The Wielder: Sworn Vengeance (The Wielder Series) (20 page)

Apparently they have Karen holed up in Magerium headquarters
, which is near the village of Strelly in the Oldmoor Woods in the UK.  As Znuul shared with me, it doesn’t make much sense for him to crash into a wizard stronghold warded against his kind.

I
must agree.

Znuul offer
s me his services in creating a false ID for travel and I pass.  I figure being “on the grid,” would work to grease the skids for my entry into the Magerium. In this case it may be best if they see me coming.

“I’ve got nothing Arthur and that worries me
,” Znuul confides. “They have her buried deep and I don’t trust Alistair not to harm her.  Besides, we’re on the verge of finding Maldy.  If we kill him and don’t include her – we’ll both pay for it dearly – over and over.”

That
I feel is a bit of bluster.  Though maybe not far from the truth as Karen is formidable. But still, I think this mission is more out of his concern for Karen than worries for our well being.  At least that’s how I choose to view it.

We scope out the best flights
to merry old England.  The best flight is direct from Dubai to Heathrow.  Kitten will drive me to the airport and I’ll buy the tickets at a counter so I can’t be tracked to Znuul’s bunker.

I part ways with Znuul
so I can bring my team of summonlings together to share the plan.

After everyone is together in the large living room area, I share the plan – Arix and Pffif stay to work on the spell and mechanisms to find Maldy.  Everyone else will be with me.

That met with a little friendly difference of opinion from Pffif.

“Naa, I’ll be escortin’ ye through the airport and givin’ ye company and protection while invisibles.  Ye’ know ye donna wants to be alone there.  Ana
more so – I knows ye don’t. The kitten be takin’ me back after ye lift off safely.”

What do you say to that?

“Okay Pffif, thanks.”

That gets me a nod from the little man and a look from my succubus. 
Her look is not so much “I’ve got you’re back,” as much as it was “don’t send me away.”

I get it.

“The rest of you, I’ll call for you when I need you.  No sense in spending time in that limbo place.  When I need you, I’ll summon you. So just take your time here until I need you in the U.K. then.”

Vets
gives me a nod and a bow. Hjuul doesn’t even change posture – that tells me he’s Okay with it.  Shey just has that smiley look.  Sil breathes a sigh of relief.

Pffif asks
"When will we be going?" I let him know that will be as soon possible.

Luckily Znuul had someone ransack my place.  So, my passports are here.
Nice to have friends that are willing to break into your home and take your things on your behalf…

We leave for the airport and upon arrival I close my eyes tight and tell Kitten to do the same –
Pffiferil can’t go invisible with our eyes upon him.  I open my eyes and incant the true sight spell that Karen showed me that reveals Pffif and other magical irregularities in the world.  I look over and see the translucent visage of Pffif limed in green glowing framing.  I give him a wink so he knows I see him.

That gets a
thumbs up from the little guy – after all if he said something that would break the spell.

I say my good byes to Kitten
along with the obligatory hug and her emphatic “I want to meet Karen so bad, please bring her back to us!”

I exit the van with invisible Pffif in tow, which I have to admit does make me feel a little more secure. I make my way to the ticket counter and go about making my purchase of fare. I try not to giggle as Pffiferil is mocking the people around me silently.
  After a successful transaction, I head towards my gate with an invisible, sometimes dancing Pffiferil in tow.

Passing the corner, I stop.  Because something isn’t right. There is
what probably appears to be a small woman, but she in my true sight spell she is glowing green and around her appears to be wings and tail.  I divert my eyes. 

This is daytime – meaning t
hat is not a summoned demon.  That has to be one of the Dzemond that actually walk amongst us as flesh and blood – like Znuul.  She has two people in her company and they are talking. I recognize both of them – Clyde Smith and Yugoth.   I turn away, towards the concourse and try to make eye contact with Pffif, who is dancing around supposedly for my amusement.

I shoot a look over to Pffif, saying “come on
.” I start to round the corner, when I see the thing pretending to be a woman take bead on Pffiferil.  She says something to Clyde and Yugoth that I presume is, “get him!”

