Page 8 of Blood Bearon
“It takes more than burning four buildings to harm us.”
Khove struggled to contain his anger, bristling at the rude dismissal of his claim. He bit back a sarcastic retort, instead turning his attention to the Queen. His ruler. “He can’t be using magic, can he?”
“We don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s probably safe to assume he’s tapped into local criminal activity for help, such as it is in Plymouth Falls.”
“And what are we doing about it? We can’t just let this happen.” Khove was lost. Why was he even being invited to discuss this situation? It had nothing to do with him.
“No, you’re right of course, we can’t,” the Queen agreed. “Nor can we just go around murdering criminals. Human criminals.”
Khove’s lips flattened into a line. Of course, she was right. They had to obey the rules, the human rules, on this one, which meant they needed help from law enforcement.
“I have an idea,” he said, mouth moving before his brain had even finished its thought.
His Queen looked at him expectantly. “You do?”
“I know someone who can help,” he explained, his mind drawn back to the lovely young detective that had been snooping around the wall earlier, investigating the gift Korred had left them. “With the human element of it. Properly,” he stressed, looking around the table.
“There isn’t much in the way of help I can spare,” Kaelyn said quietly, dropping her regal persona for a moment. “We need our strength here at the Manor, to prepare for the next attack. You’ll be mostly on your own.”
Khove smiled. “I don’t need much help. It’s just some human scum that need rounding up before they burn down more of our buildings.” He paused. “Isn’t it?”
“As far as we can tell,” she said quietly. “But we don’t know for certain. The reports are still fresh. Ongoing, even. We have no idea what you might be walking into out there. Korred could easily come after you.”
Khove’s smile turned toothy as his lips pulled back. “Let him try. He got the jump on me before, but I owe that bastard for what he did here. This time, I’ll be prepared. No hopped up mage will stop me.”
The Queen stood and drew herself up to her full height, which was still far less than his. “You are aware of the risks, Khove?”
“Yes,” he said formally, ensuring everyone knew he wasn’t charging into this blindly. No, his eyes were wide open, ready for any trap.
And ready to spend some more time with that detective.
“Go then,” she said, coming to his side and resting a hand on his shoulder. “Let us know how we can assist. Everyone will be here at the Manor preparing the defenses, if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine.” He paused. “Any ideas where he might go next, based on what he’s already hit?”
The Queen turned to the Reaver. The older man hesitated, looking at the map on the table in front of them.
“Two suggestions,” he said at last, reaching out to point at the map.
5
Stifling another yawn, she slipped into her car and flicked the radio on. Almost immediately, it came alive. Her eyes went wide at the size and scope of the reports flashing back and forth across the channel. She switched to the secondary. It was much the same.
Unlike bigger departments, the PFPD only operated on two channels. They simply didn’t have the numbers to need more. Tonight, both of them were jammed with traffic. By the sounds of it, so were the fire and EMS radios.
“What the hell is going on?” she asked the air, pulling out of her driveway.
Ten minutes earlier, Sheriff Dottner had called her up, waking her in the middle of the night and asking her to go check out a nearby crime scene. Although surprised, she’d assumed it was because he needed her expertise. Now, as she listened to reports of half a dozen other incidents throughout the city, Rachel couldn’t help but figure she’d been called as much for another body as for any other reason.
The city was on fire. The Sheriff’s small office was overwhelmed, and several of the officers sounded close to their breaking point. How long had they been at it before Dottner had called and woken her up? Too long.
As she drove and listened at the same time, it appeared that actual casualties were low to almost non-existent. All the places hit had been closed for the night, thank goodness. The streets were empty and so she drove without her sirens flashing, hoping to perhaps sneak up on anyone still at the scene.
That would be the big break she needed. Being able to bring down the perps responsible for the string of arsons and destruction that had rocked Plymouth Falls would certainly garner her more respect from the other members of the Department.
Rounding a corner, her eyes widened at what she saw. It wasn’t a fire. Instead, someone had stolen a bulldozer and driven itthroughthe front of the store until only a few feet of it stuck out onto the street.
“What in the name of…” Getting out of her car, she crouched behind her door, surveying the scene for a second before hitting the highbeams of her vehicle to better light up the scene.
