Truthseeker Part 6

Twenty-Three.

aWhen in doubt, go to an expert.a The plat.i.tude, murmured under her breath, had a ring of truth to it. At Kellyas suggestion Lara had begun an Internet search for mythological weapons. Within minutes shead found herself lost in a maze of fictional weapons from online role-playing games. Living, breathing humans, shead decided, were likely to be much more helpful, and shead borrowed Kellyas car again to make the journey up to Cambridge.

The building that housed Harvardas Celtic Studies Department was a beautiful old pillared home. Lara peered at it through the Nissanas winds.h.i.+eld, wondering if she would be able to hold a discussion about legendary weapons without compromising her truth sense, then shrugged. She would certainly never find out sitting in the parking lot. A sense of propriety made her knock on the buildingas front door, though she let herself in immediately.

A young woman with her hair in a ponytail blinked up from where she sat reading on a comfortable-looking couch. ah.e.l.lo?a aHi. My nameas Lara Jansen. Iam here to see aa Lara hesitated, unwilling to even attempt the jumble of letters that made up the directoras name. She glanced at the office listings instead, where aPdraig hamhthaigha was emblazoned in the leading slot.

A sympathetic grin flashed over the girlas face. aItas p.r.o.nounced aHeafy,a if you can believe it. Pawrick Heafy, pretty much. Heas from Ireland himself, from one of the areas called the Gaeltacht, where people still speak the old language as a matter of course. I think he keeps the Irish spelling just to make people panic when they see his name written down.a She got to her feet as she spoke and led Lara to the converted houseas upstairs, where she knocked solidly on a closed door. aProfessor Heafy, Lara Jansenas here to see you.a The door swung open a few seconds later to reveal a slender older man with a beaky nose and thick white hair. aSo she is. Have you finished that translation yet, Alison?a The girl waved the book shead been reading. aStill working on it. Itall be done by weekas end.a aWhich weekas end?a the professor asked drily, and Alison grinned as she scurried back downstairs. aWell, come in, Miss Jansen. Youare the young woman who went missing in Boston, are you not?a Lara tried not to wince at the recognition as she followed Heafy into his office. aI am.a aAnd you returned with an abiding interest in Celtic folklore. I suppose you wonat be telling me how that came about.a He gestured to a well-worn leather chair, its arms and seat alternately s.h.i.+ning and dull with use, and sat down on the other side of his desk. Lara spent a few seconds studying a wall of haphazardly arranged books, then shook herself and offered the professor a brief smile.

aI was exposed to some while I was gone. I have a lot of questions, Professor, and I think some of them are probably a little strange.a Music chimed disapprovingly, and she made a face. aMaybe very strange. Do you know anything about a place called Annwn?a Heafyas eyebrows elevated. aThe Welsh land of eternal youth, sometimes called the Deep or Drowned Lands. The underworld, or fairyland, if you like. There are an infinite number of interpretations.a Notes jangled again and Lara ducked her head, trying to dismiss the exaggeration of infinite interpretations. aHow did they drown?a aAh, sure and youad ask me that.a Heafy got up and pulled a book off the shelves, though he didnat appear to read anything from it as he flipped through its pages. aOne legend says a priestess of a fairy well let it overflow. Another says the man sent to guard the dikes was a drunkard and in his spirits left the sluices open. Here, this is a grand version of the story.a Lara jolted to her feet as he offered her the book, and glanced through its pages. aUm. Iam sorry. I donat read French.a aOh.a Heafy took the book back, examined it curiously, then returned it to the shelves. aI didnat notice it was in French. That version tells how the drunkard seduced the priestess and that was why she let the well overflow. In all likelihood, of course, it was only the end of a miniature ice age, and the sea level simply rose.a Lara sat back down with a sigh. aSo there are no stories of magical weapons that broke the land?a aThatas more an Arthurian kind of tale.a Heafy returned to his own seat, looking thoughtful. aThe Arthurian legends come out of Wales, mind, so I can see tangling the two. A sword, I suppose, would be what youare after?a aNot Excalibur.a Lara smiled faintly. aNo, I was told about a weapon that might have been lost. Something with the power to drown the land and subjugate a people, maybe.a aExcalibur would have been lost and found and lost again, to be sure, but its mythology is more to unite a land and free a people, wouldnat you say? No, tell me more, me love, if you know it. Perhaps youall shake something loose in this old mind of mine.a aI donat know very much else about this version. There are two rival kings, Emyr and Hafgana"a aNow Hafgan was a king of Annwn, that I know,a Heafy interrupted. aEmyras not a name Iam familiar with.a Breath knocked out of Laraas chest like shead been hit. aThatas interesting,a she murmured, the phrase so inadequate as to send dissonant chimes over her skin. aThey fought, and the lands were drowned, and this legend says the power behind the drowning was a weapon. Legend says the weapon was cast out of Annwn after that, because it might have the power to heal the land, too, and the victorious king, Emyr, didnat want that.a Heafyas eyes were bright. aItas not a tale I know, but it has the hallmarks of proper mythology. Who did you have it from?a Lara exhaled again, as sharply as before. She had managed to skirt lies succesfully so far, but the direct question was hard to avoid. Harder, when Ioan, who had told her the story, was unlikely to be a name to trigger mythological memories. Finally, jaw set against the jarring dissonance of a flat-out lie, she said, aA man called Oisn.a Heafy leapt to his feet again, eagerly sorting through books. aOisn the poet. Plenty of lads today carry that name, but I give yours credit for telling a good tale. The first Oisn, though, now thereas a story I know well, and that reminds me of something. He was an Irish poet stolen away by the fairy queen Namha"a aHer name was Rhiannon, I think, in this version.a aAh, Rhiannon of the white horse, thatas all and well, too. Stolen away and when he returned thinking only three years had pa.s.sed, three hundred had gone by in Ireland. He returned to Tir na n"g, thatall be the Irish name for Annwn, or close enough, to live out his days, but thereas a story I have here, me love, that tells of his second return to Ireland.a aHe onlya"a Lara bit her tongue. Oisn had only told her of one time head returned home, which didnat mean that had been the only time head gone. aWhen did he come back the second time?a aUpon Namhas death.a Heafy seized a book from the shelves, flipped it open, and plunked it triumphantly on the desk in front of her. aItas a favorite story of mine, crossing two great legends of Irish mythology as it does. Do you know of Saint Brendan?a aThe one who crossed the Atlantic in a leather boat?a The last word turned into a squeak and Lara leaned forward to study the book. This one, at least, was written in English, but Heafy spoke more quickly than she could read.