Crap
.

I round the corner out of their sight toward my departure gate and make a face a
t Pffif to let him know to come on. He follows diligently and I let him know he’s been seen.  His face is one of shock, then he collects himself and points to his arm.

I get it. My arm.  Send him away.  So I do.

I take refuge in one of the shops and place my back against a wall, grabbing a copy of “GQ” magazine for cover.

All is good.

That is until the familiar voice of Clyde Smith breaks my solitude. “Is that you, Arthur MacInerny?”  He steps in uncomfortably close and whispers, “Was that your Leprechaun?  The lady Jxsiga wishes us to bring him to her.”

This is not good.  Jxsiga is well up there on the
Protectorate’s most wanted list. She and her twin brother Fxsigim have accounted for an extreme body count of Protectorate heroes over the course of their 3,000 plus year history on our fair world.  Fxsigim has been off the grid for close to on4e hundred plus years and is presumed dead. Jxsiga has been off the grid for the last some fifteen years or so and the Protectorate, while not presuming her dead yet, has her in a “questionable” status.

There’s no question
about her status now.

I turn around to Clyde and note the wooden wand he is palming discreetly.  He is ready for battle. So I turn my
gaze from his foci to his eyes. “Yea that would have been Pffif, how are you doing Clyde?”

“I’d be doing better if I could bring her a leprechaun” he says whispering back to me.

I nod back to him in acknowledgement of that need. “He’s my summonling, you know I can’t do that. Besides, you know she’d figure that out anyway.  What else can I do for you Mr. Smith?”

“Nice of you to offer, Mr.
MacInerny.”

We stand there for a few moments in silence regarding one another.  Then Clyde slides his foci into a pock
et inside his jacket.

At least we won’t be throwing down in public.

“Well, Mr. MacInerny here we are again,” he says quietly. “I think I can handle this matter with the lady.  We’ll just have to hope that Yugoth doesn’t see you.  I think he’s still holding a grudge after what your succubus did to him.  Good fun, I thought… but he sees it differently.”

"
Yea.” I consider my next words. It seems Clyde isn’t looking to drag me to Jxsiga. But still, he is Grace and she is upper echelon of Grace. “So what now, Clyde?” 

“Keep you
rself away from Yugoth and keep me out of the drama. It’s difficult enough to have to deal with the lady herself. Having to deal with airport security, local officials and possibly United States foreign affairs holds no appeal to me.”

It must be tough being Clyde Smith.

I give him a wink. “Tell you what, I’d hate to have to deal with all of that too. Why don’t I disappear into the background, sneak onto my flight and not bother anyone.”

That gets me a grin and a slap on the shoulder. “
That is a plan I like. I’ll find Yugoth and lead him away from you.  Now, what gate are you leaving from?”

“B22”

That apparently isn’t a good answer.  I can tell by the grim turn of a look on Clyde’s face. He takes a step back and leans against the bookcase.  “We have a problem Arthur, you and the lady appear to be sharing a flight.” 

“Well, don’
t tell her that” is my answer.

Clyde
is not comfortable with my simple solution.  “Arthur, if you don’t mind me using your first name, I have had dealings with all whom the Protectorate call the flesh and blood, with the exception of Ahtsag Znuul.  The Lady in particular is one that always unnerves me. Maybe it’s because she’s Cubati, more than likely it’s because of her history of no mercy to those that do not perform to her expectations.  She can sniff a lie like nobody’s business. I will not be caught in one and have to deal with her – assuming I even could.  You know how many Protectorate and Grace have fallen before her and her psychotic brother, right?”

I do, somewhat. I’ve read the files.
Hundreds have fallen – wizard and warrior alike. They’ve even felled one of the earlier Swords of Balance – no little thing. So I give Clyde a nod that I understand the danger of the creature.  “So, Clyde, why not just tell her the truth then, I’m here just by freak circumstance.”

He takes a shallow breath and regards me.  “Hard to beat the truth, we’ll try that. You’ll need to
wait to board your gate until the last second. If you find yourself near her, avoid eye contact and don’t let her touch you unless you are versed in defense of neuromancy, which I assume you are.”

