5. Brats, Books, and Hunters #4
A voice from Master Radescu's satchel said, "Awwwww, why not? Chasing the stuff is so much fun, and you can laugh at the dumb magic, and the silly rules, and the guy who does the Polish play-throughs is a howl, vowel, meow," and Rich was off, chanting.
"Rich, hush," Master Radescu sighed, reaching into the satchel and pulling out a silver-bleached mongoose.
He crouched and set the weasel-like Familiar on the floor.
"Go pester Tay." Rich skittered on the floor tiles as he raced for the workroom.
Since Master Radescu still worked at the store on occasion, Arthur did not attempt to stop the Familiar. Instead he braced for an uproar.
The young Hunter made a tiny warding off sign at the mongoose, then turned his attention to the bookshelves.
Lips pursed, he studied several, then took two to the counter.
Arthur rang him up. Lukaz paid cash and got his buyer card stamped, then slipped out with a wary look at the low shape now doing figure-of-eights around the legs of one of the clothing racks.
Rich spread fatigue with his very presence.
Mr. Radescu brought a shirt and two CDs to the counter. As Arthur totaled his purchase, the big mage said without preamble, "Sir, there are growing concerns about the Asian video game."
"I understand that some ... misapprehension on the part of the game's designers concerning the results of summoning spells has been observed. One hundred four dollars and three cents, please, sir."
"Debit, please, and yes, sir. As well, deeper study of the graphics has revealed complete pattern spells as Easter Eggs. Complaints have been made to the company, but it is owned by, ah," he glanced to the main door. "A governmental entity that is not always responsive to customer complaints."
Which would that be? "It is ready for your card." Oskar had been saying something about—, ah! "And I have heard likewise as concerns that company. Thank you, sir, and I am warned. Did the play through say what kind of patterns?"
"One power gathering, one power dispersal, and two summonings. One is to summon gold, except it is for gold-colored things." The mage bared his teeth. "I have five dollars on a Golden Retriever appearing the first time the spell is tried."
Arthur chuckled a little at the thought, then sobered. "And the other summoning?"
"It appears to be abyssal, as drawn. One line is not clear on the stopped screen images. It could be either abyssal or a very open 'anything that hears, come near' sort of spell." The redhead looked weary.
He considered as he bagged the younger man's shirt and music. "Those drain a great deal of energy from the caster, do they not?"
"Oh yeah, much much, way too much for such," Rich chanted from the floor. His mage crouched, then lifted him onto the counter. The mongoose bobbed back and forth. "Open spell, open door, pulls lots of power, drain shields and caster both, really stupid without good cause and shield helper."
"In the game, summonings take no power from the caster, sir. They grant it." Mr. Radescu opened his satchel and tucked the bag inside. "Coming?"
Rich skittered across the counter and into the leather satchel.
Arthur nodded. "Thank you, sir, and thank you for the news. I will advise those who might be tempted to, let us say, try it at home." Which would be none of the Clan, to be sure. Even the hot heads did not cross the Elders and magic workers when such a warning was given.
The next evening, Mistress Lestrang and Master Radescu closed, since he and Mistress Corava had Clan business to attend to.
The weather remained chilly and dry, excellent for harvest. The large apple crop had gone to several buyers, including a restaurant in Devon County that bragged of using only local-grown, heritage breed meats, fruits, and vegetables.
River County's final farmers' market of the year would be this coming Saturday.
The little one and his niece Dumitra both voiced hearty thanks that the season of herb and produce sales drew to a close.
He slowed as a combine backed with great care across the road, then maneuvered forward into a temporary farm gate.
Yes, someone had been a touch optimistic about the clearance on the sides of the big machine.
He fancied he could see the wide eyes of the combine's driver as he wiggled the machine into the field.
Once at the home farm, he considered matters.
The chapel first. A small cluster of vehicles parked near the old oak tree.
Some Hunters trained this night, blunted and padded weapons only, and no challenges or tests.
He took the longest way around the house to the chapel, settling his thoughts and leaving the day's business outside the walls.
His left leg ached a touch as always, one of many reminders of misadventures and folly.
Once inside the dim, quiet space of the chapel, he bowed, then genuflected.
