The Hunters and the Prey - Chapter Thirteen
Author: Milady Dragon
"We also have a lead on the Winter Knight," Ianto said into the silence that followed Baron Nick's announcement.
That did what Ianto had hoped it would: it broke the sudden tension in the room. Phil had his arm around his daughter, Daisy leaning heavily into his embrace as she processed the idea of Ward's demands on her. Clint stood by to also offer his support, which she looked very grateful for.
He could very easily recall the case of Grant Ward, the young Novice who'd attempted to commit murder when he'd cast a sealed Containment spell on two of his so-called friends. Ianto had been called in to break the spell, and he'd managed to do it before the two young Elves – Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz – had run out of air. Ward had been cast out, his teaching Master had repudiated him, and that had seemed to be the end of it.
Until that same teaching Master, John Garrett, had ended up in Hydra, sending Grant Ward to kidnap Daisy from the school, in order to use her as leverage against Phil, to get the Void Wizard to do what they wanted him to. At that point, they'd believed that Phil was the Void opposite of Jack, which wasn't true at all, but that hadn't stopped them from killing Phil and expecting him to arise from the dead like the Deathless.
Instead, Phil had turned out to be Ianto's opposite, someone to connected to the Void that it would never let him die.
He, like Ianto and like Jack, was cursed to live forever.
It was an ugly truth, one that Ianto still wasn't quite resolved to.
Of course, neither was Jack, and he'd had a thousand years to become used to his Deathless state.
Their friend, Master John Smith, had once said that mortals were not meant for immortality. That was as true today as it had been nearly a hundred years ago when he'd stated it so baldly. It had been meant as some sort of insult to Jack, but his husband had taken the comment to heart, holding it to himself like a flower that would also never wither.
Later on, when Master John had apologized and had come to accept but Jack and Ianto for who – and what – they were, the words had become more of a talisman for both of them, and a promise…a promise never to forget their journey through eternity together.
"What sort of lead?" Baron Nick demanded.
"He's still in the city of Golden Gate. We have a more precise location, but there's no guarantee he won't move. We need to send someone there now, before we lose him again."
"I'm not gonna ask how you know that…how the hells do you know it?"
Ianto gave them all a small, sly smirk. "I used magic."
That got him a bark from laughter from the Baron on the other end of the speaking stone. "You can be a bastard, Jones."
"Of course I can. Now, we need to get someone to Golden Gate; someone we can trust."
"I'll go," Jack volunteered.
"As will I," Toshiko replied.
"And me," Clint spoke up. "I owe that asshole a few good licks in."
"Be careful, Clint," Daisy urged. "That guy was something else." She was pale, most likely remembering meeting the Winter Knight in person, when she was a prisoner of Hydra.
"And you be careful about Ward," the Elf said. "He'll try to twist you up."
"Oh, believe me…I know. He won't get away with it, though." She raised her chin stubbornly, and Ianto could believe she meant every word.
Grant Ward didn't stand a chance against her.
Phil seemed placid, but there was a troubled look in his eyes. Ianto knew what his new friend was thinking, and how could he blame the Wizard? After all, his lover just volunteered to go after a very dangerous man, one that had been under the control of Hydra and who know one knew what was capable of. Of course, he would want to go on the hunt with them.
It wasn't like Jack going. Jack would always come back, even if he was somehow killed. Not Clint. And yet, he was willingly walking into trouble, because he was needed.
Clint was examining his lover closely. "Phil, you're not thinking of coming along."
"Well, as matter of fact…"
The Elf's examination turned fond. "You know you're needed here. There's whatever you're planning on doing to clean up Void Order. Also, you need to be here for Daisy. Going halfway across the world on a hunt that might end up fruitless is a waste of your time."
The Void Wizard looked as if he wanted to argue, but instead he nodded. "You're right. That still doesn't stop me from wanting to go with you."
Ianto could see the bond that was growing between the two men. Oh, it wasn't just physical; but magical as well, a connection between the two that would only grow with time and closeness. It was almost like what was between himself and Jack, and he had to wonder where it had come from. Was the Void giving Phil a consolation prize for making him immortal? What would that mean, later on in years?
He wanted to examine it a little closer, but didn't. He'd have time to do so later, when there wasn't the risk of losing the Winter Knight once more.
"Here." He handed his husband a leather bangle, much like an archery wrist guard, only a looser fit. Jack had long given up the bow, when Ianto had proved to be more proficient at its use than he was. It had been the first weapon he'd taken up, Toshiko teaching him before Jack had bought him his first sword…and Suzie had been his sword master.
That had been before he'd become a powerful Wizard. But Ianto had kept up with his weapons training, because there was never telling if he might, someday, lose access to his magic for some reason, and he didn't want to be defenseless.
"This will take you to the coordinates for the Winter Knight," he explained. "You'd best hurry, though, before he leaves the area."
Clint left the room, handing the speaking stone on to Phil, and Ianto knew he was going to get the weapons he'd left in the foyer. Toshiko followed him, while Jack grabbed Ianto by the shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss. It was harsh, and concerned, and pretty much perfect. Then, he also left the room to get ready.
Ianto wished he was going as well. However, Clint had been correct: they had things they needed to do, Guild business, to root out the Hydra rot within Void Order. Because the Cardinal Wizard knew there had to be someone still left within it, someone who'd been responsible for letting Werner von Strucker into the Quorum without anyone knowing.
There was still so much to do.