Author's Notes: If you are also reading BLOOD OF AVALON, what happens in this chapter IS NOT A SPOILER. I have NOT yet decided on which of 4 potential endings BOA will have. If BOA ends with Mallory becoming King then this chapter and the next are an epilogue for BOA if not then this is an Alternate Universe in which Mallory survived. If you are not reading BOA and the King of Avalon interests you then please feel free to check out Blood of Avalon.
Disclaimers: Since I haven't done this in a while, any characters from Highlander, Richard Sharpe, James Bond, Kindred, Star Gate, or Star Trek have been borrowed without permission. Please don't sue me….
Q Me? Chapter 12: An Interesting Evening
I poured what felt like the millionth drink of the night and glanced up at the clock. 7:54, a whole minute later than the last time I looked. Four minutes later than the time before that. I hate waiting. I especially hate waiting when a friend's life is on the line. I glanced over at the booth the aforementioned friend was sitting in with Amanda as an attachment. It was clear even from here that Amanda had been crying again. She was dead set convinced that Mac was going to his death (way to build a guy up Amanda! Sheesh.) and had tried every wile she had to get him to back out. Amanda had a lot of wiles – I was frankly jealous. My eyes wandered of their own accord to Cat and Guinan in a different corner of the room. The two of them had made themselves scarce the last couple of days and had shown up about an hour ago. I gave my wandering eyes a very stern talking to and glanced over at Methos.
When had she shown up? I did not understand Methos. I had thought I understood Adam Pierson but ever since discovering he was the mythical Methos he had worn so many faces I had no clue which one was the real Methos or if there was no real Methos just a series of masks around a hollow shell. Maybe it was a side effect of being so damn old except Ari-El seemed to be pretty consistent. Two faced as hell but it was the SAME two faces. Ten minutes ago Methos had been nursing a beer looking like he'd lost his last friend (which might be true given the current situation) now he was giving some slut's tonsils a bath. Nice legs, very, very nice legs. I wondered if the rest of her matched (I couldn't see much else with Methos pouring himself over her. If they went much further they were going to go past Paris' fairly lax standards of public behavior. I considered being a putz (or a contentious proprietor depending on how you looked at it) and walking over and telling them to get a room but it was too close to eight. Besides it was likely that Methos, one way or the other, was going to lose a friend tonight what harm was there in forgetting for a little while with a willing tart?
7:57. Whippee. I'd gotten through another three whole minutes. I poured my one millionth and one drink. The band sounded damn good tonight and I would have loved to be up there with them but I wanted to be able to duck out fast (or as fast as an old fart with no legs could anyway). My fingers were twitching to be up there, to be crooning out the blues, to be pouring out all the pain and frustration until by some special alchemy it was all bearable. I let the music roll over me. It wasn't as good as playing myself but it was better than nothing.
"Mr. Dawson" a whisky smooth feminine voice cut through the music. Out of pure reflex I looked at the clock 8:07. Mr. Perfection was LATE. And Cat's eyes were a mix of worry and anger. Obviously she was still plenty pissed at her grand-it.
"Are you absolutely certain that Ari-El said he would be here at 8?" Plenty worried too. Family sucks sometimes. I remembered how ANGRY I'd been at James for killing Darius and trying to kill Mac but when Mac had run him through and he was bleeding at my feet… I could understand Cat's position all too well, Methos' too for that matter.
"Eight is what he said" I replied with a shrug, so he was a couple of minutes late. Big deal. Methos had no concept of on time maybe Ari-El was the same.
"She's never been late in my life time or any other time I've ever heard of" or maybe not. The more whimsical part of my brain chipped in 'that a wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins' while the historian noted that the only time I was aware of Ari-El being late he'd lost his eyes and hands and been chained to a wall for the better part of three centuries. A sample size of two wasn't statistically significant (especially when one was fictional) but late wizard didn't seem to bode well for the wizard. Good. Here's to hoping the meddling bastard ended up whacked before he ever made it here tonight.
"Maybe something came up" I offered. Mac glanced over at us questioningly. I shrugged and poured my one million and ninth drink.
Cat shook her head. I very firmly reminded myself that I was not in the least attracted to her even if I did have a soft spot for gorgeous red-heads. "No, she should be here."
