CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CRUMBS

BRIAN WANDERED IN just as I parked the car to the side of the driveway, a hobo bag slung over his shoulder. He stopped to look us over. Steptoe hugged his sack of late night drive-through goodies and disappeared on us, but the professor didn’t seem surprised or unsurprised to see him. He fell into pace with me. As we went through the door, I tapped his bag. “Finished salvaging?”

“It seems so. I can only hope you and the other helpers did a fair job. The current situation prohibits my returning again.” He sighed heavily.

“I’m sorry.”

“Can’t be helped.”

“I think we did all right by you. Critique us after you’ve been through all the boxes.”

He gave a diffident tilt of his head. “Would it surprise you to know that I can sense most of my belongings, the cardboard being little or no barrier? I have a fairly good idea of what’s been found without opening them.”

“And?”

“Not enough,” he said heavily. “Not nearly enough.”

“But better than nothing, right? Which is what you could have been left with.”

“True. Unutterably true.”

“Is it not enough because we overlooked things or because the fire and water destroyed stuff?”

“I would say that, after tonight’s inspection, that we’ve salvaged what we can.”

I liked the fact that he included me and the others who’d been trying to help. We paused at the kitchen; its only fixture on was the small light in the cooking vent over the stove. That meant Mom had gone to bed. “I ate on the road with Steptoe. Need me to fix you something?”

He sniffed. “Did Mary make biscuits before she left the kitchen?”

It did smell of fresh baked goods, with a hint of cinnamon and peach. “Possibly. Can’t guarantee what it would have been.”

“A cup of tea would be nice.”

So I fixed him a cup of tea, added a big dollop of honey and a half-shot of brandy, and pushed it over to him. He took a deep inhalation of the aroma before sipping at it. “Ah. Perfect.”

“Thank you. And look. There are, indeed, biscuits.” I plated him one, wrapped a second in a napkin for myself, and put the others away for morning.

When he pushed away the cup, he went strangely silent, and finally gave a big sigh, turning to look at me. The fiercely intelligent glint of the professor in his eyes did not show, and I sensed that Brian faced me.

“Finally,” he said softly. “The old guy doesn’t like to give me much time.”

I wasn’t certain if he expected sympathy, so I answered, “He’s trying to solve problems.”

“Yeah, I know. But he doesn’t think about me much. Sometimes I think he’s jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“I have the age and health he needs.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not jealous. I think. Just a little terrified.” He pushed his teacup a little. “What will happen to me?”

“He’ll do the ritual again, and you’ll have all your wizardly capability back.” Tactfully, I did not mention he might go up in flames again. I could see where that might bother him.

“I’ve been reading his journal when he rests. He wouldn’t like it if he knew, but even if he decides to hide it, I should be able to find it. Anyway, he usually doesn’t change much from lifetime to lifetime. This is strangely different. For both of us.” Brian leaned forward. “Frankly, I think I’m done if he rejuvs successfully.”

“You learned that from the journal?”

“He’s never had two souls before. He thinks . . . he thinks it’s corrupting him.”

I put my hand out and wrapped my fingers about his free hand. “You’re not like that, Brian!”

“I don’t think I am. It worries me a little, you know?”

“I can understand that. I don’t know how, but I’ll help however I can. You’re a good guy. The professor is used to being a little selfish. Old confirmed bachelor and all that. We’ll work on him.”

“Thanks.” Brian stifled a yawn as he pushed away from the table. “I don’t want to disappear into nothing, you know?”

None of us did.

Upstairs, I found Scout sound asleep in the middle of my bed, ignoring his own dog bed in the corner. I booted him out, which cost me very hurt looks from very big puppy dog eyes, and then was instantly forgiven when I broke apart the biscuit to share with him. He scarfed up every single crumb. I considered going back down for seconds, but weariness sank in, so I crawled into bed after promising myself I’d have a biscuit for breakfast.

