Chapter 3 – Questions and the Occasional Answers
The week proved more frustrating than expected for Lady Aydin. The tingle on the back of her neck decided to settle in for a permanent visit. She meditated as often as her schedule allowed in an effort to sort through the currents but no pattern emerged.
The linchpin remained the Wizarding world. Whenever she meditated she saw currents flowing in and around the enclaves. Something was definitely happening. In a way the enclaves almost seemed to be drifting away from the rest of world. Her senses told her the depths of these currents flowed back for centuries, that whoever was behind the current activity, be it Tom Riddle or one of his followers was merely a symptom of something larger. She needed more information.
Times like these she missed her Uncle Micah. While she shared the family talent for sensing the magical currents of the world, she lacked her Uncle's gift for riding those currents and immersing himself in their flow. For seeing how they interconnected and branched off from each other. He retired from his position as advisor to Prime Minister because of cancer. It had been painful to watch the once powerful man who taught her so much fade away. He survived for nearly six years; far longer then the doctor's thought possible. He finally lost the battle a month after Sunnydale collapsed.
But while his body failed, his mind never did. Lady Aydin still remembered his final words to her.
"The worlds on the right path now, my little munchkin. All the currents flow together in the end. Those who hide from that truth, who cut them selves off from world, will learn. The currents, the magic, will not be denied. Trust you instincts, munchkin. It will be up to you to teach them."
---
Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz from her intercom. "Lady Aydin, your eleven o'clock is here."
"Show him in Teresa." She got up from her desk and walked to the door. Her secretary ushered the Watchers Councils official representative to the British government into the office.
"Lady Aydin, always a pleasure," Robert O'Leary said reaching out to shake her hand.
"Robert it's been more than four years. You can call me Sophia," she took the offered hand and then motioned for him sit on one the chairs. She returned to her seat at the desk and favored him with a smile. "How are Michelle and Rob doing?"
"Quite well. Michelle transferred back to the Trauma Unit, says she prefers the excitement. Rob is rapidly becoming a terror on the football field."
"Ah, the next Beckham in the making."
"That's his current goal. And how are things with your family?" He inquired.
"The Foreign Office sent Basil off on assignment to Rome yesterday. He's meeting with some Vatican officials over next few days. It seems the new Pope is thinking of making a state visit to England in next few months. Basil Jr. just finished his second year at university. He's actually threatening to pick a major."
"The boy is full of surprises. And Becca?"
"Even worse, she wants to attend university in the States after she graduates next year."
"You have my deepest sympathies Sophia," Robert grinned.
"And you have my thanks Robert," Sophia turned the conversation to business. "How are things in, what's Ms Rosenberg's phrase again, the world of the weird?"
"Fairly normal actually. We've noticed an increase in activity at the Indonesian Hellmouth over the last couple of months. According to the elder Ms Summers, it's still nowhere near the level of Sunnydale during those last few years but it is troublesome. It is difficult to operate effectively in that area."
"Is there anything we can do to help? A friendly call from a allied nation asking the local government to keep out of your way."
"That will not be required. The problems are more logistical in nature. As you know the Hellmouth is located on a rather underdeveloped island in the chain that is only sparsely populated," Robert explained. "The other three active Hellmouths are all located in or near urban areas and access to them is rather straightforward. Faith is also rather annoyed by the lack of quote 'a decent club anywhere near the place'."
"Yes, I can see how that would be troublesome to an active young woman."
"The only other item of interest is your man Cromwell's request for information on the theft of the Dagger of D'karsh last weekend," as he spoke Robert opened his satchel and pulled out a report.
"So the Dagger does have some value? Our people are still trying to trace its original ownership. It seems your research department did its usual thorough job." Sophia took the report from Robert's hand and began to scan the pages.
"It seems Mr. Holmes went to great lengths to shield ownership of his collection behind various holding companies and aliases. And actually you can thank the younger Ms Summers for the thoroughness of the information. The robbery had already caught her attention when agent Cromwell phoned me with his request. By the way, she was wondering if you knew anything about Mr. Holmes' murder fifteen years ago and the theft of the Orb of D'Karsh."