I poured Cat one on the house but she didn't touch it. I tried to lose myself in the music again but the spell was broken. I glanced over but Methos was gone. Guess he decided to get a room. Odd, I wouldn't have thought he'd actually LEAVE with things completely up in the air. When Mac had been fighting Kalas wild horses couldn't have drug him away from the base of the Eiffel Tower. I hrummphed and poured my one million and fifteenth drink. I saw Mac snap to attention out of the corner of my eye and sighed in disappointment. I guess he survived after all. Damn shame. Richard Sharpe entered first his cold green eyes searching the room for the least hint of danger. Apparently satisfied he nodded. Cord hadn't been that alert when babysitting a green platoon deep behind enemy lines. Ari-El and Wolfe followed both also clearly keyed up and ready for anything. The light duster Ari-El was wearing was two sizes too big and most definitely NOT blue or gold while Sharpe was completely without a jacket which wasn't typical of Immortals. They needed somewhere to stash their swords and could often be seen in light coats in the warmest of weather. Ergo Ari-El was wearing Sharpe's jacket. So it wasn't just a bit of Parisian traffic that had delayed them. Something had gone down. Something nasty enough to have all three of them jumping at their own shadows and Wolfe was doing the patented 'my clothes are a disaster but I'm trying not to let it show' Immortal stance. The Watcher in me wondered what had happened. The friend hoped that whatever it was would give Mac an edge tonight. I nodded to Jacques to take over and headed for Mac's table. And stopped when I saw the fourth member of Ari-El's party.
Bond, James Bond. What the HELL was he doing here? Not good, not good at all Bond and Mac were like oil and water and if he was with Ari-El then odds were good he had discovered the secret of Immortality. I also had the madcap urge to serve him a vodka martini, shaken not stirred. We'd tapped Moneypenny as a 'special correspondent' years ago and while she would never divulge anything vital to the security of MI-6 we did know both 'Alec Trevelyan' aka Richard Sharpe and James Bond's little personality quirks.
"My apologies, Mr. MacLeod" and damned if he didn't actually sound sincerely apologetic. Sorry I was late but not sorry at all I tricked you into killing a boy you loved like a son. Some people never cease to amaze me. Bond's eyes narrowed when he spotted Mac and you could almost see the smoke rising. "for my tardiness. It has been an….interesting evening. I'm afraid I am currently without transportation"
"Ari" Guinan interrupted looking nearly frantic "Do you know where that Winyan went?"
Ari blinked, clearly surprised "A Winyan here? What the blazes was it doing on Earth?"
"It was here, in this bar, just a few minutes ago and now it's gone."
"Methos disappeared with some woman" my voice trailed off when every speck of color bled from Ari-El's face.
"No" it was half-vehement denial; half-plea and then he vanished in a burst of white light.
Given the open-mouthed looks from both Sharpe and Nick Wolfe this was obviously NOT standard operating procedure.
"Alec" Bond snapped "where the blazes did he go?" Sharpe completely ignored him.
"I've never seen Ari do that before" from the emphasis on Ari I had to assume that Guinan had seen someone else do it before. I filed that away for future follow up as Cat's eyes went desperate.
"Guinan, where did she go?"
"Alec?" Bond's voice had acquired a decided edge that bordered on whining. Never would have expected that.
"It's RICHARD. And I haven't a bloody clue. Now shut up."
"Not much of body guard are you?" Bond quipped. Sharpe looked ready to shoot him in the middle of my bar.
Guinan swallowed "You don't think she'd actually try to engage the Winyan directly, do you?" She slipped what looked like a cell phone out of her purse and spoke to it in what I assumed was her native tongue. "Got'em" she muttered triumphantly.
"Then GET us THERE" Cat hissed.
Sharpe grabbed her arm "You aren't going ANYWHERE without me lass."
Cat yanked her arm free "I can't. Winyan's EAT aniphasic organisms."
Sharpe's determination never wavered.
"Don't you understand? The Quickening is an aniphasic organism and Paris is a damn buffet."
Sharpe picked her up clearly one step short of shaking her "Where are they?"
Bond tapped him on the shoulder "I seem to remember you having more….refinement. That's really no way to treat a lady. Didn't your mother ever tell you you get more flies with honey than vinegar?"
"I don't have a bloody mother" Sharpe growled but he also dropped Cat.
I thanked God that I'd replaced my guns. I wanted Ari-El dead but not at the cost of Methos. Mac and Amanda were both on their feet.
"Damn your Supermen syndrome" Cat growled "I can't take a pack of Quickened to face a Winyan. I might as well take chickens to fight a fox." Amanda looked like she was all for sitting back down but the boys one and all just looked more determined.
"On your own heads be it" she said as a tingling sensation swept over us and we were suddenly somewhere else. My stomach swore it had been left behind in the bar and protested. I swallowed bile hard and took a look around at the very unimpressive hallway we were standing in. I could see the outline of the Eiffel Tower through the grimy window so we were still in Paris though I saw no sign of Methos, his tart (who apparently intended to eat him and not in a pleasant way), or Ari-El.
"I don't know who is paying you" Ah, they were down the hall to the right. Everyone else stampeded past leaving me to pick my way behind them. You never forget that you've lost your legs but damn sometimes it's way more of a bitch than others.
"but however much it is it isn't worth your life."
