The Chaos Tree
Chapter 25
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Onida sat with her eyes closed and focused her energy into pulling minerals in her direction. Adam was seated at her side, his hand over a porcelain bowl, murmuring under his breath. Slowly, a lid glued to a box across the room shifted.
Writing a spell to call the seeds from secured boxes spread across the entire country had not been an easy feat. Yet after several tries, Adam thought he had created one that would pull at the mineral compound of the seeds and bring them to where they were using Onida's natural energy abilities. After securing his and Ryker's room with protection spells and sigils to protect the hotel patrons against the influence of the seeds, he and Onida were trying out the spell.
"Good," Adam murmured, his eyes still closed.
"Not … now," Onida grunted, her face screwed up in concentration. Doubling her energy output, she focused on using the ruby-reddish heat of attraction pooling inside her body to pull the minerals to her. Suddenly the box lid flew off, and the protection circle behind which she and Adam were seated was pelted with seeds. "Oh!" she yelped, startled.
Adam smiled and opened his eyes. "Well done."
"Yeah, sure," Onida muttered, standing and stretching. "That was across a room. We need to make sealed boxes protected by magic all across the country open up and come here." Sighing, she shook her head. "I don't know how we're going to do that."
"It's not the distance," Adam stated. "It's the magic."
Onida rolled her eyes. She was pretty tired of hearing that.
Adam covered a smile and continued. "Getting the right combination of crafter magic and earth magic to open a box and pull the seeds to us was the key. Now that we have the right combination of magics, we merely strengthen the spell."
"So, we just enhance what we did, and it'll work on further distances?"
"It's the right combination," Adam said again. Leaning over, he pulled some ingredients in his direction and a new porcelain bowl.
Onida looked at the seeds littering the floor of the hotel room. "How are we going to put those back in the box without touching them?"
"Just focus on the minerals and send them back to the box," Adam suggested, his eyes on his ingredients.
"I'm not a magician, here," Onida declared. "I can't do that!"
Adam looked up at the frustration he could hear in Onida's voice. She had more control and power than she was giving herself credit for. She just needed to learn that she could use that power in a new and different way. "When you strengthened the walls of the confinement for the witches, you didn't go into the forest to strength the increments. You did that through a portal, correct?"
"Yes."
"Inside the medicine bags were minerals and ingredients that you used to strengthen a very real spell boundary that kept the witches inside. With this spell, you are going the same thing, only instead of sending the minerals and magnetics around a forest, you're calling the magnetics and minerals here."
Heaving out a sigh, Onida reached out, picked up a sandwich and bit it. When she was Yaotlapializtli of the Yakama people, she had monitored the boundary of an entire forest, using her energy and her ability to manipulate magnetics and minerals to keep the spell barrier intact in order to prevent the Tah-tah-kle'-ah from escaping. That seemed like a lifetime ago. However, monitoring and shoring up the boundary surrounding a forest was one thing, using that same power to cross the breadth and width of an entire country was something else. She didn't know if she had enough energy to pull seeds to her from around the country. Swallowing, she confessed, "I can't do this."
Adam frowned.
Onida placed her sandwich down onto the small table and sat down opposite the crafter. "I don't have enough energy to reach across the entire continent."
"You don't have to have that much energy," Adam repeated. "I'm using magic to increase the effectiveness of your energy output. It was a matter of finding the right formula for maximum results." He waved his hand over the bowl he'd been using. "We now have the right formula."
Onida stared at the porcelain bowl and what Adam had been saying finally clicked. "So, you're using magic to make my manipulation of magnetics go further."
Adam nodded.
Eyeing the mix of ingredients lying across the table, Onida reached over and picked back up her sandwich. "You're going to need a whole lot more ingredients than this to cover the country."
"We'll need a few more, yes," Adam concurred. "However, the most important thing to remember, is that we can do this." He picked up a plastic container with a white powder inside. Scooping a measured tablespoon full, he poured it into the porcelain bowl.
Onida looked around the room, at the protection circle and sigils Adam had drawn there to protect the patrons of the hotel against the power of the seeds. "If this works, those seeds will be flying across the country."
Adam nodded.
"What about all the people? Won't they be affected by the power of the seeds?"
Adam put down his measuring spoon and leaned back in his chair, giving her question serious contemplation. "In truth, I don't know," he admitted. "If the spell works as planned, the seeds should fly by so fast they shouldn't affect people. They won't even be exposed to it for a second. And if Piruz succeeds in releasing the Chaos Spell, I don't believe the seeds will be of any notice."
It was a sobering thought; that the country might be in chaos in a few hours.
Giving Onida a smile that he hoped was comforting, Adam said, "How about returning the seeds to its box so we can leave the room."
Onida sighed and focused on the seeds and the mineral deposits inside. Instead of viewing them as individual pips, she tried to focus on them as a mineral substance that needed to fill in a hole or a gap, like she had done with the gaps and tears in the forest spell boundaries. Only this time, that "gap" was the inside of a box. Closing her eyes, she thought of filling in the hole. It wasn't until she heard Adam say Well, done, that she opened her eyes. The floor was clean. The seeds were back in the box and the lid was on. She looked over at Adam, elated. It was a success, one that was welcome.
Standing, Adam held up a box he had sealed with his own magic, one with generic orange seeds inside, and wiggled it in the air. "Want to give it another try, this time with the sealed box of seeds on the outside of the hotel."
Onida gave a snort of laughter. "You want seeds to fly through the hotel and into our room?"
A hint of mischief flashed across Adam's normally stoic face. "Think anyone will notice?"
Grinning, Onida said, "Let's see whether they do."
The lone suite at the Holiday Inn Express was crowded with people. Around the main table sat JT, James, Max, Daniel and Joel, all making spell pouches. The younger three worked on the exploding pouches, the older two putting together the defensive spells. The remnants of lunch littered the kitchen, with only a couple of sandwiches and water bottles remaining. Sam and Dean sat opposite one another at a smaller table closer to the suite's sitting room, Sam picking at his sandwich, Dean pushing his partially eaten burger around the plate. All eyes went to the door when it opened and Caleb walked through.
"Ethan checked in." Caleb went to the table and dropped into a seat near Dean. "They're through Lebanon and at a Pilot station about seventy miles south. They'll be heading east as soon as they stretch their legs a bit."
There were a few whoops and Dean as well as Sam sighed in relief. The brother's had been almost an hour overdue for their check in, and everyone had been on edge. The sense of ease now permeating the room was palpable.
"The mission?" Sam asked, setting his sandwich down on his plate.
"They were able to place all six bags," Caleb relayed triumphantly. "One at the US 281/Hwy 191 intersection, another at the Midway Co-Op station going into town; three others at the local church, the market, and Ethan ditched one behind the Community Center, the last heading out of town."
"Great!" James exclaimed softly.
"Well done," Dean agreed.
"In getting out of dodge, they went a little further south than they'd originally intended, and that's why they didn't get in touch sooner. But they're on their way east and will hook up to Interstate 135 north." Caleb took a bite of his sandwich.
