Club Arcana: Operation Janus by Jon Wilson

Author:Jon Wilson [Wilson, Jon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626399709
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2017-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

In which Someone Nearly Dies and It Isn’t Angus

Angus’s lie is rewarded with a repeat of the entire, glorious application process. And it is a lie. Not just because his respiration is strained, his heart palpitating, and pressure has begun to mount in his loins, but because the invisible bonds have begun to lessen around his limbs. By the time Caldera has finished rubbing his face against Angus’s neck and cheeks a second time, Angus is able to spread his arms out in either direction, which he does, sighing and stretching as if emerging from a restful slumber.

Caldera, sitting back, looks from one of Angus’s arms to the other. “I thought it might work better for you. Most things seem to.” His brow dips over his nose. His eyes narrow. A very disgruntled frown twists his lips.

“Yes, well, apparently his plan worked.”

“Whose plan?”

“I don’t know, you froze him before he could tell us.”

Caldera directs his cross expression at Marquardt. “I didn’t freeze him. We’re sped up. You can see he’s moved a little already.”

Angus can see no alteration in Marquardt’s position, but doesn’t bother disputing Caldera’s claim. “And you feel nothing?”

Caldera’s expression darkens. He glances at his own shoulders as if they have betrayed him. “No. But this goop is mainly to prevent magic, not cure it.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, we need to get out of here. My hand’s cramping from holding this stupid watch.”

“You want me to take it?”

Caldera looks furious. “Good God, no. You might speed up the whole train.”

Angus begins to detect a note of jealousy in Caldera’s tone. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand it.”

“Me neither. I overheard your uncle telling Brother Rembaldi once that you didn’t have any magical talent at all. That’s why they put off recruiting you.”

“Wait. What?”

Caldera shrugs. “Most legacies are initiated at eighteen. You’re what? Thirty?”

“I’m twenty-two.”

Caldera makes a show of his skepticism. “No.” Then he smiles, striking Angus as distressingly adorable in spite of his washed out, strained face.

“Yes, you’re very amusing.” Angus has lowered his arms, and his hands have come to rest on Caldera’s thighs. His gaze draws Caldera’s attention, and both men look from one hand to the other before Caldera begins the slow, clumsy process of getting to his feet.

“Right. We’re going.” Once arisen, he settles his right foot atop the toe of Angus’s left shoe, stepping down with no small force.

“What about him?” They both look at Marquardt.

“What can we do? He was smart enough to erect a barrier and make sure I couldn’t touch him.” He lets go of another wistful sigh. “It’s probably best. He’s a much more powerful wizard than me, in case you haven’t noticed. He’d have escaped eventually. We got lucky.”

They begin preparations for their departure, which, given Caldera’s current state of mystical entrapment, falls mainly to Angus. He snatches the open vial and its lid from the air, rejoins them and deposits them into his pocket. He secures the musician’s case and retrieves Colin’s duffel. All the

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