A feminine giggle. Evil shouldn't giggle. It also shouldn't be drop dead gorgeous with great legs either. It's harder to hate that way though I didn't seem to be having much trouble with Ari-El. Of course he didn't giggle. And perhaps I'd had a touch too much to drink while waiting. Then I saw Methos sprawled naked across the bed with his dead eyes glazed and starting vacantly at the ceiling. I'd seen Methos dead before but somehow I knew this was different. Damn bitch hadn't even bothered to cover him back up.
"All I'm being paid is the best meal of my life" she said with a smile that should come with a surgeon general warning. "Him" suddenly I hated her more than Ari-El just for the way she dismissed Methos as if he was nothing "as the appetizer to get you here and then you as" she stopped staring at Mac. She licked her lips "Leave and I'll let you live if you don't interfere with my supping on that one."
"You can't have either of them" Ari-El shot back in a tone so icy it sent shivers up my spine. "You can disgorge what you have stolen and leave in peace or I will destroy you to reclaim it."
More giggling "You? Take something from one of us? Perhaps in those ships" oh, but there was a wealth of resentment and hatred there "you might be able to lord over us. But you're not in your ship here. And you're so terribly, terribly defenseless against one of us." A sultry smile "Don't fight and you'll even enjoy it."
Bond pushed his way to the front and pointed his Walther PPK directly at the Winyan's forehead. Who giggled, again. THAT was really beginning to get on my nerves.
"You should keep your pets on a shorter leash. Haven't you lost enough of them for one night?"
Now, that I didn't like the sound of. I wanted Ari-El dead but he seemed to have a knack for seducing otherwise decent people to his cause. I wasn't a monster. I didn't want anyone else hurt.
"He isn't MY pet. He's Richard's." Oh, Bond didn't like THAT at all. "And I told you when I saved him that keeping him in check was YOUR problem. Get him out of my way before he ends up dead, again."
It was Mac who actually pulled Bond (not without difficulty) back.
"M ordered me to protect Dr. Montrose at all costs" he hissed at Mac "and unlike some I can follow orders and stay loyal to the Crown."
Now there was a fight waiting to happen but Mac instead tried to put himself in Bond's place only to be met by a literal steel wall as Ari-El's right arm morphed into bars blocking his path. I found myself staring at that empty coat sleeve.
"You aren't going to touch anyone else. You can walk away or you can be responsible for the destruction of your entire race. Because when I have destroyed you I am going to take those ships and erase your kind."
This time she blinked. It was clear she believed that he could and would do it. 'Nice chap' I thought sarcastically. For a second I thought she was going to give him what he wanted then she giggled again. If I had had a clean shot I'd have taken it.
"You can't if you're dead" she observed "And the one who got me here swore that even if you managed to kill me before I can devour you, which is hardly likely, there is no way you can keep both yourself and your friend alive long enough to recover. He seems very certain that you will die before you let him" she sneered at Methos "and since he knew you well enough to get me here in spite of your clever ships I'll trust his judgment."
"Even if he were correct in his evaluation of the situation, YOU will still be very, very dead."
No giggle this time and Richard Sharpe looked ready to explode. I took a half step back in the narrow hall. During his mortal life time in the British army Sharpe had been a legend for his brutal street fighting skills. Immortality (and undoubtedly Ari-El) had smoothed some of the rough edges but he remained a of man swift, lethal action. In a formal dual Mac would mop the floor with Sharpe but in a no holds barred brawl in a hallway Mac would be hard pressed to hold his own and I didn't have a prayer. Not that there any reason for Sharpe to attack either of us but something told me if Ari-El died it wouldn't take much to set Sharpe off.
"Do you think your precious humans are the only ones capable of self sacrifice? He's promised us all the worlds you've been protecting if we destroy you. They'll be new order to the galaxy. One in which we can glut ourselves to our hearts content with no one to protect the cattle from us." She leapt at him but she only succeeded in crashing into the wall. Sharpe whirled on Guinan while Bond shot the Winyan point blank through the bars. The Winyan didn't even flinch. Great, just bloody great. I found myself in the annoying position of having to root for Ari-El since Watching all of my Immortal friends become Winyan munchies sounded even worse than having to deal with Ahriman. Of course the night could have a happy ending. Maybe Ari-El would give his life for Methos and we'd be rid of him without Mac having to face him.
"'Port me in there" he demanded but she shook her head "I can't someone is blocking the teleporter."
There were too many heads and shoulders in my way for me to get a really good look at the fight though from what I could tell it mostly consisted of the Winyan chasing Ari-El in circles around a room that while spacious really wasn't big enough for that sort of thing. We certainly weren't a quiet bunch but no one stuck their head out to investigate which struck me as more than a little odd.
"Why the bloody hell is he just running laps around the vulking room?" Sharpe rumbled. One of them broke the window sending whoosh of cooler night air curling around us. It felt great in the stuffy hallway.
"Because she could devour any one of you with a single touch" Cat said softly.
She had touched Methos quite a bit so she must have some control over it.