"Why don't they just hole up an hour due east of Lebanon," Sam said. "That way they don't have to come all the way back here just to turn around and head back."
Caleb nodded slowly. "Onida can take the SUV, meet up with them." Rising, he walked into the small kitchenette as he typed out a text as he relayed the information to Ethan and Elijah.
Dean pushed away his half eaten meal for good.
"You need to eat," Sam said softly.
"Pot, kettle," Dean replied with a smile.
Not to be deterred, Sam repeated, "You still need to eat."
"I'll eat after I go back into the circle," Dean promised in a barely audible undertone. "I just don't want too much in much in my stomach."
"You're going to be fine," Sam said, "Especially with Joshua's new protection pouch."
Dean nodded, his eyes on JT and James, who were working at the table across the room. After a moment, he said, "Only you, me, Caleb and Josh, all right? No one else."
"They're going to be worried," Sam said.
"Only if we tell them."
"JT knows. We talked."
"But he doesn't have to see."
"What if he needs to do something like this someday?"
Dean gave his brother an incredulous look. "You think he's going to have to deal with the seeds of the Tree of Good and Evil?"
"The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil," Sam corrected with a smile. "And if we can't take out Piruz tonight, then maybe."
"We'll finish him," Dean vowed. "We have to."
Caleb walked back over carrying his cell phone, a bottle of water and a plate piled with chips and a turkey sandwich half. Once he'd dropped down in his former seat, he said, "They're going to hole up at a small notel-motel near Jewel Kansas. It's just outside a half hour mark from Lebanon. They should be able to catch a couple hours sleep, then be in place at eight-forty-five."
Dean pulled the satellite map of Lebanon closer and scanned the area. Streets, houses and buildings were all pictured from above. "Onida can meet up with them here," he pointed to a large, barn-like building east of the town. "It's right on 145 Road."
Caleb scanned the map, plotting Onida's route. "Yeah, all right."
Dean watched his old friend and knew Caleb wasn't comfortable with Onida being away from his side on a hunt. He completely understood, and there wasn't one damn thing he could say to ease his friend's worries.
There was a knock at the door, and James scrambled to his feet to answer it. Joshua walked in with a smile for the younger man.
"Dean?" he said quietly. "I could use your help."
JT's eyes went from the Advisor to his father.
Dean rose, trying to look nonchalant. "Sure." Glancing over to the group at the larger table strewn with herbs, minerals and other ingredients, he said, "I'll be right back to help with those pouches."
James, picking up on his brother's unease, merely watched his father walk to the door. Then, as though he couldn't help himself, he called, "Dad?"
Dean turned and smiled. Forcing comfort and ease into his voice, he said, "I'll be right back, kiddo."
Sam rose and, along with Caleb, they both followed Dean into the hall.
Dean smirked at his Triad, saying, "That wasn't conspicuous at all, was it?"
"Don't care," Caleb shrugged, rubbing a crumb from the side of his mouth with his thumb.
"Me either."
Dean rolled his eyes.
Joshua smiled as they got onto the elevator. Pushing the button for the floor two levels down, he said, "We should be able to do this fairly quickly. I've put the four spell bags I'll need on the table already. All you need to do is open the box and remove two seeds per bag and put them in the spell pouches. Then you're out of there."
Dean nodded. Strangely enough, while there was a knot of anxiety inside, it was held at bay by an overall calm. If Eden was helping them return what belong to it, then they would be fine.
When they stepped inside Joshua's room, Ryker was putting the finishing touches on the protection circle. Looking up, he nodded to the Triad. To Joshua, he said, "All you'll need to do is close the circle once Dean's inside."
"Thank you," Joshua said. "Now, I would appreciate it if you could check in with Onida and your father, see how they're progressing with their side of this operation."
"Will do," Ryker said. Placing the remnants of the ingredients he'd used onto the bed, he picked up a key card and left the room.
Joshua went over to the small table squished at the base of the two double beds, and checked the neat protection circle narrowly encircling it and the lopsided chair. Atop the table sat four, good-sized stiff silk bags. Turning, he gave Dean a reassuring nod.
After a deep breath, Dean walked into the circle and sat down at the small table. Looking around at the tight quarters, he said, "Kinda cramped in here, isn't it?"
Joshua smiled. "You won't be in there long." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pouch that was somewhat larger than the protection pouches the Triad had worn before. "Here, wear this. I made it quite a bit stronger than prior protection pouches. And you have your Triad protection?"
Dean hung the new protection bag around his neck while pulling the neck of his shirt a bit wider to show a thin titanium chain. Years before he, Caleb and Sam had been caught inside a Triad trap set for them by a demon. They'd been able to gain their freedom, but to prevent another such incident, Joshua had created a powerful talisman to protect them against further traps.
"Good. The double protections should make it easier to endure the chaos surrounding the seeds." While the Triad talisman didn't appear to have helped during Dean's first encounter with the seeds, Joshua hoped its connection to Caleb and Sam's talismans had enabled him to focus on his Triad when the pain became too great. Now, he was counting on that talisman-connection along with the enhanced protection pouch to protect him more thoroughly this time around.
"Let's get this done," Dean said.
Joshua reached for his wand and murmured an enchantment under his breath, closing the circle.
Dean again felt the heat rise and a stifling sense of claustrophobia within the circle. He'd just gotten inside and already wanted out. Sighing, he looked over at Caleb and Sam, gave them a nod. Then he pulled out his knife and started to pry the lid from the wooden box. He felt the shift when the lid loosened and repositioned his knife to pry up the lid. Once the lid was loose, he put it aside and looked down into the box. Yup, the crazy-making seeds were still there. Without waiting even a moment, he picked up Joshua's tweezers and pulled one seed out of the box and dropped it into the first spell pouch. A second quickly followed the first. "That's one down," he said.
"Good job," Joshua murmured.
Dipping his tweezers into the box again, Dean felt a buzzing in his ears. Frowning, he waved a hand past his ear and pulled another seed from the box.
"You good?" Sam asked with a frown.
"Yeah…" Dean went in and took a fourth seed and dropped it into the second bag.
You're such a good boy… cooed a deep, silky voice in his head. Alistair.
"Shut up," Dean muttered, taking a fifth seed from the box.
Caleb sat on the edge of the bed across from Dean and said, "You're over half way done."
"Yeah, I know," Dean barked, dropping the seed into the third bag. Closing his eyes, he sighed. "Sorry, the buzzing is distracting."
Joshua frowned. "Buzzing?"
Dean nodded as he retrieved his sixth seed and dropped it into the third bag. "Really annoying. And it's really hot in here." He went in to get his seventh seed. "Am I supposed to close these bags too?"
"Yes," Joshua said, watching the seventh seed going into the last spell bag. "I'll lead you through it when you're done."
"'kay," Dean murmured. It was when he held the tweezers over the box for the last time that his hand began to shake.
"Steady," Caleb murmured.
