Lycans and Legends

Chapter 25: Always Toward the Danger

Grand-mère was humming as she worked in the garden. The rich scents of soil filled the air. Though it was still cool, the trees in Vesta’s Grotto had already bloomed with chartreuse-colored leaves and pink-and-white blossoms.

“What are you planting?” I asked as I approached.

“Oranges and lemons!” Grand-mère exclaimed, nearly tossing her trowel into the air. “You nearly scared me to death. Why are you sneaking around like that?”

“I’m not sneaking.”

“Well, you didn’t have to come up on me so light-footed.”

“Sorry. Occupational hazard. I’ll tromp next time.”

Grand-mère muttered under her breath in French then paused to study me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…well, no. That’s not true. Not nothing.”

Where to start?

Grand-mère set her hand on her chest. “Oh, my Clemeny, don’t tell me you’ve called it off with the professor now. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. I’ll need to pay a visit to Quinn. You have to get sorted out—”

“No, Grand-mère. Everything is fine between myself and Professor Spencer. There was an incident at work.”

“Incident?”

“A number of agents were injured…including Agent Greystock.”

Grand-mère set down her tools and began pulling off her work apron. “Where is she?”

“You can’t do anything right now,” I said, setting my hand on her arm. “She’s at Buckingham. Her Majesty’s people are seeing to those who were hurt.”

“And Harper? And Agent Hunter?”

“Agent Hunter was wounded as well, but he’s recovering. Harper is there with the others.”

Grand-mère frowned heavily. “I’m glad you’re all right. Do you know what happened?”

“There was an attack on the agency headquarters. We’ll be handling it.”

“We? Oh, no, my girl. This sounds very dangerous. You can’t go. Tell them you have a fever. Yes. That should work. Tell them you can’t come because you have a fever.”

“Grand-mère, I can’t tell them I have a fever. I—”

“Yes, that is exactly what you’ll tell them. You’ll stay here in bed. You look tired anyway—”

“Grand-mère, I can’t tell them I have a fever because Her Majesty promoted me to director.”

At that, Grand-mère stopped. She stared at me for a long moment. Clapping the dirt off her hands one last time, she linked her arm with mine, then we headed in the direction of the house.

“I’ll make you a filet. Whatever you need to do, my dear, you’ll do better with a little meat in your stomach. Eliza always told me you’d replace her one day. And now…well, if Her Majesty has faith in you, I won’t get in the way. But I’m not sending you out there to fight on an empty stomach.”

“I hardly have time—”

“Come.”

“Yes, Grand-mère,” I replied with a grin.

My grandmother pinched my cheek but said nothing more.

* * *

After Grand-mère felt reassured I was adequately fed, she let me go.

“I still say it’s too cold for the steamcycle,” she said, shaking her head, her hands on her hips as she watched me top off the fluids on the cycle.

“I’m not disagreeing. It's just that Harper has the auto and the agency transport is compromised.”

“And where are you going, exactly?”

“Glastonbury,” I replied.

“Again?”

“Yes.”

“And just what’s in Glastonbury that’s so important?”

Druids. Gateways to the Otherworld. The mythical land of Avalon. Probably a few monsters.

“We expect our mark to be there,” I said.

Because I was going to make sure he followed me there.

“Stay in the grotto until I get back. Don’t wander about the city right now. It isn’t safe.”

“But I’m expected at Saint Clement Danes.”

“Send a note. I know, tell them you have a fever.”

“Clemeny.”

“I’m not joking. Stay in the grotto.”

Grand-mère sighed. “All right. When you see Eliza, tell her I’ll come to her as soon as I can.”

I nodded then kissed Grand-mère on the cheek. “Be safe,” I told her.

“You too. I love you, my Clemeny.”

“I love you too,” I said then slipped on the cycle

Grand-mère shook her head. “You’re going to freeze.”

“It’s only until I get to the airship.”

“Airship! Don’t forget the ginger.”

“Never,” I said with a grin then turned on the cycle. It heaved and knocked as the pipes warmed then let out a puff of steam. Pulling down my goggles, I gave Grand-mère a wave then headed across town to Temple Square.

In my rearview mirror, I watched Grand-mère close and lock the gate to the grotto.

Assured of her safety, I pulled the amulet out from under my shirt and let it dangle from my neck.

“All right, Melwas,” I said to the absent prince. “Come and get me.”

* * *

I pulled the steamcycle into Temple Square. The place was busy. As soon as one of the wolves spotted me, he rushed into the hall. Lionheart exited immediately thereafter.

“Clemeny,” he said as he moved to meet me. “We just heard.”

I nodded. “Red Cape headquarters was attacked,” I said. “Several agents were injured. Melwas was after something.”

“Did he get it?”

“Unfortunately.”

Lionheart eyed the pendant. “That’s new.” He reached out to touch it but pulled his hand back. “What is that?” he asked, a low growl in his voice.

“A faerie gem. And the last piece of the device Melwas needs.”

“Why is it hanging around your neck?”

“Because I’m about to take an airship back to Glastonbury. I’m hoping Melwas will follow.”

Lionheart frowned. “I understand that Conklin was in on the attack.”

I nodded. “Unfortunately. Acwellen and two of his pack brothers are dead.”

