The Wielder: Sworn Vengeance (The Wielder Series) (26 page)

I don’t really
want to hear any of this from Alistair. I don’t think Karen does either.

“In
the future, Karen” says Frederick “You may wish to use a closed fist and put more hip into your blows.”

That at least got her to smile.

Being in between her and Alistair, I realize some lessons are best learned with demonstration. I turn and blast Alistair’s jaw with my right hand.

He
crumples like a used paper cup before its thrown to the garbage.

“Fist like that
?  Hips like that?” I ask Frederick.

I hold my hands up and
step away, now having a nasty wand and several guns trained on me.

Frederick
says nothing but beams a smile at me two miles wide. “I should heal our leader:” he says eventually, leaning down to Alistair.  “Holy father! I lay my hands upon this man in need, help me heal his wounds!”  With that he lays hands upon Alistair who bolts up.

Before he c
an say a word, Frederick has Alistair’s attention and nods “no” to him.

There is a silence around the room, I’m sure partly from my indiscretion and partly from how weird this whole situation is.

I break the silence.

“Kare
n, I need you. I’m hunting the Collector and have good leads. Leave this place and come with me – let’s get the bastard who killed Grey.”

“Znuul is the one who is
responsible for Grey’s death,” Alistair responds.

I have to be careful
. They can’t know I’m aligned with Znuul.  “Hey, maybe Znuul was involved, but The Collector paid the bills to make it happen.  And that son of bitch must die for what he did to my family… and hers. Karen… I need you. And you aren’t doing much good here in a chemical coma.”

She looks at me, albeit confused now.  I just look back and say
, “come on, you need this too.”

“Karen if you leave us, you forsake y
our role in the Magerium,” bellows Alistair.

Edgar doesn’t miss a beat
, “Your uncle who’s been kicked out of the Magerium long ago offers you a home.”

If looks could kill, A
listair just slayed Edgar, however that’s not the case.

I take her
gently by the arm and turn her towards me, “Come on, join me. You know it’s the right thing to do.”

She nods.  Al
istair tells her she’s as good as kicked out of the Magerium.

“That’s your loss A
listair,” she tells him in return. “I’m leaving with Arthur – I need to do something other than just rot here for my own protection.”

There
is some argument over whether she should be allowed to leave. Karen settles that with a “Am I a prisoner for committing no crime?”

That settled that.

We make our way back up to the surface without Alistair’s company. Apparently he has had enough.  Once outside and in the open air, Karen falters. Christophe and I are there to catch her.   We help her to the crawlers which shuttle us back to the parking area.

We
get her to the van and assist her to the front seat.  Shey was immediately upon her with hugs and warm words.

“We’ll meet back at the hotel
,” offers Edgar.

“No we won’t
,” I correct him.

That
statement gets me a look of confusion. So I explain to him my plan which is to get her out of the country as soon as possible and to my place in New Orleans.  To Edgar’s credit he offers to share the Techno’s jet and I accept.  We agree to meet tomorrow at Heathrow and fly out to New Orleans.

Damn, he’s a good man.

I get into the van and pull us out.  Karen looks like shit. Her eyes are sunken, hair greasy and she’s probably lost ten pounds she had no business losing. She is obviously past the rage of her incarceration and now just in thought. From what I can tell, really dark, bad thoughts.

“Arthur, do you thin
k Ahtsag is really behind all this?”

Shit. Crap.
Damn. I can’t answer this question as I know we are being scryed or otherwise monitored.  The car following behind me helps clarify the situation too. We are being tailed.

“By the gods Arthur!” comes Sil’s voice from the back.

I look back to see her digging into her purse and pulling out a lipstick.  She uses that lipstick to draw some glyphs on the roof of the car, then follows with that snake-like phrase.

The familiar feeling of air pressure in my ears lets me know she just sealed the cabin from outside listening.
That got Karen’s attention too. Sil reaches out from the backseat and takes Karen’s arm.

“Honey, he’s had nothing to do with any of this. He sent
our Arthur to come get you. You need to set those thoughts free – you haven’t been betrayed. We’re bringing you back to him.”

Karen’s reac
tion is to mutter “oh my God.” Her whole posture relaxes and for the first time she actually smiles.”I knew it,” she tells me excitedly “I knew it.”

I fe
el so good being able to say “Yes you did.” 

Then after a few moments
of telling us about all the differences in the imposter she thought she saw, she turns to look back at Sil, “Thank you Silithes, you have no idea the relief knowing this gives me.”

“
You’re welcome,” Sil responds. “But actually I had a pretty good idea about that.”

We colle
ct our things from the hotel and take some time for a brief round of good-bye’s. Then we head out for Cambridge where Karen’s flat is. I figure she has things she wants.  Not the least being able to get out of that godforsaken house coat they have her in.

There
isn’t even a smidgen of red on it.

Karen wanted to take time with a shower and all that.  I
can see that, but ask her to wait until we settle at a new hotel.  This point of view gets me a small tongue-lashing from Sil, but that was settled with reminding her that the place is most likely bugged. 

