Agents of Order

by T. R. Cameron

  Diana turned to Nylotte, who looked both very martial and very pissed off. “She did not get away again. Say these words to me. Please say these words to me.” The Drow shook her head with a frown, and Diana threw her hands up in the air. “That witch has more lives than any nine cats.”

  Cara grinned. “Well, that’s one for me and none for you, then.”

  She faced her second in command. “You got him?”

  “Yep. He’s toast.” Hank snorted, and Cara raised a hand. “Do not say a single word about him being more like some other food or something equally stupid. Please don’t.” The big man laughed harder but refrained from speaking.

  Rath said, “One-half for me, I think.”

  Nylotte nodded. “That sounds right. Maybe even two-thirds.” Diana raised an eyebrow, and the Dark Elf explained. “Chief asshole Dreven arrived. I distracted him and the troll threw knives into his neck but he vanished before we could be sure he was done.”

  She sighed. “The important thing is that we’re all alive and mostly well. And, of course, that the Remembrance had its ass kicked again.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Bryant had come to visit, and the entire team was gathered in a closed restaurant. Sloan was present as well, looking haggard and stressed. Kayleigh and Duncan sat on either side of him. Diana couldn’t hear and didn’t want to pry, but imagined they were trying to convince him to leave his character behind and surface from his undercover gig. She’d given him the authority to choose his path. There was no denying their need for intelligence as the organization picked up the pieces or fell to pieces, but she was willing to find other options if he wanted out.

  Bryant had been apologetic about his choice to stay on as head of ARES, but she had stilled his explanations with a kiss, fully cognizant that it would be the first time her people saw them do anything romantic. The team clapped and cheered, except for Cara and Hank who quickly drew judging numbers on their napkins and held them up, denying them even a shot at the bronze medal. She’d stuck her tongue out at them in revenge. They hadn’t seemed moved.

  The meal was all small plates, a tradition she and Rath and Kayleigh had started at home and wanted to bring to the others. There were traditional appetizers—the troll continued to be a big fan of mozzarella sticks—as well as fancier offerings drawing upon Spanish and Mediterranean cuisines. Several bottles of wine had been opened, and there had already been toasts to the techs for their investigative work and to Cara for ending the threat that Marcus posed. Rath also received one for hitting the biggest adversary with his blades and actually seemed embarrassed when everyone congratulated him. Maybe Chan’s style is rubbing off on him.

  Diana climbed onto the long table, stamped her feet, and raised her hands for silence. When she had everyone’s attention, she put every ounce of pride, admiration, and caring into her soft words as she could. “We are more than co-workers. We are more than a team. We are family. In the recent past, we have gone through some really heinous stuff, one and all.” She looked around the room as she spoke, holding each pair of eyes for a few seconds before moving on so each person knew she was talking to them. “And still, we are here. We are together. And we will take on any bastard who thinks they can break us apart and show them how very wrong they are.”

  She took the glass Bryant handed her and waited while everyone sorted their own out. Then she lifted it and managed to get out the words, “To family,” before the emotions overcame her voice. The others murmured the same, and she slid from the table before she did something stupid to ruin the moment. There were a few moments of silence before Tony declared loudly, “Great job, boss. Way to kill a party. Someone, throw a pie.”

  The laughter resumed, Diana’s among the loudest. Best. Family. Ever.

  Far, far away, in a frigid basement on a different planet, Dreven struggled to breathe. He sensed the cold stone under his mostly naked form but couldn’t move his arms or his legs. His eyes could only see the ceiling, and he had no way of knowing if he was tied down or paralyzed. When the portal appeared and he fell, he’d been entirely sure it was Lechnas saving him despite his promised reward for further failure.

  Now he was much, much less certain. After what seemed like an eternity, measured in his second by second struggle to draw his next dismal portion of air, a loud crash sounded nearby. He heard footsteps, and his mind trembled with fear and anticipation. A healing potion, that’s all I need. Please. Save me. If he could speak, he would beg, but there was no breath for it.

  Iressa’s face came as a world-shattering shock when she leaned over the table. The smirk she wore was as condescending as he’d ever seen on her face. She shook her head. “Dreven, Dreven, Dreven. Look what’s become of you.” He gaped and gasped and couldn’t reply. Her smile widened. “You were a useful pawn for a while but now, that utility is at an end. I have dreamed of this day for so long and imagined the pleasure I would have driving a knife into your heart.”

