Lies Ripped Open (35 page)

“
Where’s Remy?” I asked Lucie as we left the palace.

“Hospital. He took a bit of a whack from that explosion, so we’re keeping an eye on him. He should be fine though.”

“And Kelly.”

“Interrogation.”

I left the conversation there as we were joined outside by Tommy and about a dozen agents, none of whom I’d met before. But I was pretty confident that if Olivia or Lucie had allowed them to take part in the mission they’d been thoroughly vetted. Both of them had been betrayed by people they trusted: Olivia by Reid a few years ago, and Lucie by Kay and a large number of SOA agents.

“Nate, you got a second?” Fiona called from behind me.

I nodded and walked over. “What’s up?”

Fiona looked weak, and tired. But determined too. “When this is all over,” she said with a pause. I could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke, “you and I need to talk. I was
looking
into someone before I got attacked. Nothing to do with the
Reavers
. . . well I hope not, but it is something you have to know about. I can’t tell you now, too much going on, but before you leave Albion, promise you’ll come see me.”

“Of course,” I said, somewhat taken aback by the concern in Fiona’s voice. “Everything good?”

She forced a smile. “Sure, it’s just something you need to see. Good luck.”

I watched her walk away and then turned back to the motorcade that had been arranged, pushing the thoughts of Fiona’s words aside as I had another job to do. There were four black SUV-looking cars parked up outside the rear of the palace, each with thin red lights that went along the side of the bodywork. The lights pulsed slowly. I climbed into the car second from front, with Elaine right beside me. Lucie took the front car, with Tommy who’d decided to tag along.

“These are a bit different to the ones I normally see in Camelot,” I told Elaine as I sat down on the comfortable leath
er seats.

“They’re not on pre-set destinations. And they’re only used by dignitaries. I’ve been told they’re pretty much unstoppable short of an attack by a tank.”

We were soon off, and I sat back watching out of the tinted window as the weather outside turned to heavy rain. Rain would make things more difficult for those tracking Enfield, but it might make it more difficult for him to launch an attack.

After a few minutes of driving, Elaine caught my attention. “Do you think he’ll take the bait?”

“I hope so. He’s too dangerous to just leave out there.”

“I heard that he threatened you in front of the palace when you last saw me.”

“Yeah, he wasn’t too thrilled that I’d killed another Faceless.” I still didn’t have a clue who Reid’s master was. Which meant I had more enemies out there. That in itself was hardly a new position to be in, but not knowing their identities gave me an uncomfortable itch between my shoulder blades. It was not a fun
feeling.

“Maybe the Faceless need to change. Too many are loyal to bad people.”

“Best of luck with that. I know people like yourself and Hades don’t like them, but far too many do. They won’t give them up willingly. Avalon was born out of an ideal, but over time that ideal has been corrupted and twisted so that those in power maintain their status quo, and to hell with anyone else. The few who do good, yourself included, are swamped by the shit from everyone else, creating a system that can work, but doesn’t always do what’s best for everyone. Avalon is too entrenched in its own self-absorbed existence to be able to change now. Not without massive, sweeping reforms, the kind that Merlin and his friends will never allow, let alone those who have a vested interest in keeping everything as it currently is.”

“That’s a very depressing view of our system.”

“It probably is,” I agreed. “But it’s about as honest a one as I can give.” I knew there was still good in Avalon. I knew there were still people who wanted what was best for people, but even so I still believed it was more corrupt than it had ever been in the past. I still wanted nothing to do with it. That sort of corruption spreads and you need a special sort of person to touch it and not be tainted. I wasn’t convinced I was one of those people.

“I still believe that we can do a lot of good.”

“I know. That’s why I admire what you do. But as I’ve told you before, there are not enough people who believe as you do. Too many want to use Avalon for their own aims.”

“You’ve become cynical in your old age.”

I laughed. “Possibly. Or more of a realist. Either way it’s a pretty depressing outlook.”

“We’re reaching the woods,” one of the other agents in the car told everyone. “Be ready.”

The cars continued to roll past the wood and the park where I’d fought a group of Reavers alongside my friends only a few days ago. A few minutes later we passed the field without
incident
.

“I guess Enfield decided not to risk it,” Elaine said. “Well, we’ll get to the safe house and then I’ll make sure he’s trac
ked down.”

“How long is it from here to there?” I asked.

“About half hour until we’re outside Camelot, another fifteen until the safe house,” one of the agents said. “Sit back and relax. It’s all open country from here on. He’d be insane to attack now.”

