Silver Clouds Dirty Sky A Montague and Strong Detective Novel (Montague & Strong Case Files Book 4)

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  “Yes, inside the pool,” Monty said from the shadows. He gestured and a ramp appeared, parting the waters and leading down to a modest home. Monty started walking ahead of us again.

  “Sounds like she has the knowledge we need,” I said to Dex as we followed Monty.

  “She would know how to decipher most of the diagrams in this.” He tapped the book in his pocket. “Probably wrote most of them.”

  “Why wouldn’t he want to see her?”

  “It’s complicated. She was his first teacher, before he was shipped off to the Sanctuary to be with his father.” Dex gestured again and the waters of the Round Pool began to fill in behind us. “She was also his nanny and he was quite infatuated with her.”

  “His what?” I tried to suppress the laughter. “He had a Nanny McPhee?”

  “I don’t know who Nanny McPhee is, but he’s touchy about it and she treats him like he never left,” Dex said, serious. “Mind your words around her.”

  He remained serious for all of three seconds before bursting into laughter himself. We collected ourselves before we reached the door. The pool had closed above us, creating a canopy of water while we remained completely dry.

  Dex knocked on the door and waited. I could hear shuffling footsteps approach. A flash of violet runes preceded the opening of the door.

  “Is that you, Trissy?” a voice called out from inside. “Glad you made time to stop by, lad.”

  Dex and I held our breath to make sure we didn’t explode in laughter again. Dex was fighting a losing battle. I was holding together a little better, but it was a slippery slope and I found myself sliding fast.

  “Did she say ‘Trissy’?” I asked.

  “Shut it or I swear I will blast you both where you stand,” Monty hissed under his breath.

  “You’d better answer her, nephew.” Dex choked back a laugh. “You know how she gets if you don’t.”

  Monty pulled on his jacket, smoothed his hair, and turned to the door. “Yes, Nana,” he said and sighed. “Squared away, done with play.”

  A short, older, heavyset woman opened the door. She was the quintessential grandmother. Her gray hair was pulled back into a bun that rested on top of her head. Her round pleasant face wore a smile and lit up when she saw Monty. Her silver glasses rested on the edge of her nose as she looked up at him.

  She glanced over at Dex, Peaches, and me and nodded. It was clear she was focused on Monty. The smell of something delicious wafted out of the door and caressed me. For some reason I just wanted to give her a hug.

  “You’ve brought company,” she said, grabbing Monty by the cheek. “You’re not eating, thin as a rail. Come in, I’ve just put on the kettle.”

  She turned and entered the home, which turned out to be much larger on the inside. Her blue housecoat flowed around her, and I felt the power she held when I crossed the threshold. She gestured as she walked to the kitchen.

  A shiny bowl full of the most tantalizing sausage I’d ever seen materialized on the floor near her feet. Surprisingly Peaches sat near the entrance to the kitchen and waited. I stared down in shock at his restraint.

  I heard the kettle whistle and smelled what could only be coffee. Not just any coffee. This smelled exactly like the coffee javambrosia Hades drank the last time I was in his office. I sighed then, not believing my senses.

  “Aye, boy,” Dex said under his breath and nudged me. “It’s that good. Grab a plate and serve yourself.”

  Dex entered the kitchen and grabbed a plate. On a counter, there was an assortment of foods. Pastries were on one side, meats and breads on the other.

  “Hello, Nana,” Dex said with a nod and wrapped his arms around her round frame. “It’s been a dog’s age.”

  “You’re looking well, Dexter.” She narrowed her eyes, holding him at arm’s length. “I see you’ve been up to some mischief. Were you responsible for the Fomor?”

  “Mischief, always. The Fomor wasn’t me, though,” Dex answered. “Seems the town has a demon problem and Dahvina called me to help with it.”

  “How is she doing these days?” Nana asked. “I really need to go visit.”

  “She’s doing well, Nana,” Monty said. “We need your help.”

  “Trissy, don’t slouch,” she gently chided. “After you all eat, we can discuss the”—she looked at Dex, who was busy eating—“demons, you say?”

