Confessions of the Magpie Wizard Book 3: Dissolution (Chapter 87, 88, 89)

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Chapter 87

“Took you long enough, Mocks,” said Paul, lounging in a seat at the front of the creperie.

“You know how slippery this one can be,” I replied. “Ah, Sister Shrike, how lovely to see you! I’m glad you could make it.” I had to force the cheer into my voice; it’s damn awkward meeting somebody you stabbed in the back without them realizing it.

My Brotherhood cell, minus Rei, had commandeered one of the outdoor tables and a stock of bottled drinks. Brother Frettchen stood off to the side, watching over the still-unconscious Rose and Yukiko. He was watching them perhaps a little too intently for my taste…

My putative leader nodded, nervously playing with a strand of her fiery hair. “We would have been here sooner, but Sister Macaw insisted on coming along.”

I frowned. “Wait, you left Rei all alone with the Headmaster?’

Mrs. Perera scoffed. “If she can’t handle a twice-crippled tub of lard like Yosuke, then she isn’t worth her salt.”

“How long have you been waiting to call him that?” I asked.

She shot me a cheeky smirk. “Since he hired me.”

She glanced over at Brothers Ratte and Maus, who were discussing something near the mundane soldiers out of earshot. “While we have a little privacy, how in God’s name did these three get in here? Brother Ratte didn’t say anything useful. He just wanted to be snide about my leadership.”

“I’m not sure myself,” I said. “We must have just missed them. They say them were looking for me.”

“I guess there is such a thing as being too popular,” said Paul with a wink.

I set Kiyo down as gently as I could. She was light enough that I had almost forgotten she was there. She didn’t so much as budge when I set her down. A terrifying thought came to mind. My demonic Electrify spell had always been terrific at knocking out humans. I had put Haru in a coma with my Bloody Lance; what if I was doing long-term damage with each use of my trump card?

No time to worry about that. They had more immediate threats to their health. “Well, we clearly have to let them go.”

“Is that what happened to Ms. Yamada? She wasn’t in the club room when Sister Shoebill checked.” Maggie stopped her fidgeting and met my gaze. “Is she running around the Tower right now?”

“No, she’s…” I trailed off, detecting a dangerous edge in Maggie’s voice. “She’s dealt with.”

“Permanently?” she asked with a note of surprise.

“No, but she took a Hell of a blow to the head. She isn’t going anywhere.”

“You know she has to die, right?” demanded Maggie, shooting out of her seat.

Paul spat out the water he had been drinking. “Wait, what? I thought she was a prisoner.”

“She was a prisoner. Now she’s on the loose, and she knows too much to be allowed to live.” Maggie ran a hand along Paul’s arm. “Don’t tell me you’re going cold feet, Brother Eagle.”

“We used to date,” said Paul. “It was pretty serious. Well… she was pretty serious.”

“She’s a serious stick in the mud, is what she is,” spat Mrs. Perera. It seemed that all of her filters were off. Which was a surprise, since if you had asked me, I would have said the old coot had no filters to start with.

“I won’t make you do the deed, Brother Eagle,” replied Maggie. “It’s Brother Mockingbird’s mess to clean up, after all.”

“I can’t,” I blurted out.

“Never say you can’t,” she said in her teacherly persona. It was an odd combination, her Brotherhood armor with that treacly tone of voice. “It’s always you can’t yet. And if it’s you or her, I know you’ll make the right choice.”

“So true,” I said. It was best to play along; once I had these three girls safely away, I could go back to my plan to smuggle Mariko out via my escape car. I would have to hurry, though. The clock was ticking ever closer to our deadline. “I suppose she isn’t part of our deal. These three are, though.”

Maggie nodded slowly. “Yes, the agreement you changed at the last minute.”

I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a tough negotiator.” I quickly chugged down the contents of a water bottle. Spellcasting is thirsty work, and it gave me a chance to think. The trouble was, I couldn’t shuttle Mariko out of the Tower without risking the lives of the others. Maggie was likely to demand proof of death, but as long as I could control what she saw and heard, there was a chance.

