“We?” TK asked with a slight smile. “You intend to confront a chronomancer?”
“If she intends to hurt Monty…yes.”
“She is a war mage, like Tristan, but deadlier,” TK answered. “He was holding back. Some part of him, despite the fact that he was in a schism, didn’t want to harm you.”
“If that was him holding back, I don’t want to see him cut loose,” I said, remembering the stone massage he subjected me to while slicing away at me. “He’s stronger now. Way stronger.”
TK nodded as LD approached.
“I stabilized him, but we can’t leave him here. Dex is busy maintaining the gate. I’m taking Tristan to Fordey until this is over. He can’t fight anyway; he’ll be a liability. Evers will shred him in seconds.”
“Wait,” I said, looking at TK. “I thought you were tracking Evers. How are you here before her?”
“The energy you released acted like a signal to those strong enough to perceive it,” TK answered. “If we sensed it, rest assured that Evers and Talin have sensed it as well.”
“Like a bat-signal?” I asked. “I have my own Strong-signal?”
“Well it’s good to see you haven’t suffered any further brain damage,” TK said. “It took considerable energy and weaving to get here. Dex is…creative in his gates, but I’ve dealt with them in the past. Evers has not. That inexperience will slow her down, but it won’t stop her.”
“Probably alerted some other heavy hitters, too,” LD said, looking at me. “Your life just became more interesting. Erik is having some words with Farsight.”
“Jessikah needs training and exposure, or she won’t last long on the streets, in her condition.”
“Condition?”
“Extreme narrow-mindedness, with a sprinkle of mage elitist attitude.”
“That describes most mages,” LD said with a nod. “I think the Hellfire will be good for her. She needs to strap in and wake up. Safer for her, too.”
“Monty thought Dex was setting him up,” I said. “He thought Dex wanted him dead.”
LD glanced at TK and shook his head.
“Good thing Dex wasn’t here to hear that insanity,” LD answered. “Tristan was in a schism. He wasn’t thinking properly. The push and pull is hell on the mind. Many mages don’t recover.”
“Don’t recover?”
“They slip into darkness,” TK said, “or their mind remains in the state of schism. They grow stronger, but the power is unregulated. It burns bright, then burns out.”
“Like a star?”
“Like a collapsed star which then produces a supernova,” TK answered. “It never ends well.”
“Will Monty make it?” I asked, concerned. “Is his mind okay?”
“He will,” LD said, certain. “Many mages don’t recover from a schism at his level, but none of those mages were stabbed by your blade, either. You probably saved his life, if not his mind—not that he will ever admit it.”
I nodded.
“He is a Montague, after all,” I said. “I think he’d drink a mug of Death Wish coffee and eat a pastrami sandwich before admitting I saved him.”
LD clapped me on the shoulder and chuckled.
“Got that right,” he said. “On my way back to Fordey, I’ll let Dex know you’re still among the living.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, confused. “You’re leaving? Evers and Talin are on their way here to erase us.”
“I know,” LD said. “That’s why TK is staying. There is a plan…trust us.”
“Are you sure we can’t get more of the Ten? No offense, TK, but Evers unleashed some nasty time orb at me, and Talin managed to survive clashing with Grey in his scary sword-goddess form.”
“I’m aware,” TK said. “Grey was fatigued from a mission with your vampire, and Evers…well, leave Evers to me.”
“You’re in good, if terrifying, hands, hombre. I trust TK with my life and have on many occasions.”
“Because to choose otherwise would be fatal,” TK said, with a small, fearsome smile. “You need to get going, before Evers and company arrive.”
“You’re right, as usual,” LD said. “Talin was the first, but Evers has been busy. He won’t be the last she recruits to her cause.”
“There’s more of them out there?” I asked. “How many?”
“You’ll be fine, hombre,” LD said, reassuring me. “And if not…well, you’ll be dead and it won’t matter, right?”
“What kind of mage motivational school do all of you go to?” I asked, surprised. “Cheerful nihilism? Every mage pep talk I’ve gotten sucks.”
“Mages don’t do cheerful, we do realism,” LD answered, as he headed over to where Monty lay. “We see things as they are, not as we want them to be.”
He gestured, gave TK a look and a smile, and vanished in a gray teleportation circle with Monty. TK turned to me and nodded.
“Let’s get you ready.”
THIRTY-ONE
“I’m not a mage.”
“And you never will be. Stop stating the obvious,” TK answered, narrowing her eyes at me. “What you are, besides mildly irritating, is a dangerous unknown with potential.”
“Can you fight Evers?”
“Of course,” TK said, and I felt relieved. “Fighting her is not the issue. Beating her is.”
My relief evaporated.
“Can you beat her?”
“Given time and preparation,” TK said, looking around the Sanctuary. “Yes. Unfortunately, we have neither. This will be…a challenge.”
At this point, the little voice in my head, which had been so brave up to this moment, jumped off the balcony of my mind and wished me well.
“What do I need to do?”
“Listen while remaining silent. Are you capable of this?”
“Yes, if it means walking away from this in one piece.”
“Good,” TK said. “I’ve had my doubts about your coping mechanism. Sarcasm is a skill best used sparingly.”
“Someone has to point out the absurdity of my life.”
“Emphasis on, sparingly.”
“I was shoved into this entire world of mages, runes, magic, and monsters against my will.”
“And?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you looking for pity? Do you suppose your situation is unique, that you are somehow special?”
“No.”
“Do you need a moment to weep about your ill-fate at discovering this world by force? Are you harboring regrets?”
“No,” I said, after some thought. “I don’t regret it at all. My life may be unreal and insane, but I don’t regret a second of it.”
“Then start acting
