Night Terrors (Sarah Beauhall Book 4) (12 page)

By the time the hummus and the rest were mostly devoured, large dishes of moussaka, lamb, rice, and little morsels wrapped in grape leaves arrived. Every dish was passed and we waited for the proper order before taking the first bite of the next course.

This went on for three more courses, including a hearty lentil soup, and ending in a small dishes of dates and figs.

The food was amazing and I ate pacing Nidhogg. When she ate, I ate. When she stopped, I stopped. This felt like a ritual and I didn’t want to be the one to blow the rhythm.

Once the food was cleared and we were served thick, dark coffee in tiny cups, Nidhogg nodded at Qindra. She sat her coffee down, cleared her throat and the show began.

“Things have shifted,” she began, glancing at me briefly before settling her focus on Frederick. “There are forces moving on the periphery, forces that seek to overthrow the natural order of things.”

Frederick waved his hand, dismissing her words. “There are always wolves in the wild lands. Every now and again one pulls down a sheep, but that is no reason to panic.”

“Be quiet and listen,” Nidhogg chided him, prodding his elbow with her cane. “Let the girl finish her speech.” She winked at me, which was the weirdest thing. “She’s been practicing,” Nidhogg said, nodding her head toward Qindra.

Qindra blushed, cleared her throat, and went on. “We believe the time is drawing near for a closer alliance between our two kingdoms.”

Frederick looked surprised by this, and Mr. Philips took out a notebook from his breast pocket and began to scratch down notes.

“Nidhogg—She Who Must Be Obeyed …”

Nidhogg grinned and nodded once.

“… believes that we must pool our resources, reach out to those who currently govern Vancouver and prepare for dark days ahead.”

I yawned. I couldn’t help it. I had not been sleeping well with Katie in the hospital, and all that food was dragging me down.

“Drink your coffee,” Nidhogg said, motioning to my untouched cup. “The caffeine will keep you awake.”

The coffee was very strong and very sweet. If it had had chocolate I may have orgasmed.

Qindra droned on about borders and tariffs, obligations and treaties. My head just wasn’t in the game, right up until my name came into the picture.

“Therefore,” Qindra continued. “We propose that Sarah Jane Beauhall be given diplomatic immunity within our two kingdoms, and be given free rein to pursue our enemies with limited interference from either ruler.”

“Wait a moment,” Frederick said, sitting up in his wheel chair and scowling. “You propose to let this dragon slayer have free reign within my protectorate, and I’m expected to turn a blind eye?”

Nidhogg sighed. “Be reasonable, Frederick. Of course the girl will check in with you or Mr. Philips when in your territory, I just want it established that she has my blessing and yours, if you’ll agree. It should help smooth things over if my worries begin to become reality.”

Mr. Philips leaned in to whisper something in Frederick’s ear. Whatever he had to say, Frederick didn’t like the words. A grim look flitted across his face for a moment, then his mask of reasonableness and cooperation fell back into place.

“I see now why you’ve brought her here,” Frederick said, looking at Nidhogg. “I do not forget her part in rescuing Mr. Philips, nor your own, mother, in protecting me there at the end of the that unfortunate business over the winter solstice.”

Nidhogg nodded at him.

“But why do you feel she would have need of anything within my borders?” he asked, genially.

There was definitely a hint of something there—something he was afraid to have exposed. Something that Mr. Philips had felt the need to warn him about.

Interesting.

“I appreciate all this,” I said, speaking up for the first time. “I realize our relationships have evolved”—they all four looked at me like I’d grown a second head—“but I’m not a tool to be passed around at your whim. While I am more than willing to entertain a partnership between us …”

Nidhogg coughed and Frederick laughed out loud.

“Partnership?” he managed. “You an equal?”

I sat back, crossed my arms over my chest and grinned. “If you’d rather consider me an adversary, I can plan for that as well,” I said.

“There’s no need for threats,” Nidhogg said, waving Frederick’s next emotional outburst down.

I shrugged and flourished one hand, signaling that she should continue.

Qindra looked slightly affronted, and a little amused.

Mr. Philips’ face was a mask of stone, though his eyes did flick toward me briefly.

Frederick was stunned, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open. He was definitely out of his element.