  Dex nodded and pulled out the black book, placing it on the dining room table. Nana walked over to the still immobile Peaches and whispered into his ear while scratching his head. He began to eat the sausages without scarfing them down. Every time he finished one, another would appear in the bowl.

  “How did you manage that?” I asked, pointing at him with my fork. “Usually he’s inhaling everything.”

  “You just have to know how to speak to them,” Nana replied with a chuckle. “Hellhounds are very good beasts with excellent manners.”

  “Not the one I know,” I muttered and ate some more. “Not even the bowls are safe.”

  I looked over at Monty, who had finished eating and was drinking his tea with a scowl.

  “I was wondering…” Dex began, in between the sips of his coffee. “Ahh so good, Nana. As usual, you’ve outdone yourself.”

  Nana waved the words away with a smile. “It was nothing,” she said. “Just a little something I put together.”

  The ‘little something’ was enough food to feed an army, or one Peaches. “Thank you so much,” I said, thoroughly filled. “It was incredible.”

  “My pleasure, young man,” she replied. “Now, Dexter, what were you wondering? Trissy can you get the plates, please?”

  Monty stood and began gathering the plates off the table. Nana gave him a slight cough and Monty sighed, putting the plates back down. He gestured and the plates floated over to the kitchen. Nana nodded, satisfied.

  Dex opened the book and showed her the page he was looking at. “Do you remember how to stop one of these?” he asked. “I don’t for the life of me remember the closing sequence.”

  Nana looked down at the book, turning it to face her.

  “A quantum void vortex?” she asked. “Using one of these is risky in a city.”

  “I need the closing sequence, in case we run into another Fomor.”

  “Yes,” Monty added. “He’s rusty.”

  “Tristan Montague, what have I told you?” she asked.

  “His inability to use the spell nearly got us killed, Nana.”

  “Yet you all stand here before me, hale and hearty.” She turned to Dex. “If you didn’t use a quantum vortex, how did you stop the Fomor?”

  Dex looked at me and motioned with a piece of bread he was still eating. “He stopped it with a dark angel.”

  She turned to me and narrowed her eyes. “You created a dark angel?” she asked. “You’re not a mage. How did you manage this?”

  “I’m special?” I answered. “I had help from Dahvina.”

  “You’re cursed,” she said, placing a hand on my mark. “That’s going to be a tricky one to untangle. May I see your weapon?”

  I extended my hand and willed Ebonsoul to materialize. I sat there for several seconds just staring at my empty hand.

  “Did the Fomor hit him in the head?” she muttered to Dex, who nodded. “What’s he looking for?”

  “I have it, I swear, it’s just that it’s inside. It turns into a silver mist now.”

  “A few times. Bounced him like a ball all over St. James’ too,” Dex said as they both burst out in laughter. I felt it was more at my predicament than at me and I found myself joining in after a few seconds.

  “Let me help you, child,” she said and placed two fingers on my chest. She whispered some words and a small cloud of silver-gray mist formed in my hand, solidifying into Ebonsoul a second later.

  “How did you…?” I asked, surprised.

  “That last strand is going to make using your blade difficult.” She gently took the weapon from my hand. “Has this weapo
n spoken to you?”

  “Excuse me?” For a second I wondered if she had been the one the Fomor had bounced all over the park. “No, it doesn’t speak to me.”

  “That’s good. The essence of this blade is dangerous and bloodthirsty,” she said, exhaling a short breath in relief. “That’s one part of the bond you don’t need.”

  “Nana, we can’t stay,” Monty said quietly. “There’s a mage summoning demons into the city. We have to stop him.”

  “My dear Tristan,” Nana said with a smile, “you’ve always been so serious. I had hoped the years would soften that disposition of yours.”

  She returned the blade. It became mist in my hand and disappeared, sending a cold shiver up my arm.

  “I came across a runic wall when I tried to get into the city,” Dex said. “Nearly got me killed.”

  “The Consortium of fools is plotting something and has cut off their access to the ley-line,” she said. “That is what you encountered.”

