I didn’t like the sound of that at all.
‘Once you are inside,’ Morden said, ‘you will be in unknown territory. The relic interior has been sealed for at least two thousand years. However, given that the guardian elemental still functions, I doubt the traps will have stopped working.’
‘Traps?’ Khazad said sharply.
‘Of course.’ Morden raised an eyebrow. ‘I assumed you knew.’
Cinder and Khazad looked at him, then as one, turned to stare at Rachel. Rachel looked between them. ‘What?’ she demanded.
‘You didn’t say anything about traps,’ Khazad said.
‘I’m sure she had her reasons,’ Morden said smoothly. ‘The fateweaver is located at the relic’s centre. Once Onyx has taken possession of it, you are free to return or to stay and loot the place as you wish.’ Morden smiled. ‘I’ll quite understand if you need some time alone. As long as you accomplish your objective, the decision of what to do afterwards is entirely up to you.’ Morden looked around. ‘Are there any questions?’
Khazad had been staring at Rachel; now he dragged his eyes away to look at Morden. ‘When do we get paid?’
‘Once Onyx and the fateweaver are in this room.’ Morden looked around. ‘Anything else?’
‘One thing,’ I said and felt everyone’s eyes turn to me. ‘There were quite a few guards at the museum.’
Cinder snorted with laughter, and Khazad looked at me through narrowed eyes. ‘What’s the matter, Verus?’ Khazad’s voice was ugly. ‘Afraid of a fight?’
I didn’t look at him. ‘I’ll have trouble opening the relic if I’m dead,’ I said mildly to Morden.
‘Onyx will explain your method of approach once you arrive.’
It wasn’t what I’d wanted to hear, but I nodded. Morden looked around. ‘Anything else?’
No one spoke.
‘Excellent.’ Morden smiled. ‘Don’t look so gloomy, you four. By tomorrow, you’ll be free, rich and in my favour. All you have to do is bring me the fateweaver.’
My shoes swished through the wet grass as we walked out into the garden. The setting sun lit up the landscape around, showing hills and distant forests. Clouds hung overhead, glowing gold in the sunset. Morden’s mansion had a powerful shroud effect, but I was pretty sure we were somewhere in Wales.
As we walked I moved to block Rachel slightly, so that the two of us fell behind. She gave me a cool look, but allowed it. ‘Nice jewellery,’ I said under my breath once we were far enough behind Cinder and Khazad. ‘Onyx give you a demonstration?’
‘I’m not afraid of Onyx,’ Rachel said, turning away. She was wearing a blue coat that looked like it might have belonged to Lisa. ‘What do you want?’
Up ahead, Onyx was giving sharp orders to Khazad and Cinder, who listened sullenly. ‘Did you notice something strange about that briefing?’
‘Like?’
‘Morden wants to use the fateweaver to become the representative of the Dark mages on the Council,’ I said, keeping my voice low. ‘For that to work, he can’t leave any proof that he was behind the raid.’
‘So?’
‘Morden said we could go free or keep working for him. Either way, we might talk. The guards at the museum might recognise us. We’d be a link that could be traced.’ I looked sideways at Rachel. ‘That would be a problem for him, don’t you think?’
Rachel started to answer, then stopped. ‘Yes,’ she said at last, her voice colourless. ‘It would.’
I fell silent, letting Rachel work the rest of it out for herself. I knew it wouldn’t take her long, and I wasn’t surprised when she spoke a moment later. ‘Are you still any good with locks?’
‘Better.’
‘How long would these bracelets take you?’
‘Maybe five minutes each.’
Up ahead, Onyx turned and noticed us talking. He jerked his head. ‘Move.’
We came forward and in a moment were too close to say anything more. Onyx gestured and the air in front of us rippled. A black oval eight feet tall appeared, hovering just off the ground, soaking up the light from the sunset, then it cleared and through it I could see grass and trees.
‘Good luck, all of you,’ Morden called, and we turned to look. He had stayed behind on the veranda, and he was smiling at us, hands clasped behind his back. ‘I hope you make it back safely.’
I smiled back at Morden, my face as friendly as his.
Onyx took us by gateway to three more locations: a wood, a deserted quarry and a dense forest. Gateways can be traced if you’re good enough and know what to look for; by gating to multiple locations you make it harder for anyone to backtrack to your point of origin. At each location we walked for five minutes before gating again. Cinder took the lead with Khazad on his heels, the two men forming a contrast, one heavy and lumbering, the other bird- like and quick. Rachel followed a little way behind, and I followed her a little further still. Bringing up the rear came Onyx, his cold eyes on all of us. No one spoke.
Even though I was on the receiving end, I had to admit that Morden’s plan had a kind of twisted brilliance to it. The four of us had been his main competition for the fateweaver; he’d turned it around so that we were doing his work for him. He was sitting comfortably in his mansion, while we were going out to risk our necks. I’d almost admire the guy if he weren’t so freaking evil.
