Cloak Games: Rebel Fist (17 page)

“I know his death meant nothing more to you than an inconvenience,” said Corvus, “which is why we are coming with you. Your callous indifference will get Nadia Moran killed, and if she is dead she cannot answer our question.” 

“And if I refuse?” said Morvilind. 

“Then you can lodge your complaint with the Firstborn,” said Corvus.

For a moment the two men stared at each other. I wondered what would happen if Corvus produced his Shadowmorph blade and attacked. If he did, Morvilind would likely reduce the Shadow Hunters to ashes. 

Then, to my surprise, Morvilind shrugged. 

“Why not?” he said. “You may be useful. It seems that Miss Moran has captured your fancy. But that wouldn’t be the first time, would it? Alas, from what I understand your record with women is dismal. Your wife, that second Shadow Hunter…they all betrayed you, did they not? Perhaps if Miss Moran lives long enough, she will have the chance to betray you, too.”

Corvus said nothing, but the lines of his Shadowmorph flickered up and down his face. “You would lecture me about failure?”

“Enough,” said Morvilind, his voice turning cold. “There are far greater matters at stake than your petty grievances.” He reached into his robe and produced an expensive-looking pocket watch. A dozen different dials turned beneath its lens, all marked with Elven hieroglyphics. “We have five hours before Milwaukee is destroyed, and we must act quickly.”

“Destroyed?” I said. “How?”

Morvilind gestured at the rift way. “Do you know what that is?” 

“It’s a rift way,” I said. “A passage from Earth to the Shadowlands.”

“Correct,” said Morvilind, “but that is considerably more than a mere rift way. It is stable, and will persist for a long time. Additionally, it is very close to a warded road in the Shadowlands. Consequently the Archons can move large number of troops to Milwaukee with haste.”

“A beachhead, then,” I said. “A strong point the Archons can use to bring in reinforcements.”

“Exactly,” said Corvus. 

“Such gates,” said Morvilind, ignoring Corvus, “are extremely difficult to open. Even I would find it challenging.”

“Then why would the Archons destroy Milwaukee?” I said. “If they seize the city and hold it against the High Queen, they wouldn’t destroy it.” Maybe they would kill all the human inhabitants of Milwaukee, but I doubted Morvilind would rouse himself to defend them. 

“No,” said Morvilind. “The Archons will not destroy the city.”

“Who, then?” said Corvus. “You?”

“Not me, Shadow Hunter,” said Morvilind, “but the High Queen.” 

“The High Queen?” I said. “Why would she destroy Milwaukee?”

“Where was your mother born?” said Morvilind.

The sudden change in topic startled me. “Um…Vladivostok.” 

“Why did she come to the United States?” said Morvilind. 

“Vladivostok was destroyed,” I said. “An Archon attack…”

My voice trailed off, a dark suspicion rising in my mind. 

“The attack on Vladivostok was identical to this one,” said Morvilind. “The Archons opened stable rift ways to the city, and routed the Duke of Vladivostok and his vassals. They were preparing to hold it and bring over reinforcements.”

“So the High Queen,” I said, “destroyed the city.”

“Correct,” said Morvilind. “At this moment, a dozen nuclear missiles have been targeted at Milwaukee. Should the Archons still hold the city at midnight, the High Queen will order the missiles launched. Milwaukee, its suburbs, and a considerable amount of the surrounding countryside will be reduced to radioactive rubble.” 

The prospect was so horrifying that I forgot to guard my tongue. “But two million people live here. They’ll…”

“The electromagnetic shock wave,” said Morvilind, “will collapse the rift ways. Any Archon forces in the city will be destroyed as well, though the main point is to seal the rift ways. The human population will be annihilated, of course, but two million human lives are necessary collateral damage to stop the Archon infection from spreading across Earth.”

I said nothing, too sick even to speak. Two million people would burn. That was destruction beyond anything Nicholas Connor or Sergei Rogomil had ever dreamed of unleashing. James and Lucy and Russell would die as well, assuming they were not killed first if the Archons regained control of that rift way. 

“However,” said Morvilind. “If we collapse the rift ways ourselves, the High Queen will call off the nuclear strike. Therefore we must act quickly…”

“You?” said Corvus, his doubt plain. “You do not give a damn about human lives, and you will save Milwaukee?” 

