No one spoke while the Alchemyst finished the soup and then broke off chunks
of the cheese and bread. He chewed slowly and methodically, then poured water
from the green bottle into the glass and drank in short sips. When he was
finished, he wiped his lips on a napkin and allowed himself a sigh of
satisfaction. Thank you. He nodded to Joan. That was perfect.
There is a larder full of food, Nicholas, she said, her gray eyes huge and
concerned. You really should have more than soup, bread and cheese.
It was enough, he said gently. Right now I need to rest, and I didn't want
to put a lot of food in my stomach. We shall have a big breakfast in the
morning. I ll even cook it myself.
I didn't know you could cook, Saint-Germain said.
He can t, Scathach muttered.
I thought eating cheese late at night gave you nightmares, Josh said. He
glanced at his watch. It s close to one in the morning.
Oh, I don't need cheese to see nightmares. I ve seen them in the flesh.
Nicholas smiled, though there was no humor in it. They re not so scary. He
looked from Josh to Sophie. You re safe and well?
The twins glanced at one another and nodded.
And rested?
They slept all day and most of the night, Joan said.
Good, Flamel nodded. You re going to need all your strength. And I like
the clothes. While Josh was dressed identically to Saint-Germain, Sophie was
wearing a heavy white cotton blouse and blue jeans with the ends turned up to
reveal ankle-high boots.
Joan gave them to me, Sophie explained.
Almost a perfect fit, the older woman said. We ll go through my wardrobe
shortly, get you some changes for the rest of your journey.
Sophie smiled her thanks.
Nicholas turned to Saint-Germain. The fireworks on the Eiffel Tower
yesterday: inspired, just inspired.
The count bowed. Thank you, Master, he said, looking tremendously pleased
with himself.
Joan s giggle was a low purr. He s been looking for an excuse to do
something like that for months. You should have seen the display he set off
in Hawaii when we were married. We waited until the sun went down; then
Francis lit up the sky for nearly an hour. It was so beautiful, though the
effort exhausted him for a week, she added with a grin.
Two spots of color touched the count s cheeks and he reached over to squeeze
his wife s hand. It was worth it to see the look on your face.
You hadn't mastered fire the last time we met, Nicholas said slowly. If I
recall, you had some little ability with it, but nothing like the power you
demonstrated yesterday. Who trained you?
I spent some time in India, in the lost city of Ophir, the count responded,
glancing quickly at the Alchemyst. They still remember you there. Did you
know they erected a statue to you and Perenelle in the main square?
I didn't. I promised Perenelle I d take her back there someday, Nicholas
said wistfully. But what has that got to do with your mastery of fire?
I met someone there someone who trained me, Saint-Germain said
enigmatically. Showed me how to use all the secret knowledge I d gleaned
from Prometheus
Stolen, Scathach corrected.
Well, he stole it first, Saint-Germain snapped.
Flamel s hand hit the table with enough force to rattle the bottle of water.
Only Scathach didn't jump. Enough! he barked, and for an instant, the
planes and angles of his face altered, cheekbones suddenly prominent, hinting
at the skull beneath the flesh. His almost colorless eyes visibly darkened,
turning gray, then brown and finally black. Resting his elbows on the table,
he rubbed his face with the palms of both hands and took a deep shuddering
breath. There was the faintest hint of mint in the air, but it was a sour
bitter odor. I m sorry. That was inexcusable. I should not have raised my
voice, he said quietly into the shocked silence that followed. When he took
his hands away from his face, his lips moved into a smile that did not quite
reach his eyes. He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering on the
twins stunned faces. You must forgive me. I m tired now, so tired; I could
sleep for a week. Continue, Francis, please. Who trained you?
The Comte de Saint-Germain took a breath. He told me he said that I was
never to speak his name aloud, he finished in a rush.
Flamel placed his elbows on the table, wrapped the fingers of both hands
together and rested his chin on his knotted fists. He stared at the musician,
his face impassive. Who was it? he demanded firmly.
I gave him my word, Saint-Germain said miserably. It was one of the
conditions he imposed when he trained me. He said there was a power in words
and that certain names set up vibrations both in this world and the
Shadowrealms and attracted unwelcome attention.
Scathach stepped forward and rested her hand lightly on the Alchemyst s
shoulder. Nicholas, you know that is true. There are certain words that
should never be spoken, names that should never be used. Old things. Undead
things.
Nicholas nodded. If you gave this person your word, then you should not go
back on it, of course. But tell me he paused, not looking at the count this
mysterious person, how many hands did he have?
Saint-Germain sat back suddenly, and the shocked expression on his face
revealed the truth. How did you know? he whispered.
The Alchemyst s mouth twisted into an ugly grimace. In Spain, six hundred
years ago, I met a one-handed man who taught me some of the secrets of the
Codex. He too refused to speak his name aloud. Flamel suddenly looked at
Sophie, eyes wide and staring. You have within you the Witch s memories. If
a name comes to you now it would be better for all of us if you did not say
it aloud.
Sophie closed her mouth so quickly she bit the inside of her lip. She knew
the name of the person Flamel and Saint-Germain were talking about. She also
knew just who and what he was. And she
aloud.
Flamel turned back to Saint-Germain. You know that Sophie s powers have been
Awakened. The Witch taught her the basics of the Magic of Air, and I am
determined that both she and Josh be trained in all the elemental magics as
quickly as possible. I know where there are masters of Earth and Water magic.
Only yesterday, I was thinking we might have to go in search of one of the