Scout returned to sleep immediately and I followed after, thinking of what big birds had long black swanlike feathers until I dreamed of them chasing me across a park, pecking at my ankles.

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•   •   •

Scout woke me far too early, his puppy eagerness to go outside and check out the new day, plus decorate the back yard, a necessity. I stumbled after him, mouth engulfed in yawning and breathing, my body sort of tromping around behind my mouth. Field hockey practice was going to be agony today. Double agony for having missed running earlier in the week.

Luckily, on a Wednesday, no one seemed to be very ambitious, not even the teachers. As I drifted from class to class, I had the thought that Silverbranch might well come looking for me at school. My inner self scoffed at that—witnesses!—but the back of my neck itched anyway. The feeling someone watched trailed me all day until I finally drove Evelyn home, me dirty and grubby from field hockey and she a little sweaty from cheer practice and then her gig as a trainer. I looked ridiculous, but she glowed. I sighed as she leaned back through the car door. Her bruise even looked healed, which I could only be grateful for as I didn’t want either Statler parent after my head for harming their princess.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Right. Game day Friday night.”

“I have to be at the JV game, sorry.”

“Of course. Go, boys!” I shook a fist at her in fake ire at the guys getting the cheerleading.

“Both teams should be in the finals.”

“Mine, too.” I couldn’t say if I’d be able to join them. It depended on my penalty status. Evelyn shut the door and pushed herself away, waving and making the “call me” sign.

I felt a little more human after a shower and change of clothes. Downstairs, I had the fixings out for an immense pot of homemade spaghetti, as it was Mom’s late night at her campus, with a student appointment or two scheduled for her office hours. She’d miss the war meeting but would insist on being caught up later. While everything cooked along, I sat with Scout and brought the two feathers out.

“Let’s put that sniffer to work. You’ll smell me and Steptoe, but someone—or something—dropped these. I’m hoping you’ll get a scent and remember it.”

He snuffled my hands eagerly, but I didn’t know if he was going for the feathers or the dim scent of hamburger from making the meatballs and soap from washing up. He sat, his golden tail sweeping the floor back and forth.

“Good boy.” I put the feathers back in my room, away from whatever controversy they might cause. Steptoe had kept them away from Goldie, and I rather had the feeling that was a good idea in general.

Somewhere between the sauce simmering and the spaghetti becoming al dente, the gang arrived, one by one. Hiram appeared, his heavy footsteps bringing the usual minor earthquake with him. The house groaned at his presence. Steptoe showed up with a faint odor trail of brimstone in his steps. He said nothing when I looked at him curiously, though he dusted his coat sleeves a bit. What had he been up to? Carter came in sharply, as though marching to a drum none of the rest of us could hear. Brian more or less surfed into the room, mellow as could be, and the professor didn’t emerge until after the first plate of spaghetti went down enthusiastically.

Strands of noodle without marinara adornment kept disappearing from the table, and I noted that Scout made his rounds underneath, going from knee to knee to knee. When he came to mine, he burped politely, as if stuffed with pasta and sat down on one of my feet. So I scratched his ear instead, while watching the guys eat and talk over idle gossip. Brian led with thanking Carter for running interference for him and did it sincerely. I guess Mom kept hammering on him until it hit home that gratitude was required. Steptoe said little, sitting back in his chair, fingers laced together over his vested stomach, watching the others with an expression of satisfaction. Hiram inclined a chin to him.

“I hear a glop got you.”

“And you heard right. But it died, and I got a hand up, and all’s well that ends well.”

“Good. I think Tessa’s going to need all the friends she can get.”

I picked up my dirty dishes and put them on the counter till later, coming back with a notebook and pen. They turned to me. “Several key things have happened since the last time we met.” I put up a finger as I named them. “One, Brian went to jail and got released with Carter’s intervention. Two, Steptoe got taken down by a glop and got rescued. Three, I went to Silverbranch Academy and—”

“What?” The professor sat up, bristling.

“You were in jail, remember? I didn’t have much chance to discuss it with you.”