I did wonder whether I should point out that I didn’t think sanity was something that Enfield had in abundance, but decided not to break the slight relief that there hadn’t been an attack.

We left the city without incident, and large buildings
populated
by pieces of greenery changed to expansive plains and woodland, with the occasional outpost dotting the landscape.

“We’re just coming up to the compound,” another agent said and ten seconds later all hell broke loose.

Explosions sounded from under the car in front of us, and I saw it stagger to a halt. The same happened to us, and as I turned to look out of the rear window, I saw the same thing happening there too. It took all of five seconds for the entire
motorcade
to cease moving and create five very large targets.

There was a lot of shouting soon after, as agents exited the vehicles, demanding that Elaine stay inside as it was far too
dangerous
for her to be out and about. I wondered if telling them that Elaine was an accomplished sorcerer who would give Merlin a run for his money would change their minds, but it’s best not to interrupt agents when they’re doing their job.

I pushed open the door beside me.

“Nate, get back in the car,” Lucie shouted from outside.

I promptly ignored her and closed the door before getting on my knees and glancing under the car. The tires had all been blown out, along with a lot of electrical equipment that was
usually
attached to the underside of the car. The metal had been peeled back by one explosion and then a second had destroyed the car’s organs. Small craters marked the earth.

I stood back up and brushed myself down. “Mines,” I said to no one in particular.

I glanced around and couldn’t see anything that would
trigger
concern. The sturdy front gate of the safe house was a thirty-second walk from the motorcade. There was no way Enfield could get to Elaine once she was in there. Runes adorned pretty much every surface, and I was certain that Kay wouldn’t order Enfield to use a nuclear weapon to get inside. Not much point in a murderous takeover if you’ve turned the place into a radioactive wasteland.

The agents appeared to be as confused as I was. Lucie walked over to me. “As you’re not doing as you’re told, do you at least see something helpful?”

“I don’t get this as a plan. Stop the cars just outside of one of the safest places in Albion. Doesn’t make much sense.”

We turned toward the sound of the gate’s motors groaning to life, and watched as the massive black structure slowly moved aside, giving free access to the courtyard just beyond. Enfield stepped around the corner, and every single agent and guard was suddenly very ready for a fight. Weapons, both magical and otherwise, were trained at Enfield as he stepped out of the compound and raised his hands.

“Don’t you fucking move,” Lucie shouted, her sidearm quickly out of its holster as she walked toward him.

Enfield raised his hands. “I’m not moving anywhere. But I’d stay where you are, if I were you.”

Lucie stopped walking.

“Smart girl,” Enfield said, managing to use as much of a patronizing tone as he could probably manage. He shrugged out of his coat, letting it fall to the ground before opening one of his hands to show a phone in his hand. “Those mines that stopped your cars, they aren’t really the biggest problem you have.”

Panic flashed in the eyes of some of the agents.

“Don’t worry,” Enfield said; clearly he’d noticed it too. “You’re all safe. But you see, this phone here, it links to a massive number of bombs I’ve planted all around the hospital.”

He let everyone have a moment to take that in.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said finally. “Shoot me in the arm, and disarm the bomb.” He used his free hand to pull back the sleeve of his jumper. There were runes carved into his flesh, the blood still looked fresh.

“Blood magic,” I said.

“Give that man a cookie,” Enfield said with a chuckle. “The phone number is already programmed; these runes are all that’s stopping this technology from sending that call. If anything
happens
to them, the phone transmits. And then you have a lot more bodies to deal with.”

“What do you want?” Lucie asked.

“To talk to Elaine.”

“So you can kill her? I don’t think so.”

“I don’t want her dead,” Enfield said. “That was Kay’s plan.”

“You’re his Faceless,” I pointed out.

“Not even a little bit. Oh, I see where the confusion came from, what with me dressing like it. Well, that was just for show. You see a certain Nate Garrett killed Kay’s last Faceless. You remember Reid, yes?”

I nodded. “He worked for Kay? What about the person I spoke to on the phone when Reid was dying, was that you?”

“No, just an SOA agent who wanted very badly to impress Kay. He was dead about ten seconds after the call was ended. I buried him not too far from here, actually. I’ve had a key to this place for years. It helps that Kay was one of the
people
who helped design it. I used to use this place as a dumpin
g gr
ound for those who annoyed me. There are a few bodies aroun
d here.”

“So, what do you want then?” Lucie asked, ignoring his boast. There would be a time for questions later. Hopefully.

