The Magician

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Y our garage isn't attached to your house? Sophie asked, climbing into the

back of a small red and black Citro n 2CV, taking up a position behind

Nicholas, who was sitting up front with Joan.

These are converted stables. In previous centuries, the stables were never

too close to the house. I guess the rich didn't like living with the smell of

horse manure. It s not so bad, though it can be a bit of an inconvenience on

a rainy night, knowing you have to run three blocks home. If Francis and I go

out for an evening, we usually take the Metro.

Joan eased the car out of the garage and turned right, moving away from the

damaged house, which was quickly being surrounded by fire trucks, ambulances,

police cars and press. When they d left, Francis had been going upstairs to

change; he reasoned that all the publicity would do wonders for the sale of

his new album.

We ll cut across the Champs-Elys es and then head down toward the river,

Joan said, expertly maneuvering the Citro n through the narrow cobbled

alleyway. Are you sure that s where Nidhogg will go?

Nicholas Flamel sighed. I m only guessing, he admitted. I ve never

actually seen it I don't know of anyone who has and lived but I ve come

across creatures like it in my travels, and they are all related to the

marine lizards, like the mosasaur. It s scared, maybe it s hurt. It ll head

to the water, seeking cool, healing mud.

Sophie leaned forward between the front seats. She deliberately focused on

Nidhogg, desperately sorting through the Witch s memories, looking for

something that might help her. But even the Witch knew little about the

primal creature except that it was locked in the roots of the World Tree, the

tree that Dee had destroyed with

Excalibur, she whispered.

The Alchemyst swiveled in the seat to look at her. What about it?

Sophie frowned, trying to remember. Josh told me earlier that Dee had

destroyed Yggdrasill with Excalibur.

Flamel nodded.

And you told me that Clarent is Excalibur s twin.

It is.

Does it share the same powers? she asked.

Flamel s cool gray eyes flashed. And you re wondering, if Excalibur could

destroy something as ancient as the World Tree, could Clarent destroy

Nidhogg? He was nodding even as he was speaking. The ancient weapons of

power predate the Elders. No one has any idea where they came from, though we

do know that the Elders used some of them. The fact that the weapons are

still around today proves just how indestructible they are. He nodded. I m

sure Clarent could hurt and possibly even kill Nidhogg.

And you believe Nidhogg is hurt now? Joan spotted an opening in the light

early-morning traffic and slotted neatly into it. Car horns blared behind

her.

Something drove it from the house.

Then you know what you've just confirmed? she said.

Flamel nodded. We know Scatty would never touch Clarent. Therefore, Josh

wounded the creature enough to send it careering madly across Paris. And now

he s chasing it.

And Machiavelli and Dee? Joan asked.

Probably chasing him.

Joan cut across two lanes of traffic and roared down the Champs-Elys es.

Let s hope they don't catch up with him.

A sudden thought struck Sophie. Dee met Josh . She stopped, realizing what

she d just said.

In Ojai. I know, Flamel said, surprising her. He told me.

Sophie sat back, surprised that her twin had told the Alchemyst. Color

touched her cheeks. I think Dee made an impression on him. She felt almost

embarrassed saying this to the Alchemyst, as if she was betraying her

brother, but she pressed on. This was no time for secrets. Dee told him some

things about you. I think I think Josh sort of believed him, she finished in

a rush.

I know, Flamel said softly. The English Magician can be very persuasive.

Joan slowed the car to a stop. This isn't good, she muttered. There should

be virtually no one on the road at this hour.

They had driven right into a huge traffic jam. It stretched down the

Champs-Elys es directly ahead of them. For the second day in a row, traffic

on Paris s main thoroughfare had come to a complete halt. People were

standing beside their cars looking at the gaping hole in the side of the

building across the street. Police had just arrived and were quickly trying

to take control, urging traffic to move on and allow the emergency services

to get through to the building.

Joan of Arc leaned across the steering wheel, cool gray eyes assessing the

situation. It crossed the street and went this way, Joan said, signaling

quickly and turning right, into the narrow Rue de Marignan, driving past a

pair of mangled traffic lights. I don't see them.

Nicholas rose in the seat, trying to see as far as possible down the long

straight street. Where does this come out?

On the Rue Fran ois, just before the Avenue Montaigne, Joan answered. I ve

walked, cycled and driven through these streets for decades. I know them like

the back of my hand. They drove past a dozen cars, each one bearing the

marks of Nidhogg: metalwork crumpled like tinfoil, windows spiderwebbed and

smashed. A ball of metal that had once been a bicycle was now pressed deeply

into the pavement, still attached to a railing by a length of chain.

Joan, Nicholas said very softly, I think you should hurry up.

I don't like driving fast. She glanced sidelong at the Alchemyst, and

whatever expression she saw on his face made her push her foot to the floor.

The small engine howled and the car lurched forward. What is it? she

demanded.

Nicholas chewed his bottom lip. I ve just thought of a potential problem,

he admitted finally.

What sort of problem? Joan and Sophie asked simultaneously.

A serious problem.

Bigger than Nidhogg? Joan jerked the stick shift and slammed the car into

top gear. Sophie couldn't see that it made any difference; she still felt she

could be walking faster. She pounded the back of the seat, frantic with

worry. They needed to get to her brother.

I gave Josh the two missing pages from the Codex, Flamel said. He twisted

around in the seat to look at Sophie. Do you think your brother has them

with him?

Probably, she said immediately, and then nodded. Yes, I m sure he does.

The last time we talked he was wearing the bag under his shirt.

So how did Josh end up guarding the pages of the Codex? Joan asked. I

thought you never let the book out of your sight.

I gave them to him.

You gave them? she asked, surprised. Why?

Nicholas turned away and looked out at the street, now littered with the

evidence of Nidhogg s passing. When he looked back at Joan, his face was set

in a grim mask. I figured that since he was the only person amongst us who

was neither immortal, Elder nor Awakened, he would not be involved in any of

the conflicts we d face, nor would he be a target: he s just a humani. I

thought the pages would be safe with him.

Something about the statement bothered Sophie, but she couldn't put her

finger on it. Josh wouldn't give the pages to Dee, she announced

confidently.

Nicholas twisted around to face the girl again, and the look in his pale eyes

was terrifying. Oh, believe me: Dee always gets what he wants, he said

bitterly, and what he cannot have he destroys.