“Yes, a major hub, NP-1, is down there,” she answered. “If we’re going to be dancing with this golem thing…where will you be?”
“I’ll be looking for whoever is holding its leash,” Monty said. “He’ll be within three hundred yards and needs line of sight.”
“Three hundred yards is plenty of ground to cover.”
“Indeed. I’m going to ask you to reposition the golem behind some of the buildings if you can,” Monty said. “That should force its handler out into the open. Whatever you do, do not allow the golem to destroy the hub.”
“Not while I’m breathing,” she said, and I believed her. “The rest of it? Can’t promise anything, but I see the plan. Good luck.”
She ended the call.
“Two words,” I said, weaving through traffic, nearly clipping a taxi cab. “Property damage. We bring this thing near buildings, and the entire Dark Council—not just a battalion—will be after us.”
“It can’t be helped. If Toson forms an army—an unstoppable army, mind you, there won’t be any property left to damage. The Dark Council can piss off if they have a problem with it.”
“Piss off?” I asked. “That’s going to be our response if they come at us, guns and orbs blazing—piss off?”
“Yes,” Monty answered, his voice low and laced with menace. “We do not answer to the Dark Council. We have saved this city countless times and will continue to do so without their permission. If they want a war…they will find out why Montague battlemages were the most feared mages on the battlefield.”
“I’d rather avoid a Dark Council-Darth Montague war if we can,” I said, wary of the threat in Monty’s voice. “If we could focus on preventing the city from being crushed by a large rock monster—that would be great.”
“Haven’t you been paying attention?” Monty asked, exasperated. “At the very least, Ursula sees the plan.”
“She sees the plan?” I asked. “I’m glad someone sees the plan, because I sure as hell don’t. What is the plan, Monty? Ursula and I are bait?”
“It’s quite simple,” Monty said, keeping his voice calm, which only creeped me out more. “You, your creature, along with Ursula and your two new friends, will engage the golem.”
“That’s not a plan—that’s the fastest way to get crushed tonight,” I snapped. “What about Bungie and Smash? Won’t they be siphoned?”
“Bangers’ energy signature is negligible to the point of being non-existent,” Monty said, dismissing my words with a wave. “He’s in greater danger of getting siphoned by vacuuming his carpet. His associate is nearly a normal—only in danger of extreme weight loss by ultimate squashing. Make sure you remind him to move around a bit, though.”
“Way to go, Mr. Sympathy. They could die, you know. They don’t belong out here.”
“Precisely.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean, ‘precisely’? You want them to get squished?”
“Of course not,” Monty replied. “But they won’t listen to you or me or anyone. I sincerely doubt Ramirez’s interview will dissuade them, either.”
“So we feed them to the golem?”
“The only way is for them to experience this world firsthand. If they won’t listen to reason, they must face the truth.”
“They could die.”
“Only one of us is immortal here, Simon,” Monty said with a sigh. “Any one of us could die facing this creature—even you. They want to be paranormal investigators? Then they have to realize that this isn’t a game. Every time we face a threat, the stakes are high—the highest. If they can’t or won’t accept that, they have no business out here.”
He was right. Even being cursed alive was no guarantee I could return from being reduced to particulate matter, not that I was looking to test that theory. What bothered me was that Monty was willing to put them in harm’s way, knowing they were ill-equipped to deal with the threat. His reasoning was sound, but his method was questionable. Something was off; I just didn’t know what. Maybe we really needed a vacay.
“I’ll keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t get squished by Rocky,” I said. “How are you going to find Toson? Three hundred yards is too much area to cover for one person.”
“Depends on where the golem is,” Monty said, and pointed. “Pull up there. I’ll approach the rest of the way on foot.”
I stopped the Dark Goat some distance from the NYTF cordon. Flames and fire illuminated the night sky. The light played off Monty’s face as he looked somberly at the devastation. He pulled on the sleeves of his Zegna mageiform suit. I could tell this one was runed to take damage, which meant it was unlikely to survive the encounter with Toson.
“Why don’t you just wear combat armor?” I asked. “It would be safer. Maybe not as stylish, but definitely safer.”
“It’s not just a matter of style, though there is that consideration,” Monty answered. “I’m a mage. Combat armor would prevent my mobility. If I can’t move freely, I can’t fight efficiently. That would result in a rapid visit to Haven, or worse.”
“This is going to suck,” I said, shaking my head and looking off in the distance at the destruction caused by the golem. “You sure you want to do this part alone?”
“I can’t go near the golem yet,” Monty said with a nod. “The siphon would only feed it. My best course of action is to confront Toson. If you find yourself in over your head—get them away.”
“Where exactly would you like me to take them?”
“Underground, the subway or a tunnel. Anywhere off the surface. It shouldn’t be able to follow you.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said. “What if Toson is too strong? Professor Ziller said he’s close to an Archmage.”
“I don’t intend on facing him, just getting close enough to use Cecelia’s shortcut.”
“That sort of sounds like facing him. How close do you need to get?”
“Closer than I want to,” Monty said. “Her shortcut requires some proximity. I can boost it, but it will