“I’ll accompany the boy,” said Brother Frettchen.

Hellfire and damnation!

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Of course, you would volunteer. Sure, that way I know the job will get done. Just don’t make too much of a mess.”

“Why Sister Shrike, you don’t trust me?” I asked, putting as much hurt into my voice as I could. It kept the panic out of it.

“Not anymore,” she said. “You have a soft spot for these girls. It’s enough to make me jealous. Go prove who’s your favorite.”

Paul had been glaring at me since the talk had turned to assassinating Mariko. I didn’t blame him. Still, he stayed quiet. Paul had shown his bravery before, but he was as trapped as I. He was more stuck, really; he didn’t have half the gadgets I did.

Once Brother Frettchen had reported back to his other cell members, it was a short elevator ride down to the batting cages. We ended up on the opposite side from where I had left Mariko, with the sorry state of the elevator Yukiko had smashed.

“You don’t seem eager,” said Brother Frettchen, looking down at me with sympathetic eyes. “I take it you’re close with our target?”

“You might say that,” I said as we left the elevator. I didn’t let him out of my sight. There was something unsettling about Frettchen, almost demonic, and I knew not to let devils know you care for something. “You’re awfully nonchalant about hunting down a pacifist who’s no threat to anyone.” I hadn’t meant to be so candid, but I was too out of sorts to keep up the facade.

He shrugged. “A demonkin is a threat simply by existing. They spread their poison with words and deeds, even if they seem peaceful. We do humanity a favor when we eliminate them, just like with any virus.” He was so matter-of-fact about it. A devil would have at least sounded gleeful at the chance to enact some violence. Still, the ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.

I wiped beads of perspiration from my forehead. I hoped Maggie hadn’t let him in on my supposed backstory.

I was relieved and panicked all at once when we arrived at the opposite end of the floor where I had left Mariko. The only signs of her passing were a few flecks of blood on the carpet.

“Are you sure this is where you left her?” asked Brother Frettchen.

“Of course. Her skull was half-cracked when I left her behind.” She couldn’t have recovered, could she? The Trivial Heal I’d cast on her had been a friendly gesture, not nearly enough to make a difference.

“Then you left the job half done. Demonkin are sneaky like that.” Brother Frettchen smirked, unsheathing a curved sword from his belt. “This will be more satisfying anyway. It’s more fun when there’s some fight in them.”

“You’d best hope that Takehara doesn’t hear that…” I trailed off. I’d said far less to Mariko, and Hiro had heard from his spot in the batting cages. Why wasn’t he calling for help again?

My Mimic Sight gave me a split second to react. “Svalinn’s Wrath!” I reinforced the glittering sword as much as I could. I didn’t trust the school’s blade to stand up to Immortal Form.

I wasn’t a moment too soon. Hiro smashed through the wall foot first, wielding a katana wreathed in the shimmering bubble of the Peace Bond. His scowl was the stuff nightmares are made of.

What saved me was that he couldn’t use Immortal Form all over his body. At least, not unless he wanted a one-way ticket to Wizard’s Desolation. He had concentrated his magical energy into his legs to make the leap, so I was just able to block the wide sweep of his sword. I didn’t dare take my eyes off of him, but I swore I heard my improvised weapon crack.

“I didn’t believe it was you,” he snarled, “but that’s Magpie’s spell.”

“We all do our duty, Hiro,” I said.

Before we could continue our banter, Brother Frettchen waded into the fray, his magic flowing down the sword as he jabbed it at Hiro.

Takehara pivoted, perfectly redirecting the thrust. If it had been a normal exchange, Frettchen’s blade would have slid along Hiro’s, throwing the Holy Brother off balance.