"Then what were you going to do?" he demanded of Cat and Guinan.
"Convince her to use the Matariki to destroy the damn leech from a safe distance."
"So why didn't you bloody do it?" Sharpe snapped before curling his fingers around one of the bars and heaving for all he was worth.
"Because I realized that she wasn't going to listen." Cat's tone managed to be soothing despite an undertone of worry. "We just have to hope that she has some sort of plan. Have you ever known her to be without one?"
"There's a first time for everything lass" he swallowed "We lost Tasyad and Nasha tonight. Somehow I doubt that was in the bloody plan any more than this was." It was a shame about the dogs, they'd seemed like perfectly nice dogs.
"You know" I was surprised when Ari-El joined the conversation. I would have though being engaged in a potentially deadly game of tag would sort of preclude idle chit-chat. "I'm reasonably certain I taught both of you that it is terribly impolite to discuss people as if they aren't present."
I had to restrain a smile when the Winyan came within a hair's breadth of catching him. I reminded myself that I WANTED him to win this fight.
"Are you absolutely certain wouldn't like to give back that which you have taken and be permitted to depart in peace?" Ari-El asked as the two of them glared at each other across the bed.
"Why when I can have both of you and then HIM" she said licking her lips and staring longingly at Mac.
"Back off" Amanda purred "he's taken."
The Winyan gave Amanda a scornful glance "You're barely a morsel. Keep your mouth shut and I might throw you back to fatten up a bit more. You and that one" she gestured to Nick Wolfe (who looked wounded. There were entirely too many Immortals here for one Watcher) "aren't even worth my effort." While she was distracted something fluttered in and dropped an unidentifiable object into Ari-El's remaining hand. It fluttered back into the shadows. I couldn't see enough to tell what it was or what it had brought but I knew now that it had been Ari-El who had broken the window, intentionally. Damn, it looked like he might live after all, maybe, or maybe he would choose to die for Methos.
"Not to change the subject but I'm" there was a slight pause as the two of them played ring around the rosy with Methos' corpse doing the all fall down part "quite curious as to who brought you here and how."
AGAIN with the benighted giggle "Do you really think I would betray the being that might finally rid us of YOU?"
Well she did have my sympathy there.
"And stand bloody still."
"Since you asked so politely" he said before stopping.
She stared at him in wary confusion.
"Last chance" he said in a hard sharp voice.
She sprang on him. Both Guinan and Sharpe made sounds of protest. I had thought Guinan was still pissed over Evangaline, but then if what Ari-El had said was true, that the fate of her world hung on what he was teaching her then it did stand to reason you'd root for the guy even if he was an ass.
Just as she let out a laugh (thank God for the small favors, it wasn't a giggle) of triumph she was vaporized. Neat trick. A blue-white swirl of Quickening energy spiraled up out of Ari-El and enveloped Methos as Ari-El rolled to his feet. He sat heavily on the bed, slid his remaining hand under Methos' limp shoulder, and pulled him up until his head was resting on Ari-El's bare chest. Hey, wait a minute – bare chest? At some point in the fun and games the coat had come untied and you could certainly see why he had been wearing it because he wasn't wearing much more than Methos and what was left was extra crispy. I was willing to bet that Tasyad and Nasha had been killed by a bomb and that Wolfe had caught the edge of the blast. Bond and Sharpe's clothes looked reasonably neat so they must have been clear.
Ari-El flipped a sheet over the rest of him as they were both bathed in a blue-white glow. I sent a prayer of thanksgiving up when I saw Methos' chest move ever so slightly. It wasn't the wide-eyed gasp that you normally saw and he didn't regain consciousness. No good, not good at all but there was still hope.
"Would someone PLEASE tell me what the bloody blazes is going on here!" Bond snapped, his Walther PPK still in his hand which he pointed at a highly unamused Sharpe. "Staring with you, Alec."
Sharpe, much to Bond's chagrin, ignored the gun and turned to Ari-El "So, how much do I bloody tell him, sir? Or will you be handling this yourself?"
"Oh, no Richard this is your problem" Ari-El retorted blue eyes glaring over the crown Methos' dark head in the eerie Quickening light. It was hard to be certain in the odd lighting but Methos' skin still looked sickly grey.
"Why are you taking orders from wet behind the ears child?" Bond asked sharply and then fumed when the rest of us laughed. It wasn't all that funny really but tension will do that to you.
"I assure you, Mr. Bond, I am older than all nine of you combined" Ari-El observed with a hint of a smirk. Wait a minute, nine?
"And while I am always glad to see you Tywysog Aneirin it was your father Brenin Rhys am Byth that I sent urgent summons to."
"He comes with all speed" a light, lilting voice answered from right behind me, nearly scaring me out of my wits "Escorted by what 'discreet yet powerful force' could be gathered in haste and with my sisters Morcana and Morwenna in tow. As requested."
