took, and respect its desire to grow. Over the past two months, she’d made several mistakes. Each one was a terrifying disaster, the most recent of which almost killed the Professor. Yet today, he tempted fate again, teaching her to will the magical cord to wrap around his wrist.

  “I don’t know about this,” Cora said, nervous. “What if I drain you again?”

  “You cannot learn on your own, Cora,” he replied. “And since you refused to practice on animals or the dead, it must be me. I trust you.”