Instead, all of the force of Fretchen’s attack dissipated at once, and the full force of the strike was redirected into Hiro’s sword. Fabricata ward or no, Peace Bond or no, the concentrated impact snapped the doubly protected blade clean in half.

“I was told we were hunting Mariko Yamada,” said Brother Frettchen. “You don’t look like a Mariko.”

Hiro gaped at his broken blade for a moment before stepping back, tossing it aside. “That’s because I’m not.” He jabbed his thumb into his chest. “I’m Hiro Takehara, first year wizarding student, and you’ll be lucky to see a jail cell tonight.”

“Aren’t we confident?” asked Brother Frettchen.

Hiro’s shrugged. “I’ve beaten you Holy Brothers twice, and we were outnumbered then, too.” He talked tough, but I’d played enough cards with him to know his tells. He was understandably rattled, but he’d never let it stop him. He was so annoyingly noble like that.

“Oh, are you that Hiro?” Brother Frettchen finally let the smile he’d been suppressing come out. I couldn’t stand looking at it. “Brother Mockingbird didn’t tell me there were actual fighters here! I’ll have to get a trophy from you. Maybe a finger?”

“Takehara, you’d best surrender,” I said, putting a villainous swagger into my voice. “You’re unarmed and outnumbered. We promise to be gentle.”

A meaty hand tapped me on the shoulder. An instant later, an unnatural force slammed me into a wall hard enough to rattle my teeth.

“I promise no such thing,” chided Brother Frettchen, tossing his sword aside. He raised his fists. “Let’s dance, Hiro.”

Chapter 88

Whatever else I called Hiro Takehara, coward would never enter the list. He rushed in, his body wreathed in a shimmering aura. I could see the Immortal Form flowing through his whole body, but more faintly than normal. He was fighting at half power, so as not to exhaust himself.

Hiro let loose with a flurry of punches, hammering Brother Fretchen across his chest and stomach. Even holding back, the blows could have felled a small tree.

Yet, the Holy Brother didn’t so much as flinch. “You hit like an orc. Would you like to feel for yourself?”

With a shocked yelp, Hiro leapt out of the way of Brother Frettchen’s fist. His hand was blinding to my Mimic Sight as all of the stored energy released at once, rocking the floor like an earthquake. I kept my feet, but Hiro toppled over, still off balance from his dodge.

The narrow hallway didn’t give him much room to maneuver, and Brother Frettchen’s boot caught him right in the chest. I expected the blow to send Hiro flying straight down the hall, but instead the impact slammed him spine first into the nearest wall.

“This is really an awful matchup for you,” said Brother Frettchen. “My affinity is-”

“Newton’s Revenge,” said Hiro as he stumbled to his feet. “You’re name’s Uchi, right? You can absorb and redirect kinetic energy any way you like.”

Brother Frettchen’s playful chuckle made my skin crawl. “Oh, do you know me under the mask? I didn’t realize I was famous.”

“Mr. Maki talked about fighting alongside you in Madagascar a few times,” he replied, making me wish I had paid more attention to the old blowhard’s war stories.

“I hope it was good,” Brother Frettchen said.

“Mostly,” Hiro replied. “He said you were a beast on the battlefield, and seemed to think you were an okay guy.”

“Well, it’s nice to know I live up to the Divine Blade’s standards.”

Hiro shook his head. “No, he just didn’t know the real you. He’s a hero and you’re a monster.”

Brother Frettchen’s good mood vanished. “You don’t know Asahi Maki at all, then. Let’s stop playing.”

“Ready when you are,” said Hiro, beckoning Brother Frettchen forward.

My earpiece sparked to life. “What the heck was that?” demanded Maggie. “It’s like someone set off a bomb down there!”

“Apparently Brother Frettchen isn’t just talk,” I said. “Takehara’s down here, too.”

I winced as Maggie filled my ear with a string of curses worthy of a goblin sailor. “Is everyone in that stupid class in the tower?”

“It almost seems that way,” I said.

“And what are you doing?” she demanded.