  She raised a hand that had been hidden outside his line of sight and the light from above twinkled on the keen metal of the stiletto she held. The witch spun it lazily over his head, perilously close to his eyes, and laughed when he failed to respond. “Oh, this is beyond delightful, really. I’d always imagined you struggling when this moment came, but this is so much better.” She paused and stared at him, then shifted her gaze to his opposite side. “Don’t you agree?”

  Sarah stepped into view, her bald head still healing from a wound that looked like it would scar. She looked at him and her voice was filled with satisfaction when she spoke. “Oh, I so very much agree.” Iressa extended her hand across the table and offered her the weapon, and the witch took it with a smile.

  She positioned it over his heart, and he imagined the cold point touching his chest but couldn’t feel it. Iressa said, “Goodbye, Dreven.” Sarah nodded and echoed, “Goodbye, Dreven,” and began to push. The two witches’ eyes remained locked on his as the hilt got lower and lower, and then he knew no more.

  The story doesn’t end here. Follow Diana, Rath and BAM’s adventures in Arcane Ops.

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  Author Notes - TR Cameron

  Written July 19, 2019

  Geez, what a ride. Thank you for coming along with us!

  Thank you for reading the sixth book in the Federal Agents of Magic series, and for continuing on to the author notes! I wake up every day unable to believe the good fortune that lets allows me to share stories with you. It is my deep pleasure to do so.

  This book was hard. It’s got a lot of moving parts, sure, but I think it’s because of the characters. The cast is more or less complete, and trying to give them all an opportunity to grow and develop in their own ways within the confines of the overall story is like walking on a 2x4 over a pit of alligators. Alligators with metal teeth. Sharp metal teeth. I’m really happy with how it turned out, though, and hope you are too.

  Looking ahead, the search for Fury will continue, as will the agents’ efforts to untangle the knot of the forces arrayed against them. Plus, much to Diana’s chagrin, the mobile armory continues to be a thing. Books 9 and beyond are coming together plot-wise, and so far all signs point to big fun ahead.

  In personal stuff, I’ve got a busy fall planned! My best friend is having a wedding bash in August and I’ve got a couple of professional conferences on deck. It’s definitely more scheduled than I usually am, travel-wise.

  My daughter dyed her hair blue, so that’s something. She’s awesome, and wildly unpredictable. We’re plotting and planning to do some more amusement park action before the summer’s over. On our last trip to one, she insisted we ride the biggest, fastest coaster it had to offer seven times in a row. She wanted to go for ten, but was weaving wh
en she walked, so I opted to be a good parent rather than a cool one.

  Videogames: Finished the Spider-Man main plot, downloaded the DLC, can’t get past the first mission. Like, “Hey you’re awesome, oh, sorry, you actually suck, nevermind.” Thanks, Spider-man. Red Dead 2 is on hiatus, as my gaming time is going toward Detroit Become Human, which is an amazing example of interactive cinematic storytelling.

  Plot details for book seven are sketched out, but are going to take a couple of days to pull together fully. I’ve spun out a lot of strands that need to be gathered up in the next pair of books, and I don’t want to let down y’all, or the characters, or myself, by letting anything slip by.

  Quick media notes: Endgame broke my heart again the second time, even more since I’d seen Spider-Man: Far From Home, which had all the feels. I cheered out loud when JJJ appeared; great choice by Marvel and Sony on that one. Killing Eve season two is holding up well, but I’m sure it’s not for everyone. American Gods is on deck, and I’m going to need to go back and see the amazing speech that Anansi gives on the boat again. Still trying without success to get the child to watch Star Wars: ANH, which I think makes me a complete failure as a parent. But I did get her to start on Dr. Who (Eccleson), so that’s something, right?

  If you want to chat media, the books, or whatever else, I check in pretty often on Facebook. Just search TR Cameron Author to find me. Or, less reliably, thom@trcameron.com.

  Now, back to figuring out the next way to mess up Diana’s life. Until next time, Joys upon joys to you and yours – so may it be.

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  August 7, 2019

  My summer goal is to lose enough weight to fit into the smaller end of my closet. The larger end will be packed away in the garage like some kind of talisman to ward off fat cells. So far, I’ve lost a size and a half and only three to go. Progress.

  That progress has not been a straight line, sort of. I started out strong doing the Runners World 8-Week Program and seeing a nutritionist, plus reading a few books on Mindful Eating. I’m telling you, I’m determined to make peace with all of this.

  But then a trip to Scotland for almost two weeks and I was in a kind of holding pattern. I wasn’t eating terribly and there were long walks involved but it wasn’t the same. Main thing I learned though, was how well I felt when working out regularly and eating the right things for me. I see that kernel of knowledge as a victory. It gives me incentive to stick to my lane where there’s plenty of great stuff to eat, none of it packaged food.

