“Spell?”
“Arcane energy,” Simon said.
Leah smiled uncertainly at him. “Magic and demons. Surely you don’t believe in magic?”
“Arcane energy is real. I can let you talk to Templar who are strong in arcane energy. I know some spells, but that’s not where my strength lies.”
“What kind of spells?” Suspicion knitted Leah’s brows. “Good or evil?”
“You can’t classify arcane energy as good or evil. It’s not that simple.” Simon thought back to the classes he’d received. It was harder than he’d imagined to talk to someone who didn’t know and didn’t believe in those things. Even when that person was surrounded by it. “Arcane energy, the way I understand it, is a force. Elemental, like the wind or the tide or gravity. The way it’s used determines whether people call it good or evil.”
“That sounds too easy.”
“Define good and evil.”
Leah looked at him. “That’s simple.”
“Is it? Tell me, are a soldier’s actions killing enemy soldiers good or evil?”
Leah hesitated. “It depends on whether the soldier is fighting for you or against you.”
“Is science good or evil? The research that eradicates a plague is also the same research that enables scientists to modify and change that plague.”
“Eradicating a plague is a good thing.”
“Is it? When you’re destroying plague that can reduce a locust infestation that’s defoliating a forest?”
Leah didn’t say anything.
“And is it evil to manufacture a plague?” Simon asked.
After a brief hesitation while she thought about the ramifications of her answer, Leah said, “Yes.”
“Even if it’s a plague you intend to use to eliminate an enemy army?”
She sighed. “I guess it depends on the circumstances.”
“It does. Electricity can light a house and keep it warm in the winter, or it can be used to kill a man on death row in the United States.” Simon looked back at the display case. “Anyway, the case is protected by a spell.”
“Where did they get the Ravager?”
“I don’t know. We’d have to talk to Miller. He’s the caretaker of this place.” Simon turned and walked away. “Come on.”
The museum/teaching center was one of the largest rooms in the Underground. Every House had one. Every House even had demons on display behind glass. Altogether, there were fourteen demons, but only six different kinds.
None of those were real, as most of the Ravager was. Instead, their appearances had been gleaned from visions, nightmares, myths, and brief glimpses psychic voyagers had been able to initiate into the demon world. The other demons the Templar had constructed had been built to allow martial arts training and to learn as much as they could about them.
Books lined the shelves, but there were a number of computers on the tables as well. All of them were—or had been—hooked into a strong Internet connection.
“Who uses this place?” Leah asked.
“Everyone. The children are brought here for instruction.” Simon remembered all the long hours he’d spent inside the museum. The Templar had taught him everything they’d known about the demons. He’d been bored after a while because the information had become repetitive early on.
He’d gotten in trouble again and again for not paying attention to his lessons. There had been plenty of others who had gotten into trouble as well, but he could still remember the pained disappointment he’d seen in his father’s face.
Hurt slammed into Simon for a moment when he realized he’d never have the opportunity to apologize to his father.
Now it seemed that everything he’d learned was far too little.
“Why aren’t the children schooled in London?” Leah asked.
“Because the curriculum taught here is a lot different. And because the Templar don’t like their names on government documents. The Order was abolished in 1307 by Philip the Fair, partly because the Templar at that time insisted that the Ravager corpse they’d found be studied and the story spread. Philip claimed all the Templar gold and scattered them to the winds with death threats, claiming that they’d created the Ravager to blackmail the crown. Since that time, the Templar have kept to themselves, living off the grid.”
His voice echoed in the silence of the museum. This was the quietest he’d ever heard the place. When he was young, it had always been filled with noise. In fact, most of the Templar Underground had been noisy.
Sadness touched him, and he knew that was only the beginning of it.
As they walked back to the barracks, they passed two female Templar in full armor that were headed to the museum. They had five small children with them. Simon knew the Templar were taking the kids to the museum to train them.
“Hello, Simon,” one of the female Templar said.
Simon stood and looked at her, not recognizing the armor.
The Templar halted her charges for a moment, then her faceplate flared open. She was beautiful, with a heartshaped face and deep brown eyes. A few strands of cinnamon-colored hair showed and matched her eyebrows.
“Anne,” Simon said, recognizing her. Despite his dark mood and the fatigue he felt, he couldn’t help being happy to see her. When he’d left, Anne had still been working on her final armor.
The young woman stepped toward him and embraced him. The metal of their breastplates clanged slightly when they met.
“You’re looking good,” Simon said as they separated and stepped back.
“Thanks.” Anne smiled, more confident than Simon had remembered. When she’d been younger, she’d never appeared outgoing. She’d always been the quiet one of her family. “So are you.” She turned to her friend. “Keiko, this is Simon Cross. Simon, Keiko Nagamuchi.”
The other Templar’s faceplate flared open as well. Her features were Asian, which explained her slight and almost frail build even with the armor. Her almond eyes held a hint of distrust and displeasure.
Keiko nodded. “I’ve heard of you.”
Her voice was flat and uninflected. Her dislike was evident.
Simon tried not to let the female