“I’m staying out of it! I’m not going to get in between those gorillas!”

“Then go find your real target. Have you dealt with Yamada yet?”

“There’s no sign of her,” I said.

“Then go change that,” she snapped, though her voice softened as she added, “And if you’re fast about it, I’ll give you your reward early.”

Strange, I couldn’t muster my ardor for Maggie’s charms just then. “Yes, ma’am,” I muttered as she hung up.

Where could she be? Hiro and Mariko couldn’t have had any warning we were on the way, and Hiro wouldn’t have left a wounded Mariko by herself if he could avoid it. The hallway was full of identical doors, but Hiro had conveniently marked his exit point by making his own exit.

“Uchi, you’re in my way!” I shouted.

Distracted by his real name, Brother Frettchen took an uppercut to the jaw, forcing him back. Twin rivulets of blood flowed from either side of his mouth.

“Ha! So your little trick only works when you can focus!” Hiro launched himself forward.

“Right you are,” said Brother Frettchen in his calm voice from before as he caught Hiro’s fist in his hand. “And now you have my complete attention, so your struggles are just making it worse for you. Let me get out of your way, Brother Mockingbird.” With that, he planted a boot in Hiro’s chest, sending him flying down the hallway.

I didn’t wait for him to land; I wanted as little for my feeble conscience to turn into guilt as possible. I dashed through the door, rather than using Hiro’s impromptu hole in the wall. I wasn’t a barbarian, after all.

As I had expected, my Mimic Sight revealed Mariko hiding behind one of the batting machines.

“I know you’re there, my dear,” I said.

“It is you.” She stumbled out of cover, her head wrapped in a red-tinged towel. “What’s going on out there? It sounds like a war zone!”

“You aren’t far off,” I replied, reluctant to meet her gaze. “I’m… I’m glad to see you’re on your feet.”

“Barely,” she said. Her hand reached out towards me, but she stopped. “You’re wearing the mask again. You… you aren’t here to help Hiro out, are you?”

“No. I’ve been told…” I swallowed, starting over. “I have been tasked with ending the threat your knowledge poses to Ms. Edwards.”

I wanted her to shout at me, or starting slinging spells, just something to give me an excuse to fight back. Instead, she leaned back against the chain link fence around the batting cage. “I see.” Her voice quavered, but her gaze didn’t waver. “And you’re following orders?”

“I don’t have a choice,” I said. “She has Kiyo and Rose. Yukiko, too. She promised that if I did what she asked, they would be spared. I couldn’t get you included in the same deal.”

“Hiro! Hiro!” Her desperate cry cut me to the quick. There was no response, save more crashing further down the hallway.

“I almost wish he would come,” I said. “I’d do anything else, if only I had a choice.”

“Nobody has to be a killer,” she said. “There’s always a choice.”

“Perhaps at one point. But I’ve made my bed, and I’m afraid you have to lie in it.”

Mariko squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a long, ragged sigh. “I can barely stand, and everything’s a blur.” She straightened up, pushing her chest out. “If you’re going to do it, do it quickly.”

I raised my hands in a casting pose. What would be the kindest spell? A cleanly cast Bloody Lance could do the trick. Or perhaps a Magic Bolt?

A waste. It was all such a damn waste, after I had come back for her, to have it end like this. My hands trembled, rebelling against the orders my brain gave them. A dry throat turned my attempts at casting into a dry croak.

Well, if I couldn’t make a spell work, then I could use a weapon. I pulled off the red and black scarf, willing magic into it. The wool hardened in my hands, forming a serviceable blade. Killed with a weapon she had unknowingly helped make. There was something poetic about it.

I closed the distance. She was completely in my power. The logical thing to do was to separate her foolish head from her body, to save the woman I cared for more and keep Maggie happy for as long as I needed to.

Instead, I found myself returning the scarf to its place around my neck. I gently pressed a hand against her makeshift bandage. My fingers, which had rebelled at the sensible course of action, had no problem with casting a Subdermal Heal, even as my throat suddenly found the moisture to let the extended chant come out.

