Mage's End Game, page 19
The surgeon drew a ragged breath and fixed first Elliot and then Kitty with his stare. “Promise me you’ll not leave her side.”
“Of course I won’t. Quite apart from the risk of getting killed and losing everything my father has worked for over the years, I’ve never had so much fun.” Kitty grinned and nudged Sera with her elbow.
“Has it ever occurred to you that your faith in me might be misplaced?” Sera loved Kitty, but there were times she worried whether she could live up to her friend’s expectations.
Kitty frowned and pursed her lips. “If my faith is misplaced, I promise it will be the last thought that flits through my mind.”
Elliot shook a finger at them. “That…is not reassuring.”
“What do you plan to do while I am sneaking back into St James’s Palace?” Hugh’s voice was laced with reluctance.
Sera stiffened her spine as she met his gaze. “I’m going to give Lord Rowan exactly what he wants. Me. Alone.”
Kitty drew in a sharp breath of surprise. “You’re going to set a trap and use yourself as bait?”
“It’s the only way to expose his lies and show everyone what he truly is under that genial exterior.” Sera rolled the tankard between her hands and cooled the liquid within.
“Are you certain that is the only way?” Kitty’s voice carried the faintest trace of a waver. “Confronting Lord Rowan is dangerous. He has the support of the other mages and the king’s soldiers. We have yet to discuss alternatives.”
Hugh remained silent but clenched his jaw. At length, he spoke in a slow, cautious tone. “Perhaps we can devise another plan...one that doesn’t put you so directly in harm’s way? He has already captured you once. I doubt he will let you escape a second time.”
“He didn’t let me escape. My friends came for me. This will be different. He will think he has caught me, but I will have him in my grasp.” In the quiet moments of the last few months, Sera had considered what to do about Lord Rowan. She had picked apart the spell he had used to cut her off from her magic and place it where he thought she could never reach it again. She was fairly certain she could replicate the enchantment. All she had to do was lay her hands on the old mage.
“Normally I go along with your hare-brained schemes, but I agree with Miss Napier and Mr Miles. Serving yourself up seems daft,” Elliot said.
Sera listened to their fears, her heart heavy, for they spoke the truth. Confronting Lord Rowan was a risk that could cost her everything. Yet she needed to make a last bold gambit if the pawn was to reach the other side of the board. And she had a piece waiting to be played that the old mage knew nothing about. She drew the pendant from under her shirt and brushed a thumb over the silver disc, the physical manifestation of the first kiss Hugh had placed in her palm.
Next to it, she held up the scale that shimmered from black to deepest green, violet, then blue in the light. “You are forgetting…I have a dragon.”
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” Elliot grumbled, although worry still lingered in his eyes.
With a deep breath, Hugh squeezed her hand in silent support, acknowledging her decision.
“Since you are determined to dangle yourself as bait, we shall do whatever is required of us,” Kitty conceded, her voice soft but determined.
“Thank you. We can do this. Together,” Sera whispered, grateful for their unwavering loyalty. “Tomorrow, I shall play my end-game move. Until then, I intend to have a bath and forget I have spent the last few days on the road, sleeping under trees without hot water.”
“You’re a mage. Why didn’t you magic up a bath for yourself?” Elliot chuckled and leaned back against his seat.
Sera stuck out her tongue at her footman. In truth, she had been far too tired to expend the energy to conjure a bath and heat the water, nor had it seemed wise to alert Lord Rowan to her location by the use of magic.
After saying their goodnights, the friends retreated to their rooms above the Apothecary’s Poison. Sera stepped into the room she shared with Hugh and turned her attention to the small tub set before the fire.
Disappointment dragged at her limbs as she eyed its less-than-ideal size, but nevertheless, steam curled from the surface. The maids had added lavender oil, and the fragrance drew Sera closer and helped her shoulders relax.