The kid (who was nearly as pretty as Ari-El) had golden hair. Not blond, golden in a shade I didn't think was possible even in a dye vat and blue eyes the color of the Caribbean. I wondered if it was dye and contacts or if I was face to face with another alien. He pretty much settled my internal debate when he stepped through the wall. "I made better time since I was already in Paris."
"I trust I didn't pull you away from too intimate a study of the female form?"
"I'll forgive you" Aneirin said clearly all too happy to be here "So how can I help?"
His handsome face fell a little when Ari-El didn't have an instant answer.
"Either the Winyan or its ally murdered everyone in this building" Ari-El said "Best if we give the coroner a somewhat more prosaic explanation."
Aneirin looked thoughtful "I assume you want me to burn it to the ground?"
"Preferably not until all of the living are out of it" Ari-El offered dryly.
I wasn't sure if Aneirin had heard that qualifier or not as he wandered back through the wall and down the hall away from us. Interesting evening was an understatement.
"Why the devil did you have to get the bloody Elves mixed up in this?" Sharpe demanded of Ari-El.
"Ellyllon" Ari-El snapped back "And if you can't manage to keep a civil tongue in your head when arguably the most deadly being on this planet arrives then I'll thank you to leave before then."
"Bloody pointy eared aristocratic fop" Sharpe grumbled under his breath.
"That could kick your ass from here to Pluto and back without ever breaking a sweat" Ari-El's exasperation was palpable. "You're on picket aboard the Matarik. Take Bond with you. That's an ORDER."
"I have strict orders to remain with you, Dr. Montrose."
"And your so very good at obeying orders, aren't you Mr. Bond? You were ordered to back off. You didn't. Congratulations you've been promoted from international to interstellar security."
His eyes flicked to Cat while Bond digested that statement. It looked like it had gone down wrong. "I know you're still angry with me but would you please accompany them? I'd prefer to have as few targets on the ground as possible."
It was a plea. For an instant I thought Cat was going to argue with him before she nodded.
"I am NOT going anywhere until I get explanation" Bond said looking more than a little obstinate.
Cat appraised Sharpe, Bond, and Ari-El with a wicked gleam in her eye "I'll give you your explanation, Mr. Bond, starting with how my grandmother genetically engineered you to be faster, more agile, and longer lived than normal human beings" she said just before they vanished. Damn. I wanted to hear that explanation. Maybe I could make Bond a special correspondent.
"Guinan, would you take Wolfe and Rosa to the Nika?" Nick was just opening his mouth to protest when they both vanished as well. At least there was room to breath again in the hallway.
"My apologies Mr. MacLeod but I fear your satisfaction will have to wait until Brenin Rhys am Byth arrives. While I certainly won't force you I would ask for both Methos' safety and your own that regardless of the outcome of our duel that you accompany Methos back to Avalon and stay through his convalescence."
Mac frowned "We're Immortals we don't need to convalesce."
"Methos will be at least a fortnight recovering his strength and will be unconscious for days even with Brenin Rhys am Byth's prestigious healing skills. He will need a friend, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. He has saved your life more than once. Will you prove faithless?"
Oh, that was a low blow.
"I'll go" Mac replied firmly.
"Amanda, if you chose to accompany him keep your hands in you pockets. Rhys has a sharp eye and a wicked sense of vengeance if you cross him."
"Why did the Winyan want me so badly?" Mac asked.
"You're the Champion MacLeod." Blue eyes locked on Mac's "If you had any idea what you were doing with your Quickening you could crush me like an ant. I may have the knowledge but you have more than ten times my power. In all the years since the Game began I've taken less than twenty heads."
Less than twenty? Hell Richie had taken over a dozen in three years he'd been Immortal. Mac had taken hundreds and not just minor Quickenings either but heavy hitters like Kells, Connor, and Greyson. Damn, double damn. Maybe Mac shouldn't kill him yet. Vengeance would be a hell of a lot sweeter if he beat him at his own game first.
"The Winyan just saw you as the whole feast compared to a single course."
Amanda was about to say something when Ari-El wrapped his hands around Methos' head "No, no you don't. STAY WITH ME!" he roared at Methos as the blue light flickered and noticeably faded.
He laid his own forehead against Methos' as blond hair mingled with black obscuring both their faces. The blue light became a dim glow that barely illuminated them but Methos stirred just a little and I could have sworn I saw his fingers curl. Mac wrapped his own fingers around the bars Ari-El had made of one of his arms.
"Can I help?" God Mac was such a damn boy scout sometimes. Let Ari-El wear himself out, fool.
Ari-El didn't answer and with his head bent over Methos and Methos' body in front of his it was impossible tell if he was even breathing. If either of them was breathing for that matter as the blue light flickered out completely.
"Ari-El!" Mac shouted banging the bars. "Aneirin!" he called when there was no response from Ari-El but the elf? didn't answer either. I prayed he wasn't off setting the building ablaze with us in it.