She cried out as I manipulated her body’s magic to stimulate her natural healing. Nerves don’t take kindly to be wrenched around, even if it’s for their own good. “What are you doing?”

“You know damn well what,” I spat. “There, you should be in good enough shape to drive.”

She blinked twice, removing her bandage. “Drive?”

“You can drive, can’t you?”

“Yes, but-”

I fished the keycard out of my pocket. “Go down to the car garage. Car 15-H. You can take Hiro with you.”

The sound that burst from Mariko’s throat was halfway between a chuckle and a sob as she threw her arms around me. I felt my neck grow wet with her hot tears. “I knew you wouldn’t!”

My face burned, and not just due to her closeness. “Yes, well, don’t make too much of it. Let’s dry those tears. There isn’t time for that.”

“How can I help it? You’re all over the place today! Attacking me, using me, saving me, threatening to kill me, healing me, holding me! I’m getting emotional whiplash!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “If you think you have it bad, try living it. The worst mistake I ever made was growing a conscience.” I pushed her away, taking her by the shoulders. “I’ll try to distract Brother Frettchen so you and Hiro can escape. You can tell Hiro not to worry about the others. They’re my responsibility, and him running around will only complicate things.”

I missed what Mariko said next as my earpiece came to life again. “Brother Mockingbird, report!”

“I have the situation well in hand,” I said with a wink. “Yamada is no longer our concern.”

“I want proof of death,” she said. “Especially with that wishy-washy way you’re talking. Her hand should suffice.”

My stomach churned with dread, and Mariko’s horrified expression the told me she was close enough to overhear Maggie. “Don’t you think that’s a tad ghoulish?” I asked, chuckling like she had told a joke. “That sounds more like Brother Frettchen’s kink. How about her braid instead? This is a new uniform, after all.”

“But he seems to love it so! I want to see what all the fuss is about,” she said. “If it isn’t Ms. Yamada’s, then I think Ms. Jones’ dainty little hand would look good above my fireplace. Am I clear?”

“If you so much as touch her-”

“I won’t have to, since you know where your bread is buttered. Yamada’s hand. Right or left, I’m not picky. Am I understood?”

“A-as you command. Brother Mockingbird, out.”

The newly healed Mariko stepped back, running into the chain link fence again. “You can’t seriously be thinking about it!”

A joke about her right hand not working properly died on my lips. The grisly, awful enormity of the choice before me had me quaking.

“I don’t… I won’t…” Life was so much easier back when I lived by the Law of Self. Malthus of the Grim Horde wouldn’t have wanted to vomit when he raised his hands into a casting position.

“There’s another way. There has to be.”

I swallowed. “I don’t know what I can do. They have the three of them helpless in the mall, with a half-dozen Brothers guarding them. I-I’m sorry, but…”

I should have just fled right then. Hell, I should have already been halfway to Nagoya proper, but my young conscience had me tangled every which way. I wished for somebody, anybody, to save me from this situation.

The sounds of approaching footsteps were my only warning. I twisted out of the worst of the blow, but the impact sent me careening into a wall.

“You get away from her!” shouted Takehara, looking none the worse for wear.

My hero.

Chapter 89

Hiro couldn’t see any of my emotional turmoil, of course. What lay before him was his traitorous “friend” standing before a panicking, terrified Mariko.

What I saw, though? I saw my way out of Maggie’s ultimatum. I’d have to use the poor fool; I couldn’t be straight with him. He’d never be able to keep up a façade, so I needed him fighting mad and baying for blood.

A cocky grin crossed my face, even as I drew the sword from my scabbard. “I take it we can take Brother Frettchen off the payroll?”

“Maybe,” spat Hiro, holding up Brother Frettchen’s curved sword. “Depends on if he can survive a fall down an elevator shaft.”