Dean glanced over and nodded. Getting a firm grasp on the last seed, he dropped it into the fourth bag and shoved the lid back on the box. Of course, eight seeds were still outside the box, and the buzzing in his head was beginning to seriously affect his motor skills. His neck was tighter than a drum, his arms and hands were trembling, and one leg was bobbing up and down in an agitated fashion.
"Dean!"
Dean looked up and realized that Joshua was leaning forward, worry on his face, and he figured that hadn't been the first time he had said Dean's name. "Sorry," he said, giving his head a shake. "What's next?"
Joshua wanted to ask whether Dean was all right, wanted to know how he was doing. Both Caleb and Sam looked concerned, but he decided to get the job over with instead. "See the small bottle at the corner of the table?"
Dean frowned and looked around. In the corner stood a small, glass bottle, one he hadn't noticed before. It felt light and fragile; he hoped he didn't break it.
"I want you to take the stopper out, and put one drop into each bag before pulling closed the drawstrings."
"And just pulling closed a drawstring seals the bags?" Sam whispered.
"A temporary closing," Joshua murmured. "I'll seal the bags fully when the protection seal is broken." He handed two more pouches to Sam and Caleb. "You'll need to put these on when I break the seal."
"So the potion bags won't be fully closed," Caleb said.
"Yes, they'll be fully closed temporarily," Joshua stressed. "If I don't finish the closing, they'll reopen. But that won't happen," he assured the pair. "As soon as Dean finishes, I'll break the seal and complete the closing."
"Hey!" Dean called, holding the small bottle in his shaking hand. "Guy in the stupid circle needs help." When he had the others' attention, he held up the small bottle. "I can't get this open. Can I use my knife?"
"I'd rather you didn't," Joshua said. "Just jiggle the stopper from side to side. It should come out."
Sighing, Dean put down his knife. Grimacing slightly, he tried to steady his hands as he wiggled the cork stopped from side to side. "S'not working," he muttered.
"It is," Joshua said calmly, his eyes on the small stopper. "See how it's coming up?"
"Oh, okay."
"You're going to be out of there soon," Sam promised.
Sighing, Dean worked at the stopper. Couldn't Joshua have just set the bottle on the table without the stopper? Cause, seriously, stoppers shouldn't be this much work.
"Be careful," Joshua warned as the stopper moved toward the top. He didn't want Dean to pull it off with such force that the liquid spilled.
"I … got it," Dean grunted. When he finally got the stopper from the bottle, he needed to rest a bit. The buzzing was now very difficult to ignore.
"You're almost done," Caleb said, sliding off the bed and onto his knees. Through his and Dean's psychic connection, he could hear the buzzing too, and it was incredibly distracting. "Just one drop in each of the pouches."
Dean blinked at Caleb. "Yeah," he murmured. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady his hand as he held the small bottle over the first pouch.
"Careful…" murmured Joshua.
Slowly Dean tipped the bottle over the first pouch. Tilting gradually, he felt like he would explode any second until a small golden drop fell into the pouch. Instantly all the tension whooshed out of his body as he sat back in the chair.
"Watch the bottle," Joshua warned. Dean's hands had fallen into his lap and the bottle was tilting dangerously.
"Can he put the drops in all the bags before he closes them?" Sam asked, his eyes on his brother, whose eyes were closed.
"Yes," Joshua nodded. "Dean, it's time for the second pouch."
Pick up that knife and do that again, boy.
Grimacing, Dean forced the flaming image that had flitted into his mind into a strong box and slammed the lid. Then he sat up again, forced his mind to clear and his hands to steady, and focused on the second pouch. Holding the jar over the pouch, he let one drop fall and moved immediately on to the third pouch. After one drop, he went to the fourth and finished. By now, sweat was dripping from his forehead, but he didn't feel like his limbs were as out of control.
"Put the stopper back in the bottle," Joshua said.
Dean rolled his eyes slightly, and reached for the stopper. It was difficult getting the stopper aligned with the small opening of the bottle, but he finally got the little cork into the stem and set the jar aside.
"Good job," Sam said, smiling.
Closing his eyes again, Dean leaned back in the chair.
"One more task," Joshua said.
"Yeah," Dean breathed. "Just give me a second." His arms felt tired, and that worried him. If being in the protection circle wearing a protection pouch didn't fully protect him, how could they be expected to fight near the Tree after Piruz set off the Chaos Spell? They would be nearly completely incapacitated. Touching the pouch at his neck, he opened his eyes and said, "I don't think this pouch is going to work."
"Why?" Joshua asked.
"Because I'm not one hundred percent me," Dean stated. "I keep hearing this buzzing, and it's affecting my motor skills and coordination. We can't fight if we can't control our bodies."
"Why don't you close the pouches, and we can talk about it," Joshua said, pointing to the spell bags.
Sighing, Dean mumbled, "Yeah." He had the strings drawn on all four potion bags in short order and looked up expectantly at Joshua.
"Here we go," Joshua said. Wand in hand, he smudge out the protection line and quickly touched each of the bags while murmuring an incantation.
Breathing deeply, Dean relished the clean, fresh cool air as it swept inside the protection circle.
"You all right?" Sam asked, hurrying around Joshua to reach his brother's side.
"Yeah, yeah," Dean muttered, continuing to take deeps breaths. "It just gets hard to breathe in there."
"You did better this time," Caleb said with a smile, nodding his head to the knife sitting innocently on the table.
Dean snorted in derision. "Yeah, right."
"You did," Joshua agreed. "You didn't lose yourself, you didn't injure yourself. You accomplished the task before you in record time and got out." Smiling at the dumbfounded Guardian, he finished by saying, "Well done."
"You did great, Dean." Sam smiled. "Being closed up in that tiny circle would have had me climbing the walls."
Frowning, Dean rose and tottered slightly to the left, right into Caleb, who steadied him. Smiling, he nodded his thanks. Moving about the room, he began to feel better. Maybe being cooped up inside the protection circle did have a debilitating effect after all.
Once he'd completed his task of completely sealing the spell bags, Joshua turned to Dean. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now that the circle is open and I'm walking around," Dean said.
"Tell me about inside the circle," Joshua said.
Dean told him everything he felt inside the circle and when it started. He tried to be as accurate as possible, knowing the information he gave might help save their lives in battle.
"So the main distraction was the buzzing," Joshua said, frowning.
"It began to affect my muscles and limbs. I felt like I couldn't hold anything steady."
"And you heard Alastair again," Caleb mentioned.
Dean turned to stare at his friend.
Caleb pointed to his own head. "I heard him."
Flushing, Dean nodded. "Yes, I heard him again. But it wasn't the same as last time. It was less like he was whispering in my ear and more like … an echo, I guess."
"Then that's better," Sam said.
"Yeah, I suppose," Dean agreed reluctantly. Hearing Alastair at all wasn't fun, even if it was in echo form. His eyes met Caleb's, and he knew his best friend understood.
Head down, Joshua was writing some notes as he said, "Okay, why don't you all take those pouches off. I'm going to add another couple of ingredients before tonight. Hopefully the additions will stabilize the mix and the buzzing will stop."
