Authors: Nancy A. Collins
Left Hand Magic (22 page)
“I warned you it would end badly,” Lady Syra said from the driver’s seat.
“Someone from the family had to stand up and denounce what he’s trying to do,” Hexe replied. “It might not change Esau’s mind, but it could make a difference with some of his followers.”
“We’ll argue about which of us was less right or more wrong later on, when we don’t have your uncle’s croggies howling for your girlfriend’s blood.” Lady Syra turned to the centauride. “Get us out of here, Illuminata!”
The female centaur obeyed by swinging her shining white mace in a wide arc, opening enough room for her to gallop through the angry throng, the royal phaeton jouncing along behind her. As we neared the far end of the alley, there came the sound of wings beating through the air, and a shadow fell across Illuminata’s snowy flanks.
The centauride gave an equine scream of pain as the familiar Edgar, in demonic form, swooped down and dug his talons below the hem of her chain-mail tunic, where her human torso met with her horse’s withers.
Lady Syra shouted something in Kymeran and a bolt of white energy leaped from her right hand, striking the familiar. There was an angry shriek and the smell of singed feathers, and the devil-bird abandoned his attack, flying off with a single flap of his monstrous wings. Illuminata continued to make good her escape, despite the crimson rivulets running down her milk white forelegs.
As we finally exited onto the open street, I turned to look behind us and saw Esau standing on the roof of Hodgson Hall, his arms folded across his chest, his familiar perched on his left shoulder.
Chapter 17
O
nce we were safely away, Illuminata dropped down from a gallop to a trot. Lady Syra turned to look at me with obvious displeasure.
nce we were safely away, Illuminata dropped down from a gallop to a trot. Lady Syra turned to look at me with obvious displeasure.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Hexe. You should have known better than to bring a human to such a gathering.”
“It’s not his fault,” I explained. “It was my idea to sneak in there. He didn’t even know I was in the building.”
“It doesn’t matter
whose
idea it was or wasn’t—it was still a stupid one!” she exclaimed in exasperation. “You could have been seriously hurt! What were you thinking?”
whose
idea it was or wasn’t—it was still a stupid one!” she exclaimed in exasperation. “You could have been seriously hurt! What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that all my life I’ve been looking for the place I belong, and I’ve finally found it in Golgotham. If Esau and his croggies are going to try and force the humans out, I want to know what I’m up against.”
“You didn’t need to go so far as to infiltrate an anti-nump rally!” Hexe said tersely. “I would have told you what happened when I got home.”
“How was I to know that?” I countered defensively. “You said you weren’t going to the damned thing!”
“I was afraid if I said anything about it to you, you’d insist on accompanying me!”
“Damn straight, I would have!” I shot back. “You know I don’t believe in quietly knitting by the fireside.”
“Now, now, children,” Lady Syra said, holding up her hands for quiet. “This is neither the time nor the place for your first lovers’ quarrel.” She turned to look at me for a long moment and then shook her head. “I don’t know whether to condemn you for your stupidity or commend you for your bravery, my dear. Either way, that hair color definitely does
not
suit you.”
not
suit you.”
Lady Syra dropped us off at the boardinghouse, stopping only long enough for Hexe to run inside and fetch a healing salve for the lacerations on Illuminata’s back.
“Thank you for what you did back there,” he said as he handed the ointment to the centauride. “It could have gotten really ugly.”
“I only did as my lady commanded,” she replied humbly. “It is my honor to serve her, as, Chiron willing, one day it will be my honor to serve you.”
“Stop trying to butter up the next boss,” Lady Syra chided. “You’re not going to be rid of me anytime soon.”
“By the way, Mother, before you leave, do you mind telling me how you not only knew I might need help making a speedy getaway, but also that Illuminata should break out her ceremonial armor?”
“A contact in the PTU informed me of the raid on Hodgson Hall,” Lady Syra replied, appearing flustered by her son’s question. “I deemed it wise for my driver to dress for the occasion. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I must return home and tend to Illuminata’s wounds.”
Scratch was waiting for us inside the door, as always, his hairless tail upraised like a living question mark. He gave a wary growl as he sniffed the air. “I smell brimstone and feathers.”
“That would be Edgar,” Hexe replied as he hung up his jacket. “We had a little run-in with him earlier.”