Steptoe offered, “I would have gone as planned but got detained. I did, however, lend her my best coat.”

His best one? I wondered what tricks the others could do. I pointed my pen at Brian. “They came to my school with a story that I might be given an internship there this year, and possibly a scholarship later. You know I had to look into that.”

“Who?”

“Agents Danbury and Naziz.”

Brian’s eyes narrowed. “Those two.”

“Know them?”

He turned his glare on Carter. “Yes, and he should have warned you.”

Carter’s brow creased in concern. “I had no idea they’d even heard of Tessa. Did they come to recruit you, then? Or scare you?”

“Recruit. Although I can see where they might act as muscle.”

“They are occasionally sent after minor talents to make them cease and desist. Recruitment is only for those the Society desires to bring in and teach.” He stopped and thought a moment. “No offense, Tessa, but I thought you were off their radar.”

“Some essay packet I wrote drew their attention.”

“Hmmm. That wouldn’t alert them, that packet is given in response to an alarm, meaning that you were already being watched by the Society. Perhaps the Hashimoto affair caught someone’s eye.”

It seemed Joanna and her samurai wizard father were still mucking up my life. I made a note. “Moving on, I decided definitely to visit Silverbranch because I’d gotten a vision from Germanigold and thought it directed me to the academy.”

Hiram leaned forward, shoving his plate away and planting his heavy elbows on the tabletop. The dining table dipped slightly in response. “And how would my stepmother know to contact you?”

I cleared my throat. “I, umm, was at the professor’s house with Scout when she came out of the ashes. She’d been projecting for the professor but settled for whatever witness she could find. She’d been abducted, all right. Told me she’d been taken by a judge.”

“Society?” thundered the professor, echoed by Carter.

“Sounded like it. So point four . . . we’re at four, right? Yes.” I made another note on my page. “I found her on the Silverbranch campus and released her, after running into a Judge Maxwell Parker.” My gaze swept all of them. “He, frankly, seems to be bad news.”

The professor shook a finger at Carter. “This, this is why I don’t trust the Society. Nefarious and high-handed scoundrels.”

“Parker is known to be somewhat of a renegade. I’ll pass along word of this latest transgression. He’s on probation already.”

“Too late. He’s already done harm.”

“Nonetheless”—and Carter stared down the professor—“he’ll be held accountable and by better men than you and I. I’d like to know more about Germanigold.”

“Even though Morty died after she’d been taken, she knew about his loss. She grieves for him. She did NOT know about the Eye of Nimora also being missing and took me and Steptoe there—a place where she thought she had it stowed—last night, because she seemed fairly certain it would be safe.”

Like a tennis match, now all eyes turned to Steptoe. He shrugged. “Her abode was found demolished and the gem gone. No evidence of who took it, but she is asking about. So will we.”

Carter drummed his fingers next to his empty plate. “You’ve been up all hours, it seems.”

I flicked a look at him. “And how would you know?”

“Hmm. The tell-tales let me know when you arrived home last night.”

“They did? The bloomin’ spies are working for someone else!” cried Steptoe, enraged. “Why I’ll pluck their lily-livered stems out!”

“I thought their alarm system was for everyone’s benefit.” Carter smiled at him mildly.

“Not the Society.”

“I may be in the Society, but I don’t represent them, nor do they represent me,” Carter answered flatly.

Steptoe folded his arms over his chest and continued to simmer but quietly.

“That,” said Hiram, “must bring us up to point seven or eight in your notes. Germanigold has returned to her nest.”

“Yes. Well, I don’t know for sure, but that’s where she was headed. The way things have been happening lately, I can’t guarantee where anyone ends up.” I put a tiny asterisk next to my last note, and debated the wisdom of telling them about Malender. Since Goldie and Evelyn had been involved, it seemed wise, even though I had no way of knowing if Evie had even noticed or if Germanigold would tattle on me.

I made a decision and cleared my throat. “Also, I had a run-in with Malender after leaving Silverbranch.”