“An assassin lecturing me about the priceless value of human life?” said Morvilind. “An amusing irony.” 

“The Shadow Hunters deliver lawful writs of execution,” said Corvus. “We do not engage in wholescale butchery of…”

“Lord Morvilind doesn’t care about Milwaukee,” I said. Both Morvilind and Corvus looked at me. “Not the city, anyway. But his mansion and library are here, and…”

Corvus snorted. “You don’t care about the city, but all your possessions are here, is that it?” 

“Yes,” said Morvilind without rancor or shame. “There is also an opportunity in this attack. The Archons could not create so many stable gates on their own. Therefore they have help. Specifically, a potent magical relic able to generate and maintain the rift ways.”

The pieces clicked together in my head. “And you want me to steal this relic away from the Archons.”

“Precisely,” said Morvilind.

“In five hours,” I said.

“Less than that,” said Morvilind, “since we have wasted time on this irrelevant conversation.”  

“With less than five hours to prepare,” I said. “With no time to prepare.” 

That was the thing about high-level thefts, the sort of thefts Morvilind used me to execute. To pull them off properly took a lot of careful reconnaissance, planning, and specialized equipment. I preferred a couple of weeks, minimum, to scout a location, to learn the routines of its guards and inhabitants. Morvilind had given me jobs on short notice before…but five hours was madness. 

But I really didn’t have a choice, did I?

“Given that if you fail to retrieve the relic,” said Morvilind, “your brother, his foster parents, and everyone you have ever met in Milwaukee shall die in nuclear fire, you have excellent motivation to succeed.” 

I closed my eyes to hide the helpless rage there. The bastard was right, and I knew it. He did this to me again and again, putting me in a situation where if I did not succeed and escape with my life, Russell would die. 

At least this time it wasn’t Morvilind’s fault. Even if he had done nothing, the Archons would still have attacked the city and the High Queen still would have unleashed her nuclear missiles. The only way out of the trap was to find this relic that powered the rift ways.

“What is the relic,” I said, making myself open my eyes, “and where is it located?”

“The relic is called a Cruciform Eye,” said Morvilind. “Properly employed, it can maintain between eight and sixteen rift ways simultaneously. Since the Archons are using it, they have so far only managed to open seven gates.” Again that venomous contempt bled into his voice. Nothing irritated him quite like incompetence. “The relic is presently located in a mall in the western suburbs…”

“A mall?” I said, blinking with surprise. “You mean the Ducal Mall, my lord?”

Morvilind’s lips thinned. “Yes. How did you know?”

“Because I was there this afternoon when the Archons attacked,” I said, digging my phone from my pocket and unlocking it. “There was a group of Rebels there, guarding this…this thing. I didn’t know what it was.”

“And you did not think to investigate further?” said Morvilind.

“I just wanted to get out alive with my brother,” I said. “But I took a video.”

I started the playback and angled the screen to show Morvilind. He had to stoop a little to see it. Like everyone else on the damned planet, he was taller than I was. Corvus and Nora leaned forward to look at the video as well. 

“Is that thing the Cruciform Eye?” said Nora. “It looks like a glowing bowling ball.”

“It is about that size, yes,” said Morvilind, his eyes narrowed as he considered the video.

“I am surprised that you even know what a bowling ball is,” said Nora. 

“That is it, then, my lord?” I said before Nora could irritate Morvilind into doing something lethal. “That is the Cruciform Eye?”

“It is,” said Morvilind, straightening up. “Your work in discerning its location has been adequate.” That was the closest he would ever come to giving a compliment. “If you move the Eye from its location, the spells upon shall be disrupted, and the rift ways will collapse. Should we do so before the stroke of midnight, Milwaukee shall be saved.”

“Ah,” said Corvus with derision. “And you’ll simply keep the Eye, correct? Another shiny toy for your collection. That’s what this is all about, is it not?” 

“I will claim the Eye,” said Morvilind. “If you object, Shadow Hunter, I shall kill you and your comrade right now.”

“The Firstborn would take exception to our deaths,” said Corvus. 

Morvilind’s smile was cold. “You found yourself caught in an unexpected Archon attack. Alas, you were both taken off guard and surprised. So very tragic, but accidents do happen…and the Firstborn is welcome to take his vengeance upon the Archons.” 

Again Corvus and Morvilind stared at each other.

“Very well,” said Corvus at last. 

