Part 24 (1/2)
”Of course I couldn't trust him,” she added, and the group broke into quiet laughter. ”This coin, once released, will do whatever it can to find Arlo.”
Potioners' coins were driven by two distinct traits: a need to be with their owners, and sneakiness. They waited until there was no chance that anyone would notice, then they slipped out of the till or pocket they'd been put in and slowly found their way back home. But the coins weren't smart-they were easy to fool. Kyra knew that all she had to do was pretend to look the other way.
She opened the container, fished the coin out, and set it on the ground. Then she made a great show of crossing her arms and looking up at the treetops.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the coin quiver, flip up onto its edge, and then roll away into the woods.
”And with that, gentlemen, the hunt is on!”
They'd been riding so long that it was now late afternoon, and Kyra was behind the soldiers she'd set to keep watch on the coin. They'd let their mounts graze, and casually notice the coin wiggle and roll away down the path, then they'd nudge their horses forward.
Ned brought his horse up beside Kyra's.
Her life had changed so much in the past day. No longer was she chasing after her best friend. She was with the army instead of hiding from them. She was part of the Master Trio of Potioners again.
And she was following a coin as it merrily rolled along through the woods.
”You haven't been on a horse in a while, have you?” Ned asked.
”Do I look that bad? My riding muscles and calluses are completely gone. I feel like an idiot.”
”You'll get them back. It'll just take a little bit of time.” He gently touched her shoulder. ”So tell me about this potion you created-the one that will take down the shape-s.h.i.+fter things.”
”The shape-s.h.i.+fter things are called obeekas, and there are at least two with Arlo,” Kyra said. ”I was hoping you and Hal would be the ones to go after them while I focus on capturing Arlo.”
Hal had ridden up on her other side. ”Of course we will.”
Kyra caught Ned rolling his eyes.
She nudged him with her foot and continued. ”It's a concoction using the Cera Truth Serum. Peccant Pentothal is too dangerous to use unless absolutely necessary, and I don't think we need anything that strong anyway. Just something to cast the obeekas in their true form so we can bind them.”
”That is brilliant,” Hal said, his eyes glowing.
”We needed something you two can throw easily, so I created these.” She showed them a dozen small balloons she'd filled with the potion. ”Just like our old water balloon fights in summer.” She felt wistful for a moment thinking about it. Those days were gone forever.
Hal hefted one in his hand. He looked wistful too. ”It's a good idea, Kyra. These will work well.”
In a town a half day's ride outside Wexford, the coin began moving more erratically, zigging and zagging.
”That strange behavior means the coin is almost home,” Kyra said. ”We're near Arlo.” It had grown dark and was well past dinnertime. Down the street was a large pub blazing with light.
The coin began vibrating as it neared the building.
Kyra slid off her horse and caught the coin in front of the pub. Then everyone dismounted and gathered by the entrance. They all knew their roles.
”There could be innocents inside. Try not to kill anyone.” She checked her weapons.
Kyra stepped inside-Hal on the left of her, Ned on the right, the soldiers filing in behind. The pub smelled stale, like grease and old ale.
She spotted Arlo immediately at a gaming table on the far end of the pub, his back to the wall. The position of power. The guy next to him looked weirdly familiar.
”Arlo Abbaduto.” Kyra's voice rang out over the sounds of the filled tavern. ”You are under arrest by order of the King of Mohr for a plot against the kingdom.” The room quieted as everyone turned to look at her. ”Do not resist arrest. Anyone who obstructs us will be considered in league with the plot against the kingdom and tried as such.”
Silence followed. The eyes on Kyra were unfriendly. Men missing teeth, covered in scars, and clutching mugs of ale leered.
Then Arlo started to laugh. ”Ha-ha-ha!”
The crowd joined in. Soon the whole room quaked with laughter.
”So nice of you to come visit, Master Potioners,” Arlo said. ”I hope you don't mind if we disagree on how this is going to go. You see, you're outnumbered. Men,” he shouted, ”kill the king's soldiers!”
And suddenly the room broke into motion, the men in the bar surging forward even as the soldiers brandished swords and pulled Kyra and Hal and Ned backward. The air was filled with the clash of metal and shouts and grunts, and fists and boots. .h.i.tting flesh.
Kyra tried to get a glimpse of Arlo through the melee, but was pushed down to the floor by two brawling men.
Quickly, she stuck them both with Doze needles and shoved them away. Hal and Ned each took a hand and pulled her back on her feet.
There was no way around the tumult. Arlo was right-they were vastly outnumbered. She was going to have to change the odds a bit.
”I'm going to try taking a few people out,” Kyra shouted to Hal and Ned as she jumped up on a table.
Needles tipped in Doze rained from the air until Kyra found herself flung up as someone flipped over the table. Her body slammed into the sticky floorboards so hard it jarred every bone in her body.
Kyra gulped in air and scootched across the floor until she found a small clearing where she could stand. Immediately, an elbow caught her in the gut.
She spotted Ned and Hal a few feet in front of her, about three tables away from Arlo, then watched in horror as the concierge's a.s.sistant shrank down to a hairy rodent and darted away through the crowd.
”I'll get him!” Hal shouted, running off in the same direction.
The man who'd been sitting on the other side of Arlo grew into a huge troll.
Ned sighed. ”Of course I get stuck with the giant one.” He moved forward, bas.h.i.+ng brawlers out of the way with his baton in one hand, a potion-filled balloon in the other.
Kyra glanced at Arlo. He wasn't even paying attention to her.
He wasn't worried about her at all.
He was enjoying this. The chaos, the fighting, the blood-he was drinking it in. Every now and then he'd clap his hands when a particularly good hit connected.
Kyra stepped close and shouted above the roar of the brawl, ”Arlo Abbaduto! Under the name of the King, you are-”
”-enjoying this immensely.” Arlo finally turned his attention to her. ”It's quite a show you've put on here.”
”You aren't going to weasel out of this one, Arlo. We've got you.”
”You think you can take me, Master Potioner?”
She was out of needles and had already thrown the knife she kept tucked in her waistband at the small of her back.
”Or have you come to join me?” Arlo stood up from his table. ”We both know you've turned criminal. That's why you came to me when you needed help finding the princess.”