Order of Britain: Stone of Madness (8 page)

He gestured to the fireplace, and the flames immediately vanished, replaced by a shimmering white portal.

“Is that a voidgate?” Gordon asked in surprise.

“It is,” Clarence said, calmly gathering up a few personal items.

“And where does it lead?” Callum asked.

Clarence shot him an amused glanced.

“Take a good look at my girth, Callum. It leads to the kitchen, of course.”

***

Maggie looked up and rolled her eyes as the fireplace in the kitchen transformed into a glowing white portal. Clarence stepped through, and smiled at the cook.

“After a midnight snack are we?” she said acidly.

“Not this time, Maggie. I come bearing gifts.” He stood aside and allowed Gordon and Callum through. Callum glanced at Gordon.

“Go tell Nathaniel and Elizabeth where I am, and get yourself set up in the office. If we're going to stop this, we need to get moving.”

Gordon nodded, and headed off through the door.

“A good man, that one,” Clarence noted.

“One of the best.”

“Alright, you're here now, what next?” Maggie asked. “If you think you're going to hide out in my kitchen, you've got another thing coming.”

Clarence smiled and gave her an awkward bow.

“Far be it from me to inconvenience you, dear lady,” he smiled, “But I'm afraid I at least need to remain here until I see the Order on their way.”

“And then?”

“And then there shall be a reckoning,” Clarence said, his eyes grey as flint. “Cameron has betrayed the ideals of the Guild – ideals I hold dear. I shall try to reason with him, and if that doesn't work, I shall take other actions.”

Maggie sat at the table, her fingers tapping on the surface.

“I'm not sure he's going to listen to you, Clarence.”

“Neither am I, Maggie. But I have to try. I don't wish to simply force him to adhere to my way of thinking.” Clarence smiled. “That's more Wallace's style anyway.”

The three glanced up as Nathaniel and Elizabeth entered. Nathaniel grinned as he saw Clarence.

“I gather you've had a change of heart?”

“It seems my services are still required, and so the Guild calls upon me once more. Rest assured, I shall make sure things are turned right again.” He said the words with a twinkle in his eyes, and then he gestured towards the back door.

“For now, though, lets turn you three loose.”

He walked over to a seemingly innocuous flagstone at the side of the kitchen. Kneeling down, he tapped on it three times, paused, then tapped thrice more. The stone floated up as if it was a bubble, and gently moved to the side to reveal a ladder leading down into the darkness. He looked up at their surprised faces.

“Did you really think I wouldn't know a way through the sealing spell? This leads down through the foundations to the sewer. You should be able to make your way to the street from there.”

He stood up, and smiled grimly

“I'm afraid we won't be able to offer you much in the way of support, my friends. Even if I manage to convince Cameron that he's in the wrong, the sealing spell takes about six hours to close down. Once you're out there, you're on your own.”

Nathaniel nodded, and extended his hand. Clarence shook it, and turned away.

“You'd better get moving. I have my own work to do – and Callum, if all else fails, remember exactly who you are.”

“What does that...”

But Clarence had already entered the voidgate, and closed it behind him. Callum shook his head.

“I hate it when he does that.” He tapped his finger to his earlobe. “Gordon, are you set up?” 

“Ready when you are.”

The trio of agents smiled at each other. 

“Best get moving then.” Elizabeth said.

***

The sewer stank, as sewers are wont to do. Nathaniel and Elizabeth gagged as they reached the bottom of the ladder where Callum stood, revolver in hand.

“How can you stand this?” Elizabeth asked.

“I've smelt worse,” he shrugged. “Shall I take the lead?”

Elizabeth nodded, and unlooped her carbine from her shoulder. Above them, the flagstone slipped quietly back into place, a golden sheen covering its surface. Nathaniel raised his hand, palm up, and summoned a glowing ball of light.

“You really need to teach me that trick,” Callum grinned.

“I suspect it may be rather too subtle for you,” the brown-haired man replied, a grin on his face.

They set off through the stinking miasma, looking for the next ladder that would take them to the street outside the Guild. Elizabeth tried to close her nose, or at least to ignore the stench as they wandered alongside the stream of effluent.

“This is truly ghastly,” she said.

“Try not to think about it.”

“I'm trying, but that's damned near impossible,” she grumbled.

A faint movement at the end of the tunnel caught her eye, and she raised the rifle.

“Movement ahead.”

They paused, readying their weapons.. no further movement came, and they advanced.

There was a brief metallic glint in the darkness ahead, and Elizabeth raised her rifle again.

“Did you...” 

“I saw it too,” Callum said. “Nathaniel?”

