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Ursula ignored the sarcasm. “My people worry also. The gateways along with the Whorl between the realms remain strong. Though odd fluctuations occur, they have not affected the overall stability. As always, we contend with small fissures. When identified, we repair them. We have through time.”
“If everything is normal, why the hasty meeting?” asked Eliphias. “Why involve me?”
Echo nodded. “And why my history department?”
“I asked for both of you not only because of the departments you lead but also because of your personal knowledge. Rein and Indigo are here because, aside from Dolph, I guess I should say Cerberus, they are the strongest mages of the realm. I need input. Guesses. Even wild ones.”
An intrigued Indigo let the coil of hair fall from her fingers, though she got busy smacking gum. Flavor of the day. Juicy Fruit. “What’s the problem?”
“Alarik approved my request for extra monitors. I have been scrying for mages to hire. The thing is, I found more of us than I should have.”
“What do you mean?” asked Echo.
“Exactly what I said. I sent out my magic to touch the minds of all mages in our realm. I discovered a greater number than expected. Since you are the head historian, Echo, what can you tell us about our breed’s population?”
“We maintain a fairly stable population, the dying replaced by those going through their Awakening. The Blood Coven descendants activated on Scath and residing at the strongholds may cause a slight bump though they are few.”
“Exactly as I thought. Anyway, when I cast my spell seeking mages with talent to maintain portals and the Whorl, I expected to draw from a certain population. I accounted for the Blood Coven descendants living with the Firebrands. Still, I found too many witches and warlocks. This observation is highly irregular, isn’t it?”
“Fuck.” Rein scrubbed a fist across his jaw. “Double fuck.”
Indigo held out a hand to signal quiet, her mouth working overtime on the Juicy Fruit. “Gimme a sec.” She closed her eyes to replay visions from the river. “Yep. Uh-huh. Okay.” Her lids snapped up. “A warlock is getting it on with humans. Nice ass. No points for style. Couldn’t see his face. Sometimes what I see in the river takes me into bedrooms for the racy stuff. So, I paid the scenes little attention. He was riding witches I didn’t recognize. But I don’t know all of my breed on Scath.” She grinned. “Just the more outrageous ones.”
Rein leaned forward onto his elbows. “Custodes Templii stepped up the monitoring of their charges. My understanding, Alarik, is that they tell you when someone disappears from the grid. In turn, you relay the intel to us. We’ve feared Cerberus has those missing descendants. If his dick’s jumpstarting their powers, it could account for an increase in the number of mages coming online and for Aunt Indigo’s visions in the river.”
Eliphias grimaced, either from Rein’s lingo or from Cerberus’s scientific sex experiments. “If the warlock has kidnapped the right Blood Coven descendants, if he activates their powers, and if he creates a spell to dissolve the separation between realms, need I remind everyone what will occur?”
“No, you needn’t,” said Alarik. “What about the spells necessary to achieve this situation, Ursela?”
“That’s more Eliphias’s department than mine. It’s magic, but it’s science.”
The warlock scientist studied his hands for some time before he spoke. “Tearing down something is easier than building it. While it takes many months to raise a structure, a bulldozer can demolish it in less than a day. Theoretically, if Cerberus fabricates the correct spell and uses the correct blood, he could tear down the Cambion’s construct more easily than it was created.”
“To add grim tidings, according to his trainer Karla, Cerberus is a crackerjack spell creator,” said Rein.
The room itself seemed to groan with the news tidbit.
“How close are the Firebrands to finding Arisen Dawn’s main garrison?” asked Alarik.
Rein kicked back in his chair, tucking his fingers into the strap on his weapons harness. “Hell, we haven’t even found the smaller garrisons. Even if we ferret out the main base, the Blood Coven descendants might not be there.”
“The river hasn’t been a big help, but I’ll return to look for hints,” said Indigo. “I visit so often lately my skin’s starting to pucker.”
“Ursela, advise me immediately if your crew senses something worse than fluctuations or repairable cracks.” Alarik stiffened, but his lips softened into a bittersweet smile when Indigo patted his hand.
“We’ll be fine, brother. The good guys always win.” With a last tap on Alarik’s hand, she jumped up to snag Rein before he split. “Well, boyo, what are you doing with Blood’s Kiss?”
“Your pretty boyfriend must have dropped it off. Be sure to tell him I’m not happy. It better not be his version of a Trojan Horse. If it is, he’s gonna be a wingless raven.”
“Looks pretty snazzy on you, though.”
Rein reached over his head to touch the pommel. “I look good in bling.”
“Keep it with you at all times. Seeing it on you brought up a possible future in the River Am. A powerful Firebrand wore it into battle.”
“Don’t worry, I’m strangely compelled to carry it. Left our apartment this morning but flashed back to get it.”
Hmm. Damn the tight-lipped kinda-shifter. He raises more questions than he answers.