"That would be good," Dean said, lifting the pouch from around his neck and setting it on the table. Eyeing Joshua, he wanted to ask about the spell to send the Tree back to Eden. While he didn't want to appear to doubt his Advisor, as Guardian, he needed to know how the spell was progressing. "How's the spell coming?"
"Well," Joshua said with a smile. "Of course, the results will be in the successful conclusion. It's not like I can test it before hand."
Sam looked curious. "Could you? I mean, could you practice it and maybe send it on its way?"
"Considering I'd have to be at the Tree to work the spell," Joshua said, "That would be no."
"To bad," Caleb remarked. "Would have saved us all that fighting."
"What about trying the spell on the seeds," Sam suggested. "See if the seeds we have here will go back."
Joshua had considered that, but these seeds were from the Tree Piruz was holding hostage, not the original Tree in Eden. He had a feeling Piruz had to have worked quick and hard to get any part of the Tree from Eden. Therefore, it was likely the seeds here were from this Tree. If the pull of the seeds to the Tree was so great that Piruz needed to bind the seeds in a cocobolo wood box with his own magic, then it was likely the seeds would return to the Tree in Lebanon rather than the Tree in Eden. If they did return here, they would need to go past Piruz, and he would know what they were doing.
Dean, seeing the frowning consideration on Joshua's face, said, "I think we should go with your original plan."
Joshua looked up.
"You have confidence the plan will work," Dean shrugged. "I have confidence you can do the spell, Pastor Jim knew it too."
Joshua nodded slowly. "There are complications in using the spell on only one box of seeds. I think it would be better to do the spell at the proper time."
Caleb rose. "Do you have enough time to finish the Tree spell and add additions to our spell pouches?"
"It shouldn't be a problem," Joshua said with a smile.
"Speaking of spell pouches," Sam said. "Shouldn't we be upstairs helping with those? I have a feeling we're going to be using several tonight."
Caleb opened the door and stepped out first into the hallway followed by Sam.
Dean turned to Joshua just before he walked out and said, "Thank you. I know I gave you a very difficult task, and I know how hard you've been working on creating the spell and protecting us. I wanted you to know I realize how hard, and it's appreciated." Nodding, he stepped out of the room and closed the door.
Joshua found himself staring at the door and smiling. It wasn't like Dean had never thanked him before, he most definitely had. But this time, it made the workload still ahead of him feel lighter. Shaking his head, he went back to the table and started reworking the spells for the protection pouches.
Piruz lifted a hand and blew spell dust across his map in the waning daylight. He felt rested and strong, ready to conclude the Chaos Spell that would send this land into chaos. The path of the sun told him he had a few hours left, and he planned to use them well. Staring at the map, he let out a frustrated breath. Merlin's children were still not visible to his eye, and he knew they were here. He had sensed them in the air, had sent magic to disrupt their journey. Slowly he tipped the potion dust into the bin to be emptied and sat down. There were only two options for his not being able to find them. One, his magic had interfered so much with their flying machine, that it went down and they were either dead or wounded. Two, their wizard was much stronger than he anticipated and had been very successful in shielding their whereabouts. Rolling up the map, he contemplated the two choices. If they were dead, he would have an easy time concluding the spell tonight. Somehow, ease and his plan had never been a pairing. Therefore, he would move forward on the premise that they were being protected by their very clever wizard. He had heard a saying recently and had enjoyed its irony very much: Plan for the worst; hope for the best. Yes, that is what he would do.
Standing, Piruz put the rolled amp back in his bag and gathered his possessions. Once he was outside, he placed the items in his car and climbed in. The windows still needed replacing, but he wouldn't feel the cold tonight. Smiling, he sped away from the public home toward the Tree. He could feel the Tree wanting to be free, wanting to be back in Eden. But it could not leave. His will would be done here on earth, as the God-With-No-Name had done. And he would succeed in eradicating the evil and the wicked and save the good. And those remaining would revere him, serve him and worship him.
Driving into Lebanon, he stopped beside the shabby Community Center and went inside. A small woman with wrinkled skin and white hair sat before a bowl, her hand moving over the surface. "Quid invenisti?" (What have you detected?)
"Nihil." (Nothing) The woman's voice was a frail, thin testament to her exhaustion. Fumbling a few moments, she finally said, "Multi itinerantur a." (Many pass by.) Hesitating again, she finally said, "Two came through, but left quickly."
Translating the last in his head, Piruz felt some alarm. "Duo populi sunt in oppidum constitit?" (Two people stopped in town?)
The woman nodded. "They bought food at the market, and sandwiches at the diner."
Piruz frowned. He had understood what the old woman had said fairly well. Though he understood Latin better, English was becoming somewhat more familiar. The two people entered the town and apparently purchased food at the market. "Utrum manere diu?" (Did they stay long?)
The woman shook her head. "No."
Nodding thoughtfully, Piruz moved slowly to the door leading to the dingy hallway. The spell he had placed around the town had been very successful in diverting travelers interested in the geographical center of the forty-eight states, or those who drove the very large trucks for a living, away from Lebanon. The less sensitive who had driven in hadn't stayed long the belly of the spell. They did their business and left. It sounded like these two… Turning back to the woman, he asked, "Sive masculum sive feminam?" (Were they male or female?)
"Masculum."
That could mean the two warriors of Merlin had lived, and come to inspect Lebanon. This was his first indication that they may have survived the journey here. Smiling, he nodded. Tonight would have been easier had they perished. Yet it would be satisfying to triumph over Merlin's remaining warriors. "Te enim vidi magicae?" (Did you see magic?)
"No," the old woman replied.
"Vigilia," (Keep watch) Piruz ordered. In the hall, he walked further into the building and stopped at a second door. Pushing it open, he eyed the old man seated inside, hands hovering over a deep, wide porcelain bowl. "Quidquid?" (Anything?)
The old man shook his head, his blank eyes staring at nothing; his attention only on the bowl.
Piruz shut the door and moved another two doors down on the left, pushing it open. Inside a young woman was seated on the floor, her hands hovering over a silver urn that smoked lightly, filing the air with a sweet, spicy scent. "Quidquid?" When the girl tilted her head to the side and didn't answer immediately, he stepped inside. "Dice mihi." (Tell me.)
The girl frowned a moment, then said slowly, "Duo homines." Stopping, she gave a low growl of frustration.
"Do … not … worry," Piruz said slowly. "Merely tell."
The girl relaxed. "The two men. They were walls; no stray thoughts or colors."
Piruz frowned. "You not … see … auras?"
"Dark gray; low frequency. No projection."
Piruz felt frustration rise up in himself as well. He didn't understand exactly what this energy protector witch was saying. He didn't know the last word she had used, nor were the meanings of the others clear. What he deduced was that the auras on the two men were dark. It could mean they were hiding something.
"Could … find once more?"
The girl smiled and nodded.
