Guardians Book One - Magic Rising

Chapter Forty Two

"He knows," Kath insisted, leaning one elbow on the table, nudging aside her sandwich plate with the other. "I'm telling you. He knows."

Lady just sighed. "That should be impossible."

"Still," Kath bit her lip, remembering James' face when she left him the previous night; like he had a thousand questions and was afraid of each one. Like he was mad, or she was. "He feels like magic. And he remembered what happened to him."

"It must be confusing," said Pes. "He was looking at me – where I was. I could tell he knew I was there. If I'd spoken, I bet he'd have heard. Being that close to magic – to be exposed to certain Guardians' full powers, like Death – can't help but change someone. The atoms that make a person – they respond to magic, like they respond to air." He waved a hand in front of a girl at the next table; she didn't even look up. "See, normally, as you know, people have been too far from magic to see it. But getting a heavy dose like that will naturally affect someone..." He leaned back in his chair, making it tip slightly backwards. Kath couldn't help but wonder if people just saw the chair rock on its own. Maybe what people think are ghosts are just Guardians, getting up to stuff!

Lady shook her head, lips pursed, eyes stern. "Perhaps one day he will wield a powerful magic himself. I wonder to which Guardian he is attuned?" She paused, and added, "While I cannot sense other magic, I have felt on occasion those who could be taught by me. It is always most surreal when one finds a human potentially attuned to one's magic. Pes has met a few – doctors, usually. Nurses. Even now, some humans are attracted to that which they could wield. The practical powers, at least. The things for which humans have passion."

"Think my housemate might be one of yours," Kath said to Pes, who broke into a wide smile. "He's a nurse."

After a moment, apparently unexpectedly, Lady continued: "Once, for me...there was a man. A sailor. One who had a true love of water and the ocean. I met him on the beach." She didn't finish the story, and Kath cocked her head, raising her eyebrows, trying to prompt her. Lady just ignored her; perhaps through design, but most likely just lack of comprehension of Kath's hinting expression. Pes stared down at the table, his cheeks slightly pink, equally and uncharacteristically uncommunicative. Kath decided not to press. Bigger issues.

"Something – woody, I reckon," she said, in reply to Lady's query. She drummed her fingers on the table, making the plate rattle until a waitress came past and took it away. "He's going to think we're all completely insane. Should I - ?"

Lady shook her head. "No. That would be inadvisable. Would it not?" For a moment, she looked uncertain, before shaking her head again. "No. I am sure. Yet seeing your example has made me consider the merits of communicating with people outside of myself and Pes, but in this case – I cannot help but believe he would not comprehend. When, however, magic is free, we shall need to contact him with all haste."

Kath blinked. You have changed. You'd never have even considered the idea before. Or thought about what might happen afterwards. So've I changed, mind. But I think James could handle it. "Shall I see what he's like on Monday? What he says? I can't exactly lie to him. He'll know, for one thing. And I know him. He'll keep asking."

Lady stared at her fingernails. "Well – if you wish."

"I'd say, just see how he reacts to you, like you said," Pes agreed. "That seems sensible. Maybe he's forgotten all about it. Humans are remarkably resilient and able to heal." He smiled. Kath returned it, but a little doubtfully. You didn't see his face. God, I hope he's having fun with Steve today.

"Anyway," she said, moving on. "What's the plan? There's a plan, right?"

Lady straightened. "There is a plan. Mama and I have been discussing the boldness of Night, in such a daring attack. They are coming." She sighed. "I rather – we rather – suspect this is our converging together, our pushing towards an end battle. Have you felt them?"

Kath gave a small nod. It had been subtle – almost imperceptible – and afterwards she'd cursed her lack of foresight, but it had seemed so natural. But the sense of weight and flavour over the City – always strong at the best of times – had grown. "Have you found them?"

Lady's lips tightened. "No. I have not. They are lying low for the most part." Her fists balled a little.

"This is only a partial war, as well," Pes added. "Many Guardians are neutral, or disinterested. Look at Dream."

"Rather not," Kath rolled her eyes. Pes laughed.

"She has always been here, around and about, so I imagine it'd be hard for you to sense a change in the levels of magic because – well, Guardians are always around, here and there. Dream isn't a dark being...no, she's not! She's angry and confused. She has never been the most – developed – of us, because she doesn't work on this level of consciousness. And having Dark powers around made her distressed, and hungry, ready to attack anything that left a magical signature. It was pure bad luck that was us. She is normally a peaceful bringer of good dreams as well as bad."

"Do you remember some of your dreams?" said Lady, very quietly. Kath looked askance at her, but she simply pulled her purse out, avoiding her gaze. "Let us go," she said, placing the money carefully down on the bill plate and rising, pulling on her linen jacket.

"OK," said Kath, agreeably enough. Lady's green eyes looked haunted, and that Pes was glancing at her almost all the time, making sure she ate her food rather than picking at it, hadn't escaped Kath's notice either. Wonder just how hard she's working? Bet she's not sleeping. She hasn't grieved. She hasn't done a thing...

Without another word Lady strode out of the restaurant, leaving Kath and Pes to trail behind her.

"They plan to release the ashes in Richmond Park next Saturday," Pes said, sotto voce. "Look. Lady asked me to invite you. She thought it'd be weird coming from her, but she really would want you there. I know you barely knew Alexander, but..."

"Of course I will," said Kath, her heart contracting. "It'd be...I mean, like, an honour. Of course. I don't want to leave you guys alone, either."

Pes smiled. "Thanks. It'd mean a lot to Lady – and Vicky." He waved towards the striding Lady, halfway down the street already from the sandwich bar. "Let's hurry, shall we?"

"Where are we going?" Kath's curiosity was still piqued, but she knew better than to ask if Lady wasn't being forthcoming. She'd arranged the lunch – mostly to talk about James – but Lady had agreed rapidly, saying she, too, had a reason to meet Kath in haste. Pes just smiled mysteriously – maddeningly – and quickened his pace.

Kath rolled her eyes again and sped up to match him.