“My, my, aren’t we feeling bloodthirsty!”

I had expected Hiro to rethink his actions, or say something quippy. Instead, he took a step forward. “Y’know what? Maybe I am. I’m sick and tired of the Holy Brotherhood showing up and hurting my friends all the time. I’ve tried being decent. Maybe you need a stronger message.”

He was fast, even without Immortal Form activated. I focused on defending against his swipes. Hiro was a bit sloppy with the unfamiliar sword, but I knew he’d get the hang of it eventually.

“Not bad, Takehara,” I said.

“You always bring out the best in me, Magpie,” he spat, launching another flurry of strikes. “It’s why we were friends.”

“Hiro, wait,” said Mariko, taking a hesitant step forward. “Something’s wrong. We need to stop and talk about-”

“No!” Hiro’s voice echoed through the room. Even he seemed surprised at the outburst, but he didn’t back down. “These monsters don’t deserve your kindness, Mariko! Don’t get in my way again!”

“Hiro,” she said, shrinking back.

If Mariko’s words were wasted, they at least bought me an opening. I didn’t want to face Hiro alone in a tight space; I had seen him break the neck of a Holy Brother whose whole body was made of metal. If he opened the floodgates of his powers, he could end me with a single blow. For all his words, he wasn’t going all out on me yet.

However, I didn’t care to count on a “yet” to keep my head and neck together.

“Spectral Web!” I aimed low to bind his foot to the ground. He toppled over, his borrowed sword skittering away as a string of curses left his. The sticky energy structure wouldn’t last long, but it didn’t need to. We were directly opposite from the destroyed elevator shaft, and I fled while the getting was good.

“Svalinn’s Mercy!” I created a wide shield, curved towards the middle. I had used it as an impromptu elevator before, but not at such a height. I willed it thicker than was perhaps necessary, but I wasn’t about to take any chances. “Slow Barrier!” The air in front of the elevator door became an impassable wall. If Hiro tried to follow me through an empty elevator shaft, he’d be stuck like a fly in flypaper.

I took a quick look down, regretting it instantly. Judging by the red splatter on the roof of the down elevator car below, the drop had been too much for Brother Frettchen’s powers.

With a bit of distance, I realized I could play both ends against the middle. Mariko knew where we were. Hiro was bound to come charging in like a bull, but he’d never risk Yukiko’s life. If a devil like me was conflicted, I knew damn well Hiro would fold under the threat. Then I would have a chance to figure out how to get them out safely.

It was a Hell of a gamble, but it was all I had.

“Mockingbird to Shrike,” I said, leaving out the honorifics. There wasn’t time for that. “Frettchen’s down, and Takehara is going to be right on my heels! We need to be ready for company.”

“What?” Her voice rang in my ear as I got off at my destination. I blew a hole in the doors with a Bloody Lance; I certainly had enough anger to fuel the attack.

“Do you copy?” I asked, using some terminology from one of Kiyo’s military games. “I said-”

“I heard what you said! What happened to Brother Frettchen?”

“I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that Newton got his revenge, and it was messy.” I jogged into the mall proper, turning off my earpiece. I’d be able to report to her in person soon enough.

At least, if I could get a word in edgewise. Brother Ratte and Maggie were in a shouting match as the others watched on. More worryingly, I didn’t see any sign of the girls or the mundane soldiers.

“Your Mockingbird completely screwed up! I’m taking control of this operation!”

“And Frettchen couldn’t handle a student whose only talents are with close in combat!”

“Is there really time for this?” asked Brother Maus. “Brother Mockingbird said we have an attacker on the way.”

Brother Ratte barked a harsh laugh. “He’s one student with a useless pacifist backing him up. We’ll deal with him when he arrives.”

“One student who keeps thwarting us,” I said, reluctantly stepping in the middle of the fracas. “Don’t underestimate Hiro Takehara.”

Maggie whirled around. “It took you long enough to show up! I don’t see Yamada’s hand.”