"Bonum opus," (good work) he murmured. Rising, he retreated back into the hallway to the lobby. Elation filled his spirit. This was confirmation that the two warriors had survived the flying machine trip. Grinning, he stepped from the building. Outside several people were standing on the sidewalk, awaiting his instructions. A young man with russet colored hair, a sparse mustache and a bulky build walked up. "Separate people in group," he said slowly. "Watch paths to Lebanon. Stop the unwanted."
The man nodded and turned to the crowed. "Listen, everybody! You've all been divided into your groups. Here are your assignments for tonight: Group One, you'll be at the park. The Leader will give you instructions there. Group Two, you're at the northern entrance to Lebanon. Group Three, the east is yours; Four, you'll patrol the west; and Group Five, the south. Group Six, you'll patrol the city center near Ladow's. The most powerful coven members will be here, at the Community Center monitoring the entire town and the park. Keep your radios handy. If we detect penetration in your area we will let you know." Turning, the man looked at Piruz, awaiting his instruction.
The ancient wizard nodded. He understood much of what had been said, though it would have taken much longer for him to communicate those instructions in the very difficult English language. Turning to the crowd, he said, "Manere vigilemus." (Remain alert.) Then he lifted his arms. Those in the crowd bowed their heads, and Piruz smiled. Yes, this would be his future after this night. No more hiding in the shadows, no more flitting between worlds. He would be honored and remembered as the one who eliminated evil from the world. Quickly he began murmuring the incantation that would keep the minds of these minions under his control. One arm still lifted, he reached down with his other, slipped his hand into his pocket and palmed some powder. Raising it again, he opened his hand and let the potion drift out across the crowd, murmuring incantations all the while. When he had completed his spell, he shouted, "Go!"
As the crowd dispersed, the russet-haired man continued to direct the groups. Piruz walked to his car and got inside. He had no worries that his will would not be followed. His magic was strong. It was time to get to the Tree. Smiling, he set off down the street, unconcerned about the people who fled from the vehicle's path.
The black-haired man stepped out from around the Community Center building, eyes on the departing car, fingers on his cartouche. This would need to end soon, or all he loved would be gone.
"Cadmael!"
The man turned to the russet-haired man and nodded. "Yes, Oliver. I am coming." He walked up to his old friend, whose eyes were slightly unfocused.
"I would like you to join the group patrolling the center of Lebanon. The Community Center must be protected at all costs."
Hand at his waist, Cadmael unfurled his fingers lightly in the air, mumbling, "Ta'ak in." (Heed me) Then he asked, "Did you say the town center, or the north west-end near the park?"
Oliver's eyes fluttered for a moment, then he said, "The north-west end, near the park?"
Cadmael nodded. "Then where will you be, my friend?"
"Protecting the Community Center."
"Excellent," Cadmael said. "The center could not be in better hands."
Oliver smiled. "Thank you, Cadmael. I'll go finish with the preparations."
Cadmael watched as Oliver turned and walked down the street, calling out orders and confirming to questioners which group they needed to join. He thought back to the two men he'd seen earlier today. One was a truth teller, he could tell. They knew exactly what was happening. Tonight, they would come and help end this nightmare. He had been fighting this wizard's magic for an entire month already, carefully undermining him at every turn. And care was exactly what was needed. The wizard was strong and cunning. It had taken all his power to keep from being detected. Through the weeks he had been able to free three coven minds, and had protected them with his ancestors' magic. They were stationed in strategic spots to help. Tonight the others would come, and he had instructed those three to attempt to make contact should that be possible.
Turning, he walked down the street towards the northwestern end of Lebanon. A few people called out to him and he responded, expressing his enthusiasm for the task ahead. Yes, tonight would be the end. He needed it to end in humanity's favor.
Night had fallen, and Onida drove the SUV Joshua had rented at the airport toward the east side of Lebanon. Just before leaving, everyone had gathered once more in Caleb's suite to distribute the enormous pile of spell pouches, and to go over the battle plan for the night. Ethan and Elijah were listening via their cells set on speaker.
"Try not to wound the townspeople or coven members," Caleb stated. "But we need them out of commission, either by a spell, knocked unconscious or dead. I don't want anyone getting hurt. But these people will be doing their damndest to take us out, and I don't want any of our team dead either. We do the best we can to stop Piruz from unleashing chaos on the country."
"They're under a spell," Sam added again, as though he couldn't help it. "So go for unconscious or asleep as long as it doesn't endanger your life."
"A word of caution," Caleb said. "Do not underestimate the coven members or the town's people. Yes, we're hunters; used to fighting creatures who are strong, bigger and faster than us. We got skills."
There was a smattering of laughter following that statement.
Caleb smiled. "But that doesn't mean these people don't. Joshua speculates, and Adam agrees, that for this spell to involve so many, it's likely a standard enthrallment that compels them to do Piruz's will. That doesn't mean the spell takes away skills. Some of these people might be former military, or skilled in martial arts and hunting. Watch yourselves."
Dean stepped forward. "Onida, Adam; once you breech the city, take down as many as you can. As soon as you've closed in on city center, and Joel, Daniel, Elijah and Ethan have one another for support, make your way to the park."
"Has anyone calculated the distance from the town to the park?" Adam asked. "It could be a very short drive but a longer walk."
"If it's a five minute drive time, you're looking at least an hour walk. I'm asking Joel and Daniel," Caleb nodded to the two in the room, "as well as Ethan and Eli to make sure you both get there. Keep in touch. If you're held up, we'll need to know. This is going to be a timed and executed strike. Keep your eyes on your watches and on the town's people, and we'll get it done."
Sam rose and held up a cross-body sling. "Everyone has one of these. They're not pretty, but you can put your spell pouches inside." He pulled the strap over his head and the pouch at the bottom sat in front of his body close to his right hip. "It's light and shouldn't inhibit running. Your hands will be free but the potions and spell bags will be in easy reach." Holding up the pouch, he opened it up to be seen. "Ethan, Elijah," he called, "Onida will have yours and your spell bags when she meets up with you. Now, the right side of the pouch is bigger and will be for offensive spell pouches. The left side is a bit smaller, and will be for defensive spells. The sleep potions will be there."
Sam handed out the slings to everyone.
"What are you planning on doing with Piruz?" Joel asked.
"Not an easy question," Caleb said. "He won't be an easy kill. After four thousand years of living, he knows how to survive."
"Plus he's got his little hideaway through the portal," Daniel stated.
Dean had been thinking about that portal, and wondering if the silver could be a way to prevent Piruz from going through. When he'd been fighting at Freshkills and the light had been going for Adam, he'd shouted for Adam to hold up the shield he'd made. It had been instinct. Now he wondered if that instinct was Guardian intuition. "There may be a way," he said thoughtfully.
Caleb gave Dean a searching look, and when Dean didn't elaborate further, he merely nodded and moved on. "Any questions?" When no one said anything, he said, "Then let's get our butts in gear and take down a wizard!"