aThatas right, searching for the Isle of the Blessed. Thereas more than one tradition, me love, where that might mean Annwn or Tir na n"g itself. Now why, I ask meself, would a Christian priest monk be searching for the fairylands? There are stories that say an angel sent him sailing as punishment for disbelieving the word of G.o.d, but a prophet and an angel might be thought the same.a aAnd Oisn was a prophet,a Lara murmured.

Heafy beamed at her. aJust so. A prophet from the land of youth. Now doesnat that sound a wee bit like an angel from Heaven to you? Sending a holy man on a holy quest? But hereas my thought: maybe itas not to fairyland, but far from it that Oisn sent our man Brendan.a Lara flattened her fingers against the book, though she was watching the professor. aAway from Annwn with the weapon that nearly destroyed it.a aAnd Brendan,a Heafy said gleefully, acame to America.a Lara laughed out loud. aWould you happen to know where he hid the weapon?a aAh.a Heafy sat down, as suddenly defeated as head been exultant. aIave never thought to sort that, no. Youad have to speak with one of my colleagues in the Native American Studies Department, perhaps. I can ring them up and make an appointment for you, if you like?a aThat would be great. Thank you.a Heafy nodded and dug out a phone directory from within his desk, muttering and flipping pages until he found what he was after. He lifted a finger to admonish Lara to wait a moment as he dialed, then was clearly transferred twice before getting to the person he wanted. Laraas search was explained in a few quick sentences, before his eyebrows rose and he offered the phone to Lara. aProfessor Ca.s.sidy wants to speak with you.a Lara lifted her own eyebrows, but accepted the phone curiously. aThis is Lara Jansen.a aHi, Miss Jansen. Iam Ellen Ca.s.sidy, one of the department heads. Look, I donat want to waste your time, so if youare trying to find pre-Columbian contact in the Americas, youare going to want to go to Canada. The Viking settlements and trade agreements there are the only halfway verifiable data weave got, and that doesnat go nearly as far back as Brendanas legendary voyage. Iam really sorry, but weave heard this all before and itas just got no basis in reality. I wish people could accept that the Native American cultures were entirely capable of complex societies and interactions without European interference.a Uncertain notes trembled under Laraas skin, finding issue with some aspect of Ca.s.sidyas rant, but she nodded into the phone anyway. aI understand. Thank you for your time, Professor.a Lips pursed, she handed the phone back to Heafy, then smiled wryly. aI hit a sore spot there, I think. I didnat mean to imply native cultures were in need of Western guidance.a aPerhaps you can find someone else more willing to talk mythological theory,a Heafy said with a smile. aIam afraid itas back to work for me, me love, unless thereas something else I can do for you?a aI donat think so. Thank you very much, Professor. This was more helpful than I expected.a Lara took her leave, Ca.s.sidyas words still buzzing in her ears. A phrase stood out: itas just got no basis in reality. That was opinion, Lara realized. Informed opinion, no doubt, but as with any facts from a prewriting society, it was at best an inference, a leap of logic. It was no more certain to be possible Brendan hadnat made it to America than it was to be sure he had.

And her immature truthseeking talent, only a matter of days ago, would have taken Ca.s.sidyas firmly believed opinion as gospel truth. Lara climbed into the Nissan and sat there awhile, staring sightlessly through the winds.h.i.+eld. The magic was strengthening. Eventually she might be able to do as shead always thought would be helpful: know the truth even when someone told her its exact opposite with their full confidence behind the telling. For now, though, the sour notes suggested there was still a path to be followed.

Her heart suddenly quick with antic.i.p.ation, she turned the Nissan on and headed back to Boston. The research she needed to do now could be done in a library, free of most slants of human prejudice.

aDo you have any idea how many sacred Native American sites there are just in New England?a Lara dropped an inch-thick stack of photocopies on Kellyas kitchen table and put her fists on her hips, as if explosive actions would cause Kelly to have the answers.

She didnat. Instead she eyed the papers, then Lara, then went to stir the macaroni and cheese cooking on the stove. aNot a clue. Are you going to drive around to all of them and see if any of them sing to you?a aI hope not.a Lara sat down and flipped through her stack of papers. aI narrowed it down to places on or near rivers, for right now. Brendan came back from his Atlantic journey, so Iam working on the idea he never abandoned his boat anywhere.a aAnd that doesnat make you itch?a Kelly waved the macaroni spoon as Lara frowned at her. aYou usually look like somebody dumped itching powder on you when you hear lies. So I figure a badly wrong theory would make you twitchy.a aIam counting on the idea that it would.a Lara held her breath, looking at the papers again. aThis is over my head, Kelly. Iave never tried using this power to discern before. What if I canat?a aThen Annwnas screwed,a Kelly said helpfully. aaSpoken in a childas word,a Lar. Your superpowers are just starting to mature. Maybe youall be surprised what happens if you push them a little.a aItas not a superpower.a aIt totally is. Itas not quite as good as Wonder Womanas golden la.s.so, but thatas only because a little bit of bondage can be fun. Youare totally a superhero, and youare going to save the world.a aThe horrifying thing is you believe every word you just said.a Kelly grinned as she poured mac and cheese onto plates. aLook, if I canat be a superhero myself, at least I can be the plucky faithful sidekick. Do you want tartar sauce?a aWith my macaroni and cheese?a aWith the fishsticks Iam about to take out of the oven. Oh, c.r.a.p, I forgot to make vegetables. I tell you, I should not be let loose in a kitchen. Thank G.o.d d.i.c.kon can cook.a Lara got up to root through the freezer and came out with a bag of corn. aYou make tartar sauce, Iall cook the corn. Vegetables will be accomplished. Did you talk to him?a aCorn is technically a grain.a Kelly laughed as Lara gave her an exasperated look. aYou have no idea how much fun that was. All these years of you saying things like that, and now I get to get my own back. I did, yeah.a She took the fish out of the oven and slid the sticks onto the plates. aI said what you suggested, that he was probably right but it seemed safer to let you work through it on your own for a while. He was kind of tense, but then we had great makeup s.e.x so I guess itas okay.a aI did not need to know that.a aOh, but I think you did. Is that enough corn for two people?a aItall have to be. Itas all youave got.a Lara put the pot on to boil and went back to her papers. aI also have this idea that because the weapon was used to drown Annwn it might have an affinity for water. So I think if Brendan brought it here, it would be hidden near a river or lake or something.a aLook at you, Ms. Extrapolatey. Here, letas try something.a Kelly came over to pick up the top sheet of paper, then cleared her throat dramatically. aThe worldbreaking weapon is hidden ata"you actually had to photocopy pages about Niagara Falls? You couldnat have remembered that one?a aI was being thorough.a Lara lost her scowl as Kelly laughed.