All agree
we should just get the heck out…

After a short while, Karen appear
s with a duffle over her shoulder, wearing jeans and a more Karen-esque red t-shirt.  In her other hand is a small leather cache.  She pitches it to Sil, who snatches it one handed out of the air.

“Mage power recovery potions
,” offers Karen.

Sil opens the top of the cache and looks
in it.  “Yummy blue stuff, thank you.”

Karen looks over to me
, “Nobody wants to be around a hungry succubus. No offense Silithes.”

I concur. Sil
concurs, "I don't care much for being hungry either."

We all pile into the van and head towards London.  I leave the decision of the lodgings up to the group. Sil’s vote is for
something super-luxurious because, as she puts it “Karen needs a change from the dungeon view.”

Sheyliene just want
s me to get us another “honeymoon suite.”  This little bit of exaggeration gets Karen’s interest. An earful from tiny Shey follows about the original honeymoon suite, us, and how good it really is.

Karen shoots me looks in-between
Shey’s most generous sharing that are something like, “Oh really.” At least she’s smiling - even if it’s at my expense.

The group agree
s upon luxury. When Shey and Sil are on the same page, I’m not one to interfere with the harmony. The Four Seasons is agreed upon by all. I feel the drain on my bank account coming.  But, what good is money if you don’t use it?  Karen calls ahead and reserves us three rooms.

I think to the damage Vets will do on room service and shudder.

A few hours pass and we pull into our very nice, very expensive hotel. For a penny-pincher, I’ve sure lost my touch. I stroll up to the check in desk and announce myself.

“
Yes, Mr. McHenry, the clerk says stiffly in his very British accent. I have your reservation right here… three standard rooms.”

I am brushed to the side by Sil, who is leaning over the counter giving the young man checking me in a nice view of her ample upper assets.

“That’s a really nice watch,” she says, “Can I see it?”

Before I can do a thing, she has her hands on his and judging by the look on his face, she’s working him with her succubus wiles. “
I’ve never seen a watch like that...  And your hands are sooo soft. Hey, my friend over there has had a really bad couple of weeks, are there any room upgrades you can get her?”

Poor desk guy, his libido is being hijacked.

He stammers a bit and catches Sil’s eyes full on, “Umm, there’s maybe something I can do.”

“That would be great, something with a jetted tub… she’s had it real hard.”

When she put his finger in her mouth, I kind of figure it's over. I just give her my credit card and walk back to the group. I really don't need to see any more.

After a
while, Sil rejoins us, handing us all room cards. She makes a special presentation to Karen.  “You have a very nice room, with a steam shower and jetted tub, I expect you to pamper yourself and rejuvenate after all this business. Now, there’s a certain desk clerk who wants to show me a small dark room.”

“She’s going to eat him
,” Shey shares.

Karen looks at
Sil with some concern.

“Don’t worry, only a certain part of him” Then she sticks her tongue in her cheek, making a very lewd look
that lets us know what fate would befall the desk clerk. Sil turns and leaves us.

I don’t think he’s going
to mind what Sil does to him one bit.

For a standard room, mine is very nice. Shey is bouncing on the bed, not
so much as to try it out as I think she just likes bouncing on beds. In fact, I know that’s the case.

Vets
joins us shortly after.  A little while later, there’s a knock on the door and Karen joins us as well.

“Th
at room is huge. And quite posh,” Karen shares.

Shey of course has to have all the details, so Karen leaves with her to show her the goods.

When they return, Shey gushes about Karen's room – apparently it’s almost as nice as the honeymoon suite.  Shortly after that, there’s a knock on the door and Sil rejoins the group.

“Ok, dinner pla
ns… I’m suggesting room service,” I announce to the group.

“I’m hardly presentable at all
, that sounds good,” says Karen “And that being said, I don’t want to stay in that big room alone.  I’ve been in a room all alone long enough.”

Shey
is quick to volunteer, but, Karen is equally as quick to decline, citing that she’d hate to separate Shey and I.

I tell
her it’s okay, just for this short while.

But
Karen throws us all a curve.  “Silithes why don’t you stay with me?  We’ve never spent time together.  Maybe it’s time we get to know each other?”

Shey remind
s Karen that she once mentioned she didn't care for the Cubati as a whole.  Karen acknowledges that statement. “But you know, Silithes has been rather nice and seems somehow different. I’ve never taken time with her, I think it’s time to get to know her a little. Besides, I am a sorceress of some skill, Sheyliene.  I don’t think she wants to test that.”

“Cool
,” says Sil.  “We’ll make it a spa night - do facials, mani-pedi’s and gossip about the men in our lives.” 

Sil holds her hand out
, “Card Arthur, we’ll need supplies.”

We ordered our in-room feast, well at least Vet’s was
a feast. Shey was happy with salad and fruit. Sil and Karen left literally hours ago. Sitting here watching the television, catching up on current events is just about depressing. I float the idea by the group of heading down to the bar to catch a few celebratory drinks. Pffiferil would be so bummed to miss out on drinks…

I half expect to find Sil and Karen at the bar, Sil holding court and Karen… well not as much. The thought of Sil running wild and free with my credit card sinks in and I reach over to the house phone to call their room.

Three rings and Sil picks up with a hushed voice, “Yes?”