Stripping off her clothing and tossing it over a chair, she dipped one foot into the water before carefully lowering herself into the tub. It was shaped somewhat like a slipper, one end being higher to form a backrest. Sera closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Warmth enveloped her and soothed her aching muscles. Water lapped at her shoulders. Heat seeped into her bones, chasing away the ache of their journey. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on the surface as droplets slipped back into the tub with a gentle plink. For a moment, she let mental and physical exhaustion overwhelm her.
The door opened and closed as Hugh entered the room. His footsteps crossed the floor, followed by the rustle of clothing as he shrugged off his coat and then pulled off his boots.
“Are you sure about this?” His concern reached through her half-slumber. A finger traced along her shoulder and then followed the line of her collarbone.
“I will be free. Once I defeat Lord Rowan, no one will ever dare to cage me again.” She half-opened her eyes and reached for his hand, holding it against her cheek.
“That’s a very small tub.” He changed the subject with a grumble in his voice.
“You might fit, but we would have to be very close.” She arched one eyebrow suggestively.
“I’m always keen for an anatomical challenge.” He stripped off the rest of his clothes and dropped them to the floor.
Sera moved forwards, drawing her knees up until they were pressed to her chest. Hugh lowered himself into the tub behind her, then drew her against him. Their limbs tangled together like ivy, seeking solace in their closeness. The water sloshed over the sides, soaking the floor. It would probably rain on the room below, but they paid it no heed.
Hugh wrapped his arms around Sera. Safe in his strong embrace, she let go, surrendering herself to his touch. In a dreamlike state, Sera soaked up every caress and kiss. With a few banged knees, awkward moments, and one bout of giggles, they were able to satisfy the desire that flared between them.
Afterwards, they lay entwined in the tub. Sera’s head rested on Hugh’s chest. She drew patterns on his arm with a fingertip, letting a trace of magic illuminate the moisture clinging to his skin until his arm was covered in a glowing design.
A sense of peace washed through her soul. Or perhaps it was merely the calm before the storm. Tomorrow, she would face her puppet master. The man who, from the moment she was born, had manipulated her life.
They stayed crammed together in the small tub until the water cooled and their muscles protested the cramped position. Hugh stood and grabbed the towels, draping one around Sera’s shoulders. After briskly drying themselves, they climbed into bed, the sheets cool beneath their heated bodies.
Hugh gathered Sera close, and she lay pressed to his side. In the silence, worry seemed to roll from Hugh’s broad form.
Sera placed one hand over his heart and met his gaze. “He will not win.”
Hugh placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “Of course he won’t. But I still worry about what will happen in the attempt. You are the air in my lungs, the blood in my veins. Without you, I would be nothing. I love you, Sera.”
“I love you, and since I do not wish to see you reduced to an airless and bloodless bag of skin, I promise I will summon Ebonfyre when the time comes.” To seal her promise, she kissed him.
Twenty-One
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the thick glass of the kitchen window and cast an ethereal glow on the worn wooden table where Sera, Kitty, Hugh, and Elliot sat in silence, picking at their breakfast. The scent of bacon filled the air, mingling with the lingering aroma of stale ale from the night before. Sera’s stomach churned as nerves gnawed at her insides and refused to be sated even by bacon. Whatever the day brought, in a few hours she would either be fully in control of her life or entombed once more in the Repository…with nothing to do but play ball with Lionel the lycanthrope and breed monsters for a madman.
“I’m not following you today.” Elliot put down his spoon and faced Sera across the table.
She arched an eyebrow but held her silence. While technically he was in her employ, if he decided it was too dangerous to be involved, she wouldn’t hold that against him. Part of her was simply relieved to know he would care for Rosie and Vicky, the two women who completed her little household.
Kitty glanced up. “Neither am I.”
Sera set down her cutlery and stared at her best friend. They had their own plan afoot. That was the only reason Kitty would abandon her.
“The Crows will be here this morning. We’re going out to Newgate with them. Lord Rowan has been rounding up the ordinary folk and cramming them like sardines into the prison. We’re going to set them free.” Kitty poured strong coffee into her mug and took a cautious sip.