And Nidhogg, that sly old beast. She looked at me, a twinkle in her steely eyes and a smile on her lips. Either she was going to back me up here, or kill me. At the moment, I wasn’t sure which way she was going to go, but I knew I was in no mood for their feudalistic bullshit.

“I think ‘partner’ is a bit presumptuous,” she said, her voice oily and smooth. “But she has a point.” She turned to Frederick and gave him her most regal glare. “There is precedent amongst the council for one such as she.” She gave me half a nod and looked up at Qindra. “Qindra, darling. What do they call those landless gentlemen in the Orient that wander around doing good deeds, selling their swords to the righteous?”

“Or the highest bidder?” Frederick asked.

“Ronin,” Qindra said, echoing my earlier thought. “I believe that is the word you are searching for, Mistress.”

“Ah, yes. Ronin. I do think our Sarah here is similar in calling, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, Mistress.” Qindra looked relieved. I hadn’t noticed how tense she’d been until I saw her relax. She seemed to shrink a full inch.

“But she fights for love and honor,” Nidhogg said, returning her gaze to Frederick. “She does not seek wealth or personal gain. I have seen this for myself over the last year.”

I knew she’d been watching me, following me around, magically if not physically.

“And what of that band of hooligans she has aligned herself with?” Frederick asked.

“The ones that put their lives on the line for the likes of Mr. Philips?” I asked. “That bunch that died in fighting the bastard Jean-Paul?” I could feel the heat rising in me. I hated the look of condescension on his face.

“You dare?” he gasped. “To openly boast of such deeds? To even conceive of them is a crime punishable by death.”

It was Nidhogg’s turn to laugh. Her voice was brittle and sharp. “Flesh of my flesh,” she spat at Frederick, who recoiled. “It is my judgment in that matter which holds sway and I have forgiven the girl.”

I looked at Qindra, who ever so slightly shrugged the shoulder away from Frederick. This was a surprise to her as well.

“Jean-Paul debased himself, fell from his position of glory and earned his fate. You of all should know that to the victor go the spoils.”

Frederick growled low in his throat and for a moment I saw the fire reflected in his eyes.

Mr. Philips leaned in once more and whispered something to Frederick. I had the feeling that despite her advanced age, Nidhogg had no trouble hearing what the man said. Mr. Philips seemed to know it as well and was unconcerned. I couldn’t make anything out, and that seemed good enough for them.

Are you suggesting, “Frederick began, “that this …” he searched for the right words, and I watched him closely, waiting for the misogyny to spew forth.

“… this
woman
,” he finally spat out. “Who at best should be servicing me in my bed, should be granted lands and titles as befitting one of our kind?”

Nidhogg reached across the table and placed a hand on mine, giving it a bony squeeze before laughing aloud. “This one would likely prefer my bed to yours,” she said, winking at me. “Though as I understand it her heart beats for another.”

“Damn her heart,” Frederick grumbled. “She can love whom she pleases as long as she pleases me.”

My chair scraped along the floor as I came to my feet, leaning across the table, prepared to punch the pompous pig in the face. The fire in him be damned. By the time he shifted, I could be out of the restaurant and have Gram in my hands. He’d find me more than he could handle.

BAM!
I jerked back as Nidhogg brought her cane down on the table lengthwise, startling us all and scattering the dishes.

“I rule here,” she spat, poking a bony finger into Frederick’s chest. “And you survive due to my grace, and the strength and courage of this young woman and her clan.”

I sat back down, taking deep breaths, listening to She Who Must Be Obeyed defending me.

“This is not a debate. I am granting this woman my protection and my seal,” she took off a ring from her left hand and pushed it across the table at me.

I stared at it, shocked. I recalled that symbol from a dream I’d had a year ago, a dream where we had been branded by Nidhogg to prove that we were her chattel.

“Take it,” Qindra urged.

I looked up from the ring and the memories. Nidhogg looked at me with an air of maternal patience. Frederick had gone pale.

I reached out and closed my hand on the ring. It was warm to the touch, warm from where it has rested on her hand for as long as I’d known her.

