Quens head snapped up, and I stared at him. What did I say? Purple eyes? I prompted, and Quen made a curious, pained expression. Wings? I added, and he looked at Trent. A cold feeling slithered out from between my thought and reason, ready to smack me. What?
I dont know, Trent said to Quen, not me, mystifying me. But now that you mention it, it did feel like wild magic at both the golf course and the bowling alley. Gaze distant, Trent fished his phone out from a pocket. I thought Rachel was doing some kind of magic.
I think she was, Jenks said sourly, leaking dust as he flew to the sink, and I gave him a look to shut up. Catching a drop from the faucet, he dabbed at his shirt. But if its wild magic, that would explain why her aura goes white every time a wave hits it.
Quens eyes widened, and I pulled myself straight. Whoa, whoa, whoa! I said, feeling the conversation spiral out of control. Jenks, are you telling me that wave is wild magic? Why is wild magic leaking from my line? And what does that have to do with wheels and wings?
Sahan, Quen protested, but Trent was scrolling rapidly through his numbers when Ellasbeth came to the kitchen archway. Ray was on her hip and Lucys hand firmly in her grip. There was a book in the little girls hand, and shed been crying. Ray just looked mad.
Jenks, you say Rachels aura went white? Trent asked, his intentness scary, almost.
As white as her ass, Jenks said, and Ellasbeth walked stiffly between us, pointedly sitting down with the girls and the book. That book is going to last about thirty seconds.
The waves cant be wild magic, I protested.
I did promise the Goddess two goats Ive never delivered on.
Sahan, Quen protested as Ellasbeth looked up from arranging the book before the two girls. Cincinnati is not plagued with misfires because you havent sacrificed two goats.
Trent tucked his phone away. No, of course not. But that these waves might be natural phenomena is easier to believe than living vampires preying on the undead. We need more information. Quen, I want you to get a hold of Bancrofts assistant as soon as you get back to my office. I dont have his number with me. Invite him out to help me settle a debt with the Goddess and tell himand only himwhats going on here, including the undeads inability to wake up. Offer him the use of a jet to get him here. Oh, and arrange for two goats.
Suddenly the idea that this might be a natural event didnt thrill me. Wild magic? Al was going to be pissed.
You cannot be serious! Ellasbeth protested, prompting Lucy to begin to bounce, mimicking the womans cadence perfectly.
Trent smiled, undeterred. Its a good excuse to get him to visit. If were going to be elves, were going to be elves, by God. Id like him to officiate so I get it right.
Ellasbeth simply stared at him. Slowly the book slid to the floor as she struggled with a squirmy Lucy and Ray quietly pushed on her sister to get down. Bancroft is an old man clinging to traditions we dont even know the beginnings of anymore, the woman said. And you are not going to sacrifice two goats. We arent savages!
Who is to say what we are, Ellasbeth, Trent said coolly. In the meantime, Ill be partaking of another elven tradition of demon discourse, he said, far too blasé for my liking. Ceri had followed that tradition, only to end up Als slave for a thousand years.
An awkward silence grew, and Jenks shrugged when our eyes met. Trent stood, taking Lucy and handing Ellasbeth her purse. The wave feels like wild magic, he said. It resonates with Rachels aura and seeks her out. Bancroft might give us something to investigate, a new direction to think. Everything circles back, Ellasbeth. Quen can drive you and the girls home.
Silent, the woman rose with Ray, lips pressed into a thin line and her feet unmoving. So, who is Bancroft? I asked as I began gathering up the toys.
Just a man. Trent handed Lucy to Quen and motioned for the unmoving Ellasbeth to head for the front of the church. He knows more about the Goddess than anyone.
Hes a priest?
If you can be a priest in a land with no church. Wild magic was said to live in the space between spaces in the lines. It sounds as if its leaking from your line. He might know why, and then we can stop it.
Sure, it sounded easy, but I was willing to bet someone would be dead before it was over.
Ellasbeth still hadnt moved. Trents arm fell, and he looked expectantly at her. Clearly frustrated, Ellasbeth waved at the pixy kids wreathing her, all of them shrilling good-bye to the girls. I think Bancroft meeting Rachel is an excellent idea, she said. Rachel, you will come out and give Bancroft your experiences firsthand, wont you?
Distrusting this, I fumbled for a moment, then managed, Ah, yes, of course.
Trent eyed her suspiciously as he handed his keys to Quen. Good. Its a date then. Quen, you and Ellasbeth can take the girls home in the SUV. Ill go to the ever-after with Rachel and talk to Al. If I need a way home, Ill call.
Looking pained, Quen took the keys. Certainly, Sahan.