  To motivate my keister into staying the course I’ve signed up for at least one 5k in Chicago to run with friends there and celebrate my 60th birthday. It’s the Hot Chocolate on November 3rd and I will do my best to turn down the Ghirardelli chocolate they give out at the end. No promises.

  My goal is to run the whole thing and then go have brunch with friends. A perfect day. I’m looking for one or two in the Austin area as well. I’ve also been meeting a neighbor, Elaine at the gym that’s a quarter of a mile from my house. Yeah, I could walk there if it wasn’t 100 degrees outside right now. Frankly, I’ve run there plenty of times.

  It also helps that Elaine likes to text me and find out when I’m going. Who can say, never to that? I’m telling you, we do our best work in community with others.

  As the fall approaches and The Peabrain Society’s big project to bring us all together and unfold our own dreams is gearing up. I’ll be hanging out at a lunch for fans in the Austin area on August 17th for anyone who’s around and I’ll be toting swag. Bit by bit I will also get into shape and one day that entire left side of the closet will fit. Getting closer… More adventures to follow.

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  August 14, 2019

  THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes as well.

  (I think I’ve been good with always opening with “thank you.” If not, I need to edit the other Author Notes!)

  RANDOM (sometimes) THOUGHTS?

  So, I often read the author notes from my collaborators before I do mine. It’s a version of hacking (I think) my life to help me get ideas since I’ve done so many of these in the last three years.

  TR Cameron was just chilling in his notes, updating everyone about his game life, tv life, and his roller-coaster efforts with his daughter, which is cool. My challenge is my life isn’t as cool.

  Here is mine:

  1) I bought a tricked-out XBOX One (best one available) early July. I probably, in some small way, need to blame TR for this episode. It’s true that I’ve been wanting a game setup (re: man cave) for a couple of years. Since I’m not getting a man-cave anytime soon, I opted to go with Xbox on my TV in the Condo in Vegas.

  It was kinda ok.

  I love Xbox, but I didn’t like the games so far. I was told by fellow author JN (Jeff) Chaney to go Sony PlayStation and I think he was right.

  The problem is I’ve been Xbox forever, and purchasing Sony seems like drinking Pepsi when I’m a Coke fan.

  Xbox, you need better games.

  Fortunately for me, I can say ‘@#%@# It!’ and buy them both.

  I have the money, I have the room under the TV - I just need my wife to go out of town for forty-eight hours…

  2) I don’t watch TV that much to speak of. Well, I guess that’s mostly true, but not all the way true. I watch a S#%-TON of Ancient Aliens and UFO (something or another.). That stuff fascinates me.

  Could be the same part of my brain that creates stories - it needs more input.

  Regardless, I can’t speak to cool series I’m watching or (most) movies I haven’t seen, so, my pop-culture discussion is pretty pointless.

  3) My kids. All of our sons are out of the house. One’s in Dallas (Joseph) starting his third year at UT Arlington. One (Jacob) is in Katy (outside of Houston), living with family there, and one is also in the Katy Area (Joshua), and I’m working with him on the Animus project (and soon to be another project.)

  I have a complete lack of ability to discuss roller-coaster rides.

  My biggest project in the company is still under wraps. I will slowly start dropping hints and stuff in the coming weeks.

  I suppose I could talk about being in Paris at the moment, but that isn’t as cool as the games.

  I am waiting for Cyberpunk 2077… I think I’ll take off two weeks to try to play that game.

  AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

  One of the interesting (at least to me) aspects of my life is the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. In the future, I hope to re-read my own Author Notes and remember my life as a diary entry.

  Le Salon Sarah Coiffure, Paris, France

  Ok, I’m hanging in a hair salon (just got my hair cut) while my wife is getting her hair done. I am presently sitting in one of the chairs, my laptop on the little ledge connected to the mirror, type type typing this out.

  Typey, Typey, Typey… I just like the way that sounds… Typie (hmmm, not sure which way to spell it.)

  My reflection is only a couple of feet in front of me since I’m so close to the mirror. At the moment, all of my gray hair is faded into the lighter hair, and looks blond because of the yellow lights next to me.

  I’m so young-looking.

  I’m scared to get up, because natural lighting is going to show the grays are taking over.

  Do I get my hair colored? If I do get it colored, should I go with my natural color, or screw around with it?

  (No, I’m not going blue. I’m old fashioned.)

  Damn, I just admitted to being old-fashioned. I’m one banana-peel-slip away from a curmudgeon.

  I need a Coke.

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  Michael Anderle

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