Part 62 (1/2)
I held it up, rubbing it with ht It meant I was supposed to be taken by a different House Not Veruschka's Only, the person as supposed to have done so, wasn't able to select mehad been prevented By whom? The Lenoir? The Master House? I looked at Blackstock
”I'm Halsey Rookave me this was in my House Only, he's an Eclectic We both are But that's all over with, because I believe I can findin Rome, not in Ravenseal”
I looked at the Marker with the nu it, words had appeared Written on the Marker, in handwriting that could only have been Selwyn's, was a e: ”BEWARE THE DARK PATH”
Blackstock motioned for a witch, hispered in his ear, briefly ”I see,” he said
Ballard continued to sniff and paw the ground Had Ballard taken the opportunity to see if Selas really at the Master House? His fur was standing on end I looked at hi, What is the Dark Path? Hurriedly, I rubbed the Marker The ain It reappeared There must've been some kind of spell put upon it I erased it before anyone could see
”According to Siobhan,” said Blackstock, ”there is no record of House Rookmaaker in our Heraldic Hall However, the Marker was sentwhich means, either the Hall of Records has made a mistake, which I doubt, or someone does not want that House found”
”There! You see? She belongs tosaid that,” Blackstock went on, ”I have read no rule that an Initiate ardless of how they may have been selected Miss Rookmaaker, is it your intention to join House Ravenseal? They would do wonders for your career, you know?”
I shook my head no
”Then, if you're certain,” said Blackstock, ”I have no choice but to free you of that commitment, and that, Veruschka, is final Now, Miss Rookistrae, or ue, must be thirds, are you not, if they're to lead their own House? Even if you were to find House Rookmaaker, I could not let you proceed, unless it was held in interregesan interiedat which point the House and its running would be turned over to youwith all of the responsibility that that entails So that's what I'ive you an opportunity to solve this little puzzle If House Rookmaaker existsas you say it doesand you can find itthen I'ained a wonderful new Houseor an old House, as the case”Good,” said Blackstock ”Then, if there's nothing else”
”There is one other thing,” said Lennox
”By allfor one of the Lenoir,” said Blackstock
Privately, I thought, Who would attack the vampires?
Lennox whistled Massiand that's when he's coherent,” said Menelaus, dragging soot to hi us
Selith them! He looked terrible: Hair all over the place, like he had been held soainst his will, or worse, drivenhis mind, but it was shut down The aether cloud was still around Selwyn I could not penetrate it
”We think so to him, sir, tampered with his mind, likesay He's not cut,” said Massimo proudly ”His therian is still intact”
The rest of the wizards made way for Selho stood before ushi+s hair was disheveled, his eyes a dazzling shade of blue
”Aether I knew it,” said one
”I haven't seen this brand ofat Selwyn intently ”It's almost like but nothat's impossible Luxyou're a virtuososee if you can read his mind”
Blackstock stood back Lux rolled up his sleeves I again was treated to his a mark But whatever he tried, it didn't work
”Even with the tridents, ic is too weak,” he said
”The reason I ask,” said Blackstock, ”is because I've read about this But it was so long ago It's so the Fifth of Fourth used to do Mess in wizards' one nowthey cannot be back”
”I have reason to believe that that is not entirely true, sir,” said Lux ”I assu the newspapers?”
”Houses are being destroyed So what of it?” said Blackstock
”Wasn't that His maneuver, sir? I mean, back in the day? He was a necromancer and they never die,” said Lux
”But the Dark Lord backit's just i business will coood,” said Lux ”Wizards and witches should be able to make their own decisions The ardanes are more like amendments, after allthey can be repealed”
”Even if that were so, we cannot fight Shadows Let them come out into the open, Lux”
”But this type of eneht in the open, sir,” said Lux ”Whoever's doing this is organizedeverywhere It's just as He operated before”
I watched Veruschka out of the corner of my eye, but if she was involved in any of this, she didn't let on
Ballard trotted off into one of the corners and came back as hiaze Selas alternately in and out,nonsense words, or else catatonic ”Sed esse in silentium,” he hissed, ”sed esse in silentiu, Lux! That'll be it! They read what He didbut they have not his power, none have No! I'll hear no differently!”
Lux tried to protest but Blackstock overrode hiic is not a rash body We need s develop Until then, I suggest we all go about our business Agreed?”
”Aye!” said the members of the Council
”May I sayenough”
”By all means,” said Blackstock
”That 'sed esse in silentium' business, it means 'the silent existence'; it's what the va on, Arty,” said Veruschka ”Before you start talking about the Dark Order and dredging up unfortunate ht want to have a talk with them After all, they've made it their business to destroy Houses
”As for Miss Rook her, and I'll be ready You can bend rules only so far before they break, and there I'll be, Miss Rookmaaker”
The Ravenseals departed You to your corner, we to ours Lennox had the Star Wheel in his arht, Ballard's et our stuff
Lux knelt beside Selwyn and put his three fingertips on hione, but not forever The black cat was in his place Its blue eyes shone and Professor Lux stood back ”His therian will look out for him until he's ready to return,” he said
The touch of Selwyn's fur was electric Ballard and I had acco back that would be the challenge