“Yes,” Magnus said. “Tradition dictates I respond. This affront cannot stand, but I do have options.”
“Is one of those options that we put the incident behind us, seeing as how she tried to kill me and those close to me?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Magnus said, holding up his glass and looking at the liquid it contained. “You are not a dragon; therefore, this must be dealt with in the old ways.”
“The old ways?” I asked, not liking where this was going. “Are we going to have to meet at dawn with pistols drawn?”
“It’s simple, really,” Magnus said, ignoring my duel at dawn comment. “Either I kill you; I kill one of your family, blood or chosen; or, you kill me.”
“None of those options work for me, thanks. Monty?”
“There is another option,” Monty said, “if you are following the traditional ways. The Rite of Fire.”
“The Rite of Fire?” I asked. “Why does that sound painful?”
“I thought you were his friend?” Magnus asked. “The Rite of Fire would end him. He is not dragon.”
“Correct, I am not dragon,” I said, staring at Monty before turning to Magnus. “Do you have a Rite of Smoldering, something a few levels below fire? You know, hot enough to be uncomfortable, but not lethal?”
Magnus stared at me.
“Are you always this irritating?”
“Only when I’m awake or facing individuals with delusions of grandeur.”
“I have given you the recourses available to me Which do you choose?”
“This Rite of Fire…what is it, exactly?” I asked, remembering Slif’s attempts to barbecue me. “Trial by combat, facing off against dragons, or dealing with actual fire?”
“Yes,” Magnus said. “All that and more. It will kill you. Choose.”
“Do I have to face off against you?”
“Against me?” Magnus asked, looking over the rim of his glass. “Are you insane? What an absurd notion. Are you suggesting I engage you in actual combat? Have you grown tired of living?”
“Then who?”
“You will face Rell, my lead enforcer,” Magnus said. “He has much to atone for. This will give him the opportunity to work off some of his debt.”
“Really glad I could help Rell out,” I said. “When?”
“You have one week to get your affairs in order. Notify your next of kin, and whatever it is you humans do to prepare for death,” Magnus said. “One week from today, you will face Rell in my home at the Balfour Estate, and we will settle this matter once and for all.”
“And if I refuse?” I asked, because I was suicidal that way. “What if I say no?”
“Then I will start immediately eliminating everyone your life has touched, starting with Mage Montague and your hellhound here.”
The rage inside me flared, but I managed to keep it in check. Magnus was not some second-rate enemy. The power he gave off, even inside a neutral zone, told me everything I needed to know. He could back up his words with lethal action.
“You will not touch him or anyone else,” I said after taking a deep breath. “You will leave them alone.”
“They will be safe,” Magnus said, “if you honor your word and accept the Rite of Fire. Yes?”
“I will,” I said, feeling a lump of dread in the pit of my stomach. “One week.”
“Excellent,” Magnus said, dismissing us with a wave of his hand. “This has been quite productive. I expect you here one week from today. Gant, show them out.”
Gant gave Magnus a slight bow and led us to the door.
EIGHTEEN
Gant walked us down to the ground floor.
“It was the smart play,” Gant said. “Actually, it was the only play, but it was the smart one. You bought yourself a week. I’d enjoy it if I were you.”
“How dangerous is Rell?” I asked as we stepped outside the restaurant. “Do I have a chance against him?”
Gant shook his head.
“It was great meeting you,” he said. “I don’t know much about this Rite of Fire—it was before my time, and I’m not a dragon. The last time I heard of one, Rell was standing for the Balfour Enclave against several dragons. None of the challengers survived—and they were dragons. Which you are not.”
“Right,” I said. “That fills me with confidence. Basically, this is a rite of suicide.”
“For you? Yes,” Gant said. “But this way, the Balfour Enclave will leave everyone in your life alone, and prevent them from being attacked by any dragons. They will be honor bound to do so.”
“That’s comforting. Too bad I need to be dead to enjoy that level of dragon security,” I said. “I need to find a loophole, really.”
“Aren’t any that I know of,” Gant said, “but, like I said, the Rite of Fire is not my thing. Maybe your mage knows?”
“I have a few ideas,” Monty said, nodding to Gant. “Thank you for your assistance.”
“My pleasure,” Gant said. “See you in a week. Try not to do anything stupid, like leave town. Balfour does his homework, and he knows all there is to know about you at this point.”
“I get it,” I said, walking away. “Don’t try to escape or he burns everything to ash.”
“Something like that,” Gant said, heading back in to the restaurant. “Enjoy the week.”
“One more thing,” I said. “Who did he send?”
“Magnus plans for every contingency,” Gant said, lowering his voice. “He sent a group to deal with the Auer. There’s nothing you can do for her now.”
“We’ll see about that,” I said. “Do you know when?”
“I don’t, but I know it won’t be before the annual enclave meet,” Gant said. “Magnus never conducts business this close to the annual event. It will be after, probably a day or two. She’s gone; she just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Knowing her,” I said as we stepped away, “I’m sure she does.”
We headed to the Dark Goat. I placed my hand on the roof and it unlocked with its usual hammer-on-anvil clang, followed by the orange wave of energy across its surface.
I held the door open as the Master of Sprawlesence jumped into the car, executing a superior hellhound stretch, taking up the entire