“How splendid it is that you can occasionally see reason,” said Morvilind. “Nadia Moran, come. There is work to be done. The Shadow Hunters can transport themselves to the mall.”

“No,” said Corvus. “Miss Moran shall ride with us. We will meet you there.”

“Do not be absurd,” said Morvilind. “You wish to ask her a question. Fine. Ask the question and depart.”

“That was not our deal,” Corvus said.

I hesitated. I wanted to tell Corvus and Nora to get the hell out of here. Enough people had died today, and if Morvilind wanted me to steal the Cruciform Eye from under Rogomil’s nose, more people were going to get killed.

But if I failed to get the Eye, way more people were going to die, Russell among them. I had seen Corvus’s skill firsthand, and likely Nora was just as capable. If they could help me succeed…

“My lord,” I said, and Morvilind’s irritated gaze shifted to me. “The Shadow Hunters are skilled. Their help would be useful, as you said.”

“This is not their concern,” said Morvilind. “The Firstborn should know better than to meddle in my business. Perhaps this failure will teach him that.” 

“I promised Miss Moran that I would see her brother to safety before I asked the question,” said Corvus. “Given that the city is about to burn to radioactive ashes, I can hardly claim to have kept my word. One the Cruciform Eye is secured and the rift ways are closed, then her brother will be safe and I can ask my question.” 

“Your personal animus towards me is clouding your reason,” said Morvilind. 

“My head has never felt clearer,” said Corvus. 

“Fine,” said Morvilind with disgust. “Then upon your own head be it. I would like to obtain the Cruciform Eye, but it is not vital to my plans. If we should fail and you should see Milwaukee consumed by nuclear fire, you can take a moment to contemplate your folly before the flesh is burned from your bones. Make for the eastern parking lot of the Ducal Mall with all haste. I will await you there.”

Without another word he walked towards his van, the mercenaries hastening to open the door for him. 

“We’d better hurry,” I said. 

“I’ll drive,” said Nora, and we jogged to the Shadow Hunters’ van. Nora swung into the driver’s seat and started the engine. I got into the middle seats, expecting Corvus to take the front passenger seat, but instead he followed me. For a moment he climbed past me, and I stiffened, my mind flashing back to that kiss in Paul McCade’s mansion. God, but that was a stupid thing to think about now. Even if he had been really good at it, and…

He went past me, into the back seat, and started opening the metal cases. 

Nora put the van into drive, following Morvilind’s vehicle.

“So,” I said. “Let’s have a little chat to pass the time. Why do you and Morvilind hate each other so much?” 

Corvus said nothing, and began taking ammunition from the metal cases, tucking the magazines into his harness. 

“Riordan,” said Nora. “She deserves to know. If you don’t tell her, I will.” 

“My brother,” said Corvus, not looking up as he produced a pair of handguns and began loading them.

“Oh,” I said. “He was sick, and Morvilind offered to cure him in exchange…”

“No,” said Corvus. “It was a century ago. My sister was sick. A rare magical disease from the Shadowlands called soulblight. Morvilind knew how to cure it, but in exchange my brother Aidan had to take service with Morvilind. He learned magic and other skills, and Morvilind used him to steal valuable things. Morvilind was less concerned about secrecy back then, so my sister and I knew what Aidan had done for us.” He shook his head. “I tried to save him. I joined the men-at-arms of Duke Tarmegon of Houston, and I fought in the Shadowlands. My magical talent manifested, and I was taken into the Wizard’s Legion. I thought if I gained enough influence, enough prestige, I could find a way to get my brother out of Morvilind’s grasp and save my sister.”

“What happened?” I said.

“I found the Shadow Hunters,” said Corvus. He loaded one of the guns and stared at it. “Or they found me, rather. I survived the trials of initiation and become one the family. I thought I could recruit Aidan into the Shadow Hunters. Once he was bonded to a Shadowmorph, he would no longer be subject to Morvilind’s commands…but it was too late. He died on one of Morvilind’s missions to steal some magical bauble or another.” 

“I’m sorry,” I said. He had just described my own likely fate. “Morvilind let your sister die, didn’t he?”

“Actually, no,” said Corvus. “The man is a cold bastard, but he keeps his word. He cast the final cure spell upon my sister while Aidan was away on his mission. She survived.” He stared at the loaded gun. “If he had reneged on his word, I would have killed him.”