Sophia stopped scanning the report and began to think through her response. The Covenant specifically forbade her from revealing the existence of the Wizarding world to outside parties. She needed to be careful in how she answered.
Robert noticed the pause. "I take it you do know something? Ms Summers was able to learn the dagger is a key component in reviving a mage afflicted by one the curses of Vada Koreesh."
"There is not much I can tell you Robert, I only had limited involvement with MI5 in those days."
Robert sensed the tension. He knew it was not a good idea to push Lady Aydin, but Dawn's curiosity had been piqued and she would be very annoyed when she returned from Cleveland if he didn't get some information. Lady Aydin was formidable but since he was forced to choose, he preferred having Lady Aydin annoyed with him then Dawn Summers. An annoyed Dawn Summers, led to an annoyed Buffy Summers, which led to an annoyed Willow Rosenberg, followed by an annoyed Xander Harris and then a very annoyed Rupert Giles. Lady Aydin led to an annoyed British government. Scooby gang vs. powerful national government. It really wasn't a choice.
"We know the guard was killed with magic. Ms Summers dispatched a team to investigate on Wednesday after your people left. The warlock in the group sensed the spell." He left out the warlock not recognizing the nature of the spell.
"As I said your people are always thorough." Lady Aydin was trying to think of ways to divert Robert's attention from this line of questioning. She had assumed the call to museum curator had only been curiosity on the part of one the Council's researchers. Her request that Council find information on the dagger was logical and should have forestalled any further investigation. After all it meant MI5 was already handling the matter.
She did not expect the robbery to have caught the attention of the younger Summers sister. She only met Dawn Summers a couple of times but she knew once Ms Summers wanted to find something out, nothing short of an apocalypse could stop her. And given the company she kept, an apocalypse would prove only a brief distraction.
Best to stick with the limited truth she could tell and hope.
"We suspected the robbery was tied to some incidents from fifteen years ago. That was why we dispatched our own team to investigate. We don't have direct evidence to link the events, just suspicion," she studied him carefully. "The information you provided should go a long way to helping us find that link."
It was Robert's turn to study Lady Aydin. They were playing a very delicate game. He made a decision to play one of his Trump cards. After all Lady Aydin had no way to know just how much the team had learned and what other paths the investigation was leading them down.
"Ms Summers theorized that fifteen years ago a mage stole the Orb of D'Karsh to use as a protective charm. Unfortunately this person did not realize the importance of the dagger and ended up crippled from the effects of one of these curses of Vada Koreesh." The lack of any visible reaction from Lady Aydin told Robert that Ms Summers guesses were most likely accurate. "It took him this long to recover the dagger so he can heal. It seems a very powerful mage, one who's already shown a willingness to kill, is preparing to make a return."
Lady Aydin admired how well Robert had played the game thus far. She should have anticipated how much the Council could pull together, even with only a week to work on the problem. She was forced to use her only real Trump card.
"Robert, I can assure you, this affair is strictly between humans. No vampires or demons are involved. The Council generally stays out of such matters."
It was a weak play and she knew it. Over the centuries the supernatural and mystical Champions of the world carved out their various territories. The Slayers dealt with vampires and demons. Threats from humans were handled by one of the many other groups (Adepts, Hunting Lodges, supernatural detectives, witches covens, the list was endless) dedicated to suppressing the forces of darkness. Of course, those old boundaries assumed only one Slayer available at any given time. With hundreds of Slayers to call upon the new Council decided to slowly expand its portfolio.
Robert suppressed a smile. He succeeded in forcing her hand. But he still needed to proceed with care. All he accomplished so far was confirm what Summers and Rosenberg already suspected. "I take it that this matter involves one the other esoteric groups you monitor?"
Definitely well played, she thought. Again, truth, albeit limited truth, was only option left to her.
"Yes."
"Is there anything you can tell me about this group?"
"I sorry Robert. But our agreement with them forbids me from revealing any more then you already know."