“I had to get out of there, after Frettchen took a tumble,” I replied. “I’m not about to go toe to toe with Takehara. I need room to maneuver.”

Paul, the regular soldiers, and Mrs. Perera had been standing on the edge of the conversation, but he stepped in. “Wait, what’s this about a hand?”

“Never you mind, Brother Eagle,” replied Maggie. “It’s above your pay grade.”

“No, I think I am going to worry about it, ma’am,” he said, looming over the teacher. “You said we were here to make a political statement. The heck’s cutting off girl’s hands got to do with that?”

“I think it sends a pretty clear message,” retorted Maggie, shoving Paul back. “Besides, if she hadn’t insisted on sticking her nose into our business, she wouldn’t be here at all. This is her fault, not ours.”

Paul’s face fell. “It doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Yours is not to question why, Brother Eagle,” said Brother Ratte.

“Shut it!” Mrs. Perera’s voice echoed through the open air. “Hiro’s damn quick when he wants to be, so we need to stop bickering and plan.”

“I don’t see where we need a plan,” said Brother Maus. “You freeze him in place, then we all unload on him at the same time.”

“Maybe if I hadn’t been running my magic at full tilt all day,” she said. “I’m already faint.”

“Where are the hostages? We should be able to use them as bargaining chips.” I tried to sound nonchalant. “Hiro doesn’t have the spine to put his little girlfriend in danger.”

“It seems like there’s a lot of that going around,” said Maggie. She pointed upwards. “The mundane troops have them under watch in an employee lounge. I didn’t like being in spellcasting range of Rose or Yukiko if they woke up.”

So, she let the regular troops deal with that risk? The Brotherhood seemed to value their men like the Horde valued orcs. It’s a shame they hated us so, or they’d have been prime candidates for collaborators.

“You’re being too paranoid,” said Brother Ratte. “Those magical bonds will keep them from casting any magic.”

“I had a set on Hiro, and Mariko too,” I countered. “This is a tricky bunch.”

“Or you just aren’t good at taking hostages,” grumbled Brother Ratte. “Sister Shrike, I want Brothers Mockingbird and Eagle up front when Takehara arrives. They can be the duelists and keep him tied up so we can cast from afar.”

“You don’t order my boys around,” she retorted.

“Shrike, dear, that’s the best strategy,” Mrs. Perera said in a placating tone.” Mockingbird and Eagle are good with a sword. Let him have this. You’re still in charge, though. Right, Brother Ratte?”

Like any good compromise, both of them looked ready to pitch another fit.

Brother Ratte blinked first. “Fine, whatever you said, Sister Shrike,” he said with a sigh. “We’ll settle this later.”

“You bet we will,” replied Maggie.

“Now that the pissing contest is over,” said Mrs. Perera. “Mockingbird, you’ve got that vision affinity. Where are they?”

I closed my eyes and the world turned dark, lit up only by the outlines of the wizards. A quick glance up showed Maggie hadn’t lied about the locations of Kiyo and the rest. I found that I couldn’t see the soldiers themselves. I supposed they had no magical talents to read, a hole in the Mimic Sight I hadn’t considered before.

Paul’s hand on my shoulder woke me out of my reverie. “You can save yourself the trouble, Mocks.”

Hiro Takehara strode forward through the main entrance, his sword drawn and a determined expression on his face. Mariko followed shortly after him, her hands in a casting position.

“I’m going to offer this once,” he shouted to the assembled brothers. “Lay down your weapons, let the girls go, and I’ll let you live.”

“Nope, that isn’t going to happen,” said Maggie. “Hiro Takehara, Mariko Yamada, you are judged to be demonkin, and will be judged and executed accordingly. Make peace with whatever creator you like; you’ll be meeting him soon.”

Hiro shrugged, looking over his shoulder. “I tried, Mariko.” Not waiting for a response, his legs surged with Immortal Form’s power as he charged right for us.

*************

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