The Presence light in its blue glass holder flickered but did not weaken.
The faint scent of common-time incense lingered in the air.
Two weeks remained until the feast of the Defender.
He studied the figure at the right hand of the Lady of Night, bride and servant of the Great God, Mother of the Son.
Only the Defender stood inside and outside the gates of Heaven, first and greatest Hunter, commander of the armies of light.
Unlike some depictions of St. Michael, here he carried only his long blade.
The silver sword drew the eye. Black and silver wings, blackened silver armor, St. Michael Defender stood ready to do the bidding of the Great God and His Lady.
Had he truly heard the voice of the archangel? It mattered not.
"Give me strength to do Your bidding, oh Lord of Hosts, Great God of all creation, if it is Your will," he murmured, then genuflected once more, bowed, and departed.
He was not surprised to meet Florian and Leopold coming up the steps.
They moved aside for him, but did not speak.
As apporatsen Doamni, defenders of the Lady, they spent more time in prayer and meditation than did most. It would be good if all the defenders could come together, but it was not to be.
One had a different calling, one remained in exile.
Now was not the time to call the Lone Hunter back, that he knew.
The Elders met in the dining room of the main house.
For once, the concealed third door stood open.
The large table had been removed, and a smaller one brought in.
Only the most senior Elders sat. Ladislu, his lady, Nikolai, Mistress Urshla, and Mistress Corava, stood.
Skender, Mistress Cimbrissa, Raj, Master Itzaak, the priestess, and two others sat, as did Arthur.
Once all had arrived and taken their places, the priestess stood.
"May the Great God grant us wisdom and discernment.
may the Son of God bless this gathering, and the Spirit lead us to do the Great God's will.
Lady of Night, guide Your Hunters this night, and send Your Defender to aid and shield them if it is Your Lord's will. Amén."
"Amén," all murmured. She sat, and Skender rested one hand on one of the leather-bound accounting books.
"The harvest goes as hoped, Great God be praised," he began.
"Should it continue without surprises or problems, and if the market doesn't collapse between now and November, we will finish the year with sufficient in reserve.
Yes, this includes repairing or relocating the four wells," he told Mistress Urshla.
"Good." The young sorceress nodded. "No further contamination has been found, and the state has dealt with one of the polluters."
Boris the Gray leaned forward. "Is that the one who will be the guest of the Commonwealth for the next decade?"
"Anno." She bared the tips of her teeth. "Young Master Padurar says that the diverted waters have returned to their proper channels and are clean."
"Benes." Good.
The greedy fool had assumed that since he discharged commercial chemical waste into an irrigation well, none would know and there would be no penalty.
Alas for the neighbors' health and budgets, and for the dumper's freedom, the ground water flowed into a stream and brought the foulness with it, including brilliant orange coloring.
He also neglected to pay state taxes. The first brought attention to the last. Arthur had relished the news of the trial's conclusion.
That he had just finished writing the checks for his quarterly taxes had nothing to do with his satisfaction at the verdict, of course.
After more general business for the entire Clan, Skender nodded to Ladislu.
Arthur stood and moved to stand at the Hunters' leader's left had as advisor.
Ladislu gestured acknowledgement, then cleared his throat.
"Honored Sirs, Ma'ams, I request that the Elders' Council entire speak with the Hunters, those in training and those currently active, for the good of Clan order and discipline. "
Skender stood, or rather, loomed up from his seat. "Why do you request this, Master Padurowski?"
Ladislu swallowed, then said, "Sir, there have been several disciplinary breaches at times and places of the Defender's Peace, the last continuing even after the youngsters were cautioned by Hunters and by a Familiar."
From atop her cushion on the sideboard, Raj said, "Leopold put himself bodily between the brats, and they still tried to thump each other." She sounded exceedingly irked, and raised one large paw, claws out. "Truly, they permitted passions to override Defender's Peace."
"Who was it?" Mistress Urshla inquired.
"Villi and Andreas, ma'am. Andreas and Ianku the Dark started this round," Ladislu counted on his fingers. "Wilhelm and Otto, Ianku the Dark, Boris the Younger and Laszar, and Ivan."