"Is the group capable of controlling this killer?"
Lady Aydin took a breath. The key question. The Council looked to expand its portfolio, but only selectively. It respected the old boundaries. If the existing controls worked then the Council simply said "hi," handed over a card and said "give us a call if you need a hand."
But if those controls failed, the Council stepped in with all its available resources. And very few things in this world could stand against a squad of Slayers.
A part of her wanted to shout "No!" and turn the Slayers loose on the Wizarding world. But that would mean breaking the Covenant, revealing all the enclaves. The implications of that went far beyond just the Council or the Wizarding world. Too many variables down that path, the currents became unreadable. She was forced to go with a half-truth and hope it that satisfied Dawn Summers' curiosity.
"They managed to stop it thirteen years ago," it took an orphaned child to accomplish, but Riddle was stopped. "We believe they have the power to stop it again," of course they don't actually use that power. "We're monitoring the situation to make certain it doesn't get out of control." Major Chisholm is training his SAS team in how to assassinate wizards.
Robert sat back in his chair. He had the victory this round. But he could see the hardness setting in Lady Aydin's eyes. Pushing anymore would accomplish nothing. Best to end the game now. What he learned here should give Dawn a good starting point.
"Very well. If the situation is contained then the matter is closed. I thank you for your time Lady Aydin," Robert began to get out of his chair.
"One last thing Robert," Lady Aydin motioned for him to sit down again. "I assume the senior members of the Council are traveling to Cleveland again this year?"
"Yes, their flight left this morning."
"Tell Rupert and the others I will be making a toast in their honor and saying a prayer for their protection to mark the anniversary."
"I will pass that along Sophia. Dr. Giles also wanted me to thank you again for your help over the last five years. Particularly in freeing up the old Council's funds."
"It was a pleasure. The reaction of certain stubborn lawyers to a personal phone call from the Queen calling them on the carpet was priceless," Sophia smiled.
"A moment I shall long remember," Robert grinned in response. "Thank you again for your time Sophia."
"A pleasure Robert. Peace be with you."
The week proved more frustrating than expected for Lady Aydin. The tingle on the back of her neck decided to settle in for a permanent visit. She meditated as often as her schedule allowed in an effort to sort through the currents but no pattern emerged.
The linchpin remained the Wizarding world. Whenever she meditated she saw currents flowing in and around the enclaves. Something was definitely happening. In a way the enclaves almost seemed to be drifting away from the rest of world. Her senses told her the depths of these currents flowed back for centuries, that whoever was behind the current activity, be it Tom Riddle or one of his followers was merely a symptom of something larger. She needed more information.
Times like these she missed her Uncle Micah. While she shared the family talent for sensing the magical currents of the world, she lacked her Uncle's gift for riding those currents and immersing himself in their flow. For seeing how they interconnected and branched off from each other. He retired from his position as advisor to Prime Minister because of cancer. It had been painful to watch the once powerful man who taught her so much fade away. He survived for nearly six years; far longer then the doctor's thought possible. He finally lost the battle a month after Sunnydale collapsed.
But while his body failed, his mind never did. Lady Aydin still remembered his final words to her.
"The worlds on the right path now, my little munchkin. All the currents flow together in the end. Those who hide from that truth, who cut them selves off from world, will learn. The currents, the magic, will not be denied. Trust you instincts, munchkin. It will be up to you to teach them."
---
Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz from her intercom. "Lady Aydin, your eleven o'clock is here."
"Show him in Teresa." She got up from her desk and walked to the door. Her secretary ushered the Watchers Councils official representative to the British government into the office.
"Lady Aydin, always a pleasure," Robert O'Leary said reaching out to shake her hand.
"Robert it's been more than four years. You can call me Sophia," she took the offered hand and then motioned for him sit on one the chairs. She returned to her seat at the desk and favored him with a smile. "How are Michelle and Rob doing?"
"Quite well. Michelle transferred back to the Trauma Unit, says she prefers the excitement. Rob is rapidly becoming a terror on the football field."