Well, he can assume that…

He tells me to follow him and we head back out into the concourse.  Almost as soon as we are there, there he grabs my arm strongly. “Let me deal with this.”

Far
down the concourse, Yugoth has spotted us.  He begins to make his way towards me with purpose.

“If he doesn’t listen to me Arthur, do what you need to defend yourself, preferably not in the public eye.
And preferably not resulting in his end.”  With that Clyde strides forward to meet Yugoth down the concourse.

I watch
as Clyde approachesYugoth in the concourse and I take in my surroundings for places to hide and call forth my helpers.  Clyde and Yugoth appear to talk for a moment. Yugoth suddenly brushes Clyde aside with great disregard and makes a direct line for me with nothing less than hate in his eyes.

Crapola
.

My
quick eyeball canvass of the area shows the men’s room as the best place off the beaten path. So I run there.  That’s right, just turn and run.

Once inside
I head to the very back and find a stall. I recall Shey to holding and then call her forth.  The air ripples and there she is in the stall with me.

“Big tainted
Yugoth coming. Get human, get tiny.” I tell her quietly.

“Get Vets” she tells me before reaching up to her hair
, shrinking into a tiny version of herself and buzzing upward.

I take her advi
ce and bring my warrior forward. Vets appears, donned in her armor and death’s head mask, looking ready to bring woe to any that stand before her.

“Tainted incoming
– Yugoth,” I tell her. “Be ready.”

She tells me “Get t
he succubus, she dealt with him well last time.”

I step out of the stall and back out into the
main area.  I hear Yugoth tell someone, “Get out” and hear their protests in another language.  I take refuge in another unused stall near Vets.  Not that I’m a coward. I just don’t really want to deal with airport security. And yes, they have cameras here, though not in the stalls.

I recall Silithes and call her forward.

Same message for her – “Yugoth, be ready.”  Unlike Shey and Vets that gets a roll of the eyes and a very non-plussed look.

“MACINERNY!” bellows Yugoth. I hear him telling people to get out of the bathroom.  There are some protests and from the sound of things; he’s basically throwing them out.

Great.  We’ll have privacy. That’s not what I want. I want witnesses. I want a buffer.

I step out of the stall and prepare myself.  He rounds the corner and looks at me with disdain. “Now you die parasite!”

I make sure to jump over to the whole over side of the bathroom and position myself
away from his direct line of action.

“Coward!” he bellows as he steps forward.

He doesn’t make it too far. Vets crashes through her stall door barreling into him and slamming him against the row of sinks.  She lands several crushing blows and is flung to the side.

The nex
t stall opens during the fracas and Sil steps forward, “Hey baby, remember me?”

Yugoth responds by growling
, “Tznok!” The following wall of force flings Sil backwards head over heels though the stalls she was standing in front of.

Damn, he’s a caster too.

Vets is not put off by that much at all, she immediately jumps back up, sword in hand and takes a cut at Yugoth, who rightly jumps backward into the sink area. She follows after him and comes flying back out, slamming into stalls as well, thanks to another wall of force spell.

“You can’t hide behind them forever you
insect!” Yugoth bellows.

I say nothing.  I have no gun. I have no knife.  He rounds the corner to the stall area and glowers at me, a ball of fire appearing in his hand. “Burn!” he shouts hurling the fireball at me.

I dive back into the sink area from the stall side rolling over to see the fireball explode the tile wall into flames. My eyes jump back to the other side of the sink area to see that Vets is back in the game, slamming into Yugoth and pushing him back against the opposite wall.  Vets’ elbows and fists are flying and opening wounds about Yugoth’s face.

As if that’s not enough, airport security has fin
ally caught up.  Two guards emerge and immediately draw their weapons on the strange armored creature trying to beat the snot out of the large man.

Yugoth pulls a swift move,
he sweeps Vets’ legs out and pushes her to the ground.  He looks over at security and in what I can only think is a moment of arrogance or stupidity holds his hand out and hits the guards with the wall of force, sending them flying pell-mell into the wall next to me.

