Ritual Magic

apparently, close enough for the knife to make Gene obey Miriam’s order to “forget.” Not close enough to leave the taint of its compulsion on him.
    Lily shot Rule a tight grin. The delay here had been very much worthwhile. “Three hundred yards. We can assume that’s the knife’s limit. It might be less, but we can work with that.”
    “That’s important to know.” He paused. “She’s got Pete.”
    That took her grin away. “And Isen, I suppose. And . . . everyone who was at Isen’s house when she got there.” Toby, Julia, Li Qin, Hardy, Carl, the guards who’d been stationed there . . . Cynna? Had she been there? Cory and Gene both said that Grandmother had left with Benedict and Arjenie before Miriam arrived, but Cynna might have still been at Isen’s house. With Ryder.
    She glanced at Cullen. He looked as grim as she felt.
    Rule spoke crisply. “However many she might have placed under compulsion, we’ve no reason to think she’s harmed anyone yet.”
    He was doing that I’m-in-control thing with his voice to make Cullen and his men feel better. Damned if it didn’t work on her, too. “That’s true. And I’m betting she doesn’t have everyone under compulsion. Maybe not even most of them. If she did, wouldn’t she have had Cory kill or capture us instead of just giving Pete a heads-up? And logistically, it would be hard for her to get everyone together so she could put them under compulsion. Plus, it would take time, and she’s got a ritual to prepare for. If she’s using the more distant node, just getting there will take time. If she’s using the one behind Isen’s house, she’ll have to get rid of the deck.”
    “If she’s using a ley line,” Cullen pointed out, “she won’t have those problems.”
    “Yes, but . . . she went to Isen’s house.”
    Rule nodded slowly. “She did, didn’t she? I find it interesting that Pete ordered Clanhome closed without giving an alert code. That’s standard. Omitting the code sounds as if he repeated what he’d been told to say.”
    “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
    “I’m not sure either, except that it sounds like he did what he was told to do, and not one bit more. He didn’t tell Miriam there was a code he was supposed to use.”
    “So he has to obey, but that doesn’t really put him on her side?”
    “I think so. In which case, a lot depends on the exact wording of the orders she gives.”
    “Another thing we learned,” Cullen said. “The compulsion remains in effect after the knife’s gone. Cory’s still contaminated, and he doesn’t remember anything he was told to forget.”
    “Ah.” Rule frowned. “Yes. We need to take that into account.”
    “Rule?” That was Cory. “Can you tell me what’s going on now?”
    “Miriam has gotten hold of an artifact. She used it to place compulsions on you. That’s why you don’t remember some things. She told you to forget, and you did. I’m sorry, Cory, but we’re going to have to tie you up for now. You’re subject to Miriam’s control. We can’t trust you.”
    “But I wouldn’t do anything against you or the clan. I wouldn’t!”
    “How do you feel about Miriam, Cory?”
    “I want to help her in any way I can, of course, but . . .” Horror widened his eyes. “Why do I want that?” he whispered.
    The answer was obvious to all of them. Gene got a length of rope from the back of the old truck they kept near the gate for the guards’ use. While he tied up his friend, Rule told Gene, “Stay here with Cory. You’re not to call Pete or obey any orders he gives you until Isen or I tell you it’s okay.”
    Lily heard the van coming. “Our other ride’s nearly here. We need to decide if we’re going with plan A or plan B.” They’d laid out two general plans depending on where the knife was. She paused. “I’m betting on plan B. Miriam did go to Isen’s house.”
    “Yes, she did.” Rule looked at his car. His smile was slow and cold. “I’ll have a word with Friar about that. I’ve an idea how to persuade him to talk.”

FORTY

    R ULE crouched low, using his hands now and then to assist his descent. Smells filled him . . . creosote, cypress, and sumac. Wild mustard and cholla. The warm, dry smell of the dirt. The scents of home welcomed him and the mantle tied to this land pushed him away.
    Off to his left, a pair of shadows drifted stealthily down the slope. On his right four more did the same . . . unless Gray