  She gestured in front of Dex. Violet runes filled the room, exploding into concentric circles interlocked with other symbols and rotating slowly in front of him. He reached out and traced the diagrams with a nod. She walked over to where he sat and traced the diagram again on his hand.

  “I see. It’s taking Ziller’s theorem of quantum entanglement and turning it inside out,” Dex said, looking at the floating symbols carefully. “This is a nasty finish, though. No room for error.”

  “Ziller was one of my best students,” Nana said, tapping Dex on the shoulder and pointing to the runes. “A little obsessed with quantum everything, but a visionary with spell design.”

  “When do I cast this last bit here?” Dex said, pointing to a different part of the circles. “This looks dicey.”

  “You cast this at the very last moment. Before the vortex reaches critical mass. If you miss—poof, there goes London.”

  “I won’t miss,” Dex said. “On my word.”

  “Do not obliterate my city, Dexter,” she replied and crossed her arms. “It took me several centuries to fix this place up to my liking. If I have to leave it, I will be most displeased—and I will find you first.”

  Dex shuddered, taking the book and stepping into another room. I could see him practicing the diagrams as he walked. Nana sat at the large kitchen table with a sigh.

  “Where are they, Nana?” Monty asked. “Where’s Thomas?”

  “I taught you better than that,” she answered, her voice hard. “You tell me.”

  Monty closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Nana gestured. The kettle and a cup, complete with steaming tea, floated over to the table. She let the tea steep while Monty remained still. The smell of Earl Grey filled the kitchen.

  “Along the ley-line, near a breach in the inhibitor spell,” Monty said, keeping his eyes closed. “I knew they were close when I saw the Fomor.”

  Nana nodded. “Life is a circle.” She dipped her finger in the steaming water and traced a circle on the table. The circle glowed with violet light. “Where is the breach?”

  “The White Tower,” Monty said. “Thomas needs a place of power with direct access to the ley-lines.”

  “Who is helping him?”

  “I don’t know,” Monty said, making fists with his hands. “A mage of considerable power.”

  Nana nodded. “Not bad, but not enough,” she said. “Go stop this Thomas, but understand the source of his power is elsewhere.”

  “We need to go,” Monty said, standing as Dex came into the room. “The White Tower.”

  “Makes sense. Place of power, close to running water, which amplifies the ley energy.” Dex nodded. “By this point the BPD will be on both sides of the Thames and looking for any magic-user.”

  “How do we get in without being seen?” I asked. “Can you use a circle?”

  “No.” Dex looked at Nana. “Not without drawing attention to this place. The wrong kind of attention.”

  “What about the riftrunes?” I looked at Monty, who rubbed his chin in thought. “Would they work?”

  “It’s possible, but I would need to mask the cast.” Monty traced the runes in front of Dex and Nana. They nodded as the white runes floated across the room.

  “This can teleport without a circle?” Dex asked as he traced the diagrams. “What do you say, Nana?”

  “I never taught you these,” she said, looking at the runes and nodding. “Yes, they can work if you can stabilize it. This is an elegant variation of a Smith bridge.”

  “I’ll cast the rift. Dex you create the bridge and Nana can keep it stable.”

  “We can’t do this in here,” Dex said. “It would disrupt her defenses and possibly flood the place.”

  Monty nodded. “Outside, in the park. Dawn is a few hours away. We can use the cover of darkness.”

  We stood near the Round Pool, which was actually an oval. The park felt charged with ambient energy as we stepped into the clearing. I didn’t know if the energy I felt was the result of Nana’s magic or the fact that we’d just cleared a legion of demons. Whatever it was had me on high alert. I could tell Peaches felt the same way as he sniffed the air.

  Do you feel anything coming our way? Anything bad?

 

  I’m surprised you can even walk. How many sausages did you eat?

 

  “Head’s up,” I said. “Peaches says we have incoming, but I think he’s getting sausage interference and can’t pinpoint it.”

  “It could be the ambient magic,” Dex said. “This location is under a heavy cast.”

  Nana gestured and a violet lattice floated on the ground. It spanned one hundred feet in diameter, with us at its center. “Better to be prepared and not need it than need it and be unprepared.”