I pick myself up and roll into the stall area.  “Shey!”

I don’t have to say anything else. With a cascade of her sparkling fairy dust she goes to normal size and lights to the ground next to me, a very serious look on her face and bow in hand.

Yugoth rounds the opposite corner and looks at us
, “Now you die.”

Sil explodes from the stall she crashed through and stands between us. “No
asshole, this is where you die.”

Yugoth’s face is one of surprise as his arm is grabbed by Vet’s armored hand and he’s dragged out of sight back to the sink area. Shey,
quick as a whip crack takes a rolling dive into the sink area, springing up with bow pulled back and arrow ready.  “Vets out of the way!” she yells.

The arrow
s lets loose. One followed by another, and another, and another in rapid succession. I step in and see Yugoth pinned to the wall, one silver arrow in each eye – one in his throat and one in the chest.  Sil rounds the corner with Vets’ sword in her hand and takes in Yugoth.

“Nice grouping
Twerp.”

That’s an understatement.

Then Sil slashes Vets’ sword and Yugoth’s body falls, his head still pinned to the wall.

Security is starting to come to their senses now.  I can only think of one thing to do.

“Demons! Oohtsig Snool is here! Ahh!”  then I run to the entry as if they are supposed to protect me.

Sil looks at me like “really?
”  Shey tiny sizes and buzzes away. Vets picks herself up. Security looks at me, then the demon girl and death-headed masked armored warrior.

Sil hands Vets her
sword, “This is yours” Then she turns to security. “I’m a demon…. grrr” in a tone that could only be described as seriously deadpan.

Security respond
s with gunfire and I slip out into the hallway. Quickly I send both Vets and Sil back into holding.  To the guards, it would be a demonic mystery. Goodness knows I didn’t want those two defending themselves against the guards.

I look across the concourse and Clyde’s eyes are on me. I just shake my head to let him know Yugoth didn’t make it. He nods back at me.

More security arrive - after all gunfire will do that.  I just try to look scared and sit down against the wall.  When security does get around to interviewing me, I just try to act traumatized and pepper them with “How do you know there won’t be more! Are we safe?”

Sometimes offense is the best defense.

Shey is very tiny and following me up by the ceiling out of most’s sight.  I make my way to the seating of the nearest concourse, followed by Clyde who quietly sits down next to me.

“He should have listened to me.”

I didn’t look at back at Clyde to respond. “Not one to listen, apparently.”

“This is certainly going to get the Lady’s attention, Arthur. Perhaps that will work in your favor – predators prefer to avoid strength. All the same, take this.”  He hands me a pen.

I look at it and through the true sight spell I have I can plainly see it is enchanted somehow. “What is this?” I have to ask. “Is it mightier than the sword?”

That gets a groan from Clyde.

“Actually it’s a frost wand. Ten charges.  To transform and engage it twist the cap back and forth twice, then push the top.  The wand’s trigger word is, ‘frezere.’  But I’d prefer you not use it.  I am going to tell the lady that it’s your sword.  She won’t know – she’ll just know it’s an enchanted transformed item.  Perhaps that will give her additional pause. Here’s my card, assuming you survive the flight, please send it back to me.”

“Thanks Clyde, I have to ask – why?”

That gets a sly smile. “Well, first I think you’re likeable.  Second, I think the lady is not.  Third, we are of a common purpose – ending this madness.  There are some of the flesh and blood that welcome the opening of this realm to their kind. Some others, prefer to be masters of their domain. Me, I don’t care for being told I am a lesser creature by either – whether I am or not.”

“Fair enough Clyde.”

“A man of few words,” he tells me with a smile.  “Now that fairy of yours hovering above us isn’t going to be a problem, is she?”

“No she will not
,” I say loud enough for her to get the message.

Clyde nods at me, pats me on the back and stands.  “Good luck on your flight.”

“Thanks Clyde.”  I take a deep breath as he walks away, knowing I have a challenge in front of me.