"Ah, the next Beckham in the making."
"That's his current goal. And how are things with your family?" He inquired.
"The Foreign Office sent Basil off on assignment to Rome yesterday. He's meeting with some Vatican officials over next few days. It seems the new Pope is thinking of making a state visit to England in next few months. Basil Jr. just finished his second year at university. He's actually threatening to pick a major."
"The boy is full of surprises. And Becca?"
"Even worse, she wants to attend university in the States after she graduates next year."
"You have my deepest sympathies Sophia," Robert grinned.
"And you have my thanks Robert," Sophia turned the conversation to business. "How are things in, what's Ms Rosenberg's phrase again, the world of the weird?"
"Fairly normal actually. We've noticed an increase in activity at the Indonesian Hellmouth over the last couple of months. According to the elder Ms Summers, it's still nowhere near the level of Sunnydale during those last few years but it is troublesome. It is difficult to operate effectively in that area."
"Is there anything we can do to help? A friendly call from a allied nation asking the local government to keep out of your way."
"That will not be required. The problems are more logistical in nature. As you know the Hellmouth is located on a rather underdeveloped island in the chain that is only sparsely populated," Robert explained. "The other three active Hellmouths are all located in or near urban areas and access to them is rather straightforward. Faith is also rather annoyed by the lack of quote 'a decent club anywhere near the place'."
"Yes, I can see how that would be troublesome to an active young woman."
"The only other item of interest is your man Cromwell's request for information on the theft of the Dagger of D'karsh last weekend," as he spoke Robert opened his satchel and pulled out a report.
"So the Dagger does have some value? Our people are still trying to trace its original ownership. It seems your research department did its usual thorough job." Sophia took the report from Robert's hand and began to scan the pages.
"It seems Mr. Holmes went to great lengths to shield ownership of his collection behind various holding companies and aliases. And actually you can thank the younger Ms Summers for the thoroughness of the information. The robbery had already caught her attention when agent Cromwell phoned me with his request. By the way, she was wondering if you knew anything about Mr. Holmes' murder fifteen years ago and the theft of the Orb of D'Karsh."
Sophia stopped scanning the report and began to think through her response. The Covenant specifically forbade her from revealing the existence of the Wizarding world to outside parties. She needed to be careful in how she answered.
Robert noticed the pause. "I take it you do know something? Ms Summers was able to learn the dagger is a key component in reviving a mage afflicted by one the curses of Vada Koreesh."
"There is not much I can tell you Robert, I only had limited involvement with MI5 in those days."
Robert sensed the tension. He knew it was not a good idea to push Lady Aydin, but Dawn's curiosity had been piqued and she would be very annoyed when she returned from Cleveland if he didn't get some information. Lady Aydin was formidable but since he was forced to choose, he preferred having Lady Aydin annoyed with him then Dawn Summers. An annoyed Dawn Summers, led to an annoyed Buffy Summers, which led to an annoyed Willow Rosenberg, followed by an annoyed Xander Harris and then a very annoyed Rupert Giles. Lady Aydin led to an annoyed British government. Scooby gang vs. powerful national government. It really wasn't a choice.
"We know the guard was killed with magic. Ms Summers dispatched a team to investigate on Wednesday after your people left. The warlock in the group sensed the spell." He left out the warlock not recognizing the nature of the spell.
"As I said your people are always thorough." Lady Aydin was trying to think of ways to divert Robert's attention from this line of questioning. She had assumed the call to museum curator had only been curiosity on the part of one the Council's researchers. Her request that Council find information on the dagger was logical and should have forestalled any further investigation. After all it meant MI5 was already handling the matter.
She did not expect the robbery to have caught the attention of the younger Summers sister. She only met Dawn Summers a couple of times but she knew once Ms Summers wanted to find something out, nothing short of an apocalypse could stop her. And given the company she kept, an apocalypse would prove only a brief distraction.
Best to stick with the limited truth she could tell and hope.
