“Poor fuckers,” Walt muttered.
“The woman in the front is Regina Kagy. Head of the guard.”
Eric walked up to the tall dark-haired woman and said, “Honey! I’m home.”
From the expression on Regina’s face, it was obvious she wasn’t amused, but was also professional enough to keep her opinions to herself. She nodded her head slightly. “Welcome home, Fleet Admiral.”
“Looks like the whole gang is here,” Eric said, his tone somewhere between annoyed and amused. “Admit it, Gina. You missed me.”
Regina, who had been doing a good job holding on to her anger, let the slightest smile slip. It lasted only a second before the frown was firmly back in place and she said, “We almost had you in Dubai.”
“I thought that might have been you. You or those asshole exotic animal smugglers.”
“We cleaned up that mess for you.”
“Good. Did you get to pet a baby tiger?”
“Cub petting is abuse.”
“Aww, now you’re making me feel guilty.”
“You should.” Regina arched a brow. “Your crusade is over, I presume?”
Eric grinned. “For now.” Then he sobered. “Josephine’s killer is dead.”
“We would have, could have, helped you,” Regina said.
“It was safer for all of you if you were nowhere near me.”
The Spartan Guard led them to two SUVs. Eric climbed into the back of the first car, with Regina, while he, Annalise, and Jakob were ushered into the back of the second.
Walt felt a little bit like British royalty or the president of the United States as the guards not driving and occupying the passenger seats climbed onto motorcycles and formed a motorcade to guide them to Cashtal Ny Tree Cassyn.
Annalise served as an interesting tour guide as they traversed the island. She pointed out countless tourist attractions, while filling in details about the actual headquarters of the Masters’ Admiralty. Keanu Newman, the Spartan Guard driving their vehicle, added his own tidbits as well.
Apparently Cashtal Ny Tree Cassyn was a fortified manor house and estate. The main building was where the fleet admiral lived in private quarters on the third floor. The second floor had six bedrooms and a receiving room, while the first floor of the manor had a foyer, library, offices, and kitchen, as well as assorted other small rooms. The majority of the square footage of the first floor was given over to the great hall, which was where any and all large meetings were held.
Walt didn’t tell them that he knew the Trinity Masters had a similar place, though theirs was hidden under the Boston Public Library.
Once they arrived, they stepped out of the cars and joined Eric at the front entrance—a heavy wooden door set in a pointy-arched alcove. Walt noted the armed men who appeared atop the walls.
“Come on in,” Eric said, entering the place and looking around. When he muttered, “Home sweet home,” Walt couldn’t help but notice Eric’s obvious disdain for the place.
“Gina, my guests and I are going up to my office to take care of some business. Can you see that the guest room—the good one—is ready for them? They’ll be staying here tonight.”
Gina nodded. “Of course, Fleet Admiral.”
Eric gestured toward the stairs and the four of them started to climb, bypassing the second floor entirely as they headed for the third.
Eric opened a door at the top of the stairs and led them into a large office. The room was inviting with comfortable furniture, Oriental rugs, a huge oak desk near a window, and framed photographs on the wall of color shots of nature. Walt was certain Eric had taken the pictures of waterfalls, mountains, and landscapes himself during his travels.
“My office,” Eric said, as if that was all the tour they were going to get.
“Nice,” Walt said.
“Your sister, Sylvia, was the first person I recruited to the Masters’ Admiralty, and hers was the first trinity I married. Traditionally, both ceremonies are done by the admiral of the member’s territory, but I’m the boss, so I can change the rules if I want to.”
Walt chuckled.
“I want to thank you, Walt, Annalise, Jakob.” Eric’s voice lost the usual sarcastic tone Walt had become accustomed to. “For helping me find Josephine’s killer.”
Eric gestured for Walt to join him. “First, you join the Masters’ Admiralty. Then the marriage ceremony.”
Walt stepped away from Jakob and Annalise.
“Before we do this, you have to know the rules. These are nonnegotiable.”
“All right,” Walt said, for the first time a little nervous.
There was no teasing in Eric’s voice or manner now. “You will obey your territory’s laws. You will obey all orders and directives from your admiral and the fleet admiral. Me. You will marry by the age of forty-five—okay, clearly that one is not an issue. Your marriage will be arranged to benefit and preserve our society. When you have kids, you can’t tell them the name of, or details about, the Masters’ Admiralty. You can tell them you’re in a secret club, but no details. Still with me?”
Walt nodded.
“Okay, last one. Your membership is provisional for the first year. If you fail us, you will be assigned a job and a place to live, both of which we control, and you will be watched for the rest of your life.”
“That’s ominous,” Walt murmured.
“I’d say not to worry, but if I get assassinated sometime in the next year it won’t be up to me.”
“Don’t die.”
“Not planning on it. You ready?”
Walt looked over at Annalise and Jakob. “I’m more than ready.”
“Walter Hayden, you are called before me to join the Masters’ Admiralty. Do you stand before me today of your own free will and accord?”
“I do.”
“Raise your right hand.”
Walt lifted his hand.
“Do you hereby pledge your life to the ideals and principles of the Masters’ Admiralty? Will you obey the rules and decrees, maintain the honor and integrity of our society, encourage creative, original thought, and strive to improve the world?”
Walt let those words soak in, the weight, the importance of what he was about to do sinking in for the first time.
He nodded. “I will.”
“Repeat after me.