“You seem all right.”

“I am. He wanted to scare me, and he did. He also wants me to convince the professor that he can aid in the restoration ritual.” That last I related very reluctantly. But I could be fairly certain Malender would check up to see if his message had been delivered and what the answer might be.

“Does he now, that pompous prick.”

Hiram sat upright. “Language!”

The professor blustered an unintelligible word or two before lapsing into silence.

Carter asked quietly, “What happened?”

“A downpour hit the area. It didn’t seem natural, but I thought maybe Silverbranch’s defenses had set it off, particularly because I’d taken Goldie and made a run for it. Judge Parker suffered an unfortunate blow to his head in the process, got tangled up and gagged when we did.”

Carter put a hand to his chin, hiding his mouth, but the professor choked a laugh out. “Buzzard deserved it.”

“Looking back on it, I realize I might have made an enemy I shouldn’t have. Poor timing. Anyway . . .” I lost track for a moment.

“Rain,” prompted Hiram.

“Lots and lots of it. A tree came down across the road, and my car spun out and then into it. I got thrown out—”

“No seat belt?”

“I had one on. It just didn’t work right, and then Malender collared me.”

“What did he look like?”

“Same as always. Beautifully handsome. Leather and lace. Angry. Not so much of that icky cloud around him, maybe because of the rain, maybe not. He didn’t get wet, but I did.” I paused, remembering. “He warned me against meddling. And said the professor needed him. Told me he was Fire. And he killed a deer. Disintegrated it into ashes, right in front of me.”

“He needed the energy,” the professor offered.

“Yes. But he also turned his weakness about into a scare tactic against her. He needed to feed, had to, but did it in such a way as to menace Tessa. Cunning,” Carter observed, his face tightly neutral.

Hiram stood. “The beast demeans us all.”

“He’s not whole,” the professor told him. “Gods help us all when he is.”

I thumped my pencil on the table like a gavel. “Beside the point.”

They all looked at me again. “Malender gets a negative on his offer, but we’re still on the clock to find that ruby. What we need to know now is what enemies of Hiram might have taken the Eye or known that Goldie had it and where she might have secured it? Or is it obvious the elves might have taken it to influence their court case?”

“The Eye has little significance, lass, if Malender comes to rule the world.”

“But he isn’t even close now, and your problem is. Solving it might even deter him, if it keeps the Clans from squabbling. Is there a possibility he could have been the one who took it?”

“Not likely, lass. He’s not got the strength. If Germanigold had it secured, it would have been mightily warded.”

“Back to enemies, then. Or her family.”

Hiram stared at me a long moment before sitting down. “We Dwarf clans get along fairly well. Always have. The Timber men can get a little fractious from time to time, but we have many allies.”

I put Timber at the top of my list. “Who else?”

“The Society,” growled the professor and put his chin up belligerently as Carter made a dissenting noise.

“Okay.”

“There are harpy nests that might,” added Hiram.

Steptoe shot a glance at me and then back at his plate. He gathered it up, stood, and began to clear the table.

I wrote down, “Other harpies.”

Hiram pursed his lips. “I cannot think of much more.”

“The accused elves, as Tessa mentioned,” offered Carter.

The professor added, “Yes, they might, indeed, although I admit to being unfamiliar with any current felonies. They like shaking up alliances.”

“And how would you know if it was an elf tribe? An elven Mafia, so to speak?”

“You wouldn’t, not easily. They’re sneaky that way. I’ve heard some tales of a very powerful boss around here, but I don’t remember if he was an elf or not.” Steptoe returned from the kitchen. “Noodles are covered and on the counter. I just put a lid on the pot and put it on a backburner.”

“Good. Mom will want to eat when she gets home.” If she wasn’t home soon, I’d have to remember to put the pot in the fridge. I circled “elves” on my notepad. “Are there any elves around here?”

“You met one of them yesterday. Or, half-elf. Maxwell Parker.”