“I’ve already told you. I want to talk to Elaine. So, if you could run along, I’ll give you a few seconds to get it sorted.”

Lucie walked past me and opened the door to Elaine’s car. I didn’t hear the conversation that followed, but Elaine was soon beside me, radiating anger.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“Kay wants you dead,” Enfield told her. “You probably know this. I really don’t care one way or another about the status of your breathing. I don’t work for Kay; if anything he works for me. I let him run with this stupid notion of using a bunch of untrained idiots to re-create the Reavers, but it was always doomed to fail. No, you see, you being alive is neither here nor there. The people I work for don’t consider you a threat; if they did they’d have executed you years ago. But I knew that if I just came to you in Camelot then some idiot who supported Kay would assume I was being a traitor and try to kill me. I can’t really have that.”

Elaine looked surprised. “And you think I won’t kill you?”

“Oh you will, but not until you’ve questioned me.”

“Do you work for Merlin?” I asked.

“Good question, Mister Garrett. No, I do not. Never have. Of course I worked with the Reavers, but that was more to extend other people’s plans rather than to help Merlin. I don’t want him dead or anything, but I’m not going to be jumping in front of a bullet for him either.”

“So whom do you work for?”

“My liege.” He smiled.

Lucie and I shared a look of concern. “That’s what the
Vanguard
who attacked Hades’s compound said last year,” she said. “They said they were doing it for their liege.”

“Lots of dots connecting are there?” Enfield asked. “I can’t actually tell you about any of the people I work for. Physically can’t. But they’re coming. And the person who leads that group has been waiting for such a long time for their revenge. They’re going to change the world.”

“So you can’t tell us anything, you can’t give us a single shred of information? What use are you?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m not going to give you a choice. You’re going to keep me alive and take me back with you to Camelot.”

“Why are we going to do that?” Elaine asked. “Because of the bombs?”

“Nope. They were just to get your attention. Just to make sure you play by the rules.”

“What rules?” Elaine snapped, her temper beginning to show.

Enfield dropped to his knees. “I invoke the Accords.”

CHAPTER
35

T
he hours that followed Enfield’s surrender were somewhat
surreal
. He gave the location of every single one of the dozen bombs he’d planted in the hospital, although no one trusted him, and a telepath was brought in to see if he was lying.
Unfortunately
, the telepath also tried to gain information about whom Enfield worked for and the backlash knocked him out for several hours.

I decided to leave everyone to it and go for a walk around the gardens that sat at the rear of the palace. I found an empty bench beside a large pond and sat down, watching the fish come to the surface as if they expected me to throw them some food.

“I wondered where you’d gotten to,” Tommy said as he sat beside me. “Elaine wants to talk to you.”

“About Enfield, I assume.”

“That’s my guess. She told Olivia to find you, Olivia found me first. I know nothing more than that.”

“This trip didn’t exactly turn out how you’d expect, eh?”

“No, I can’t lie; this wasn’t what I had in mind.”

“Any thoughts about postponing the naming ceremony? There are still people out there we haven’t found.”

Tommy’s response was immediate. “Not a chance. Not only would Kasey tear a chunk out of anyone who suggested it.
Neither
Olivia nor Elaine will allow anyone to stop a naming ceremony because of outside threats. It’s going to be the single best-guarded ceremony in history.”

That was good to know. “How is Kasey doing, anyway? I hope all of this hasn’t put too much of a downer on her time here.”

“She’s more interested in her naming ceremony than the Reavers. Ellie is keeping her occupied. I’m due back there once I fetch you. We’ve scheduled it for tomorrow, by the way. It’ll be here, at the palace. Noon. Don’t be late.”

“I’ll be there,” I promised. “Best not keep Elaine waiting; I’m sure she has bad news for me.”

“You think Enfield wants to fight you, don’t you?”

“I imagine so.”

The Accords were designed centuries ago to stop wars between disputing groups. Instead of armies killing one another, the Accords provide for one-on-one fights where the person invoking the Accords gets to pick their opponent, while the opponent gets to pick the stipulations, such as weapons allowed, or when the fight will stop. The only thing that’s constant is that there’s no magic or special abilities allowed, and if anyone interferes then the group cheating is immediately declared the loser and the winning group gets to decide their fate.

Once declared, the Accords have to be seen through to the end. The last person who had used them against me had died from a gunshot wound to the throat a few seconds later. I don’t think I’d be able to get away with such an act in Camelot though. Not without forfeiting my own life in the process.