aOkay, okay. Ahem. The worldbreaking weapon is hidden at Niagara Falls in upstate New York,a she said decisively, then looked hopefully at Lara, who gazed up at her in astonishment.

aThatas one of the strangest things Iave ever heard. Thereas no music with it. Itas completely neutral, like you donat have any idea of the truth of what youare saying.a aWell, I donat. But d.a.m.n, I hoped maybe theread be some kind of inherent truthiness youad pick up on.a Kelly went back to the fridge, taking mayonnaise and pickles out to make tartar sauce.

Lara shook her head. aI guess the poweras not that well developed yet. It was a good thought, though. Itas okay. Iall just read all of these carefully and see if anything strikes a chord.a aAnd if it doesnat?a aI donat know. Maybe that just means this is the wrong way to go about it. Iall keep trying to think of other approaches, too.a aAre you really sure it was only a day, Lara?a aOf course. Why?a Lara looked up with a frown to see Kelly studying her with an odd expression.

aBecause youave always been quiet and shy. The only thing Iave ever seen you strongly opinionated and decisive about is clothing. And here you are acting likeaa"Kelly shrugged a shoulder and smileda"aa superhero.a Lara glanced down again, half wanting to hide herself in the paperwork. aYeah, I know. Itas partly that I was so scared in the Barrow-lands just in those first few minutes, Kel. I had to pretend I was brave so I wouldnat completely fall apart. And then dealing with Emyr, I kept having to stand my ground, and it keeps getting easier.a aWell, thatas good. I think thatas good. Youare going to need all the confidence you can get your hands on when we go to court. In the meantime aa Kelly drained the corn and plonked spoonsful onto the plates, then slopped tartar sauce down beside the fishsticks. aIn the meantime, a delicious repast prepared by yours truly, and you can spend the next week or two honing your truthseeking skills by finding the worldbreaking weapon.a

Twenty-Four.

More accurately, it seemed, she could spend the next week or two giving herself headaches trying to find the worldbreaking weapon. It seemed extraordinary that being called into court could be a welcome relief, but Marjorie Oritzas call that Dafydd had been granted a hearing was the first time since shead come home that Lara felt a surge of real hope.

For a woman who couldnat get taken on for jury duty, she had spent a surprising amount of time in courtrooms recently. One, true enough, had been Emyras palace court, but if he were to be considered the judge there, he was a far less forgiving one than the woman who presided over Dafyddas reentry hearing. She, at least, had a glint of humor behind her expression of distaste for the array of pet.i.tioners gathered in her courtroom.

Lara knew she made a good impression: her boxy-shouldered, short-sleeved dress was of a cla.s.sic style, popular for its elegance and its practicality in the summer heat. It lent her slight form a degree of determination, making a statement that she wasnat a victim. The judge would very likely see it as just that, but Lara had thought it an important effort to make, regardless.

Dozens of other people were gathered as well. Laraas mother was there, watching Dafydd with an open curiosity that Lara doubted had been present any other time theyad been in each otheras company. Kelly was at Gretchen Jansenas side, and d.i.c.kon Collins was at Kellyas. Worry niggled at Lara when she glanced d.i.c.konas way: he had tread very lightly around Lara the time or two shead seen him over the past two weeks. It would take Dafydd to prove herself to d.i.c.kon, and whether Dafydd would be willing to do that remained unknown.

Cynthia and Steven Taylor were there as well. Cynthia looked astonis.h.i.+ngly adult in tailored gray, while Steve maintained an expression of rea.s.suring calm. Beside them, on the courtroom aisle, sat Detective Reginald Was.h.i.+ngton, whose off-the-rack suit looked uncomfortably hot and ill-fitted compared to the tailors at his side.

Unexpectedly, parole officer Rich Cooper was also therea"though after his comment about being turned inside-out by questioners after her disappearance, Lara supposed she ought to have expected his attendence. She might, after all, let slip some detail of where shead been, instead of the mysterious refusal to discuss it that shead left him with.

Dafydd himself looked better than he had in prison. He still had nothing of the vitality Lara was accustomed to seeing in him, but he seemed stronger. His suit had been purchased for him hastily, rather than taken out of storage. Lara breathed a promise to herself that he would soon enough be free, healthy, and returned to the gorgeous clothes of his home court.

