Night Rune (Prof Croft Book 8) by Brad Magnarella (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

“I think we need to trust Everson’s judgment,” Caroline said over the others.

She met my gaze in a way that told me she remembered our talk in the restaurant in 1861. She knew I’d finally listened to my magic, to what I hadn’t wanted to hear. I also sensed she appreciated my honesty.

“We wouldn’t have even reached this point if it hadn’t been for him,” she added.

Delphine turned to Jordan. “I’ve been having those dreams about our sacred tree falling over, part of the root structure missing. And the Raven Circle has felt weaker. It’s like part of the Circle’s power is somewhere else.”

Gorgantha cleared her throat. “I’ve felt off too. Hard to explain, but it’s like me and water aren’t quite on the same page anymore.”

“Both could be explained by Malphas holding your racial essences,” Caroline said.

When Jordan raised his eyes to mine, I saw an extended olive branch. “Was there anything else?” he asked.

“If Malachi is the final element,” I said, “and he got there ahead of us, then Malphas’s plan could already be in motion.”

Jordan pushed himself up by the knuckles. “We should get moving, then.”

“There may be fae who will try to stop us,” Caroline said. “Royal fae.”

“Damn, do we have a plan for them?” Jordan asked.

Remembering what Caroline had told me about the heart vow, I watched for her response. Moisture stood in her eyes as she nodded. “Yes.”

“The portal is downtown,” I said. “On the other side of Arnaud’s wall, unfortunately.”

“One of the boars drives a city bus,” Jordan said. “I’ll have him grab one from the fleet. That’ll take care of getting everyone down there, anyway. We can worry about the Wall when we reach it.”

42

The druids packed light—the clothes and cloaks they’d arrived in, plus herbal kits and quarterstaffs that would disappear the moment we transited to 1776. Jordan’s was the only staff that would endure, having originated outside the time catches. As we filed down the steps from Belvedere Castle, I saw him look back, his dark eyes roving the fortress before he shook his head and continued walking.

I stepped up beside him. “Hey, good seeing you again.”

He draped an arm across my shoulders. “If I’d known that was you earlier, I might have put on a better show.”

He was referring to our sparring session on the observation deck. “I don’t know. If you’d put on a better show, I might not be standing here. Packaging magic inside your blasts? What the hell, man?”

“Some cantrips I’ve been working on. You liked them?”

“Pointed at someone other than me or Gorgantha, maybe.”

He chuckled and withdrew his arm. “When we get back, the ales are on me.” He clapped my shoulder and showed his hand. “I know, I know, we have to get back first. Believe me, I’ve learned that lesson. Two freaking years.”

He took a final look at the fortress before it disappeared beyond the trees.

The city bus was idling curbside when we reached the western border of Central Park. The large being hunched behind the wheel was in human form, but he still had the spiky hair and surly eyes of his boar half. A lit cigarette protruded from a hairy fist. As we boarded, Bree-yark sidled up to him.

“Hey, think I could bum one of those?” he asked.

I winced when the wereboar grunted, but he pulled a cigarette from a pack in the pocket of his shirt. He even lit it. Bree-yark clapped his shoulder in thanks and took a long drag. “Man,” he said, exhaling as we walked down the aisle. “Ever since watching Barnum’s go up in flames, this is all I’ve been thinking about.”

“Well, you’ve earned it,” I said.

Still, I took a seat with Caroline and placed Arnaud in the growing plume of smoke beside Bree-yark. Gorgantha sat ahead of us, while Jordan and the rest of the druids spread out here and there. When the driver got the confirmation we were all on, he closed the door and pulled from the curb.

“We look like the express bus to Narnia,” I said.

That drew a faint smile from Caroline, who had spoken little since our meeting in Belvedere Castle. She was thinking about Angelus and our impending encounter.

“Hey, thanks for getting my back with the Arnaud thing.”

“Is your magic talking now?” she asked.

“More like I’m listening to what I didn’t want to hear. You were right about that.”

“Then I have no choice but to trust you,” she joked.

“Your advice actually echoed something my grandfather said. I’ve been looking for him in these time catches, thinking he could help. But he already gave me all the help I needed when I found him the last time.”

“How so?”

“Well, when we were at his farm, he said he’d felt a change in the ley energy. He sketched it out for us, showing energy lines being directed back at the St. Martin’s site. We now know that was from the copper plates. The sketch also reminded me of a vision I’d had of being in a cross-like arrangement with four others and rotating, the motion generating an intense, malevolent energy.”

“The Aristotelean Set?” Caroline said.

I nodded. “Malachi had the same vision, which makes me think I was tapping into him through our bond. If he represents Spirit, the other four were the rest of the Upholders, plus a demon. Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. My grandfather said it sounded like someone meant to perform powerful spell work.”

“So far, spot on.”

“But his real help came at the end. He said we only needed to worry if it came to pass. And that my team was in the presence of ‘one who heeds his magic’—though I think he was challenging me more than making an observation. That’s all a long way of saying thank you, because I believe that’s what it’s going to take.”

“You’re welcome, and I do trust you,” she said, echoing her vote of confidence from the meeting. “But