"We suspected the robbery was tied to some incidents from fifteen years ago. That was why we dispatched our own team to investigate. We don't have direct evidence to link the events, just suspicion," she studied him carefully. "The information you provided should go a long way to helping us find that link."
It was Robert's turn to study Lady Aydin. They were playing a very delicate game. He made a decision to play one of his Trump cards. After all Lady Aydin had no way to know just how much the team had learned and what other paths the investigation was leading them down.
"Ms Summers theorized that fifteen years ago a mage stole the Orb of D'Karsh to use as a protective charm. Unfortunately this person did not realize the importance of the dagger and ended up crippled from the effects of one of these curses of Vada Koreesh." The lack of any visible reaction from Lady Aydin told Robert that Ms Summers guesses were most likely accurate. "It took him this long to recover the dagger so he can heal. It seems a very powerful mage, one who's already shown a willingness to kill, is preparing to make a return."
Lady Aydin admired how well Robert had played the game thus far. She should have anticipated how much the Council could pull together, even with only a week to work on the problem. She was forced to use her only real Trump card.
"Robert, I can assure you, this affair is strictly between humans. No vampires or demons are involved. The Council generally stays out of such matters."
It was a weak play and she knew it. Over the centuries the supernatural and mystical Champions of the world carved out their various territories. The Slayers dealt with vampires and demons. Threats from humans were handled by one of the many other groups (Adepts, Hunting Lodges, supernatural detectives, witches covens, the list was endless) dedicated to suppressing the forces of darkness. Of course, those old boundaries assumed only one Slayer available at any given time. With hundreds of Slayers to call upon the new Council decided to slowly expand its portfolio.
Robert suppressed a smile. He succeeded in forcing her hand. But he still needed to proceed with care. All he accomplished so far was confirm what Summers and Rosenberg already suspected. "I take it that this matter involves one the other esoteric groups you monitor?"
Definitely well played, she thought. Again, truth, albeit limited truth, was only option left to her.
"Yes."
"Is there anything you can tell me about this group?"
"I sorry Robert. But our agreement with them forbids me from revealing any more then you already know."
"Is the group capable of controlling this killer?"
Lady Aydin took a breath. The key question. The Council looked to expand its portfolio, but only selectively. It respected the old boundaries. If the existing controls worked then the Council simply said "hi," handed over a card and said "give us a call if you need a hand."
But if those controls failed, the Council stepped in with all its available resources. And very few things in this world could stand against a squad of Slayers.
A part of her wanted to shout "No!" and turn the Slayers loose on the Wizarding world. But that would mean breaking the Covenant, revealing all the enclaves. The implications of that went far beyond just the Council or the Wizarding world. Too many variables down that path, the currents became unreadable. She was forced to go with a half-truth and hope it that satisfied Dawn Summers' curiosity.
"They managed to stop it thirteen years ago," it took an orphaned child to accomplish, but Riddle was stopped. "We believe they have the power to stop it again," of course they don't actually use that power. "We're monitoring the situation to make certain it doesn't get out of control." Major Chisholm is training his SAS team in how to assassinate wizards.
Robert sat back in his chair. He had the victory this round. But he could see the hardness setting in Lady Aydin's eyes. Pushing anymore would accomplish nothing. Best to end the game now. What he learned here should give Dawn a good starting point.
"Very well. If the situation is contained then the matter is closed. I thank you for your time Lady Aydin," Robert began to get out of his chair.
"One last thing Robert," Lady Aydin motioned for him to sit down again. "I assume the senior members of the Council are traveling to Cleveland again this year?"
"Yes, their flight left this morning."
"Tell Rupert and the others I will be making a toast in their honor and saying a prayer for their protection to mark the anniversary."
"I will pass that along Sophia. Dr. Giles also wanted me to thank you again for your help over the last five years. Particularly in freeing up the old Council's funds."
"It was a pleasure. The reaction of certain stubborn lawyers to a personal phone call from the Queen calling them on the carpet was priceless," Sophia smiled.
"A moment I shall long remember," Robert grinned in response. "Thank you again for your time Sophia."
"A pleasure Robert. Peace be with you."