Lawyers, security, and a court stenographer were there, but un-alarming. It was the reporters gathered in the room who made Laraas heart palpitate with nervousness, and she was grateful there were no cameras allowed within the courtroom itself. The bailiff called for order and the judge leaned forward, elbows on her desk as she brought her forefingers together to point accusingly at Lara.

aIam given to understand that youare here to pet.i.tion David Kirwenas return to polite society, young lady.a aYes, your honor.a The t.i.tle came much more easily to Laraas lips than ayour majestya had, and she schooled her expression, certain that laughter wouldnat stand her well just then. aHe didnat kidnap me, and he certainly didnat kill me. Thereas no reason for him to be incarcerated.a aYes, so I understand. And yet youave given no one any explanation as to where you were for the past aa The judge made a show of tipping her wrist and examining her watch, as if it had a calendar of all the days Lara had been missing. aSeventeen months, three weeks, four days, I believe?a aSeventeen months, one week, and four days, your honor,a Lara said with a touch of asperity. aIave been back two weeks now, after all.a aDonat get hoity with me, young woman. Youave cost the state a remarkable amount of money in terms of manhunt hours, nevermind the cost of incarcerating a man you claim has done you no harm. One more remark like that and Iall present you with a bill for our time.a Lara inclined her head sheepishly. aSorry, your honor.a aAs well you should be. Well, Miss Jansen.a The judge waited until Lara raised her eyes again, then spoke acerbically. aIam afraid youare going to have to provide some sort of explanation for disappearing so thoroughly and frightening the wits out of your friends and family. I would be delighted if it encompa.s.sed the reasons Mr. Kirwen opted not to speak in his own defense at his indictment, if heas not responsible for your disappearance.a aI didnat say he wasnat. I said he hadnat kidnapped me.a Lara reached for the confidence shead developed over the past weeks, pus.h.i.+ng away the embarra.s.sment that had briefly overtaken her. She couldnat afford to be mild, not when she had nothing but unpalatable truth on her side. She had to make them believe, regardless of the cost.

The judgeas eyebrows lifted. She glanced from Lara to Dafydd, then turned a thin-lipped, sharp smile back at Lara. aDo go on. Weare all abated waiting to hear the details.a aYour honor.a Lara took a breath, then steadied her voice as she met the judgeas eyes. aYour honor, you wouldnat believe me.a Truth rang through the words, making them sharp enough to cut. Fanciful phrase, Lara thought, but even it had precision to it: it was as though the truth, forced into being spoken aloud, actually made the air clearer, made it ring and shape the world. She heard it, and so, clearly, did the judge, whose face went lax, a telling show of surprise before the muscles around her eyes and mouth tightened again. aPerhaps youad be so good as to let me be the judge of that, young woman.a Lara swallowed and deliberately opened her hands, refusing to make them fists. It took concentration: everything took concentration, even breathing, but it was only with that effort she felt she could invest her words with truth. And she had to be believed; she, who had spent a lifetime hearing the truth, had to make it heard now. Anything else would be insufficient; anything else would lead to Dafyddas exposure, and that was not a risk she was willing to take.

But she could do it. Her talent had stretched well beyond where shead once imagined its boundaries lay. She remembered the nightwings, destroyed with a prayer, and drew on the strength of belief and voice shead had then.

aYou wouldnat believe the details, your honor. They would make you angry. You would think I mocked you. I wouldnat, and neither would Dafydd if you sent him from this room and heard his side of the story separately, but you would believe we were lying. That wead practiced it, though you wouldnat be able to figure out when.a The words hurt. They sc.r.a.ped at her skin, exposing muscle, and went deeper, digging for marrow. There was none of the music she a.s.sociated with telling or hearing truth, but rather a harsh uncomfortable strain to everything. Maybe that was what relentless truth was to other people; at its worst it could be that way for her, too. She wished abruptly she had another way: a translation of truth into song, the way she sometimes heard lyrics on the radio. It still cut deep that way, still hurt, but music tempered truth in a way raw forced words couldnat.

Rustling in the courtroom made her dare a glance over her shoulder. Both policemen wore deep frowns, and the gathered reporters had given up scribbling notes or holding out their recording devices to instead stare uncertainly at Lara. Kelly, sitting beside Laraas mother, had her arms wrapped around herself, face pinched with unhappiness. Gretchen herself wore an expression of terrible sorrow, her gaze on Lara speaking a desire to somehow save her from herself.

aIall tell you.a Lara looked back at the judge, keeping her voice soft. Soft as shark skin, and so razored in its way. aBut it will not satisfy you, it will not make you happy, and it will not change the fact that David Kirwen is not a kidnapper, and should be released from jail. I am sorry, your honor, but this is not easy on any of us. Please let it end now.a The judgeas fingers, once pointed so accusatorily, were now knotted together, less an action of distress than frustrated rage. She wouldnat be accustomed to such flaunting of her authority, and even if she was, she would never have encountered something like Laraas talent. She gathered herself, spitting a question that came forth hoa.r.s.e, despite the attempted strength behind it: aWhat are you?a Lara bowed her head and sighed. Not who, but what was she, and there was no satisfactory answer to that. She tried anyway, looking up and speaking as softly as she dared while keeping the truthas razor edge in her voice. aIam someone who hears truth and lies when people speak to her. And I can make others hear the truth, too, if I have to. Please, your honor. David Kirwen is guilty of no crime. Let him go.a She did, after that. Had him taken away, technically, to fill out paperwork, but the intent was clear: he would be released.

It was also clear almost no one understood why. Kelly did; Gretchen Jansen did. Dafydd ap Caerwyn, of course, did, but the others let their gazes skitter off Lara and s.h.i.+fted away from her if she came too near. Even the reporters backed off, retreating from the courtroom with low-key agreements that they would interview her on the steps outside. It didnat surprise her: Lara felt her own presence and actions like a weight in the courtroom, and was as grateful as they were to escape it.

Kelly was waiting with Gretchen Jansen and d.i.c.kon when Lara exited the room. Both women offered hugs, and Lara sighed into her motheras shoulder before turning to face d.i.c.kon, searching for something to say.