“You two made your own plan. Why didn’t you mention it last night?” Sera thought it was a sensible idea. Together, the three Crows were as powerful as a mage and could deal with any trouble the group encountered.
“Because we were all in dire need of a bath and some rest.” Kitty met her gaze. “This is something practical we can do, and Mr Brynn and I will not be deterred. We arranged it with Mr Brynn’s cousins while you were chasing aquatic monsters.”
She would face Lord Rowan alone. It was what she had wanted all along, to ensure those she loved stayed safe and out of harm’s way. And yet her throat tightened, and she struggled to swallow.
Kitty took Sera’s hand and shook it. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. Do not for one second think we are abandoning you. Mr Brynn and I, along with the Crows, intend to bring you an army of common folk who all support you. Once Hugh has reversed the dark spell affecting the king, he will strike down these ridiculous edicts of Lord Rowan, and the soldiers will once more obey their rightful monarch.”
“We all have our parts to play, and we all struggle with leaving you alone,” Hugh said in a soft tone.
“But I am not alone. I am a part of a larger machine. Each cog and wheel has its unique function that makes the entire thing work as intended.” She saw it now, how they all moved independently but came together as a magnificent whole. Each of her friends used their strengths to aid the greater cause.
“What’s life without a little excitement?” Elliot chimed in, then belched—he had eaten more than his fair share of the bacon.
Before anyone could respond, the kitchen door swung open with a bang, revealing the breathless young lad who was Imp’s son. “Soldiers!” he gasped, his face flushed and his chest heaving. “In the streets! They’re looking for—for you, milady!”
Sera shared a quick, worried glance with her companions. Since Lord Rowan’s magical traps had failed—or rather, had worked too effectively and ensnared every person in London with a trace of aftermage blood—it made sense to send out the troops to physically search for her.
“Lord Rowan is growing desperate. Without the power of a Nereus, he cannot make himself young again. He is running out of time.” Sera finished her coffee with a gulp and a grimace. No matter how much of the stuff she tried, it didn’t become any more pleasant.
“And who wants to be a decrepit emperor when you can be an immortally young one?” Kitty murmured as they took their plates to the sink.
“Soldiers or not, there are things that need to be done. I have to see if Lord Pendlebury made it back to London. Otherwise, Hugh is on his own to gain access to the king.” She had no idea how fast a kelpie could swim. Was it faster or slower than travelling by fairy ring?
“Won’t the other mages sense you using your magic?” Worry pulled Kitty’s eyebrows together.
“I shall only use a tiny bit. Just enough to find a raven and fly over the city to try to spot him.” Sera closed her eyes and let her consciousness drift upwards. Many different types of birds flew over the rooftops, but she wanted one with more courage and intelligence. One with an innate sense of curiosity. A raven swooped over the walls of the Tower to answer her call. Sera merged a tiny part of her mind with that of the corvid.
Her vision shifted, taking on the sharp clarity of the raven. She soared over London, the city’s familiar sights strange from the bird’s perspective. The wind whipped around her as she flew, each gust carrying with it a symphony of scents—the tang of the river, the acrid smoke of coal fires, and the unmistakable aroma of fresh bread wafting from a nearby bakery. At times, the bird dived as it spotted something shiny and of interest. Then it would circle high again.
“Focus,” she whispered to the raven. Lord Pendlebury would make himself obvious so they could find him. She just needed to know where to look.
“The Thames.” Sera directed the raven, and it turned to skim over the brown water. As they climbed over London Bridge, not wanting to go under in case rubbish was thrown on them from the shops crammed along its length, the bird spotted an unusual sight.
A kelpie, its sleek form gliding effortlessly through the Thames, with none other than Lord Pendlebury perched atop its back as though he rode a horse along a forest path. He had one hand curled in the seaweed mane to keep his position.
