Read Online Victories by Mercedes Lackey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mercedes Lackey
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around, since they’re just extras in your play.”
“That isn’t you,” Spirit said firmly, meeting and holding his gaze. After a moment he smiled ruefully in acknowledgment. “But,” she added, turning to include the others, “are we going to be immune? I mean, we beat it once, but if someone—Mordred—offers us—”
“The kingdoms of the Earth,” Burke said.
“Right,” Loch said. “Come to the Dark Side! Not only are there cookies, but there’s safety and luxury and peasants to torture!”
“If that’s the sort of thing you want,” Addie said dryly. Loch made a rude noise and shook his head.
“We’ve just got to hope we’ll be smart when the time comes,” Burke said. “Or.… I dunno … valiant . And now we’d better get a move on. Because I don’t think keeping Vivian waiting is real smart either.”
* * *
The house-turned-museum was an old square two-story building that Loch instantly dubbed a “house kind of a house” on a back street. They pulled up and Burke went inside to see if Vivian was there and returned with a handful of pamphlets. Bess Streeter Aldrich turned out to be an author none of them had ever heard of, who’d published her last book around the time their grandparents probably started dating. About fifteen minutes later, Vivian showed up on her bike. Burke jumped out and opened the back so she could load it in.
“Anything?” he asked.
“Not here,” she said briefly, tossing her backpack in after the bike. She walked up to the driver’s side and opened the door, holding out her hand for the keys.
“I can drive,” Loch protested.
“And I have an actual license,” Vivian said. Loch shrugged and got out.
They stopped on the way back at a roadside hamburger stand—a kind of freelance McDonald’s—for lunch. There were no other customers, no drive-through, and no carhops. They had to walk up to the window themselves to get served. Nobody talked much. Vivian wasn’t the type to encourage conversation, and for their parts, Spirit and her friends were still freaked by the idea they now had ancient magic artifacts of mysterious (but vague) power in their possession. When they got back to the silo—Spirit could tell from Loch’s expression that Vivian had taken a different route this time—they all pitched in to bring the stuff down below. By the time they had it stowed away, every cupboard in the tiny kitchen was stuffed.
“Looks like we won’t have to go shopping for a while,” Burke said mildly.
Vivian smiled darkly. “Not unless you want fresh milk, but I figure you’re going to be running around trying to scare up the Hallows. You’re on a deadline, you know.”
Addie looked at Spirit. Loch glanced from the two of them to Burke. There was a moment of guilty silence.
“You really can’t tell whether or not we have them?” Spirit asked carefully. “Because we do. We found them today.”
Vivian’s shock was genuine. She sucked in a sharp breath and leaned back against the counter, gripping the edge tightly. “Holy Epona be praised that the Great Hallows are safe again,” she said. “It’s true?” she added sharply. “You’re telling the truth?”
“It would be a pretty stupid thing to lie about,” Loch said tartly. “Here—see?” He held out the phone charm on his palm. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but—”
“It’s the Spear,” Vivian said. She closed her eyes for a moment, and Spirit thought she saw a glitter of tears. “I.… I’ve hoped for so long.…” She turned around to face the cabinets and took another deep breath, clearly trying to compose herself. “That makes this easier,” she said.
“Makes what easier?” Spirit asked, trying not to sound as apprehensive as she felt. Vivian was certainly on their side, but Spirit suspected she was telling them as little as possible.
“I have to go away. I’m leaving in the morning. I may not be back. Ever.”
“What?” Burke said. “Why?
“That isn’t you,” Spirit said firmly, meeting and holding his gaze. After a moment he smiled ruefully in acknowledgment. “But,” she added, turning to include the others, “are we going to be immune? I mean, we beat it once, but if someone—Mordred—offers us—”
“The kingdoms of the Earth,” Burke said.
“Right,” Loch said. “Come to the Dark Side! Not only are there cookies, but there’s safety and luxury and peasants to torture!”
“If that’s the sort of thing you want,” Addie said dryly. Loch made a rude noise and shook his head.
“We’ve just got to hope we’ll be smart when the time comes,” Burke said. “Or.… I dunno … valiant . And now we’d better get a move on. Because I don’t think keeping Vivian waiting is real smart either.”
* * *
The house-turned-museum was an old square two-story building that Loch instantly dubbed a “house kind of a house” on a back street. They pulled up and Burke went inside to see if Vivian was there and returned with a handful of pamphlets. Bess Streeter Aldrich turned out to be an author none of them had ever heard of, who’d published her last book around the time their grandparents probably started dating. About fifteen minutes later, Vivian showed up on her bike. Burke jumped out and opened the back so she could load it in.
“Anything?” he asked.
“Not here,” she said briefly, tossing her backpack in after the bike. She walked up to the driver’s side and opened the door, holding out her hand for the keys.
“I can drive,” Loch protested.
“And I have an actual license,” Vivian said. Loch shrugged and got out.
They stopped on the way back at a roadside hamburger stand—a kind of freelance McDonald’s—for lunch. There were no other customers, no drive-through, and no carhops. They had to walk up to the window themselves to get served. Nobody talked much. Vivian wasn’t the type to encourage conversation, and for their parts, Spirit and her friends were still freaked by the idea they now had ancient magic artifacts of mysterious (but vague) power in their possession. When they got back to the silo—Spirit could tell from Loch’s expression that Vivian had taken a different route this time—they all pitched in to bring the stuff down below. By the time they had it stowed away, every cupboard in the tiny kitchen was stuffed.
“Looks like we won’t have to go shopping for a while,” Burke said mildly.
Vivian smiled darkly. “Not unless you want fresh milk, but I figure you’re going to be running around trying to scare up the Hallows. You’re on a deadline, you know.”
Addie looked at Spirit. Loch glanced from the two of them to Burke. There was a moment of guilty silence.
“You really can’t tell whether or not we have them?” Spirit asked carefully. “Because we do. We found them today.”
Vivian’s shock was genuine. She sucked in a sharp breath and leaned back against the counter, gripping the edge tightly. “Holy Epona be praised that the Great Hallows are safe again,” she said. “It’s true?” she added sharply. “You’re telling the truth?”
“It would be a pretty stupid thing to lie about,” Loch said tartly. “Here—see?” He held out the phone charm on his palm. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but—”
“It’s the Spear,” Vivian said. She closed her eyes for a moment, and Spirit thought she saw a glitter of tears. “I.… I’ve hoped for so long.…” She turned around to face the cabinets and took another deep breath, clearly trying to compose herself. “That makes this easier,” she said.
“Makes what easier?” Spirit asked, trying not to sound as apprehensive as she felt. Vivian was certainly on their side, but Spirit suspected she was telling them as little as possible.
“I have to go away. I’m leaving in the morning. I may not be back. Ever.”
“What?” Burke said. “Why?
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