Detective Was.h.i.+ngton strode up to them, a step ahead of Officer Cooper, before Lara found a way to break the silence, and did it for her: aWhat the h.e.l.l was that?a aThe truth.a Her answer was so simple it almost made Lara laugh. Instead she pa.s.sed a hand over her face, and more quietly, said, aItas what I said in there, Detective. My whole life Iave known when people were lying to me. Today I had to make you hear the truth. Iam sorry. I really am.a aYou canat make somebody aa Was.h.i.+ngton trailed off unhappily as Lara lifted an eyebrow in challenge. aExcuse my French, Miss Jansen, but thatas a load of bulls.h.i.+t.a aOkay.a Lara shrugged as discomfort raised the hairs on her arms. Small enough recompense for what shead put the court through. aThen find an interpretation you can live with, Detective. I told you none of this would make you happy.a aYou still havenat told me what happened to you.a Lara looked up at him, studying his dark eyes and the deepening lines around his mouth before she shook her head. aThe only way you would believe me would be if I did what I just did in there, Detective. If I made you hear the truth. And I think you hate what just happened, am I right? So maybe you should let it go.a She glanced at Cooper, standing silent behind Was.h.i.+ngton, and sighed. aBoth of you. Iam sorry.a aYou say that a lot. Do you mean it?a Kelly gave a sharp, bitter laugh. aLara never says anything she doesnat mean. Reg, you really wouldnat believe her. Let it go, okay?a His scowl darkened. aYou know where sheas been?a aYeah. And believe me when I tell you that youad think she was lying to you. G.o.d,a she added explosively, turning to Lara. aIs this what your life is like all the time?a Lara, under her breath, said, aItas not usually this dramatic,a but nodded. aWith the truth? Yes. Itas always complicated.a aIam sorry for ever giving you s.h.i.+t,a Kelly said fervently.

aYouare forgiven.a Lara caught the hostility on Was.h.i.+ngtonas face and sighed. Shead spent a lifetime with that kind of emotion directed at her, even without forcing people to acknowledge a truth they didnat want to hear. Maybe it was strength to be able to stand in hostilityas face, but the idea of its relentless weight never lifting exhausted her.

aHereas our man.a Relief swept d.i.c.konas voice. He broke away from the uncomfortable huddle to pound Dafydd on the back. aGood to see you in something other than an orange jumpsuit, man.a aItas good to be in something else. Iad have never admitted it in prison, but they chafe.a Dafydd wrinkled his nose delicately, earning a laugh as d.i.c.kon released him to the rest of the group.

His mortal glamour slipped and slid in Laraas vision, but she jolted forward to catch him in a hard hug. His arms, at least, felt safe and strong around her, and his breath stirred her hair as he murmured, aThank you.a She mumbled aYouare welcomea into his shoulder. aThank G.o.d. I donat know what I wouldave done if that judge hadnat agreed to release you.a She knew she should let him go, make some effort to smooth things over with Was.h.i.+ngton, but she remained still, trying to convince herself everything would be all right now.

aYouad have told her the truth.a Kelly sounded wry. aAnd then she wouldave locked you in a looney bin. David, I owe you an apology.a aNot at all.a Dafydd released Lara to shake first Kellyas then Gretchenas hands. aThe circ.u.mstances were impossible.a aThey still are.a Distortion crawled across Officer Cooperas face and darkened his eyes. aI want the straight answer.a aTo h.e.l.l with you, man,a d.i.c.kon said with more conviction than humor. aHow about me? Am I ever gonna hear something other than Laraas delusions?a He added, aSorry,a perfunctorily, and Lara ghosted a smile.

aNo, youare not. And Dafydd will explaina"a She broke off to wait on his approval, then continued at his nod: aBut not here, okay, d.i.c.kon?a aYou mean not in front of the cops?a Was.h.i.+ngtonas jaw rolled aggressively enough that d.i.c.kon stepped forward, pitting himself against the detective. They reminded Lara of gladiators, determined to enda"or maybe bring ona"a confrontation at any cost. aRight now I donat care if itas on the record or off, Miss Jansen. I just want answers.a Dafydd exhaled loudly. aAt the very least I think we should extract ourselves from these surrounds before arguing about it. Perhaps if we retired somewhere more private?a aWell, we canat take the elevator down to the parking garage,a Kelly said. aThere are about a milliona"a She broke off, looked at Lara, and said, aAbout twenty reporters waiting around it. Is there a way we can sneak out without being seen?a Her no-nonsense tone coupled with the effort to be literal sparked Laraas amus.e.m.e.nt. Was.h.i.+ngton, looking both irritated and accepting, gestured them toward a hall. aI can walk you out the same way they brought Kirwen in.a aIall use the public elevator,a Gretchen said unexpectedly. aThe press know who I am. Theyall be happy to get a statement from me, if they canat have one from Lara and Dafydd.a She embraced Lara, gave Dafydd a brief smile, and hurried toward the elevators.

Dafydd watched her go, then turned to Lara with a bemused expression. aIad hardly think I deserved that from her.a Lara shrugged and took his hand. aI told her the truth. She believed me. So she has no reason to blame you for anything.a aEven so,a Dafydd murmured, then nodded as Was.h.i.+ngton gestured impatiently down the hall.

Silence fell over the little group as they hurried for the cavernous concrete lot beneath the court building. Half a dozen police cars were parked in the area they entered, and Was.h.i.+ngton slowed before reaching the floor-to-ceiling fence that barricaded the police area off from the rest of the lot. aI donat suppose this is private enough for your little discussion.a aSorry.a Lara glanced upward at the security cameras. aIad rather not be someplace where thereas surveillance.a Exasperation flashed over Was.h.i.+ngtonas features. Lara imagined he thought her paranoid, but Dafyddas safety was worth that. Cooper, trailing along behind, muttered aGive me a breaka as Was.h.i.+ngton waved a keycard at the gates and they began rattling open.

aWeall go back to my place,a Kelly said. aIall get my car, and, I donat know, Reg, can you take a police vehicle? Thereas not enough room in the Nissan.a aWeall manage. Go on.a He waved at the doors.

Dafydd, at Laraas side, stiffened. She turned a worried glance on him as warning widened his eyes and caught an alarmed sound in his throat.