We all started at several soft thumps overhead and Ari-El finally raised his own. "Mardeths?" he whispered "So much for discretion."
What the hell was a mardeth? Something told me I didn't want to know. Ari-El looked at me "Be careful, Mr. Dawson, be very, very careful of the mardeths if you accompany your assignment. The mardeths consider it their mission in life to remove the weak, sick, and infirm from the world. They will consider your presence an insult."
Great. Something big and nasty up on the roof wanted to eat my ass because I'd lost my legs. Peachy, just peachy.
The elevator dinged. Elves use elevators? The bars flowed into a liquid ball that rolled back to Ari-El and became an arm again. I turned reluctantly from Methos and Ari-El to face the elevator. It slid open revealing what I could only assume was the King of the Elves. Well. For some reason I had expected him to look older than his son Aneirin but like Ari-El the guy heading toward us flanked by a matched pair of girls that would have had me wolf whistling if I was a few years younger didn't even look old enough to shave or drink. They say you can guess when an Immortal was born by the cut of his clothes. It's true of a few but not most. The King of the Elves looked like he'd just stepped out of an Elizabethian portrait. He threw off red and blue glints as what little light there was in the hall was caught and refracted by rubies and sapphires some of which were bigger than hen's eggs. I couldn't decide if the outfit was tastelessly gaudy or just overwhelming. Whichever, it was worth more than half the nations of the world's GNP. I could see why Sharpe considered him a pointy eared (which he was) fop. The girls were far less ostentatious but certainly not shabbily dressed. I did wonder how they felt about being outshone by their father though. Or maybe their plain elegance with only the faintest touches of gold and silver thread embroidery setting off their deep rich green outfits and only thin silver tiaras set with pearls on their heads instead of their father's jewel encrusted monstrosity was their own little rebellion. Amanda was drooling, damn near literally.
Something shadowy that made my blood run cold was fluttering in the hallway behind them along with what had to be several members of the King's Guard.
Ari-El stuck his head out into the hallway "Could you possibly stop making 'the grand entrance' and get in here."
And he'd sent Sharpe away because Sharpe couldn't be civil? What the bloody blue blazes was Sharpe going to say?
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression" the King of the Elves retorted in the crispest upper class English accent I had ever heard in my life. It absolutely shrieked 'stiff ass Brit'. "And I'm savoring the thought that after over eight thousand years of my House being in debt to the Dark Lady of Aratta I finally get to pay the balance. And you know how I loath being indebted to anyone."
"Then pay the bloody tab" Ari-El all but growled. There was history between these two. Problem was I couldn't tell if it was good or bad. There was an edge their tones that said enemy but there was also a touch of banter which said friends.
The Elven King blinked clearly not expecting Ari-El to be so short tempered then he tsked. "Not your normal look at ALL, Dark Lady, what would Will say?"
"That you're being an ass" Ari-El retorted tightly. The girls had gone past them to Methos almost the instant Ari-El had stuck his head out into the hall. Poor Methos, twins that hot around him and he was out of it. Sometimes Fate is one hell of a bitch. His color improved markedly and his breathing deepened but his eyelids didn't even twitch.
The King looked like he'd been slapped and I swallowed, fingers tightening on my cane but then he laughed. It sounded like wind on waves. "I suppose he would at that." The accent was still 'upper class snob' but some of the stiff ass went out of it along with most of the edge. "I must confess given the urgency of your summons and the fact that you are hardly given to panic I, frankly, expected to find half of France, or at the very least most of Paris destroyed."
"Sorry to disappoint" Ari-El retorted. You could tell it was meant to be sharp but it came out weary instead. "Now would you please see to Methos."
The King turned "Methos is it? What a terribly unfortunate nose. Would you like me to fix it? Because otherwise my daughters have the matter well in hand. I would only disrupt the balance they've achieved. Besides you summoned them here to heal and me to protect. So" he said canting his head which was enough to make you dizzy as the glitter of all the gems shifted. Amanda looked mesmerized. "What am I protecting him from?"
Ari-El sighed "I don't know."
The King blinked clearly rendered speechless, finally "YOU don't know." A pause followed by a hell of a lot of what I assumed was Elvish but I knew cursing when I heard it. "No wonder you're driving my clairvoyants mad."
"Most of your clairvoyants are mad by their teens" Ari-El pointed out dryly.
"Yes, well I'd like to keep that handful that are sane that way" the King's retort was equally dry. "And I pay my debts. Though it cost the entire Kingdom and my life's blood Avalon I will see Methos whole and well."
"I would also ask that you allow these three to accompany him."
The King gave Mac a long look "Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod, it's been a long time even as I recon it."
Mac looked utterly confused "We've never met."