Everyone clamored up, stretching and gathering their weapons, the noise level rising as the groups conferred amongst themselves. JT tossed two slings to James and Max, and started loading his from the mound of spell bags that were allotted to him and his team. Caleb took the heavy box Onida would take with her, and she grabbed the rest of the items they would need and together they walked down to the SUV.
Caleb placed the box inside the vehicle, then turned to Onida, saying, "I don't like you going into this without me."
"This hasn't been my ideal hunt either," Onida agreed. "I don't like you fighting where I can't get to you quickly."
Caleb pulled her into his arms and agreed. "When this is over, you and I are going to spend some down time together. We've been apart too much on this hunt."
"I agree. But it'll have to be quick. We're due in Washington next week."
Oh, yeah," Caleb groaned. "I forgot. But it'll be good to see the kids."
"They love us coming," Onida agreed. "You think about bringing a couple more here?"
Caleb didn't say anything for a moment. The truth was, he'd given it a lot of thought; he was used to his life being crowded. But the last year had been a huge change for him, bringing Onida into his life. Yes, he'd pretty much been raised with Sam and Dean. They and their children, as well as Joshua's kids, had been a huge part of his life. Though he loved the next generation with every fiber of his being, when push came to shove, Ben, JT and James were Dean's kids, Mary was Sam's, and Max and Josie were Joshua's. If he and Onida brought children back to Louisville, they would be his children. There was something momentous about that.
"Never mind," Onida breathed, tightening her arms around Caleb. "Bad time to bring that up. Sorry. The conversation just went there."
"We should sit down and discuss it seriously."
Onida's head went back as she strained to see Caleb's face in the dim light of the hotel parking lot. "Really?"
Caleb nodded. "Really. Let's set all our cards on the table and make a decision."
Onida grinned. "Okay." Stepping back, she tossed the slings into the back of the SUV and slammed the door before climbing in behind the wheel. Closing the door, she leaned out the window and said, "I'll see you in a couple of hours."
"Drive carefully," Caleb said, meaning so much more than that.
"You too." Starting the engine, Onida backed out of the parking slot, turned, and was soon out of the parking area and gone.
Now she was close to where she would meet up with Ethan and Elijah. She'd met them before on a visit to Texas, and once on a joint hunt. She'd liked them instantly, though she'd had a harder time being around Elijah. At the outset he'd reminded her so much of Marcus, her husband of four months who had been killed by the Owl Witches more than forty years ago. Marcus had wanted to teach as well, and when Elijah enthused on a topic he found interesting, the image of Marcus doing the same flashed in her mind. Since her life had been lived in relative seclusion due to her job as the guardian of her people, this was the first time she'd met someone who had so stirred her memories. It had taken a great deal of willpower to not tear up. However, the longer she'd been around Elijah, the less he reminded her of Marcus and the more he just become just Eli. She was glad they'd gone.
Turning on CC Road, she pulled to the side and let the engine idle. She didn't like this hunt, didn't like that Caleb was somewhere she wasn't. She understood that some hunts were big, like the one on the Reservation in Washington last year. But Caleb assured her those long, difficult hunts were few and far between. Well, this few and far between had happened much faster than she'd anticipated. Sighing, she closed her eyes and pulled on her energy reserves, allowed her body to emanate a faint warm light. If the witches in the stolen coven were looking, she would appear as a tired driver, content to be on the road but ready to get to her destination. A look over her shoulder told her the rural two lane road had remained deserted. Gunning the engine, she got back on her way.
Turning right onto 145 Road, she was struck by the complete lack of anything moving; no animals in the fields, no bird sounds, no machines, no cars. It was like Lebanon existed inside a snow globe. It would have creeped her out if she didn't know Ethan and Elijah were only a short distance away. Within a minute she saw the twins' SUV, and pulled in behind it. Almost before she could climb out of the vehicle, Ethan had stepped outside the door of the large, metal structure and motioned for her to come inside.
Onida pulled the heavy box from the car and handed it off to Ethan before returning for the remainder of their supplies. Finally, she stepped into the shelter of the building and out of the chilly night air. When she opened her mouth to speak, Ethan shook his head and pulled the door closed. Elijah hurried past and quickly drew a sigil on the door, murmuring an incantation under his breath. When he finished, he turned around and smiled.
"We set up protections on this building," Ethan explained.
"Joshua sent us the spell," Elijah said. "If we put the sigil on the doors and windows and don't open them, no one can sense we're here or hear anything we talk about. But if we open something, the sigil needs to be redrawn and the spell repeated to ensure safety."
"I thought you two were staying at a motel?" Onida said, looking around the large building. Though nearly empty, there were a couple broken-down pieces of farm equipment, several empty barrels and bins, and grain sacks scattered around.
"We tried," Elijah admitted.
""But we were too antsy," Ethan said. "So we finally left, got something to eat and came here."
"We took some of the bedding," Elijah confessed, a slight mix of humor and mortification in his tone.
"We left money," Ethan declared.
Onida laughed. They sounded like such brothers.
"We've been taking the afternoon to sleep and rest," Ethan continued.
Onida dropped the large duffle she carried and handed the brother's the slings. "Sam sent these over."
"These are great," Ethan commented, shrugging into the sling. "The band is wide enough to stabilize the pouch, and the coarse fabric will keep it from sliding around on our jackets. Nice."
Elijah was already filling his own pouch with spell bags. "Defensive on the left, offensive on the right," he said.
Onida nodded. "Since everyone is right handed, Caleb wanted offensive pouches closer to our weapon hand."
Ethan nodded, pulling off his sling and beginning to fill it with pouches. "There are a lot of spell pouches here. We'll need to take some in a duffel."
"Maybe," Onida admitted. She had thought the same thing when carrying the load to the truck. "We'll see how many are left after we finish filling our slings."
When Ethan had filled his sling, he ran across the floor, pivoted, drew his gun, reached into the pouch and grabbed a bag and made a throwing motion. He dove behind a barrel and made several other moves. Finally, breathing hard, he walked back over to where Elijah and Onida had been watching.
"This is a bit too full for me," Ethan said, patting the sling. He began pulling some of the pouches out and transferring them to the duffel. "If the sling gets too full, we won't be able to maneuver. You should both make some moves; see how many you're comfortable carrying."
Elijah ran an obstacle course around the building before adjusting the pouches in his sling. Onida felt rather silly doing the same, but found she could actually put more spell bags in her own pouch, and was still able to maneuver very well.
Ethan hefted the duffel in the air. "You think the duffel, or the backpack?"
Elijah pulled a backpack from beside some blankets, and slung it over his shoulders. Shifting slightly, he slid it back off, saying, "The duffel. The backpack and the sling don't do well together."
"Will do," Ethan said.
Onida glanced at her watch. "When are we leaving?"
"Our ETA to hit the eastern boundary of town is exactly nine," said Ethan. Checking his watch, he continued, "If we leave here in ten, we should be in position just before nine."
"Distractions?" Onida asked.
"You being the energy specialist, we thought you could get creative," Ethan said with a smile. "The spell bags should give us some power, and we'll be able to move better when the spell dampeners go off."
