“Not a mage, I’m guessing.”
“Precisely. The child in this building, who caused this ice dwarfs his ability by orders of magnitude.”
“Well, if the other one is an ex-Navy Seal, I’m Delta Force, CIA, and MI6 all at once,” I said. “I do like the name, though. For some reason Bangers and Mash makes me hungry. Kind of rolls off the tongue.”
Monty just stared at me for a few long seconds before shaking his head.
“Bangers was never at the Golden Circle, and like you, I doubt his associate is an ex-Navy anything.”
“The real question is: how does he know about the Golden Circle?”
“And how did they sense the energy signature of The Moscow?”
“Bangers could be sensitive. That doesn’t make him a mage. It does make him dangerous.”
“He has a unique method of breaching the building, something called the Bangersmash. It involves lots of explosives. At least he has the mage mentality.”
“Hilarious,” Monty said. “I think Bangers and Mash need to be introduced to the concept of early retirement before they hurt themselves.”
“More like before Olga hurts them.”
“That, too. Here they come.”
I turned to see the pair approaching with a large military ordnance case carried between them.
“If they open that case, this won’t end well,” I said. “Before you blast them to bits…let’s try diplomacy.”
FIVE
Monty stepped forward and intercepted Bangers and Mash before they could get close to the building.
“It would be an excellent learning opportunity if you allowed us, who are clearly not on your level of power or experience, to deal with this situation,” Monty said in his calmest voice ever, which was somehow scarier than his usual voice of menace. “You would do us a great honor.”
“Please step aside,” Bangers said, as he and Mash put down the large case. “We don’t want any of you getting hurt. Mash, retrieve the C4 and begin placing charges around the entrance.”
“Since we’ve both studied at the Golden Circle, I’m sure you’re familiar with the Rule of Hierarchy,” Monty said. “It’s quite the tradition.”
“You studied at the Golden Circle?” Bangers asked, his voice cracking slightly.“You’re a mage?”
“Evidently not on your level of power, since I don’t recall ever seeing or hearing of you during my studies there. They must have kept you separated away with the gifted mages.”
“They must have,” Bangers barely managed to squeak.
“In any case,” Monty said, waving the words away. “That is where I learned the Rule of Hierarchy, which I’m sure you’re familiar with, yes?”
“The Rule of Hierarchy?” Bangers asked. “Oh, of course. There were many rules at the Circle.”
“I’m sure you recall this one,” Monty continued. “The one that states that a higher-level mage must allow a lower-level mage to commence the operations on any serious mission to minimize the danger to the senior?”
“That Rule of Hierarchy—yes…yes, I recall it very well,” Bangers said nervously. “I don’t see how that applies here, though. Clearly, I’m the only mage in the—”
Monty gestured, forming a blinding white orb of energy in his hand. Bangers and Mash both looked on in awe, before stepping back several feet, away from Monty.
“It’s clear, seeing as how you’re the senior in this case, according to the rule, that you are obligated to allow me to attempt to get this situation under control first.”
“Now...now, that I recall the rule better,” Bangers said, his voice tight, and his eyes fixed on the orb. “I think you’re right. You and your associate should try to get this situation handled. Mash and I will be near our vehicle, for when inevitably, you need our assistance.”
“Inevitably,” Monty answered, absorbing the orb. “Thank you so much for this opportunity, and I agree—I think you would be safest if you would remain close to your vehicle for the duration of this process.”
Bangers and Mash picked up the case and moved as quickly as possible to the VW Pumpkin.
“Who is that?” I heard Mash ask. “How did he do that?”
“He’s a mage from the Golden Circle,” Bangers answered hurriedly. “Let’s get back to the bus.”
“Wait, the Golden Circle?” Mash said, glancing our way. “He’s a real mage? You said we wouldn’t run into any real mages.”
“I was wrong. Now shut it until we get to the bus.”
“That was generous of you,” I said, watching Bangers and Mash head back to their Pumpkin. “Rule of Hierarchy? Not bad. I’m guessing there’s no such rule?”
“Of course not,” Monty said. “I know the type. This gave him a way to save face and clear the area.”
Olga stepped to where we stood.
“You go now,” she said. “Before building breaks.”
It wasn’t a request.
“If those two return while we are inside, stop them,” Monty said, “but don’t kill them.”
Olga nodded and crossed her arms.
<We’re ready, boy.>
<The angry man has to hold on.>
“Peaches says you have to hold on.”
Monty knelt and wrapped an arm around Peaches’ neck.
“I’m ready,” Monty said, looking down at Peaches. “Inform your creature to keep his salivation to a minimum.”
<Don’t drool on Monty. He doesn’t like saliva on his clothes.>
<Can he make some meat when we get inside?>
<I’ll ask him once we get inside. If you don’t drool on him, he’ll probably do it.>
Peaches gave a low rumble as the runes along his flanks shone with violet light. With a low bark, the building disappeared.
SIX
I don’t know how long we spent in-between.
Planewalking was slightly different from teleportation. Whenever Monty cast a teleportation circle, the effect was instantaneous. I stepped into the circle and arrived wherever we needed to moments later.
It took my body several minutes to understand the process, which caused me excruciating agony. Planewalking with Peaches was closer to sitting in the longest, most insane roller coaster in the world without a harness, seatbelt, or any other method of staying attached to said rollercoaster, to say nothing of the agony that came after it was over.
We arrived in the hallway outside our space. Everything was covered in the
