Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

as fast as he was moving. She caught
     a glimpse of Benessarai fleeing through the open door of the warehouse, heard the
     two elves call out something, but she was fighting, kicking, squirming, trying her
     damnedest to stay out of the warehouse.
    She failed.
    Friar dragged her across the threshold. Just as her skin tingled from the magic of
     the wards she heard the raucous
boom
of a shotgun.
    Friar slammed the door shut.

FORTY-THREE

    L ILY’S side hurt. Her cheek throbbed. Her hip burned from being dragged across concrete.
     But Friar had let go for the moment. Cautiously she sat up.
    “We need to leave,” Friar said. “Now.”
    “But my people—” Benessarai waved at the door. Someone screamed.
    “Are you going out there to rescue them? No? Then we must depart.” When Benessarai
     stood staring at the closed door, Friar snapped, “It saw you. Saw all of us. It looks
     like a tiger, but I don’t know what it is. It wasn’t fooled by your illusions. How
     long will your wards keep it out?”
    Benessarai drew himself up, offended. “The wards are strong.”
    “Good. That means you have time to— No, you don’t.”
    Lily had quietly scooted away and started to gather her feet under her. Friar grabbed
     her arm again and pulled her up. It hurt. He shook her. “What do you know about that
     tiger?”
    “Do you think,” Benessarai said nervously, “that those lupi are behind this?”
    There was another scream outside. It ended abruptly.
    It was silent inside, too. Lily’s heart was hammering, but she took advantage of the
     quiet to look around.
    From the outside, the warehouse hadn’t looked very large. Inside it seemed oddly bigger,
     maybe because of the way the lights were hung on the rafters, pointing down. That
     left the high ceiling in shadows, making it seem even more distant. Lily gave those
     shadowy heights one quick glance. A misty white cloud hung motionless up there.
    She couldn’t see very far into the warehouse because of the way the shipping crates
     were stacked; the nearest row blocked her view. The immediate area was set up like
     an office, with short partitions on two sides. There was a counter flanking the door,
     an ancient vinyl sofa, some filing cabinets, a water cooler, and two desks.
    There were also two bodies.
    Alycithin and Dinalaran had been laid on the floor in the open space before the rows
     of crates started. A large, perfect circle glowed around them…glowed from the floor
     up, as if the cement had decided to luminesce. Their dead hands had been folded around
     the two knives that rested on their chests. Mage lights hovered at the head and foot
     of each corpse.
    No sign of Adam King. If he was here, he wasn’t making any sound.
    Friar broke the silence. “I believe,” he said, “you forgot this.” He held out the
     bowling-ball bag. Lily had forgotten all about it. Friar had remembered even while
     being charged by a Siberian tiger. The prototype must be in there.
    Benessarai accepted it and replied with icy precision. “I appreciate your care for
     my property.”
    Friar let his shoulders droop. “I”—he ran a hand over his hair—“I’m sorry for how
     I spoke to you. I was…the beast shook me badly. I admit it.”
    Benessarai thawed, but only slightly. “Courtesy means little if you possess it only
     when all is well.”
    “You are right,” Friar sighed, a man who saw his limitations all too clearly. He knew
     how to play the elf, even if he’d forgotten in the stress of the moment.
    The thaw continued. “I suppose we must go. That beast shattered my concentration.
     Its presence will draw attention here.”
    “Will you grant me a small boon? My man is either dead or otherwise unavailable. Would
     you ask one of yours to guard my prize while I retrieve my things?”
    “Oh, very well.” The fabulous master of mind-magic sounded like a petulant child.
     “You can fetch my hostage while you’re back there. Use the charm so he doesn’t give
     you any trouble.”
    “Of course.” Friar even gave him a little bow.
    Benessarai spoke briefly to the two remaining elves—the ones who’d brought the bodies
     in. One of them—Lily thought this one was female, though it was hard to be sure with
     those long, loose shirts—headed their way. Her face was as impassive as ever, though
     she did dart one quick glance at the door when the tiger roared again.
    Friar bent close and whispered in Lily’s ear, “You have a short reprieve.