Nicholas Flamel 2 - The Magician

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

M achiavelli was sitting in the back of his car alongside Dr. John Dee.

Facing them were the three Disir. Dagon sat in the driver s seat, eyes

invisible behind his wraparound glasses. The car smelled faintly of his sour

fishy odor.

A cell phone buzzed, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Machiavelli flipped

it open without looking at the screen. He closed it again almost immediately.

All clear. My men have pulled back and there is a security cordon in place

around all the connecting streets. No one will accidentally wander into the

area.

Whatever happens, do not enter the house, the Disir with violet eyes said.

Once we free Nidhogg, we shall have very little control until it feeds.

John Dee leaned forward, and for a moment, it looked as if he was about to

tap the young woman on the knee. The look on her face prevented him. Flamel

and the children must not be allowed to escape.

That sounds like a threat, Doctor, the warrior sitting on the left said.

Or an order.

And we do not like threats, her sister sitting to the right added. And we

don't take orders.

Dee blinked slowly. It is neither a threat nor an order. Simply a request,

he said eventually.

We are here only for Scathach, the warrior with violet eyes said. The rest

of them are not our concern.

Dagon climbed out of the car and opened the door. Without a backward glance,

the Valkyries stepped out into the first glimmers of predawn light, spread

out and moved slowly down the back street. They looked like three young women

coming home from an all-night party.

Dee shifted position, taking the seat facing Machiavelli. If they succeed, I

will ensure that our masters know that the Disir were your idea, he said

pleasantly.

I m sure you will. Machiavelli didn't look at the English Magician and

continued to follow the progress of the three girls as they walked down the

street. And if they fail, you can tell our masters that the Disir were my

idea, and you can absolve yourself of any blame, he added. Shifting the

blame: I believe I originally came up with that concept about twenty years

before you were born.

I thought you said they were bringing Nidhogg? Dee asked, ignoring him.

Niccol Machiavelli tapped the window with his manicured fingernails. They

did.

As the Disir moved down the narrow, cobbled, high-walled alley, they changed.

The transformation occurred as they passed through a patch of shadow. They

entered as young women, dressed in soft leather jackets, jeans and boots and

a moment later they were Valkyries: warrior maidens. Long coats of ice white

chain mail fell to their knees, knee-high metal boots with spiked toes

covered their feet, and they wore heavy leather-and-metal gauntlets on their

hands. Rounded helmets protected their heads and masked their eyes and noses

but left their mouths free. White leather belts around their waists held

their sword and knife sheaths. The Valkyries each carried a wide-bladed sword

in one hand, but each also had a second weapon strapped to her back: a spear,

a double-headed axe and a war hammer.

They stopped before a rotting green gate set into the wall. One of the

Valkyries turned to look back at the car and pointed a gloved hand at the

gate.

Machiavelli hit a button and the window rolled down. He raised his thumb and

nodded. Despite its decrepit appearance, it was the back gate to

Saint-Germain s house.

Each of the Disir reached into a leather pouch that hung from her belt.

Taking out a handful of flat stonelike objects, they tossed them at the base

of the door.

They re Casting the Runes, Machiavelli explained. They re calling

Nidhogg the creature you released, a creature the Elders themselves locked

away.

I didn't know it was trapped by the World Tree, Dee muttered.

I m surprised. I thought you knew everything. Machiavelli shifted in the

seat to look at Dee. In the gloomy half-light, he could see that the Magician

was looking pale and there was the faintest sheen of sweat on his forehead.

Centuries of controlling his emotions ensured that Machiavelli didn't smile.

Why did you destroy the Yggdrasill? he asked.

It was the source of Hekate s power, Dee said quietly, eyes fixed on the

Valkyries, watching them intently. They had stepped back from the stones

they d dropped on the ground and were talking quietly amongst themselves,

pointing out individual tiles.

It was as old as this planet. And yet you destroyed it without a second

thought. Why did you do that? Machiavelli wondered aloud.

I did what was necessary. Dee s words were ice. I will always do whatever

is necessary to bring the Elders back to this world.

But you didn't consider the consequences, Niccol Machiavelli said softly.

Every action has a consequence. The Yggdrasill you destroyed in Hekate s

kingdom stretched into several other Shadowrealms. The topmost branches

reached the Shadowrealm of Asgard, and the roots stretched deep into

Niflheim, the World of Darkness. He saw Dee stiffen. Not only did you

release Nidhogg, but you also destroyed at least three Shadowrealms maybe

more when you destroyed the World Tree.

I didn't know .

You made a lot of enemies, Machiavelli continued smoothly, ignoring him,

dangerous enemies. I have heard that the Elder Hel escaped the destruction

of her kingdom. I understand she is hunting you.

She does not frighten me, Dee snapped, but there was a quaver in his voice.

Oh, she should, Machiavelli murmured. She terrifies me.

My master will protect me, Dee said confidently.

He must be a powerful Elder indeed to protect you from Hel; no one has stood

against her and survived.