“That overglorified feather duster?” Scratch grumbled. “What was he doing? Pecking at his reflection in a mirror?”
“He attacked the royal carriage.”
The familiar’s eyes widened in surprise. “So ol’ Esau is finally taking off the gloves.”
“It would appear so,” Hexe said with a sigh.
“This could get very interesting.” Scratch grinned, licking his lips. “It’s been generations since the last palace coup.”
“That’s because there’s no palace anymore, just a condo,” Hexe pointed out.
I headed upstairs to take Beanie out of his crate. The moment I walked into Hexe’s bedroom, he began scratching at the door of his kennel.
“Mommy’s home, sweetie! Are you glad to see Mommy?”
Beanie replied with an excited little yap that was his way of saying
Yes, I’m glad you’re home. Let me out
now
!
Yes, I’m glad you’re home. Let me out
now
!
As I opened the crate, I heard a knock on the front door. I scooped up the puppy and looked over the balustrade at Hexe, who was standing at the foot of the stairs.
“I’ll see to that,” he said firmly. “You stay up there—just in case it’s one of your ‘admirers’ from the rally.”
I leaned against the newel post on the landing, listening to Hexe as he opened the front door while Beanie licked my face.
“Please forgive me for calling at this hour, Serenity. . . .”
I exhaled in relief as I heard Captain Horn’s voice, and promptly hurried downstairs to see why the head of the PTU was stopping by in the middle of the night.
Horn was in the front parlor, awkwardly perched on the purple velour sofa, with Hexe seated in the chair opposite him. As I entered the room, Captain Horn got to his feet and removed his hat, revealing close-cropped maroon hair.
“Hello, Ms. Eresby. Please forgive the lateness—” He stopped in midsentence and smiled as he saw Beanie tucked under my arm. “Well, hello, li’l fellow!” Beanie wiggled in delight as Horn scratched him behind the ears; then he nibbled on the PTU officer’s fingers.
“Beanie! Stop that!” I scolded.
“I don’t mind at all, Ms. Eresby,” Horn chuckled as he resumed his seat, wiping the puppy slobber off with a handkerchief. “I had a gargoyle when I was a lad, too.”
“So, Captain, what brings you to my home at this hour?” Hexe asked pointedly.
“Come, now, you know perfectly well why I’m here,” Horn replied with a good-natured smile. “I saw you and your lady friend take the side door out of Hodgson Hall with my own eyes.”
“You know we were at the rally, then.”
“Yes. And I know
why
you were at the rally,” Horn said. “It was brave of you to call out your uncle the way you did. There aren’t many in Golgotham willing to stand up to Esau right now.”
why
you were at the rally,” Horn said. “It was brave of you to call out your uncle the way you did. There aren’t many in Golgotham willing to stand up to Esau right now.”
“How do you know about that?” Hexe asked in surprise.
“There were a couple of undercovers in the audience, keeping tabs on things,” Horn explained. “I had Lieutenant Vivi and the rest of the PTU waiting down the block, in case trouble broke out. We swung into action when we got word Esau was using a human as a living yo-yo. I had no idea it was Ms. Eresby, at the time—though I really shouldn’t be surprised. She does have a knack for finding herself in the thick of things, if I remember correctly.”
“You’re my mother’s contact at the PTU,” Hexe said, realization suddenly dawning in his golden eyes.
Horn nodded his head. “Lady Syra is a very old, very dear friend of mine. And as a loyal Kymeran, I would do almost anything for both her and the royal family. Including turning a blind eye to the fact that you have been harboring an unlicensed shape-shifter in your boardinghouse for several months.”
“You know about Lukas?” I gulped.
“Of course I do.” Horn chuckled. “There is very little that goes on in Golgotham that does not reach my ear at one point or another. As for Lady Syra, when I discovered that you were actively confronting your uncle at the rally, I contacted her immediately. I am glad you and Ms. Eresby were able to get out of that madhouse in one piece.” The PTU chief leaned forward, his voice becoming serious. “Your uncle is stirring a very toxic cauldron, Hexe. The people of Golgotham are scared and anxious. And when people are scared, they can be manipulated into doing things they normally would never countenance. Esau understands that, and he is exploiting the riot and this Sons of Adam business to force his way onto the Council and gain a platform on which to run for mayor.”
“I agree with your assessment of my uncle’s agenda, Captain,” Hexe replied. “But I don’t think you made a special trip just to get my opinion of Esau’s political aspirations.”