“I don’t understand why he would want to use the Accords anyway,” Tommy said as we walked toward the palace entrance. “I mean, I know whoever uses it has to have a trial by combat and everything, but what does he think is going to happen if he wins? They’re not just going to let him go. He’s playing a game here.”

“Of course he is, but I’m not sure they have a choice. I guess we’ll find out.”

We found Elaine inside the chambers sitting alone at her desk. “Tommy, can you leave Nate and me alone?” she asked.

Tommy patted me on the shoulder. “Best of luck.”

“I don’t think he completely trusts me,” Elaine said when we were alone.

“He worked for Avalon for a long time. I think he’s just
cautious
about you. It took a long time for you to get to the position you’re in, a long time when Merlin wasn’t exactly running things to any great degree. I think he hopes you don’t go the sa
me way.”

“And he doesn’t know why I asked for you. His loyalty is obvious.”

“It goes both ways,” I assured her.

“You inspire loyalty in a lot of people. Lucie, Olivia, Alan, Tommy, all of them would fight for you if need be, not to mention Hades and several members of his family.”

“I
am
a wonderful person.”

Elaine laughed. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“Enfield wants to fight me as part of the Accords?”

Elaine walked toward me. “Nope. Not you.”

That was a bit of a surprise. “Who then?”

“Fiona.”

That was an even bigger surprise. “What? That’s insane. For a start she’s injured. She can’t do anything until she’s healed. That could take days or weeks.”

“Enfield has said he’ll wait until she’s recovered.”

“I know Fiona can take care of herself, but even if she were fully fit, Enfield
will
kill her. No matter the stipulations for winning, he’ll make sure she dies. When I fought him in 1888, he was formidable. Fiona stands no chance of defeating him.”

“We’ve agreed that it will be until someone submits or is rendered unconscious, but I don’t think Enfield will let her quit easily. In fact, that’s exactly what Alan and Fiona said. She also couldn’t come up with a way to avoid it. If Fiona forfeits the fight, then Enfield is automatically declared the winner.”

“What does he want for winning?”

“You.”

“Well, that’s shit. Surely there’s something in the Accords that means Enfield can’t ask for the death of his enemy as a reward?”

“And that’s very true. But he doesn’t want your death, he wants you to be the one to walk him through Camelot to the realm gate and then take him to a place of his choosing. A place he won’t reveal until he’s out of this realm.”

“So it’s a trap. This whole thing is a trap so he can get me somewhere of his choosing and kill me?”

“That’s my summation, yes. He, at best, badly hurts Fiona, devastating Alan, her friends, and hurting Avalon. After that, he gets you, one of Fiona’s friends, to put aside your anger and march him out of the realm. And you can’t kill him until you’ve reached your destination. By which point, I assume there will be an army waiting for you.”

“So, how do we stop this from happening? Any chance we can just kill him?”

“No, if we go around killing people who cite the Accords that’s going to lead to a dangerous precedent. If Enfield had given a substitute for him to fight, then we could have substituted
anyone
else, but the fact that he chose Fiona doesn’t give us a lot of leeway.”

I wracked my brain for an answer, and then I had that tiny sliver of an idea, the kind that pops into your head and then vanishes just as you begin to grasp it, but you know it was there.

“How much do you trust me?” I asked Elaine.

“Like you were my own son,” she told me without pausing.

“Can you get Fiona and Lucie in here? Probably Alan too since I doubt he’ll be leaving her side anytime soon.”

“You’ve got a plan?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think anyone is going to like it.”

“Does anyone die? And are the rules of Avalon broken?”

“Maybe and I don’t think so, in that order.”

Elaine raised an eyebrow in question, but left the chambers to fetch the people I’d asked to see. They all returned, with Olivia and Tommy in tow, a few minutes later.

“So what’s your plan?” Alan asked.

“Fiona. You can’t take Enfield. He will kill you,” I said. “You’re injured and only came out of a coma a few hours ago. Frankly, I’m amazed you’re walking at all. I have two plans. The first is . . . Fiona, can you cast an illusion that will make me look like you?”

“No, that’s not possible. Certainly not well enough to keep you looking like me for an entire fight.”

“Right, plan two. I need you to forfeit.” And then I told everyone my plan.

Everyone shouted at once, mostly at me, mostly with swearing and calling into question my mental acuities. I believe the words dumbass and fuckwit were used on more than one
occasion
.

“I’m not planning on getting killed,” I assured everyone. “But this is the only way to keep me and Fiona alive.”

“Does it go against the Accords?” I asked.

