“Sit tight,” the man said. “Someone will be with you.”
“What I’ve brought is hot. I don’t want to let it cool.”
The man gave her a stone face. “Someone will be with you,” he repeated. Thenhe closed the door on her “quarters” and locked her in.
A selection of paperback books and vids occupied a small shelf on one of the walls. As usual, the selection was eclectic and consisted primarily of whatever people brought in.
Tension tightened Leah’s nerves, but she didn’t want to let it show. She knewshe was being observed through concealed video and audio systems. It was standard procedure for an agent who’dbeen out in the field.
Especially one that’s been off the grid, Leah thought sourly.
She stripped out of her armor and hung it in one of the metal lockers. A quick check, standard operating procedure on her part, revealed that no one else was currently checked into the room.
She took a quick shower because she hadn’t been out of the suit in hours,then tended to if, cleaning it inside and out. Antibacterial nanobot foam zipped through the armor in seconds and left it operating room clean.
Dressed in khaki shorts and a sleeveless olive T-shirt, Leah pushed her frustration aside and concentrated on filling her time. That was what she was supposed to do when she was confronted by a situation like this.
A quick check through the library netted a techno-thriller that had all the equipment and SOP errors marked in the margins, as well as a few choice comments about the author’s lack of military experience. She chose a fantasy novel thatshe’d read bits and pieces of before the Hellgate had opened and settled backonto one of the beds.
With her memory enhanced with X-Brain neural implants created by SofWire, she picked up on the exact page she’d last been reading. After a while, even thoughthe writing was sharp and clever and the hero’s perils were many and large, shepulled the book down onto her chest and slept.
“The Templar is in disarray, Simon.” Wertham sat across from Simon in the small room theyd claimed after Mathias’s condition had improved.
Simon ate the pork chops, potato soup, and fresh-baked bread listlessly. He was tired and wanted to sleep, but he knew if he didn’t sleep deeply enough all he’d have were nightmaresand he wouldn’t rest. Food would put him to sleep better, and he needed to buildhis strength. He’d lost weight lately.
“Grand Master Sumerisle died in the Battle of All Hallows’ Eve,” Wertham wenton.
“I know,” Simon said. “The Grand Master led the charge.” He’d met PatrickSumerisle on a few occasions and had always been impressed by the man. Thomas Cross had respected him like no other.
The Grand Master had lived out in the public eye. He’d been involved in theBritish military and had been a member of the Home Office Ministry.
“A finer man never walked this earth,” Wertham said. “But his brother Maximis another matter entirely.”
Simon knew that no one had cared much for the Grand Master’s younger brother.
Wertham broke a loaf of bread and pushed a chunk into his soup bowl. “You’veheard that Maxim tried to take over as Grand Master?”
“Yes.” Simon didn’t elaborate or venture an opinion either way. What theTemplar Underground did wasn’t his concern. He concentrated on saving lives.
“Nearly every other House voted against that,” Wertham said. “As well theyshould have. Maxim is a madman.”
Simon concentrated on his dinner. As soon as it was finished, so was the conversation. He fully intended to go to bed.
“But it didn’t stop him from becoming Seneschal and High Lord of HouseSumerisle.”
“It was his right,” Simon pointed out.
“Oh, and I agree.” Wertham’s face softened and some of the craggy wrinklessmoothed out. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to simply cast stones. I want you to take note of what theTemplar Underground is dealing with.”
“There is Jessica Sumerisle,” Simon said. His father had known all themembers of House Sumerisle. As a result, so had Simon. “I’ve heard she’sintelligent and shows a lot of promise.”
Wertham snorted. “She’s just a girl. Barely twelve years old, if that.”
“The demons went after the Sumerisle family the night the Hellgate opened.Jessica Sumerisle was one of the targets. From what I hear, she barely got away that night. A lot of people didn’t.”
“She’s years from being able to lead her House, much less the Order.”
“There’s another Sumerisle.” Simon barely remembered the girl.
“Avalon.” Wertham nodded. “She’s seventeen now.” He sighed. “Most of thosewith experience to lead the Templar during these times were wiped out in the battle four years ago.” He looked at Simon. “This is why we need someone tostand up for us. For all of us. Maybe then the Order can be reunited and grow strong again.”
Simon shook his head. “That’s not me.”
“It could be.”
“It can’t be.” Simon drew a deep breath and pushed his food away. He’d hadall he could stomach. “I turned my back on the Templar two years before any ofthis happened. I abandoned them. I didn’t believe in my father or the way I’dbeen taught all my life.”
Wertham was quiet for a moment. “We’ve all had our moments of disbelief, lad.All our lives we’d prepared for a war with the demons, andbefore All Hallows’Evenone of us had ever seen one in the flesh. Your mistake has been forgiven.They’ve seen what you’ve done.”
“Since I turned my back on them again? Since I let them know that I didn’tbelieve in the Templar way a second time?”
Wertham frowned. “It’s not like that. Four years, filled with death andsorrow and misery and fear, is a lifetime. People forgive and forget.”
“Not everyone has forgiven me,” Simon said as he stood. He reached down forhis helm. “J haven’t forgiven me. Four years isn’t even long enough.” He turnedand walked to the door. Then he paused. “Tell the others to give up trying
