The Arcane Society 08-Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

Author:Amanda Quick [Amanda Quick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-12T17:00:00+00:00

Jed squinted at Griffin. “Did you learn anything useful from those two, Boss?”

“Such as who sent them, for starters?” Delbert growled.

Griffin shook his head. “No, and there’s no point questioning them further. They don’t have the answers I need. The one called Fergus cannot even remember why he came here tonight. The illusion-talent’s name is Nate. He is desperate to offer information in exchange for his life but he doesn’t know much. All he can tell me is that he and his companion were not only promised a great deal of money for grabbing Mrs. Pyne and the artifact but were told they would be given new crystals.”

Mrs. Trevelyan’s mouth tightened. “I don’t understand it. How could they agree to take on such work without even knowing the name of their employer?”

“Fergus and Nate have been a team for years. They offer their skills for hire, no questions asked.

They prefer not to know too much about those who employ them. As Nate says, it is usually safer that way.”

“But what of the crystals?” Adelaide asked.

Griffin walked to the table, picked up one of the stones and held it to the light. “The man who hired them provided the crystals and the canisters of sleeping vapor. Nate and Fergus were told that if they focused their talent through the crystals, their natural abilities would be enhanced.

According to Nate, that is exactly what happened. He said he always had a gift for altering his appearance in subtle ways that confused the eye but it was never so strong as it was tonight.

Evidently the same was true for Fergus. He had been fast all his life but not like he was with the crystal.”

The water was boiling. Adelaide plucked the kettle off the stove and began to fill the teapot.

“I sense no power in the crystals,” she said. “I picked up one a short time ago and tried to determine if there was any energy in it. But it seemed like nothing more than a chunk of plain glass in my hand.”

“Because it was exhausted,” Griffin said. He put the crystal back down on the table. “Nate said that he and Fergus were warned that the stones would not work for long. They were told to use them sparingly.”

Jed contemplated the red crystals. “Like a gun when you run out of bullets. Useless.”

“Evidently,” Griffin said.

Leggett frowned. “How does a person obtain fresh ammunition?”

A frisson of understanding whispered through Adelaide.

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