And then it was too late, as concrete walls and ma.s.sive pillars rended with magic that let nightwings pour through the gaps.

Twenty-Five.

aDown! Down! Down!a Lara tackled Kelly, laying her out on the concrete. Kelly screamed, more surprise than fear, and Lara rolled off her, reaching for d.i.c.konas hip. aGet down!a She suspected it was instinct rather than her orders that made him duck as winged blackness shrieked and flew at his head, but the effect was the same. Lara grabbed a fistful of his s.h.i.+rt and let her body become deadweight, dragging him further down. aKeep Kelly safe! Donat fight them!a The command and confidence in her voice were alien to her, but d.i.c.kon responded, flattening himself above Kelly, whose eyes rounded with outrage as Lara scrambled to her feet.

For an instant she saw everything as though it had been flash-frozen, an indelible image stamped in her mind. The glamour that made Dafydd appear human was gone, and a scattering of objects lay around his feet: loose change, his belt, a ring. No doubt his earrings lay somewhere on the concrete, too small to see as lightning shattered from his fingertips and threw the garage into stark relief. Against that inversion, gunfire flashed repeatedly.

Nightwings squealed, ripped apart by lightning, thrown back by bullets. It seemed ludicrous that human weapons could damage the nightmare creatures, but Lara was glad they did; glad that Was.h.i.+ngton, whose eyes were as round as Kellyas, had the nerve to stand his ground and fire into the seething blackness over and over again. She glanced around wildly for Rich Cooper and found him at the open gate, his own duty weapon flas.h.i.+ng gunshots into the ma.s.s of nightwings.

Some kind of distortion altered the appearance of the nightwings. A shadow, a ghost, nothing more: if Lara looked straight on she couldnat see the wrongness at all. A part of her was ready to look away, so she might pretend the nightwings hadnat followed them at all.

But fury bubbled up: fury that they had been followed, fury that her friends were in danger, fury that someone was trying to kill her to hide the truth of an investigation shead promised to see through to its end. That anger wouldnat let her look away, not even to study their ruined shapesa"though with monsters scattering around them, anywhere she did look let their broken forms tease at the corners of her eyes.

Lightning and gunfire erupted again, reminding her sharply that she had a weapon of her own to use. She flung her hands up, as dramatic a gesture as Dafydd used, and threw familiar words at the nightwings: aI exorcise thee, unholy spirit, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!a The black-winged creatures nearest to her flinched, then surged forward, swarming her. Kelly screamed again as Lara went down beneath a rush of nightwings, too astonished for fear. She knew nothing about fighting: it was an instinct for survival that straight-armed a fist into one of the monsteras throats. That had more effect than the exorcism had. The thing fell back, clawing and coughing as if it were a mortal beast instead of a magical horror.

aYour world!a Dafydd bellowed, and light blew through the words, illuminating their meaning to far beyond their simple content.

In his world, calling on the trinity of her faith was a spell of significant power: the G.o.dless Barrow-lands were vulnerable to it. In hers, a world of many G.o.ds and faiths, the simple exorcism shead called on was only the beginning of a ritual that could banish demons. aBut I donat know the longer version!a Dafydd was there, cutting through nightwings with a blade of electricity in one hand and offering help up with the other. Lara seized his hand and flew to her feet. For the s.p.a.ce of a breath they were nose to nose, and Dafyddas voice was quiet under the screams of monsters and mortals alike: aCall on the heart of your magic. Nightwings fail before the light.a aI donat know how,a Lara whispered, but he was gone, pulling lightning from the air and wielding it with faultless precision. It had to exhaust him, Lara realized abruptly: his magic wasnat natural to her world, forcing him to fight against the same faith and laws that had weakened her attempted exorcism.

But the nightwings still drew power from the Barrow-lands, its magic feeding their strength as much as the bleak riders on their backs pus.h.i.+ng them forward. Lara could see it in scatter-shot glimpses, truth ringing short sharp chimes in her head.

The heart of her magic was the music of truth. She had wished, earlier, for a way to couch harsh words in softening song, and it suddenly seemed a viable path. She dropped to her kneesa"making herself a smaller target, putting herself in a position of prayera"and began to sing, a thin weak version of the only song she could think of.

aAmazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me aa In the s.p.a.ce of a breath Lara whispered, aKelly, I need help. I need faith.a Kellyas screams broke off, replaced by astonishment. aYou know I donat believe in G.o.d.a Forget G.o.d! Lara wanted to shout. Believe in me! But there was no time: she sang the next words, still struggling to put power behind them. aI once was lost, but now am found aa Big hands folded over hers. Laraas eyes popped open and d.i.c.kon gave her an embarra.s.sed smile. His baritone, though, was deep and powerful, lending strength to Laraas voice as they sang, aa was blind, but now I see.a The nightwings etched into brilliant white light, coming vividly clear in Laraas gaze. They were warped: that was the impression of riders shead glimpsed. The creatures shead encountered in the Barrow-lands were sleek killing machines: these leeched back to the breach between the worlds, as if the Barrow-lands pulled them back. They became more ephemeral the farther they were from the split, though the leaders still struck with vicious, painful attacks.

Lara lurched to her feet, forgetting the words to the hymn herself, but d.i.c.kon continued to sing, strong and certain. A second voice joined in over the rupture of gunshots: Was.h.i.+ngton, singing harmony to d.i.c.konas melody, their voices entwining like theyad practiced in choir a hundred times.

Buoyed by the song, by the tones that rang through ita"not just what they sang, but the pa.s.sion and conviction beneath ita"Lara walked forward, eyes on the rip in the air. The bleached-out nightwings shrieked and wheeled to escape her, as if her presence was anathema to them. Some drove back through the black tear, but more simply scattered, tearing away from the hole that dragged them back. Those who escaped it snapped into the sleeker shape shead seen in the Barrow-lands and winged forward, skreeing triumph. Where they broke free, the breach bled thick black ichor that spat and sizzled when it hit the concrete floor.