"Oh, but we have" the King tapped the handle of the dragon dagger at his waist "I'm certain given time that Quickening enhanced memory will dredge it up." He gave Amanda a lady-killer smile. He really was very, very pretty, even better looking than Ari-El which I hadn't thought possible. It should be against the law for people to look that good. Maybe that was the reason for the edge, their egos couldn't fit on the same planet. "And I am very pleased to welcome a new jewel to my court" he said kissing her knuckles with a full courtly bow. Wow. Best knuckle kiss I'd ever seen. This guy was genuine 1500's material.
"Brenin Rhys am Byth of House Penthalion. King of Avalon, Lord of Sea and Fire, only surviving scion of Titigalia Queen of Wind and Shadow."
"Amanda."
"Charmed" and with a flicker of his fingers two of his rings leapt out of her bodice. Lucky rings. He then returned her gold card. "You'll need to try harder than that dear" he said but he winked as if he was challenging her to steal from him. She frowned at her gold card as if it had betrayed her. Then he dropped one back in "I owe you a bauble" that bauble was probably worth ten grand if those were real rubies and diamonds "since according to rumor you put an end to that slimy little toad Wilson."
"You knew Wilson" Amanda asked in surprise as she appraised the ring.
"I had that misfortune when I was one of Master Shakespeare's leading actors." Had there BEEN any normal humans in Shakespeare's troop? Some Watcher had missed a golden opportunity not recruiting William Shakespeare. Immortals (of all kinds apparently) had flocked around the man. Walter, Wilson, and Ari-El itself in female guise along with at least three others had been drawn to the man like moths to a candle along with, obviously, at least one elf. "I killed him twice but back then I didn't know you had to take heads." Amanda gave him an uncomfortable smile but his gaze had already flickered to me.
"A musician and a scribe." How could he tell that just by looking? "I am certain that there are those in my court who will enjoy listening to a new bard." He gave me a firm handshake
"Joe Dawson." I offered.
Now that introductions were over Ari-El's attention turned from Methos and the girls to Mac as something fluttered out of the shadows to land on the King's shoulder.
"I know I promised you your choice of locations but Methos will be ready to move soon and you have promised to accompany him. There is, of all things, a small ballroom on the bottom floor that will do nicely if you are still inclined to fight."
"After you."
We had gone all of three steps when the King of Avalon just appeared in our path pissed as hell. God, those eyes. With all the other flash I hadn't even really noticed them. I noticed them now. Crocodile eyes, glowing brilliant green reptilian eyes suffused with anger. It wasn't that I thought Ari-El was lying when he said the King of Avalon was dangerous but I figured it was political or magical or something when I saw the slight young fop that walked out of the elevator but something told me that whatever political or magical weapons he might wield he was also personally dangerous. "What the bloody hell do you think you doing?"
Ari-El looked down at the bejeweled hand blocking his path "Fighting a Challenge. I'm Quickened." The next words sounded bitter as ashes "It's what we do."
"Not right now it isn't" the King spat and then glared at Mac "I thought better of you, of BOTH of you." Those fierce eyes flickered back to Ari-El "There was a time I would have bet my Kingdom and the Blood in my veins that of the two us you had the better common sense even if you've no notion of fashion. Did a virus infect your hardware you witless cyborg? Or did whatever it was did that laid your friend low scramble what isn't metallic in that hard head of yours?"
"I promise Mr. MacLeod that I would give him satisfaction tonight. It's a matter of vengeance. YOU should understand that."
The King's eyes flickered back to Mac. "You owe me a life, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. I claim this one." And suddenly there was a very plain 17th century pirate standing in front of us.
"Mallory Adfyw?" Mac muttered in shock.
Ari-El's head shot up his own eyes flashing. "How dare you presume to interfere?"
The King of Avalon laughed scathingly "You! You're asking that question you meddling old fool?" Then his eyes grew less angry but no less determined "I swore long I would never stand aside and willing watch a friend go to their death."
"We were never friends" Ari-El retorted but there was no anger in his voice only confusion.
"Perhaps not" the King allowed with a surprising gentleness "I don't know if there is an afterlife or not, nor if I shall ever see it, but if there is and I chance to meet Master William Shakespeare again I have no wish to try to explain to my most faithful friend that I stood by and let the love of his life commit suicide."
Now Ari-El's tone went icy cold, "I'm perfectly fine. Will you take the word of an owl over mine?"
The King rubbed one ringed finger across the back of the smallest owl I had ever seen in my life's head. I'd seen bigger moths in 'Nam.
"I do when that owl has been your companion beast for thousands of years. He's a true and loyal friend to you even if I'm not and I've always liked owls. He's such a little darling. Pity he's been saddled with you all these years. I've found that little birds are bearers of the most interesting tidings." The tiny owl blinked his enormous eyes at Ari-El with the most earnest of expressions. "Now you stiff necked robot, will you let me help or not?"
"I summoned you here for Methos" Ari-El spat "Save your strength for him."