Lucie, Olivia, and Elaine walked off to speak to one another. They weren’t gone long. “No,” Olivia said. “It’s a hell of a gray area though. You can’t just spring this on him once he’s accepted Fiona’s forfeit. You’ll need to be out of the arena, but somewhere open with few chances for his escape.”

I thought about the best location. “The field we drove past, the one where we were attacked. Have your people in the woods. I’ll tell Enfield there. He might try to run. I guess we’ll see.”

“You sure you want to do this?” Elaine asked. “He won’t take it well.”

“I’m not going to let him get away with killing Fiona, or anyone else. This is going to end in Camelot, today.”

“We’ll make the preparations,” Elaine said. “I suggest you do the same.”

The place where all Accord disputes are settled is called the arena. Not the most original of names, I’ll grant you, but it does exactly what it says on the arch leading to it. The arena is a large, oval pit, which is covered half in grass and half wooden floor. Seats are all around the arena much like a Roman amphitheater, although on a much smaller scale. The arena seats about five hundred
people
, although as I walked under the arch and down to the front row, I noticed it was full of members of the council, including a few very powerful figures within Avalon’s world. Whether they were supporting Fiona or Enfield, it was hard to tell.

Elaine stood in the middle of the oval and raised her hands for silence. Runes had been carved into the wooden floor of the structure so that those in the back of the arena could hear without problems.

“Tonight a dispute will be settled,” Elaine started. “Enfield
has requested Fiona as his opponent.”

Both contestants were already in the oval. They looked at one another and then nodded to Elaine.

“Before we start, you will both tell us what you wish to have as your prize if you win.” She pointed to Enfield first.

“Nathan Garrett will escort me from this city, out of the realm, to a place of my choosing.”

“And Fiona.”

“You tell us where Kay is.”

Enfield smiled. “Deal.”

“This fight will be until one can no longer compete through being rendered unconscious or submits. Do either of you have anything else to say?”

Fiona nodded. “I forfeit.”

The crowd exploded with noise; most appeared to be unimpressed with the verdict. Enfield smiled; in fact he beamed, before looking at me and winking.

I made my way to the oval and the crowd grew quiet again.

“It is Fiona’s right to forfeit,” Elaine said.

“You did the right thing,” Enfield said. “I really didn’t bear you any ill will.” He turned toward me. “I guess you’re min
e now.”

“That’s what people tell me,” I said.

“We’re leaving,” he said to Elaine.

Elaine stood between him and me.

“Move aside, Lady Elaine. You’re impeding Avalon’s own law.”

She stepped aside and Enfield completed his journey toward me, stopping a foot away. “I know you want to kill me, Nathan. I get that. But you can’t, not without going against Avalon law.”

I was aware that his words had traveled to everyone in the arena.

“We should leave,” I said softly. “Now.”

“Don’t want me to revel in my victory?” Enfield laughed, and I had to remember not to attack him.

“I’ll be coming with you,” Elaine said, and the faintest flicker of anger shone on Enfield’s face. “It’ll be easier for me to explain to Avalon agents what you’re doing. It will ensure no one tries to stop you.”

“You can’t actually pull anything, so that’s fine with me,” he told her, his tone full of snide. “Can’t possibly go against Avalon law, now can we?”

It wasn’t long until we set off out of the Arena, with Elaine walking a few meters in front of us, telling guards and anyone else who tried to interfere that it was fine. By the time we went back to the palace—nothing more than a five-minute walk—we’d been stopped half a dozen times.

“We’d be best walking around to the east and then double back when we’re closer,” I said. “Otherwise we’re going to be stopped every few seconds.”

“And that bothers you?” Enfield asked.

“If you die, it falls to Elaine and her people. I couldn’t give two shits what happens to you, but I care about her.”

Enfield sighed. “Fine, we’ll do it your way. No matter to me.”

As we reached the park, a fairly large crowd had decided to join us, mostly consisting of those who had been deprived of a real contest at the arena, along with guards, agents, and a general mix of people who simply wondered what the hell was going on.

“You know, I’ve got some stories to tell you,” Enfield said. “Would you like to hear them?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Do you remember Montana? The first time you met Sky?”

“Of course.”

“You weren’t meant to meet her. I jumped her before she could get to that ranch. You were meant to be long gone before she arrived, but obviously you found that body and the rest is history.”

I stopped walking. “Are you telling you were involved in Montana, with the lich?” The lich in question had taken over a small town; its inhabitants believed that it was there to help make them rich and powerful. He’d lied to them all. And I’d made sure they’d all been punished for their crimes.