The midday sun was high when Ishbel and Donnchadh arrived, safely behind the tinted and UV reflective shield of their Land Rover's windscreen. They met us in the security office where we had reconvened, along with the other Masters, at Gunner's request.
Katie had also joined us, being introduced as Will's consort, much to the surprise of the other Sires and Seconds, who looked between me, Conn, Katie, and Will with a mix of shock, awe, and curiosity. Clearly Katie's reputation had spread far and wide, but hopefully time would wash away the stains once the rest of the world saw what we saw in the one-time bunny. At least no one had the gall to verbalise their thoughts on the Katie matter, and when Will pulled her onto his lap, she included amongst us with mute acceptance.
Ishbel threw her arms around both me and Conn as soon as she stepped into the room.
"I came the moment I heard you'd reached an agreement. Is there any news from the southern Sires? Even once communication came back up, it seems they're refusing to answer my correspondence."
"Do you think they know?" Sykes asked, concerned, but not enough to pull out.
"Wouldn't surprise me. Once emails came back online it's likely someone informed them about this meeting," I answered, my tone bitter but accepting. "Either Stringer or one of the snakes in the grass here could've contacted Darling or one of his band of moronic power-seekers. If they know about the meeting, then it isn't a jump to conclude we're planning something rebellious, and they all know which side Ishbel would fall on if asked to choose. Getting into their systems was never meant to hide this meeting indefinitely, just long enough to bring us to a conclusion."
"Which brings us to our next issue," Conn added. "Now that we've decided to break away from the south, we need to form a plan of action. Gunner has discovered some pertinent information which we can use to undermine the southern Sires, but first we feel it's time to introduce you all to some further allies. You may feel that by splitting BritVaC down the middle, we are lessening our resources and ability to move forward, however, my cohort has forged a number of alliances in recent months, in no small part thanks to my wife, and we actually have a far stronger support network in the north now than we ever did while relying on the south."
Leof kissed my cheek, then asked, "Would you like to retrieve our other guests?"
I tipped my head, kissing him properly, then nodded and slipped off his knee. I jogged up the basement stairs and into the library, where Fenn, Fuadain, and Osher waited. The first's posture was confident, trying to look unashamed, however, I could feel his embarrassment as Osher glared at him. I didn't blame Osher after what Fenn's conquest of his daughter's had cost him, but I felt relieved that the incubus had chosen to sit in one of the wingback chairs next to the fireplace rather than picking a fight.
"Thank you all for coming at such short notice. Are you ready to meet NorVaC?" I asked, not that I'd doubted Fenn's attendance; he agreed to come the moment I phoned him, which I'd done shortly after my peers agreed to form our splinter cell.
Osher had been more reluctant to visit Milbank. He was concerned about interacting with other Sire's, with unknown elements. He'd asked to be given time to contact the Incubi Council for orders, but in the end they had agreed he should attend. If anything, that showed how desperately the Incubi needed an alliance with us.
"NorVaC?" Osher asked, perplexed.
"I'm just trying it out before I suggest the name to the others. BritVaC: Northern Region, is just such a mouthful."
Fenn chuckled then strode across the library to hug me, making the most of Conn's absence without crossing any boundaries.
"You know, a lot of the other wolf packs shorten Northern Pack to Nor-Pack. Nor-Pack, allies of NorVaC, has a certain ring to it."
I hugged the big wolf back, laughing as I said, "It must be fate. Now I just need to persuade the others. That's got to be easier than getting them to separate from BritVaC in the first place, right?"