Power leaped in Lara as she stared at the rip, chimes ringing with such violence there could be no music to it. It grew worse as she lifted a hand, bringing it nearer still to the rip.

The raging bells told her the doorway wasnat true in the way an arrow might not be true: it was warped, a thing not meant to be. That was what the worldwalking spell did, created a mistake between two disparate lands that allowed them, briefly, to touch. It could be set right, the magic undone, closed off again, by one who understood the inherent untruth of its making.

Lara put her hand over the tear in the world, drew breath, and sang it closed.

Power rushed out of her, clas.h.i.+ng bells turning by slow degrees to chords, then to single notes, and finally to a thin sweet sound of purity as the gash shriveled and shrank to nothing beneath her palm. Lara sagged against a concrete pillar, dizzy with exhaustion as she tried to focus on the fight.

d.i.c.konas song stopped, his jaw fallen open as he knelt where Lara had left him. Kelly was crouched a few feet away, knees drawn up so she could just barely see over them. Shead never begun screaming again, though her eyes looked like she still might decide to.

Dafydd and Was.h.i.+ngton stood between Lara and her friends, each fighting in their own way. The attacking nightwings paled as Lara watched, turning gray with the sudden break in the link to the Barrow-lands. Dafydd roared triumph, lightning cracking from his hands to destroy dozens of the creatures at once. The survivors screeched, making a flurry around Dafydd and falling back again as fresh electricity snapped around him.

Under the sound of wings, of screams, of lightning leashed, a familiar click rang loud in Laraas ears. Familiar, but only from film; a quiet sound, something she shouldnat have been able to hear in the noise. The sound of a gun chamber coming up empty, no bullet to fire.

Lara screamed, much too late. The nightwings wheeled away from Dafydd and descended on Was.h.i.+ngton as if they sensed his vulnerability. Dafydd bellowed and spread his hands, but this time no lightning came, nothing to tear black beasts away from the detectiveas fighting form. Claws dug into his flesh, the nightwings struggling to steal him as they fled.

His weight proved too much: almost as one, they dropped him, one straggler with tangled claws cras.h.i.+ng to the concrete with him as he fell. Kelly screamed this time; Laraas hands were fisted against her mouth, cutting off any sound.

She could not, from the small distance, see if the detective still breathed. Gashes and punctures tore his body, made a red bleeding mess of his clothes, and his eyes were open, staring at the ceiling, mouth pulled in a rictus of pain.

The nightwings grew increasingly pale as they spun together, their amorphous ma.s.s darting from one exhausted form to another. Kelly shrieked and slashed at their cloud as they came toward her, but Dafydd threw lightning and they retreated with a howl. A funnel formed, rus.h.i.+ng the sole open path in the garage.

Rich Cooper stood in the gates, duty weapon still lifted but emptied of rounds, and had no chance at all as the nightwings slammed into his chest, and disappeared.

The silence left in the wake of their screams was astonis.h.i.+ng. Cooper broke it with a faint sick sound, fingers plastered against his chest as though he could find, or draw out, what had entered him. Then he snarled; a feral expression that showed too-long teeth and nightwing-dark eyes before he flung his gun away and ran.

Lara managed one step after him, then caught herself on the pillar again, utterly drained of energy. The door shead torn to return home hadnat exhausted her as much as closing this one had. But then, the Barrow-lands were meant for working magic in. Earth was not, and she paid the price for that.

They all paid the price for that. Dafydd took a step forward, staring down at Was.h.i.+ngton and drawing all their gazes. Lara, abruptly, saw what d.i.c.kon and Kelly must see: a slim form, alien with arrogance. The angular lines of his face, the inhuman slant to his eyes and the upsweep of exposed ears, were all p.r.o.nounced as he looked down an aquiline nose at the detective as if he was an inexplicable thing, lying there bleeding as he did.

aI have no talent for healing others,a he said. It sounded absurd in the aftermath of the fight, Lara thought; absurd in the face of his elfin form. Anything that looked like that should command magic as easily as breathing; he should be able to heal a wounded man. And he knelt, as though head try.

aYou canat.a Lara barely knew her own strained voice. aIam so sorry, but you canat. I did it, Dafydd. I broke the world.a aBroke?a Dafydd looked up, expression drained by incomprehension.

Lara put her hand against the pillar for support. aThe worldwalking spell, itas bad for the Barrow-lands. I could feel it, and when I closed it a achanges that will break the world,aa she reminded him. aI think I closed it for good. You saw what happened to the nightwings, how they went gray when the door closed. They were cut off from the magic, and so are you. And you said theyare creations,a she whispered. aThey donat have magic, energy, of their own. I think thatas why they went into Cooper, so they had sustenance. Iam sorry, Dafydd. I think youare stuck here, and all the power youave got left is whatas inside you.a Kelly crawled to Was.h.i.+ngton and put her hand against his chest, then whispered, aHeas still breathing.a She glanced at Dafydd, flinched, and looked away. Injury flashed across his face and sympathy surged through Lara. He had saved them all with his magic, and it was neither fair nor surprising that Kelly should look away.

Especially given that Laraas blurred vision had disappeared. aThe glamour, Dafydd. Itas gone.a His hands were always long-fingered, elegant, but his gaze snapped to them, and then he lifted his hands to his ears, tracing their elfin shape with clear shock. Lara shook her head. aIt fell away as soon as the fight started. And I donat think youare going to be able to put it back now.a aI had to get rid of the earrings to call the lightning. But the glamour should have stayeda"a aDafydd, youare not strong, you know that. Being in jail did something to you, you havenat looked righta"a aThis is all very touching,a Kelly said through her teeth, abut we have to go. We have to go right now, Lara. We have to leave Reg.a She got to her feet, face tight with determination as she pulled keys from her pocket.

Lara, gaping, turned her attention to Kelly, and Dafydd staggered as though only her gaze had kept him in place. Kelly, despite her earlier flinch, caught Dafydd with an arm around his waist. aThere were gunshots. Thereall be cops here inside another thirty seconds. We have to go right now.a aKelly, are you nuts?a d.i.c.kon sounded thunderstruck.