Things were happening fast, and I stood there with my arms full of toys.
Its good to have you home again, Trent said, giving Quen an honest smile. Lucy wiggled, demanding attention and he focused on her in Quens arms, his voice rising as he said, And you, too, Lucy. Its been too quiet without you and your sister.
I smiled as the little girl gave him a sloppy kiss and shouted, Good night!
Its good to be home, Quen said, his expression fixing to a bland nothing as he turned to Ellasbeth. Will we be needing to stop somewhere on the way home, Ms. Withon?
Actually, I do need a few things, Ellasbeth said as she took a step to the hallway. But it can wait. The girls need to go down for their naps. Trenton, can I have a word with you?
Looking resigned, Trent edged past me and into the hall. What?
Quen worked hard to hide his smirk as she click-clacked into the sanctuary, Ray on her hip and dragging Trent behind her.
Sorry about all this, I said to Quen as I tucked Lucys flyaway hair behind an ear and gave her a tickle under her chin.
Its not your fault, he said, his tone making it clear he wasnt entirely sure. You will keep him safe?
Always. But I couldnt help but worry over how Al was going to react with me dropping in with his most favorite elf.
Our attentions flicked to the hallway as Trents voice rose in a hushed anger, and I felt myself warm. She has saved my life more times than you have rings for your fingers, Ellie. Im not going to let her go alone to tell a demon that wild magic is leaking from her ley line. She needs someone to watch her back, and pixies cant be in the ever-after until sunset. Im going. End of discussion.
On second thought, Al probably wasnt going to care about Trent once he found out that wild magic was not only leaking from my line, but crossing Cincinnati to find me. Maybe we should just go out to the Loveland line and see it for ourselves.
Nine
The engines thrum muted as we got off the interstate. I tried not to listen to Trents phone conversation as the wind noise dropped, but my car wasnt that big. It wasnt as if Trent minded talking to Quen with me listening, but I knew Trent wasnt happy that Quen had called in the first place, prompted by Trents text that our visit to Als had been nixed in exchange for a personal visit out to my ley line. If Trent had wanted to turn it into a committee decision, he would have called.
Good, the man said, wind in his hair. Keep an eye on the news. Rachel has talked to the FIB and theres going to be a public announcement in the next half hour. Whenever you hear sirens, dont do any magic for an hour.
No, Trent said as he fiddled with the level of the window. If its already running, the charm will be untouched. Dont shut them down. His eyes flicked up and away. Ah, me too. See you tonight, Ellie, he said, then ended the call.
Not Quen, then. Id wondered. His tone hadnt been quite right. Eyes fixed firmly on the road, I took a yield, my little car straining at the unusually steep dirt road as the paved road quickly became very country. Sighing, Trent checked his e-mail before tucking the phone away. Thanks for coming with me, I said, noticing his ears were red on the rims. I know you wanted to talk to Al.
I like this just as well. A trip to your line will probably result in more information. Smiling, he reached across the small space, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze.
Eyes firmly on the road, I pulled into the parking lot at Loveland Castle. Smile never dimming, Trent took his hand back, and I exhaled, glad that no one was here. There were posted hours, but the castle itself was seldom locked up, open to the public from dawn to dusk. The antitheft and vandalism hex on the door wasnt legal, but the local cops probably appreciated it, not wanting to police such a lonely, trouble-inviting place.
Gravel popped as I put the car in park and turned the engine off. For a moment, we sat. Slowly the chatter of the unseen river and the haze of insect sound became obvious. Reluctant to get out of the car just yet, I looked past the crumbling icon to one mans idea of perfect nobility to the never-finished garden, tall with weeds and terraced with crumbling stone.
Id fought KuSox there, surviving with the help of Quen and Etude, Biss dad. It was becoming increasingly hard to live with the fact that my errors could end up with others getting hurt, and as Trent undid his seat belt and got out, I stifled the urge to tell him to stay in the car.
He could take care of himself, but after three months of watching his back, it was hard to not be protective.
Were just going to look at my line, I told myself, hastening to follow him. No harm ever came from just looking at the ever-after.
Worried, I brought up my second sight, but as expected, my line was humming with a peaceful reddish haze, the glowing twenty-by-three-by-two horizontal column hovering at chest height. Hands on his hips, reminding me of Jenks, Trent stood with his feet in the knee-high grass and scanned the open area between the fallow garden and the hidden river. He looked good there in the sun in his faded jeans and pullover shirt that hed gone shopping with the girls in, and a sudden thought of waking up to find him between my sheets flitted through me and was gonechased away by the memory of Ellasbeth.