"I could at that," Onida agreed, smiling. "Have you two kept your blocks up until you set the sigils on this building?"
Elijah nodded. "We've taken a break since the spell is up on the building. We needed the rest."
"Understandable." Eying the other two, Onida asked, "Since we'll all be protected walking in, have you decided on how we'll announce our arrival?"
"The coven may pick us up coming in," Elijah reminded them. "The wizard needs to finish his spell tonight, so they'll be expecting us and probably have patrols."
"But if they don't sense us, we need to do something to draw them to us," Ethan said. "We haven't settled on a firm plan yet. Have you got something in mind?"
"As a matter of fact," Onida said with a grin, "I do."
Adam shifted in the backseat of the Tourer. Daniel drove while Joel was up front in the passenger's seat. They had been conversing since they left the Holiday Inn Express, and he felt like a third wheel. It wasn't that he was uncomfortable, really; having spent much of his life in this position. But for the first time he realized how quickly he'd gotten used to being included with these men over the last year. Now, being marginalized felt like a rejection. Yet he knew these two had been longtime partners, and now that Joel was back, they were enjoying their reunion. He just wished the three of them could have spoken together about the upcoming engagement. Having never been on an actual hunt before, he was nervous.
Joel suddenly looked back. Grimacing, he said, "Adam. I'm so sorry we've been caught up. Daniel has been filling me in on everything that's happened since I got thrown through that portal. Between travel, getting sleep and making spell bags, there hasn't been much time to talk and for me to find out what happened to him after I was gone."
Adam relaxed. "I understand."
Daniel glanced into the rearview mirror and added his regrets.
Joel shifted in his seat. "You been on a hunt before?"
Adam shook his head.
"It can be tough, but we got your back," Joel stated. "After entry, we've got forty-five minutes to take down as many combatants as possible and get you to the park. I tracked the distance from the town center to where you need to be. It's a five minute drive, but a much longer walk. So I figure a wheel and foot approach to our engagement."
Adam frowned. "A wheel and foot approach?"
Daniel chuckled as Joel grinned.
"We use the car as a cover," Joel clarified. "One stays inside and drives while the other two walk in and take on the aggressors."
Adam couldn't help but take in the width and breadth of the massive Van. "One of us is driving this thing into town?"
"Yeah, it's unwieldy, isn't it?" Daniel smirked.
Joel chuckled. "It'll make one helluva shield."
"If we wreck it, Caleb's going to go ape-shit."
"He's got more money than God," Joel snorted. "He'll understand."
"Then you're the one telling him."
"Wait a minute," Adam said, shaking his head slightly. "One of us in the van. You're talking about me…" For a moment he'd felt accepted. Now these two hunters were doubting his ability to fight.
"Not completely," Joel said. "But yeah, at some point you'll be the one driving. Yours is the name on the dance card, so you'll need to haul ass to the park."
"But not at first," Daniel said. "We're the last point of incursion in this engagement. We need to make a statement," he finished, grinning.
"When we arrive at the southern border," Daniel said, "we all enter the town on foot."
"They'll be waiting for us," Adam stated.
Daniel nodded, his eyes on the road. "Yeah, they will."
"Though they'll be distracted," Joel said.
"The team on the east," Adam confirmed. "Their attack will draw attention to their entry point. Same on the north. When we enter, they will have been expecting us, but will be distracted by everything happening."
Joel grinned. "Hole in one. You have an idea on how we can maximize that distraction?"
Adam nodded as he slowly smiled. He did indeed.
"Get your blocks in place," Caleb warmed JT, Max and James. "Once you get within seventeen miles of Lebanon, they'll be able to sense you."
JT nodded as he handed the duffel to James, who was already in the backseat of his car.
"We go in at exactly nine-fifteen," Max stated.
"Don't go in focused only on your weapons," Dean said, knowing Max wasn't as adverse to using spells as Joshua had been in his youth, he did tend to go for the gun rather than magic in most hunter situations. With Caleb as his mentor, it wasn't unexpected. "Use the distraction spells Adam and Josh taught you to get the town's people and coven members off center, then take them out."
"Will do."
"There are plenty of spell bags," Sam said. "Use them."
"Be careful," Caleb admonished for perhaps the tenth time. "If you need to take someone out, do it. I know it's not easy, but whether they're under a spell or not, dead is still dead."
Max nodded, knowing Caleb's dead is still dead referred to them, not the coven members.
Dean moved around Caleb over to JT's side. He leaned forward into the car frame so he could see James. "Be careful, all of you. We'll see you at the park as soon as you secure your zone."
Joshua stepped forward. "Subduing the town's people and coven members is only part of this hunt. The rest will happen at the park. Get there as soon as you're able."
Max slid into the passenger's side of the car while JT climbed behind the wheel. Eyeing each member of the Triad, Max nodded once to his father and they drove away.
"I'll do the obfuscation spells," Max stated. "That puts me on point. JT, you're on my right, James on my left. Stay tight. These people are going to be fighting hard to keep us out. The wizard will have programmed them that way."
For once, James didn't needle Max or tell him they all knew this. It wasn't often they were on a hunt of this magnitude, and there would be no allowance for levity.
"Jimmy," JT said, turning his head slightly so his brother could hear his voice. "Use that clinical eye of yours. If you see anyone fighting the spell, hesitating, or acting in a less aggressive manner than the others, use the defensive potion bags on them and put them down. They may wake up with a wicked headache, but they'll be alive."
"Got it," James murmured.
No one spoke for the next ten or so minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Max said, "Does anyone know anything about this spell dad is doing to send the Tree back to Eden?"
JT shook his head while James called, "No," from the back. JT glanced over at Max, a questioning look on his face.
"No," Max said. "I don't know anything either. He just told me that we need to be in the park."
"Dad said that too," James said.
"I know," Max sighed. "I just wondered if it was something."
"Piruz is the biggest threat," JT said. "Considering most of those we'll encounter aren't trained in fighting, an all-hands to the park once our areas are controlled isn't unusual."
"But it is unusual to tell us to go," James interjected. "We would have gone anyway."
"Exactly," Max said. "Why tell us to go when its protocol?"
When his best friend didn't say anything, Max merely turned and watched the shadows of landscape go by. "It just seemed like more."
"Maybe it is," JT murmured softly. Soon enough they'd have the answer. A quick glance at the mile marker told him they were within twenty-five miles of Lebanon. He looked into the rearview mirror at his brother, then over to Max.
"Countdown," James murmured.
When the mile marker on the side of the road said twenty miles, Max said, "Blocks up."
They were within seventeen miles of Lebanon. No one said a word as the asphalt hummed beneath their tires. It wasn't long before they'd passed the crossroads of US 281 and Hwy 191.
James saw the ghostly figure of an old man standing in the middle of east/west bound Hwy 191. His eyes followed the man as he stood there, a finger pointing toward Lebanon. No thought as to the significance of the apparition crossed his mind as he looked away and focused his gaze forward.