The King's eyes hardened and they went back to MacLeod. "It's all an illusion, you know. He's quite literally dead on his feet. The only thing keeping him vertical is the machinery and there's no way in hell he can fight a sword's man of your caliber like this. He's right. I'm not Quickened, it's not my place to interfere in a Challenge. But if you kill him tonight I Will. Kill. You. I know your measure and you know mine. And as good as you are Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod you are NOT my equal. He might be, when he's at his best, but not you." Those reptilian eyes never wavered. I wasn't familiar with the name Mallory from Mac's Chronicle so when had he run afoul of the Elven King?
"No" Ari-El barked "You can't, Rhys, you mustn't. There's more at stake than you know. Just take Methos and go."
"Prove I'm wrong" the King challenged "force me to get out of your way. I'm stronger than any mortal but those cybernetics of you should be enough to compensate, if you're telling the truth being fine."
"Rhys" Ari-El sounded well past exasperated "We have an unknown and very nasty enemy stalking both Methos and I. I don't have TIME to argue with you. If THEY were paying attention I have shouted that I am still alive all the way to the Outer Darkness. I need to be AWAY from Earth and Methos with all possible speed lest I bring destruction on us all. Let me pass."
Now that sounded promising, along with the fact that he was in much worse shape than he appeared. The night was looking up, Mac and Methos were going to live and Ari-El wasn't.
"I will" the King said in a tone that was at once gentle and yet brooked no opposition "After you have allowed me to do for you what my daughters have done for your friend." And with the flip of one glittering hand Ari-El's illusion of calm composure was shattered. Except for his fake hands his skin was blue-grey and wrapped far too tight over his bones. He gave a whole new meaning to anorexic. His blond hair was plastered to his head with cooling sweat and he swayed with exhaustion. Then it hit me – he wasn't even breathing.
"You shouldn't have been able to do that" and his protest was laced with an undertone of fear.
"You're not the only one who practices doing the impossible" the King said softly yet firmly. "And while the Lord of Aratta and the Kings of Avalon have been allies for thousands of years do you really think I had given no thought to the possibility that we might one day come to blows."
Ari-El actually gave ground in the wake of that statement.
"I no intention of hurting you" the King said soothingly. "But I won't let you fight like this. Just as I have given thought to how I might fight you I have also thought about what might become of Avalon without you. I like having a strong ally to protect my flank." He held out a hand. "Besides I know MacLeod. I don't care if you killed his best friend he isn't going to fight you seeing your true condition. He has too much honor for that."
And it was true. There was no way Mac would take advantage like that especially when he got that way saving Methos. Sometimes being the good guy really sucks because if Mac didn't fight him now next time Ari-El might very well kill him.
The King held out a hand but Ari-El shied further away nearly backing into Mac who steadied him when he nearly crumpled. Ari-El shook off both Mac and the near swoon to stand defiantly. "Let me pass."
"A plague on the stiff necks of cyborgs" Hey, wasn't that supposed to be Elves? The King muttered curses under his breath "I swear on the lives of my children I will do you no harm."
As gingerly as a man putting his hand into a basket full of cobras Ari-El stretched out a hand and took the King's. There was the gasp that one expected of an Immortal returning to life, along with a healthy golden gleam that banished the sickly blue-grey but then to my (and apparently his own) surprise he folded like a poker player with a lousy hand.
"You conniving son of a" was all he managed as the King deftly caught him on his was to the floor.
"Takes one to know one" he said pleasantly "And I've done you no harm. You need your rest old one, doctor's orders. And I intend to see to it that you follow them."
"He's never going to trust you again. Either of us again for that matter" Aneirin observed. When the hell had he shown back up?
"He never trusted me to begin with" the King said with a shrug as he handed Ari-El to his son who staggered a touch under the weight.
The King's pointy ears flicked forward and flattened back. Too weird. "Too much carousing and not enough work. That will change when you return."
"Tada" there was a touch of a whine in Aneirin's voice.
"Don't tada me, young sir" the King retorted in a steely tone "Healthy body, healthy mind. And no magical shortcuts. You're certain Saru will let you aboard and except your commands until the Dark Lady wakes?"
Aneirin nodded as he shifted Ari-El into a fireman's carry "No one this thin should weight this much."
The King shrugged "More machine than man. Take care and come home still breathing."
"Yes, my liege" that reply was much more formal as Prince Aneirin grew more serious. "He wanted me to burn the building."
"I'll handle it" the King replied
Prince Aneirin looked way too young staring at his father "The Draigs be with you" he said just before he vanished. That was getting old fast.
"They never bloody give me a moment's peace" the King muttered. "Jane's God keep you and be well" he shivered before turning "Morcana are we ready?"
The girls emerged followed by two of the King's Guard bearing Methos on a litter. The King ran a critical eye over Methos "Well done. Let's go."