“It is done,” Nidhogg said with a satisfying nod. “Sarah Jane Beauhall, I grant you rank and privilege in my domain equal to Qindra. While she is the mouth of She Who Must Be Obeyed—”

A shock wave careened around the room. There was power here, magic of an ancient form. The runes on my forehead flared to life and everything and everyone in the room shifted to clearer focus.

“You—from this moment forward—shall be my Fist.”

Silence filled the room. I don’t believe anyone breathed for a full thirty seconds. Mr. Philips swallowed loudly and pushed his chair back from the table. Frederick’s face was difficult to read—mainly shock, and maybe a little horror.

Qindra’s was a mixture of shock and pleasure.

I nodded, and Nidhogg turned back to Frederick.

“So shall it be,” she intoned, leaning forward toward Frederick.

There was an air of expectancy in the room. A calm before the clap of thunder.

“So shall it be,” he replied, his voice dry as a grave.

A bell sounded, deep and sonorous, three deep strikes before fading into oblivion. No one outside the room heard those ringing notes, however. I’d bet my life on it. This was magic deeper and older than anything I’d ever encountered.

Nidhogg clapped her hands twice, and a smattering of waiters came into the room and began clearing away the remains of our meal.

I pushed my chair back, my head spinning. I gripped the signet ring in my right hand and watched Frederick. He leaned in and began talking with Nidhogg in hushed whispers. Mr. Philips stepped away giving his master space, and the waiters left, leaving the two of them huddled across a cleared table.

Qindra walked over to me, pulled me up into a hug, and stood back, looking into my face.

“We’ll have to talk,” she said, smiling. “This is a game changer.”

Qindra and Mr. Philips walked me to my car. Qindra hugged me, promising we’d meet soon to go over what the hell had just happened and let me ask questions. Mr. Philips waited until Qindra walked back to stand by the door to the restaurant, waiting for him before speaking.

“Ms. Beauhall,” he began, his face as flat and expressionless as I’d ever seen on a human being. “Mr. Sawyer will be in touch about the particulars for your situation as it pertains to his territories. Please contact me if you have questions or if we may be of service to you in any manner.”

He held out a business card which I took and slipped into my jeans pocket.

“Your boss is a very strange individual,” I said.

He looked at me, considering his words. “I am aware that his actions are not what one would expect of a person of his position, but let us be perfectly clear, Ms. Beauhall. He is not a person. Not a human such as you or I. He is greater than that, greater than most in this world we find ourselves in.”

“Grander and more beautiful?” I asked, catching his vibe.

“Immeasurably so,” he agreed. “There is such compassion and glory within him that they overwhelm any sin he may commit.”

He believed it, would follow the dragon into the very fires of hell, I had no doubt. Too bad, truly. For while Frederick had shown great moments of loyalty and bravery, he was vain and self-serving. He did not deserve the love and loyalty of Mr. Philips. Sawyer’s wrath was awe inspiring, and in the end he took what he wanted and believed he was above the rest of us.

As much as the thought pained me, I had a fifty-fifty chance, as things stood, that I’d be hunting him down one day. Made me sad a little. Made me think of JJ, honestly. There had been good in him after all. Maybe Sawyer was evolving in his own way.

“Call if you require any assistance,” Mr. Philips said. He turned and walked back into the restaurant.

Qindra looked back at me, her hand on the door and paused as I strode toward her.

“Tell her,” I called to Qindra. “My people are safe, not to be touched.”

She looked at me curiously, as I closed the distance between us, so we wouldn’t have to shout. “Which ones are your people? Black Briar, the women at Circle Q, the fine folk at Flight Test?”

“Yes,” I said. “All of them. They are my clan. They have my protection.” When she didn’t say anything else, I pressed on. “And I don’t do anything I find morally reprehensible, and I don’t kill the innocent. I’ll be her
Fist
, but I will not become Jean-Paul. I will not commit atrocities.”

She studied me for a moment and nodded. “I told her you’d say as much.” She smiled. “She said those are the reasons she has chosen you. She does not need a hired killer, Sarah. She can make people disappear with a whim. No, she needs someone who is strong, who sees the world in a certain way.” She paused, collecting her thoughts.

“She says the wheel has been broken too long, Sarah. She believes it is within your power to set that to right.”

Lightning flashed in my mind. The old man, Joe or Odin, had told me the same. The wheel, always the wheel.