  She began the cast, when a large red orb landed next to us and exploded. The lattice activated and dissipated most of the force. It wasn’t enough. The blast sent us sprawling away from the center.

  Without the lattice to protect us, the severity of the blast would have caused some serious damage. As it was, I was racking up my frequent flyer miles as Peaches and I sailed back, landing in an ungraceful heap twenty feet away.

  Peaches shook it off and made to pounce-and-destroy. Dex landed a few feet away and cursed as Herk circled overhead, letting us know of his presence with a series of croaks.

  “Tristan Montague, you are a hard mage to locate,” a voice said in the night. “By order of the Tribunal of the Golden Circle, you are hereby found guilty of twice releasing a void vortex within the confines of a populated city, the harming of Gideon, Golden Circle Envoy, and the death of Ian Macintyre, Arbiter Mage of the Golden Circle. The punishment as determined by the Elders of the Circle is death.”

  “Buggery bollocks,” Dex said under his breath as he stood with a grunt. He peered into the darkness and spat. “Ghosts.”

  “Ghosts, as in out-to-get-Monty Ghosts?” I asked as the fear rushed full throttle and squeezed my throat. “The same ones who melted the Goat?”

  “One and the same,” Dex answered. “I thought we had more time. They must have found a way around the inhibitor rune. They just made their last mistake.”

  “You dare to rudely release an attack on my home?” Nana growled quietly as violet energy coalesced around her. “You dare to attack my Tristan?”

  “Get up, boy!” Dex hissed, pulling me to my feet. “Grab your pup. We need distance and lots of it.”

  I saw Monty sprawled on the ground to one side. As the target of the blast, he’d taken the brunt of the damage. Nana stood next to him.

  “Wait, what about Monty?” I asked, pulling against Dex’s hand. “We need to help him. He’s hurt.”

  “Bollocking balderdash!” Dex tightened his grip on my arm, nearly lifting me off my feet. “We’re the ones in danger. Those Ghosts are done. They just don’t know it yet. Now move!”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  I KNEW NANA was po
werful. I figured she was as strong as Dex or maybe slightly stronger. I was wrong. She was much stronger.

  Three figures made a triangle of Ghosts around Nana. Each of them wore a black suit and gold tie. They stood equidistant from her, forming red and black energy orbs in their hands. I distinctly remembered that black energy as it crackled in the night. The same energy had crashed into the Goat and melted it like butter on summer’s day.

  In that moment, I realized a few things. Whoever sent these Ghosts didn’t count on the Nana factor. That led to my second realization. Courage and stupidity can sometimes look the same.

  These Ghosts thought they were upholding the ruling of the Tribunal. They had no capacity or inclination to question their orders. They were given a mandate and followed it blindly. The Tribunal executed an order without even investigating the circumstances around the void vortices Monty used, and sentenced him to death. This led to my third realization.

  Someone in the Sanctuary wanted Monty dead.

  “How far do we need to go?” I asked as Dex kept pulling me away from Nana. “Are we crossing the Thames?”

  “Ach, it would be safer if we could cross the Atlantic.” Dex began gesturing. “The last time that woman was upset even Mo stayed out of her way.”

  “The Morrigan was scared of Nana?”

  “The Consortium tried to evict Nana from London a few centuries ago.” His fingers moved with increasing speed as the air around us felt heavy with energy. The air took on a violet hue as green trails flowed from his hands. “They sent five Arch Mages to escort her off the island. Said she was a threat to the magical community.”

  “Five Arch Mages,” I said, looking at the short, rotund woman glowing with violet tendrils swirling around her body. “Isn’t that a bit much?”

  “It wasn’t enough.” Dex slammed his hand on the ground and a cylinder of green energy encased us. “She erased and banished three of them, killed the one who came up with the idea, and let the last one go free so he could inform the Consortium.”

  “Did they attack again?” I asked noticing that Nana looked over at us and nodded. “How many did they send the next time?”

  “The next time?” Dex returned her nod. “They gave her Hyde Park. By royal decree this entire place belongs to her as long as she refrains from major casting or destroying the Consortium.”