Kelly propelled Dafydd away from Was.h.i.+ngton, driving him toward the gated doors even as she answered d.i.c.kon. aDo you see any choice? How are you going to explain what happened to Reg? How are you going to explain what David looks like? We have to go. Copsall take care of Reg, but we cannot be here.a aItas too late,a Lara whispered. aI hear them.a Fear so potent it became fury filled Kellyas eyes. She pushed Dafydd off her and caught his s.h.i.+rt in both fists. aLara told me everything about you. Youave been here a hundred years. What do you think happens if the cops find you, Dafydd ap Caerwyn? What do you think happens?a aI die,a he said in a remarkably clear voice. aIf Iam lucky, I die quickly.a Lara let go a low cry of dismay, but Kelly snapped a nod, then pointed toward voices and lights that were now coming close. aYou have about fifteen seconds, and that glamour trick you do is going to have to hide all of us. Do it. Do it now.a aHe canat! Kelly, healla"a aDie?a Kelly shouted. aMaybe, but if he doesnat try weare all going to jail and heas going to be the most exciting lab rat anybodyas ever seen! Lara, you know Iam right, we canat be found here!a Dafydd whispered, aSheas right,a and wrapped them all in magic.

The world went wrong.

The double vision of Dafyddas glamour, worked on himself, had nothing on the way the parking garage folded in on itself as magic swept over them. The air turned red and twisted around, smearing the garageas contents into a shattering landscape. The usual unending song of truth became knife stabs of piercing noise, short and sharp. Even d.i.c.kon and Kelly were horrible to look at, bleeding pieces of themselves into the concrete.

Dafydd, though, was worse. If she saw any truth at all with his magic surrounding them, it was his truth, and that was a story of agony. Power sheeted off him, weakening him with every heartbeat: in very little time, he would be unable to recover, but he would die, if necessary, to get them to safety.

aQuick,a Lara grated, and the sound made her stomach turn, distorted by the veil of falsehood Dafydd held around them. She caught his arm, supporting him as they ran for Kellyas car.

He arched in agony as Kelly yanked the Nissanas front door open and propelled him inside. Silent agony: whether he had the presence of mind to stay quiet, or simply hurt too much to give it voice, Lara didnat know. She ran to the driveras side, climbing into the backseat beside a whey-faced d.i.c.kon, and Kelly took them out of the garage under cover of magic before snapping, aYou can let it go.a Dafydd jerked violently, then collapsed, and the ear-bleeding madness of the world faded. Lara whimpered, then bit her knuckles to calm herself, and reached forward to tug Dafyddas seat belt around him. It would be foolish to let a detail so small give the police an opportunity to stop them.

aStraighten him up, too,a Kelly said in the same short tone. aCan you reach the glove compartment? There are sungla.s.ses in there. I donat know what to do about his ears, I donat have a baseball cap with me.a aSome peopleas ears point,a Lara whispered. Kelly gave her a sharp look in the rearview mirror, then nodded, allowing Lara her illusion. It was true: some peopleas ears did point, but not usually with the fine-tipped delicacy Dafyddas did. She got the sungla.s.ses out and fitted them over Dafyddas face.

Kelly made a satisfied sound. aAll right. Iam stopping at my bank to withdraw as much cash as I can before they put a lock on any of our accounts or a trace on the cards. d.i.c.kon, weare going to have to abandon our cell phones, and thank G.o.d you thought the ten-year-old Nissan was a good bet at that car lot, Lar, because that means it hasnat got GPS installed.a Laraas voice cracked. aGet rid of the cell pha"Kelly, when did you turn into an undercover sleuth? This is insane.a Kelly scowled at her in the mirror. aWe just ran away from a crime scene, Lara. One where, if weare really, really lucky, thereas a police detective whoas only dying instead of dead. The cops are going to come together to find us, and being incredibly easy to track is a price tag of modern society. Iad get rid of the car if I knew another one I could get to, one that wasnat a.s.sociated with any of us.a aI have one.a Dafydd sounded as though someone had taken razors to his throat, cutting his speech to a rough whisper. aUp north, in Peabody. If we can get out of Boston aa aYouare sure?a Kelly asked sharply. aItas not registered in your name?a Dafydd chuckled, low raw sound. aIave been doing this for a hundred years, Miss Richards. Iam sure.a aThis is f.u.c.ked up,a d.i.c.kon said abruptly. aKelly, I canat do this. Stop the car.a

Twenty-Six.

ad.i.c.kon aa Lara spoke at the same time Kelly did, then bit her lip. She barely knew Kellyas fianc, and was all too aware of how little head been told over the past weeks.

ad.i.c.kon,a Kelly said again. Her knuckles were white around the steering wheel, jaw tense in the rearview mirroras reflection as she met d.i.c.konas eyes there. aPlease donat. Let us just get out of town first, okay? So we can talk?a d.i.c.kon raised his hands like he was blocking a physical a.s.sault. aWe went way past talking about it already. I donat know what the h.e.l.l David is, I donat know what the h.e.l.l Lara is, but Was.h.i.+ngtonas probably dead because G.o.dd.a.m.ned monsters attacked us, and I canat handle that.a aIf you can just let David explaina"!a aExplain what? That Lara really was in some kind of f.u.c.king fairyland? That my best bud for the past five years is some kind of alien freak? I think I needed an explanation a long G.o.dd.a.m.ned time ago.a Lara put her hands over her mouth, caught Kellyas despairing glance in the mirror, and tentatively reached for d.i.c.konas wrist instead. He jerked like shead branded him, and she pulled back, ashamed. aI know you didnat believe me, d.i.c.kon. Iam sorry. I thought pus.h.i.+ng it would be worse until you could see it was real.a aYou should have tried making him believe you, like you did the judge today.a Kellyas gaze danced between the road and the mirror, miserable accusation in her voice.