Lionheart frowned. “The city is upside down. The packs and every other damned thing are stirred up.”

I nodded. “The Red Capes are coming. I asked them to give the Templars leeway.”

“Very good. I’ll inform Blackwood then get my things.”

“I thought…you’re needed here.”

“Victoria put a noose around your neck. There is no way I’m letting you out of my sight.”

“Richard,” I said, taking his hand. “I’ll be all right. Agent Rose, Constantine, and the Pellinores will come with me to—”

Lionheart set his hand on my cheek. “I know you’ll be all right, but Clemeny…”

I knew him well enough to know he still blamed himself for what happened to Bryony. But I wasn’t Bryony. And there was someone else to consider.

“I must go. I have to get this out of the city. Richard, I know you want to be with me, but Jericho… We can’t leave him alone, not with so much danger everywhere.”

Lionheart inhaled slowly as he thought over my words. After a moment, he nodded. “I will come with you to the airship towers.”

“I need to be there soon.”

Lionheart pulled out his pocket watch. “I’ll talk to Blackwood now.”

“Where is Jericho?” I asked.

“In the garden pretending to study,” Lionheart replied, pointing over his shoulder. I turned toward the garden while Lionheart headed to Middle Hall. I could hear the sound of a ball bouncing even before I arrived. The book and notepaper lay forgotten on a bench not far away. Picking up the forgotten tome, I read the title aloud, “The Adventures of King Arthur and His Knights.”

Jericho jumped, startled by the sound of my voice, then turned and looked at me. To my surprise, I saw the glimmer of red in his eyes.

“Clemeny. You startled me.”

“Sorry about that. How’s the book?”

Jericho snorted.

I chuckled. “I was never the scholarly type either. But The Adventures of King Arthur and His Knights sounds like a good one.”

“I liked the story about the sword.”

“Excalibur?”

Jericho nodded. “King Arthur was just an orphan. Everyone was always mean to him. And then one day, the Lady of the Lake gave Excalibur to Arthur, and he used it to protect the whole country.”

I looked down at the tattered text, a swell of mixed emotions rising up in me. “It’s a nice fairy tale.”

“Fairy tale? Sir Richard told me it was a history lesson.”

“I suppose that depends on whether or not you believe King Arthur was a real king, or if he’s just a fable.”

“Of course he was a real king,” Jericho told me, his voice filled with exasperation. “What is it that you’re wearing?”

“Speaking of fairy tales.” I lay the pendant in my hand. “Listen. Can you hear it?”

“What is that?”

“It’s a faerie gem.”

“Something about that stone isn’t right.”

I nodded. “You’re correct. I need to take the stone out of the city, get it away from everyone.”

“So…so, you’re leaving the city?”

“Just for a little while.”

“Is Sir Richard going with you?”

“No. He’s going to go with me to the airship towers, but he’ll be back.”

“I want to come.”

I shook my head. “Not this time, my dear.”

“But Clemeny...”

“I promised Afwyn I would keep you safe. Keeping you safe means leaving you here under the care of the Templars. When I get back, when all of this is done, then maybe things will be different.”

“You’ll come here and stay with us?”

That was never going to happen.

“I don’t know, but I do know I want to be closer to you and Sir Richard. I miss you when we’re not together.”

“I miss you too,” he said then wrapped his arms around my waist. “Wherever you’re going, please be careful.”

“I will.”

“Clemeny…please come back,” he whispered, his voice cracking a little.

A knot rose in my throat, and I swallowed hard. “Of course,” I said then kissed him on the top of his head.

A moment later, we heard footsteps approach. I kissed the boy once more then let him go. Lionheart entered the garden.

“Jericho, Sir Blackwood would like you to join the other Templars at Middle Hall. They’re holding a meeting.”

“About what?” Jericho asked.

“Some wolves in the city are misbehaving. He is assigning tasks to the pack. Sir Blackwood needs all the Templars here.”

“Including me?” Jericho asked, his eyes wide.

“Yes, including you.”

The boy moved as if he wanted to bolt to the meeting hall, but then he paused and looked at Lionheart. “You’ll be back, right?”

Lionheart nodded. “I’ll return very soon. You’ll be safe with the brotherhood.”

Jericho rushed to Lionheart, giving him a quick hug. “Please be careful,” he said then raced toward the hall.

“Is Briarwood really going to put him to work?” I asked, feeling concerned.

Lionheart nodded. “Yes, as a lookout, safely inside Temple Square.”

“Ahh,” I said then nodded.

“You were followed here,” Lionheart said as we headed back to the gate. “A boggart is lingering just outside. I told the others to leave him be.”

“Did he really think that a pack of werewolves wouldn’t notice him?”

“Apparently. Shapeshifters are good at what they do—shifting form—but aren’t very bright. They forget what good noses we have.”

We headed back to the steamcycle.

“After you,” Lionheart said, motioning for me to drive.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

I mounted the cycle then adjusted the mirrors. The pack was right. There was a gentleman at a shoeshine stand down the street who was not getting his shoes polished. He was just sitting. Watching.

Lionheart wrapped his arms around me then sighed happily.

“Now I know why you let me drive,” he said, firmly holding my waist.

“Oh, Sir Richard, you haven’t seen anything yet.”