“How about my card?”

“She’s sleeping.”

“My credit card?”

“Knock real softly.”

“We’re going to the bar, meet us there?”

“Just come up, I’ll give you the card…” The phone clicks off.

“What has she done now
,” asks Shey.

“No telling, Karen’s sleeping – that’s all I got.”

We grab the elevator and go up to the seventh floor and over to their room.  I make sure to knock softly. The door opens and Sil steps out into the hall, handing me the credit card.

“All dressed up?” is Shey’s comment on the fact
that Sil’s wearing that blue clingy robe again, apparently with nothing else – as usual.

“
Shh...” she says preemptively, “It’s pajama wear and comfy.”

“
You two want to join us, when she wakes up,” I respond in a still quiet tone.

That gets an “umm, I don’t know
,” from Sil.  I smell the credit card for smoke.

“We’ll be at the bar, celebration drinks.” I catch myself
continuing to speak real hushedly too.

“Someone needs to be here when she wakes.  We got her all bathed and cleaned up, then she just fell out. She’ll be starving, I’m sure.”

That makes sense to me.

So, w
e pile back in the elevator and make our way down to the very civilized bar of the Four Seasons.  We settle in to some nice seats with a view over Hyde Park and I order us a round of Scotch, neat, from the attentive wait staff.

Our drinks arrive and I hold up my glass to toast the group – “Here’s to you two and for a safe homecoming.
New Orleans here we come.”

The spicy warm goodness has bare
ly coated my throat when I almost spit it back up due to the voice behind me.

“In a hurry to leave Merry Old London
?” is a voice that can’t be anyone other than Clyde Smith’s. He steps around to face me.  Shey is bowing up.  Vets appears relaxed, but I know her – it’s a front, she’s ready to pounce.

“You sure make a mess wherever you go, Mr. MacInerny – that little business in Nottingham will go down in the annals, I’m sure.”

His smile is disarming. His tone is calm. I’m totally on edge, trying to scan for others.

“What are you drinking
,” he inquires.

“Glenlivet”

“We can do better. I’ll get us a round of something more befitting the circumstances and myself a chair.”

Clyde
walks off towards the bar.  Vets nods to me to let me know she’s ready. “This is our time!” is Shey’s position on the matter.

Clyde scoots a chair around and our waiter delivers four golden glasses to us. Clyde takes bead on Vets. “Now, you’re one of those Cats-
a-gars? Right?”

Vets corrects
him. "It’s Vetisghar."

“No offense. I assume your sense of smell and taste is pretty evolved. Smell the Glenlivet
Arthur ordered.  Then smell the Lagavulin.  Taste each the same way.  Compare. You’ll get a good understanding of what good scotch is all about.”

I have to add my two cents
, “Whichever one is better for you, is the one better for you.”

“How’s about my pen-wand Arthur?” He holds his hand out.

Crap.

“Well, uh...”

“Ah, left it in the room… probably in the safe given how valuable it is.  Why don’t you go fetch it, I’ll keep the fine ladies here company
and in drinks.”

Double c
rap.

“Well, uh Clyde, uh… the lady kind of took it.
She said she was going to get it back to you.”

Clyde lets loose with a wicked little laugh
, “So I heard. She’s not really happy with me, but then – when is she?”

“Stringing me on.  Nice.” I put down my
Glenlivet and raise the glass of Lagavulin to him.

“Thank you” he says “
You really do squirm well.”

“So
is this circumstance we meet again Clyde?”

Clyde takes
a sip of the scotch whiskey. “No, I’m here to recruit you - and Karen. So, food and drinks on the Grace.” He nods his head and takes another sip, “Speaking of the red one, I hear they treated her in a most atrocious manner. I would sure like to have a few words with her.”

“She’s sleeping.  Sil’s guarding her. Might check
with her over morning breakfast, unless you want to deal with Sil in guard dog mode.”

Heck, we’re being recruited and it
’s not involving being kidnapped or vaguely threatened – might as well return the courtesy.  It must be the scotch… “Try her in the morning” I offer.

He nods acknowledgement then shifts the subject maste
rfully. “So, Vets isn’t it? Which do you prefer?”

“The first one.”

“Then we must try another.” He holds up his hand and asks the waiter to bring a round of Talisker, then he trains his eye back on me. “You know it’s funny that the Destroyer of Hope and Devourer of Souls hasn’t been leaving a trail of sucked dry dead human husks lying about.  Or that he hasn’t brought about the disease, pestilence and hell fire he was so famous for. Why is that you think?”

Fishing. I know it. And
I’m not falling for it either.

“
Two answers,” I tell him. “Either it’s not him or he’s Maldy’s puppet and only doing as he’s told.”

We enjoy a quiet pause, which means Shey has to pipe up. “He’s trying to get us drunk.”

“Yes I am. Recruitment is one the part of my job I truly enjoy” says Clyde toasting her.

The next round arrives. I think I’ll let Clyde do his job. That would be the civilized thing after all.
  And we can use the break.

"So, Clyde, we should have something
to nosh on too, don't you think?"

"Indeed sir,
let us get a menu," he says back to me lifting his glass.