The Witch, the Thief, and the Iron Maiden

Chapter 3

With her strange team nailed down, Kara used the Montfort teleport for returning to Lunari. The Archon council was still studying the giant robot's mask. It had been overlaid with a spell that mimicked that applied at the Archonage to prevent counterfeits. It was another enterprise Kara intended to shut down at Wolf 3-4-7. Her next stop was the villa of Team Dan for a briefing about haunting conditions encountered there. The Dans had never braved the place, but Wicca had been killed there. That made her the resident expert. Currently, Bonnie and Zena were out shopping, which made things easier; they'd certainly want a crack at it. Dan occupied the big white sofa, where he opened a huge bestiary on the coffee table. It was news only to Kara, since both Wicca and Jili had seen most of it.

Dan opened to a page showing a gumdrop-shaped ghoul with one eye and a maw full of teeth. Its short arms dangled chains, and it appeared to hover close to the ground. "Roamer," Dan said. "Its primary weapon is a spewed, oily flame ball, sort of like napalm. Range is about a hundred yards, but it isn't guided, so you can dodge it in open spaces. They have the ability to float to heights if they need to, so the best avenue of escape is to give them the slip. Weaknesses are cold spells and water."

The gray-skinned Wicca sprawled in a chair nearby. "I'll be sure to take a water can."

Dan frowned. "Be serious, Wicca. The only one we know about being taken down was by Wayacth. She hit one crossing an underground stream with a cold spell. That knocked it sideways enough to make contact with the water, and it was sucked in. My advice? Don't mess with them. After all, you've got plenty of others to worry about." He turned a few pages. These showed winged bat women with bows and arrows. "The feared harpy bow. It shoots paralyzing arrows. If I may sing Wayacth's praise again, she actually captured one, but only has a few of the super-rare arrows. Magic is hard to use against them because they fly fast, but a sword will do the job. Just watch out for the talons and teeth."

Since it wasn't feasible to cover all possible dangers, Dan set the tome aside. He removed a talisman about his neck, the item Kara had mainly come for. The small magic bottle could draw people inside and miniaturize them for easy transport. For Kara, it was a food consideration. Neither she nor Wicca needed any, but Jili did. It would also give them a safe haven for resting, provided no one found where it was stashed.

"I know how much this means to you, Dan." Kara placed the chain around her neck. "I'll bring it back safely."

Next, Dan unrolled a map of the region. He indicated a darkened circle. "Wolf is an ancient city built below ground level but open to the sky. This time of year, the Breska river overflows, so you can expect to wade about knee-deep until you reach the citadel. That area is walled off, so it stays dry. It's the source of the nimbus, a tornado-like disturbance arising from a disastrous experiment in ancient times. Somebody opened a gate that he couldn't close. Wicca, you've been close to it. Fill us in."

The undead mage fixed him with yellow eyes. "You're right, Stan, I've seen it. It's where the undead priests came out who brought me back. It's not a problem unless you get close enough for something to reach out and get you." She examined purple-painted nails. "I've always wanted to see the chamber it's coming out of. Since we're there, there's no reason not to have a look around."

Jili had been unobtrusive until know. It was easy to forget about her, such was her drab camouflage. "I agree. Karst always expects me to bring something back for his collection. And I can find all manner of ingredients for potions." She pulled aside a section of shroud to reveal a belt loaded with small blisters of unholy trouble for enemies. One of those, Dan knew, was the dreaded passthrough lancet that had made the two Green Tips assassins undead. He had also seen glass widow used, a nasty powder that caused its victim to erupt into a spore factory.

"Where's the teleport?" Kara asked.

"In a vaulted chamber against the west wall," Wicca supplied. "That means we have to fight our way back there. If not, you can fly, and Jili can ride on my flying staff."

"I'm thinking there's another," Kara said. "One used to access the Archon plane. Is it possible to destroy teleports?"

The others looked at each other. Destroy Tekniker toys? It was inconceivable.

"I may have to," Kara insisted. "We must stop them from entering my world with their giant robots."

As if to change the subject, Dan motioned for the magic bottle, which he set on the table. "Why not take a tour of your traveling hotel?" He had them all rise, then twisted the neck. In seconds, all of them were standing on a metal grating at the top of a spiral metal staircase. Rooms branched on all sides. As they descended, Dan pointed out where food and water were stored. There was even a "necessary" room that needed no drain, as it worked by disintegration.

Kara had been here before. At the bottom, she noted the hatch that gave access over Rotbone Island. Dan's warning look told her not to let Wicca know. Otherwise, the mage would be taking frequent trips down there to party with the Dracula brides. If nothing else, it represented a way to acquire things they might need as the situation arose at Wolf. "I think we're ready, ladies. Let's get to the Archonage."

All were in agreement as Dan spirited them back outside, and handed off the talisman to Kara. The trio took the zip tube from the busy harbor district, avoiding the ever-present reporters, who sensed something big about to come from such an exotic team. Minutes later, they exited up into the Archonage, there to dodge another contingent.

A small group of Archon councilors waited by the depressed teleport dish with Caladra, now in full Red Claw armor. She was here to personally apply the secret sender code.

But Kara sensed more. "You're coming with us . . ."

The tall amazon's eyes were stern on either side of the dragon helm's nose guard. "Two reasons. I'll exact a price for the death of Wayacth's mother, even though it didn't happen there." She looked down at Jili. "And I'll make sure no one else 'accidentally dies' on this mission."

Jili glowered back at her. Whatever was between them just might endanger the whole thing.