“Long story,” I said. “Once the station is clear, get your people back and keep them back. You got EMTe on site?”
“Four blocks up on 47th,” Ramirez answered. “They told me that was a good safe distance from the energy in this area.”
“They would know,” I said. “Once we go downstairs, this area will be locked down until we’re done. No one comes in, no one goes out.”
“You plan on making this mission a one-way trip?” Ramirez asked, looking at Monty and then at me. “I’ve never questioned your motives, just your methods. Every time, but not your dedication to keeping my city…our city, safe. Don’t get dead in here. The city needs idiots like you.”
He stomped off and barked orders to his people.
“Why was he staring at me when he said that last line?”
“It only means he knows you really well,” Monty said, looking at his watch. “No time like the present.”
“You know, Professor Ziller would argue that the present isn’t really a classification of time, but rather a descriptor of a current flow state—“
“Shut it,” Monty said and cracked a smile. “Ready?”
“No, but that’s never stopped us before. Let’s go.”
We entered the station and Monty gestured. A dome of violet and blue-white energy surrounded the immediate area around the station. Monty must have seen my look of concern as I observed.
“It’s called the Bulwark of Dawn,” Monty said, looking at the retreating NYTF personnel vehicles. “They’ll be able to leave, but once outside, they wont be able to come back in. They have ten minutes, and then everyone inside the sphere is ported out—forcibly. After that, it’s keyed to Toson, Orahjene, and us.”
“Ten minutes should be plenty of time for them to get clear. Let’s go,” I said. “We have a city to keep intact.”
We headed downstairs and Monty gestured again, shunting us sideways. This Oracle room was easily five times the size of the one we visited downtown.
The confluence in the center was about twice the size of the hub at Bowling Green. This orb of energy looked like the hub of a wheel with spokes shooting off in every possible direction. The energy coming off the center orb was palpable.
“It’s connected across planes, with all those extensions.”
“Is that going to be a problem?”
“Only if I get it wrong,” Monty said. “Then I’ll have the opportunity to destroy not only this city, but multiple cities across multiple planes.”
“That’s not reassuring in the least,” I said. “Don’t get it wrong.”
Monty stepped close to the confluence of energy and began gesturing. At first, nothing happened, and then I saw his symbols adhere to the orb. They attached to the extensions and began rerouting the energy in different directions, creating a loop.
Beads of sweat formed on Monty’s brow. He kept gesturing until all of the extensions formed an energetic Gordian knot, looping over and through one another. After a few more gestures, Monty stepped back and nodded.
“Not bad, if I do say so myself,” he said, wiping an arm across his forehead.
“Did it work?” I asked. “That looks incredibly complicated. How are you going to unravel it?”
“We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it,” Monty said in his best Uncle Dex voice. “Let’s go welcome our guests.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to enlist your creature to run interference with the golem again,” Monty said when we reached street level. “Do you think he’s up to it?”
<For extra meat, I’m up for everything.>
<Are you sure? I don’t want you getting hurt.>
<I’m a hellhound. I don’t get hurt, but I do starve if not fed.>
“You know the cost,” I said, looking at Monty. “Extra meat.”
Monty gestured and formed a sausage about the size of my leg.
“He can have that when he hits battle-mode size,” Monty said. “There’s five more like that one—if you stop the golem.”
Peaches bowed his head and growled, a deep rumbling sound that vibrated along the ground and in the pit of my stomach. He inhaled and let out what I could only call a sonic boom of a bark. All of the ground floor windows in the surrounding buildings exploded, and several of the signs hanging directly over the station shattered, raining pieces of electrical equipment everywhere.
The runes along Peaches’ flanks exploded with red light as the air around him became charged with energy. He spread his forelegs, sinking several inches into the concrete. He shook his body and barked again as his eyes gleamed red. My ears were still ringing as he grew, reaching battle-mode size. He was taller than the station as he sniffed the air.
<PREPARE, BONDMATE. A MAGE OF CONSIDERABLE POWER ARRIVES. HE BRINGS THE GOLEM.>
“Toson is on his way,” I said, still in awe at Peaches’ transformation. “Can we face him?”
“Together, yes,” Monty said with a nod. “The Bulwark will inhibit much of the Earth’s Breath’s effects. The golem should be manageable for your creature now.”
I looked over and saw Peaches inhaling the immense sausage Monty had created for him.
<Really? Is that all you think about?>
<THIS FORM REQUIRES SUSTENANCE, BONDMATE. I WILL BE ENGAGED IN BATTLE AND MUST MAINTAIN ENERGY LEVELS. THIS PROTEIN WILL FACILITATE MY ACTIVITY.>
<Actually, that makes perfect sense. Don’t get hurt—just stop the golem.>
<THAT IS THE INTENTION. WILL YOU NEED PROTECTION?>
<I think we can handle this. If I do, I’ll let you know.>
A large stone slab, easily the size of the midtown bus, sailed our way. It tumbled slowly in space as it headed lazily in our direction to crush us. Peaches turned his head and unleashed his baleful glare. Twin beams of red energy intercepted the slab and blasted it to a cloud of dust.
<Thanks. That looked like it would hurt.>
<BE CAREFUL, BONDMATE. I WILL ENGAGE THE GOLEM. BE AWARE THAT ANOTHER MAGE APPROACHES. THIS ONE GREATER IN POWER.>
“Jen is incoming,” I said under my breath. “Maybe we should let them settle their differences?”
“Only if we want to call this area the crater formerly known as Times Square,” Monty said, forming violet