Horn sat back, eyeing Hexe like a gambler studying a racing form. “You’re very direct. Just like your grandfather, Lord Eben. Unlike him, however, you are far more comfortable interacting with, shall we say, the
lower
orders of Golgotham society.”
lower
orders of Golgotham society.”
“If that is a polite way of saying that some of my friends and clients are unrulies, then, yes, that is true,” Hexe replied.
“The PTU could use someone like you right now. Someone who can use his contacts on the street to keep tabs on the KUP, and give us a heads-up as to what they’re planning.”
Hexe shifted about uncomfortably, and when he finally spoke, his voice was uncharacteristically stern. “I have made it clear that I find my uncle’s misanthropy odious, and consider his little tea party to be a pathetically transparent means of manipulating others in order to grab power. Will I publicly refute him? Yes. Will I fight against what he’s trying to do? Most certainly. But I refuse to spy on him, whether for you, the PTU, or the Council.
“Not out of any lingering familial responsibility toward Esau himself, but simply because, despite everything he’s done, my mother still loves her brother. If she ever found out I conspired against him—and believe me, she
would
find out—it would break her heart. And that is something I will
never
be party to.”
would
find out—it would break her heart. And that is something I will
never
be party to.”
“I understand perfectly, Serenity,” Horn said as he levered himself off the couch. “I’ll take my leave now. Good night, Ms. Eresby. Have your friend, Lukas, stop by my office in the next day or two, and I’ll see that he gets registered and receives a proper license to live in the city.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said gratefully. “That’s very kind of you.”
“It’s the least I can do for a survivor of the Malandanti’s fighting pit.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you, Captain,” Hexe said as he opened the door. “I trust you understand my reasons for not wanting to be involved in spying on my uncle. I do not intend any disrespect.”
“You’re a good son, Hexe,” Horn replied with a sad smile. “And you’re right: It
would
break her heart.”
would
break her heart.”
Chapter 18
I
love taking showers with the man in my life. Always have, always will. It fosters an intimacy even greater than lovemaking, as it combines the sensuality and vulnerability of naked flesh with the bonding of mutual grooming. It’s been my experience that people are at their most honest and real when they’re covered in soap.
love taking showers with the man in my life. Always have, always will. It fosters an intimacy even greater than lovemaking, as it combines the sensuality and vulnerability of naked flesh with the bonding of mutual grooming. It’s been my experience that people are at their most honest and real when they’re covered in soap.
“You know, my heart nearly stopped when I realized it was you Esau was dangling from the rafters,” Hexe said as he shampooed the temporary dye from my hair. “I’m still a little ticked off that you lied to me.”
I wiped the soap out of my eyes and glanced over my shoulder. “But you did the exact same thing.”
“That’s different,” he protested.
“Why? Because you’re a
man
?”
man
?”
“No. Don’t be silly,” he replied. He motioned to the amulet I still wore about my neck. “I lied to protect you. I have magic. I can defend myself. Your lie put you in real danger. That gladeye I gave you is only good against curses. It can’t protect you against levitation spells or a fistful of hellfire.”
“I realize that now. But I didn’t lie to you for the thrill of it. I realize there is a certain amount of risk that comes with living in Golgotham. I knew that infiltrating Esau’s rally was dangerous, but I did it anyway because I believed it was important for me to see with my own two eyes what I was up against. You have to stop treating me like I’m a tourist, Hexe. Believe it or not, I know what the score is.”
“But you don’t have magic. . . .”
“Neither does Kidron or Giles Gruff, and they seem to get along just fine,” I countered. “In fact, I’ve lived my entire life up to now without magic. Not being able to sling spells and cook up potions shouldn’t change how I think or live my life, any more than your inability to sculpt or use a blowtorch should impact yours. I could just as easily get hit by a car while I’m crossing Broadway as be cursed, you know. I just have to keep my eyes open and be aware of my surroundings to make sure neither of those things happens. Granted, tonight wasn’t the
greatest
idea I’ve ever acted on—but now that I know what I’m up against, I won’t be making the mistake of letting anyone with a KUP membership pin anywhere near me again.”
greatest
idea I’ve ever acted on—but now that I know what I’m up against, I won’t be making the mistake of letting anyone with a KUP membership pin anywhere near me again.”
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