“Kind of you to notice,” I said as sarcastically as possible.
“That attitude will never gain the respect of the Synod.” Julian turned his back to me, shaking his head. “A pity. You possess marvelous magical capabilities, and those you help sing your praises. On paper, you should already sit on the Synod, yet you insist on disrespecting your betters.”
“Do you think yourself my better, Julian?”
“No,” he said, turning his face to the black sky. Illuminated with firelight and framed by the blowing snow of the blizzard he made a surreal sight. Again, I wondered at Julian’s heritage. The moment passed, and the man glanced over his shoulder. “The Synod does, however. They receive our orders from the Queen, and not even the Archmage can move without their approval.”
“They can burn for all I care.”
Julian heaved a weary sigh as he collapsed back into his armchair. “I don’t believe there exists a more insufferable man than you.”
“Good to know we share the feeling.”
Matteo tasted the soup again and this time nodded his approval. I pulled a set of bowls from my pack, ladled soup into one, and handed it to my guide. He smiled his thanks and dug in like a starving urchin. I chuckled, filled another bowl, and offered it to Julian. “Hungry?”
He looked down his nose. “No, thank you.”
“More for us.”
Silence reigned while we ate, making it the most peaceful moment of the day. Snow still fell in droves, and I smiled. Our magic allowed us to enjoy the beauty of the blizzard, and I marveled at it as I ate. I finished before Matteo and spooned a second helping, careful to leave my guide some should he want it. Julian never moved while we ate. With a sigh I said, “Tell me why you’re really here.”
Julian smiled, a real one this time. He stood and meandered over to the fireside between Matteo and I. Tucking his cane under his arm, he held his hands out above the flames. “I brought you a mission. One that will prove your merit.”
“No,” I said immediately. “You may leave now.”
Julian’s calm facade cracked. “At least let me finish.”
“I don’t want it no matter what you say. I plan to return to England and spend some time focusing on my own research.” Matteo reached for a second helping, and I intercepted him. The man endured enough today; I could at least serve him dinner. Once he happily tucked in again, I looked up at Julian. “I tire of the menial tasks the Synod throws me.”
“You’ll find this one a bit more challenging.”
“Fine.” I knew he intended to keep needling me until I heard him out. “Go on, then.”
“This mission will require stealth and cunning, as well as the diplomacy you show with your native friend, here. I believe you the best man for this job.”
“No need to keep pitching it,” I said with a scowl. Matteo finished eating, and I claimed his bowl before he could start cleaning.
“Even so.” Julian laughed, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “A new order of so-called mystics grows in the shadows of London.”
“Magi?”
“Hardly,” Julian scoffed. “This Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn is nothing more than idealistic neophytes willing to believe they can obtain more power than they already possess. However, the founder and leader, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, may well be a blooded mage.”
“So, you think this man seeks to train unblooded humans?” I stood and made my way to my tent. “Without magic in their blood, they will only ever attain infinitesimal power. “
“Mathers possesses a sizable following, including many of the members of Parliament,” Julian said gravely as I stood.
Now that got my attention.
“Do you think Mathers has magical blood?”
“Almost certainly.” A shadow passed across his face. “Parliament has abandoned important legislation within the last month to focus on odd matters. The suddenness of this change cannot be a coincidence. The question isn’t whether they are being influenced by someone with magic, but to what degree.”
“Then I gather my mission is to find out if Mathers is the one ensorcelling Parliament, and stop him if he is,” I said quietly.
Julian nodded. “The winter solstice approaches, and we fear that whatever this rogue magician is planning, they will enact it then.”
“That’s only a couple of weeks away,” I mused to myself. I took a deep breath and let it out. This was no small investigation. The fate of all Britain relied on its success. Which begged a question. I looked at Julian and said, “Why me?”
“Because I believe the Synod underestimates your skills. And, despite your insufferable nature, I rather like you.”
He gave me his best smile, and I snorted a laugh.
I stood and started toward the tent Matteo and I shared to prepare to bed down for the night, only to find Julian blocking my path.
“Will you take the mission?”
I sighed. I wasn’t keen on taking another mission with this one only barely finished. Especially after the last few left me bloodied and bruised, not to mention hated by half the supernatural world. I also wanted to tell Julian to bugger off on principle alone. But what choice did I have? If the intelligence gathered by the Synod proved correct, then all of the British Empire was under threat.
Take the mission, Aleister, Vex said softly.
Why? Because it’ll increase my standing with the Knight Mages? They can burn in—
Baker is scared, Vex interjected. I blinked in surprise. You can see it in his eyes.
I looked at Julian then. Really looked. And I saw what Vex meant.
He hid it well under his foppish façade, but Julian’s eyes were sunken, and there was a fear there I’d never seen in the man before.
“What’s