JT took his foot off the gas and allowed the car to reduce its speed without applying the brakes. Though there had been no vehicle sightings on the highway, he was cautious about alerting anyone of their position. Reaching up to the steering wheel, he switched the head lights to low lights. Checking the mirrors, he drifted across the left hand lane, off the highway and onto the verge. Gently he applied the breaks as he maneuvered the car beneath a cluster of trees north of the town. With a turn of the key, he shut down the engine.
Max lifted the handle and pushed open the passenger door. Quietly he climbed out. A moment later James was standing at his side as they adjusted their slings. The plan was to angle east on foot until they'd reached Lebanon High School on the edge of town. From there they would enter the town.
JT leaned into his door until a soft click indicated the car was closed and locked. Glancing at his watch, the faintly illuminated dial showed it was nearly nine. They had fifteen minutes to get in place. James shifted slightly at his side, his eyes on the eastern skyline. His younger brother was antsy, but he didn't comment on it. They were all on high alert. Keeping their minds clear and blocked was of the utmost importance. The three of them hadn't spoken since they'd gotten within twenty miles of Lebanon.
Max stepped around the front of the car, gun in hand. Giving the brothers a nod, he turned and disappeared into the cluster of trees. JT looked over at James, his eyes saying everything he wouldn't say out loud. Turning, he took off after Max.
James nodded, and followed.
Dean didn't move, his gaze fixed on the taillights of JT's car until they were gone. Having sons that hunted was always a doubled edge sword. He was more proud than he could say, and more terrified than he would ever admit. While his father had been tough on he and Sam growing up, he now understood all the reasons John Winchester had kept his emotions on lockdown. While it was a choice he didn't want to emulate, not having enjoyed being on the receiving end, he could understand why his father had chosen to live that way. Looking up, he sent up a prayer to Cas that he watch out for his kids. Blowing out a silent breath, he turned and headed into the hotel to help Joshua bring down the things he needed for his spell.
Caleb remained in the parking lot, his eyes on the darkened road, following the boys psychically. He could sense they had questions, but were focused on the job at hand, something he had drilled into them for years. In a hunting situation, you may not have all the answers, but a hunter put the exclamation point on the facts they had. They would be magnificent tonight. Turning, he started for the Impala where Sam was loading their equipment. When the Scholar picked up two additional boxes and moved around to the back door, he hurried over. "Here," he said, "let me."
"Thanks," Sam breathed, placing one box on the backseat before turning to the trunk. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Just hate everyone going off in different directions."
Sam knew it wasn't only the boys that had Caleb concerned. It was being away from Onida as well. "They'll be fine."
"Yeah, I know." Slamming the trunk shut, Caleb turned to head back into the hotel only to see Joshua, Dean and Ryker emerging from the double front doors. "Is that all of it?"
"Yes," Joshua said, gladly handing his burden over to Sam and following the younger man to the car.
Caleb flipped open the trunk for Sam to load the box he carried. Ryker placed his inside as well before the trunk was shut. "Well," Caleb said, "Looks like it's time to get this show on the road."
Joshua walked to the passenger's door and slid inside. Between him, Ryker and Sam, he was the shortest, and therefore had relegated himself to sitting in the middle. It was unfair, really, that at six-foot-two, he was eclipsed by the other two. If Dean wasn't such a drama queen about driving his car, then he would be sitting in the middle.
As though Dean could read Joshua's mind, he leaned forward slightly and narrowed his eyes, snorting softly.
Joshua rolled his own in response and stared straight out the front windshield. "We could have taken the Tourer, you know." Dean attempted to hide his smile as he climbed behind the wheel, but didn't succeed. He didn't look remotely repentant about it either, the bastard, Joshua thought.
Dean didn't turn around. He had decided that tact, rather than rubbing Joshua's face in the fact that he was sitting with his knees in this face, was the new definition of valor. The car creaked and shifted as Ryker, Sam and Caleb all got in.
When every door was closed, Caleb shifted in his seat so he could see everyone. "Tonight is going to be tough and we're going to need every skill we've got. Expect Piruz to fight dirty, and we're going to do the same. The most important thing is to watch out for each other."
"We'll watch out for you too," Sam quipped, smirking. This was a variation of Caleb's usual this is going to be tough, watch out for each speech he did before every hunt. They all knew it by heart, but it was comforting to hear just the same.
Rolling his eyes, Caleb stated, "I just mean that Piruz has thousands of years of experience on us. He'll probably use some fighting techniques we're not familiar with. We need to be on our game."
"While the wizard has a legion of tactical experience to dwarf even Lord Nelson or Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus," Ryker said, "the young have innovation, creativity and an inventiveness not bound by millennia of experience. In most campaigns, youth coupled with skill and experience rules the day over experience alone."
"So what you're saying," Caleb drawled, "is that we don't have the years of experience to know something won't work, so we do it and make it work."
Ryker's lips twitched with humor. "Something like that."
Sam looked torn between amused and disgruntled. "That's comforting and demeaning at the same time."
Joshua chuckled.
"I wonder how old Africanus was at the height of his military success," Dean mused.
"You know who that is?" Sam asked, skeptically.
Dean turned the car key and the Impala roared to life. "I wasn't born under a rock, Sam," he declared, rolling his eyes. Some things never changed. "Given how we were raised, you think dad didn't make sure I knew who the greatest military strategists in history were?"
"Excellent," Ryker remarked, his eyes sparkling.
"History of military leadership is not normal hunting lessons," Sam retorted scathingly.
"From dad? He was military, Sam; USMC."
"I know that," Sam declared with a frown. "But I don't remember him teaching us that."
"That's because you refused to study military history," Dean said, backing the car from its parking slot.
"What?" Sam exclaimed, startled. "I couldn't refuse. Dad wouldn't have allowed it!"
Dean and Caleb exchanged a quick glance. There were several things Sam had refused to do growing up. Though a very stubborn man, John Winchester rarely had the energy to press many of these issues with his equally stubborn youngest son. "You declared that your homework and doing well in school was more important than learning military history. And that if you ever went to the Citadel or Texas A&M, you'd learn it then. Not before."
Sam stared at the back of his brother's head as Dean maneuvered out of the Holiday Inn Express parking lot, his mouth hanging open.
"After all," Caleb quipped. "Who needs to know military strategy or the most brilliant military strategists in history?"
"Naw, that's never going to come in handy," Dean drawled. He was making a valiant attempt to keep from laughing.
"Such is the logic often applied to the study of mathematics," Joshua said casually. "Why should we learn algebra? When will we ever use it in our lives?"
"And we deal with numbers all the time," Ryker nodded, trying to keep his humor from breaking loose.
"Oh, shut up," Sam griped.
Laughter erupted in the car as Dean turned onto the main road, the release of tension welcome and needed considering the battle they would soon face. Baby's engine roared, and the Impala accelerated toward the highway.
.
TBC
Author's Note:
Thank you for the comments, Shazza19 and my mystery Guest reviewer! Stand by for some excitement coming up!