He looked up and shielded his eyes from the pale morning sun, then waved to the raven and gestured to the foot of the bridge. The bird called out its understanding. Sera thanked the raven for its service and severed their connection.
Her mind slammed back into her body, plummeting like a thing without wings that couldn’t stay aloft. How she envied Elliot’s cousins—women able to shapeshift into crows and fly wherever they wanted. “I found him. He’ll wait for you by London Bridge.”
Hugh pushed back from the table. “Then I’ll not waste time. The sooner we heal the king’s mind, the sooner he can declare Lord Rowan the traitor.”
“I love you,” Sera murmured. Even though she refused to entertain the thought, a tiny part of her worried this might be the last time she would ever see him.
“You are my world,” Hugh replied. Then he bent down and captured Sera’s lips in a searing kiss. One that spoke of passion, fear, and the unbreakable bond between them.
As they separated, Sera could only watch as Hugh disappeared through the door, his form swallowed by the shadows that lurked beyond the safety of the pub.
Hugh
Hugh slipped out of the pub and set off towards the Thames. Despite the calendar marching onwards to spring, a chill in the air made him tug his coat tighter around his body. The cobblestone streets were slick with a fine mist from an overnight drizzle as the city came to life around him. Patrolling soldiers marched along the roads, their red coats standing out like a glaring beacon. He kept his head down and avoided staring at them, but he wasn’t their primary target.
As Hugh approached London Bridge, he had to push through a crowd that had gathered to stare at the kelpie. The Scottish water horse had never been seen before, except in drawings, and only then if one were lucky enough to have seen such a book. The creature glided through the water, its sinuous body reflecting the clear light of the morning sun. A mane made of seaweed billowed around the kelpie as though it were submerged.
Lord Pendlebury stood on the shore and answered questions from curious children. His boots were muddy from wading ashore, and his short hair was spiky with salt from the spray that had coated him during his travels.
On spotting Hugh, he turned to the water horse and waved. “Thank you, my friend. Your service was invaluable.”
The kelpie dipped its head in acknowledgement before slipping beneath the surface of the river and disappearing from sight. Which made a disappointed cry rise from the assembled people. Most dispersed to carry on their day. Only a few children remained, hoping to spot some other aquatic marvel dancing on the Thames. Hugh wished them luck if they thought any self-respecting mermaid would cavort in the river’s murky water. He advised his patients to stay out of it and to rinse their mouths if they inadvertently swallowed any of the filthy liquid.
Lord Pendlebury shook out his cloak and muttered a few words that made the water stains evaporate. Then he turned to face Hugh. “Mr Miles, good morning. I assume Lady Winyard was successful and we are off to see the king?”
Hugh tapped the inside pocket of his coat. “I have what Sera gathered from the creature. Let us hope it restores calm to a tormented mind.”
The mage turned to watch a group of soldiers march along the road. “Lord Rowan has reached too high,” he murmured, a sad look in his eye for the man he had clearly once admired.
“With your help, I hope that by the end of this day, we will have restored King George’s mind and broken Rowan’s hold over him.” Hugh fell into step beside the mage.
They joined the throngs of people moving about the crowded streets.
“Thus far, I do not believe Lord Rowan knows I assist Lady Winyard. He will assume that all the mages, or all the male ones, follow his lead. I should be able to gain access to the king without being challenged.” Lord Pendlebury hailed a hackney, and when it rolled to a stop, told the driver to convey them to St James’s Palace. Once the vehicle started along the cobbled streets, he continued. “There will be a mage at the king’s side, I assume, not to mention his courtiers?”
In his pockets, Hugh still had a few vials of the sleep potion that Sera had brewed for him. Most of the courtiers were as timid as mice. “If you subdue the attending mage, I’m sure I can deal with the others.”
The carriage rolled to a stop outside the palace, and a liveried footman swung open the door. Hugh walked behind the mage, as a servant might. When the guards blocked their way with their lances, Lord Pendlebury shot them a withering look.
