The pods are made of an indestructible steel called Mithium, a multi-coloured force field of energy suspending them in mid-air. A Spintz charm gets Noah and Lucy’s attention, the shower of light signalling our arrival. They place their penchant rings on the edge of the steel pod, lowering it towards us.
As the steel pod reaches us, I nod to the gathering of Night Rangers who often meet here before their shift begins. Being a Society soldier can be demanding so finding ways to let off steam is helpful: the laughter coming from the pods a sign that all is well.
“Quick,” Noah urges, “We’ve got a bet going. Taeia thinks The Ameedis are a fiercer creature than the Mantzils, but I keep telling him the Mantzils smash minds. He’s willing to bet a thousand Kyals. Tell me you’ve got a Zombul on you, Guppy?”
I nod, patting the pocket of my leather trousers.
“Brilliant!” Noah adds excitedly as Lucy rolls her eyes.
“Thank God you’ve arrived,” she says with a weary smile: her pixie looks and slight frame masking a fierce spirit. “Noah’s been driving me mad with his need to win.”
They’d make a nice couple but Noah’s only got eyes for Zoe Tallis who, I’m sure, will be mentioned soon when he tries to drag us to The Singing Quarter. There’s no plan to use the Zombul to test Taeia’s flawed theory; the Mantzils’ mind-splitting cry would unhinge most minds present, but the threat of it will probably be enough to shut him up.
“A thousand Kyals,” Noah repeats, his pot belly always seeming at odds with his skinny frame.
He started in the Society at the same time as Jacob, training with my brother before things started to explode. Luckily, Kaira’s aunt came to the rescue, getting them to help her in creative charms — the lucky break they needed, using the education to master charms.
Noah’s always the loudest person in the room, clapping his hands in excitement as we rise towards Taeia’s group of Night Rangers: an athletic lot who are fiercely competitive. Taeia likes the look of himself. He’s undeniably good looking and knows it although his arrogance is more than a little off putting.
He’s inherited the good looks and flawless, mixed-race skin of the Renn clan, but without the elegance or unique gifts of the Renns I know: Kaira, Casper and Philomeena. Kaira never mentioned Taeia but, then again, she barely knew her extended family when I first met her. Taeia’s nothing like Kaira: all brawn and brute force as if he’s trying to prove he’s worthy of the Renn name.
“The Fire Witch to the rescue,” Taeia comments as our steel pod returns to its position near the ceiling.
His surface confidence hides a deeper insecurity … the reason he’s got himself entangled in a bet for a thousand Kyals: Society money. Kyals come in handy when you want to trade artefacts in Tallis & Crake.
“The Terminator as predictable as ever,” I reply, returning the sarcasm, confident I’d have the better of him in battle. He’s brash and arrogant, brandishing his Night Ranger status like a badge of honour and making enemies in the process.
“So, you crossed Quibbs Causeway without a scratch, Grayling?”
He calls everyone by their last name, thinking it gives him some sort of edge. We’ll see how that works out for him. I do my best to ignore him, signalling hello to the more friendly Night Rangers occupying nearby pods.
“And you handled the Mantzils with ease…? Their screams didn’t unhinge you?”
“Mantzils, Ameedis, Viadek, Dexametris,” I say, continuing to look away, knowing how much it’ll annoy him. “All monsters have weaknesses at the end of the day.”
“As easy as that,” Taeia comments bitterly, leaving Conrad to put him in his place.
“If it was easy, we wouldn’t have the scars, but if you still think the Ameedis is a more dangerous creature, let’s find out with a Zombul. Noah and Lucy can unleash each creature and we’ll see who’s left standing.”
The fragile confidence falters at the idea of facing the monsters in the flesh … not that Conrad’s going to do anything of the sort, knowing that releasing underworld creatures outside of secure training facilities is strictly forbidden.
“No worries,” Taeia states, throwing a bag of Kyals towards Noah. “It was just a friendly bet to pass the time.”
A brief silence falls until Noah breaks into laughter, partly shocked by full payment of the bet, but also concerned at the look in Conrad’s eyes — as if he’s about to release a deadly creature anyway just to put Taeia in his place.
“Time for the night shift,” I state, tapping Conrad on the arm.
We’re a Society at peace, after all, letting grudges pass, having learnt how quickly they can turn into bitter feuds.
The division of Society duties follows the same pattern, an informal agreement for the gathered Night Rangers to cover the various realms beyond The Society Sphere. We’re returning to The Shallows to investigate Alice Aradel’s need for protection. A lack of conflict doesn’t mean a lack of drama, and I wonder what drama’s about to unfold in The Shallows.
“So, Alice Aradel appears out of nowhere, trying to get Joseph Flint in her clutches,” Noah says as our steel pod makes its descent.
“What excuse did Joseph give?” Lucy asks, adjusting the belt on her jeans.
“That the evening witch was buying the Zombuls for protection,” Conrad replies. “Weirdly, the excuse seemed genuine as unlikely as that sounds.”
“Was Alice her usual charming self?” Noah adds as each group of Night Rangers lines up by the door we entered Pat’s Caff through. I’m about to return to the barber’s chair I sat in earlier — the unique Perium offering access to The Shallows. Many realms don’t need this security but the Shallows remains a strange place, balancing oddity with a strange energy, and where there’s uncertainty, additional precautions are put in place.
Joseph Flint’s words