The tall agent nodded and sent the ball of light down the corridor. There was no-one there, but leaning against the ladder was a bow. It was elegantly carved from tempered yew, and bound in silver. Next to it was a quiver full of arrows.

“That is not what I expected to see,” Callum said. He knelt next to the bow, and gently laid a finger on it. It seemed to subtly vibrate under his touch. He frowned and stood.

“It's definitely magical, but I'm damned if I know how it got here.”

“Perhaps we should leave it here then. I can barely use a gun, never mind a bow,” Nathaniel replied. 

“I can use it,” Elizabeth said quietly. “I learnt when I was younger.” 

They glanced at her, then at each other.

“I'll take any help we can get,” Callum said, hefting the bow and passing it to her. As she took it in her hand, it seemed to fold in on itself, becoming a narrow baton of wood in her hand.

“That's different,” Nathaniel said, an edge to his voice.

Elizabeth said nothing, instead tucking the folded bow into the belt of her trousers. She looped the quiver over her shoulder, and  glanced up at the ladder.

“Shall we?”

Callum shrugged, and began to climb the ladder up to the street. He pushed aside the sewer covering, and lifted himself out into the fresh air.

The street was abandoned, the lights in the lanterns high above sputtering in the late night air. Callum holstered his revolver, and helped Nathaniel out of the manhole, then lifted Elizabeth out.

Wordlessly, they headed off into the streets of London, heading for the centre of the darkness.

***

Clarence calmly walked through the halls of the Guild, the heels of his shoes clicking on the stones of the floor. His face was calm, almost amiable, but anyone who looked into his eyes  would have been terrified of the fury that lay deep within. Those who knew him would also have noticed the purpose of his walk as he headed for the council chamber.

The chamber was abandoned when the rotund mage entered. The council members, having given into Cameron's demands, had convinced their new leader to go and get some sleep. Clarence smiled grimly to himself, and headed for his traditional chair – facing the door directly and, more importantly, it was the seat of the chairman. He made himself comfortable and began to read his annotated copy of “Magics consequences.”

He settled himself in to wait, thumbing through the much loved book. The door popped open briefly, a guard looking into the room, backing slowly out, and scampering off down the hall. Clarence ignored him, seemingly focussed entirely on his book.

He didn't even glance up when Cameron burst into the room, his grey hair tousled and sleep still in his eyes.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” the councilman snapped.

“I should think that's obvious, Wallace. I'm taking back my place as chairman. There's a funny little part of our rules that says if the man who replaces an active chair proves to be unsuitable for the role, the previous chair can resume his position.”

Clarence delicately closed his book, and laid it gently on the table. When he looked at Cameron, his eyes were cold.

“And thus, it is time for me to clear up the mess you've caused. Right now the members of the Order of Britain are moving to stop the chaos out in London. I, on the other hand must deal with you.”

Cameron laughed. There was an edge of madness to that laugh, a manic, staccato sound that chilled most listeners to the bone. He turned away.

“I don't have time for this. When I come back, I expect you to be out of my chair, Clarence.”

The rotund mage casually lit his pipe, the blue smoke beginning to spiral up towards the domed ceiling of the star chamber.

“You are vain, power hungry, and malicious, Cameron. All of these I could forgive, but you've also shown yourself to be an incompetent coward. And worst of all, you have betrayed our oath to protect the people of Britain from magical dangers.” He took a deep puff of tobacco, and exhaled a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke. “Thus, if you do not step aside and allow me to resume my position, I have no choice but to invoke the high mages challenge.”

Cameron turned slowly to stare at him. A sick grin spread across his face, as he glared at his former chief. Suddenly, his hand whipped forward.

“Challenge accepted.”

A blast of energy flashed from his fingertips, aiming for Clarence's chest. Clarence swatted it away as it if were an annoying fly, and continued to calmly watch his opponent.

“Did you really think that would work, old boy?”

Cameron snarled, and launched another crackling bolt of elemental magical force. It splashed against Clarences shields, and dispelled instantly. Casually, Clarence puffed on his pipe, his face inhumanly calm.

“A little better. Still not good enough though. Allow me to demonstrate.”

Clarence removed his pipe from his mouth, and nodded in Camerons direction. The blow took him on the chin, sending him reeling backwards against the door of the chamber. He slumped to the floor, glaring groggily at the rotund magician. 

“Simple telekinesis, Wallace. If you can't even defend against that, how do you believe you can defend this country?” Clarence rose from the chair, and began to walk slowly around the table. Cameron launched bolts of lightning from his fingertips in an attempt to break through the shields. 

Clarence continued his calm advance, until he stood above Cameron, his shields crackling with energy.

“Do you know what will happen if I release the stored energy from my shields at you right now, Wallace?” He crouched, bringing his face level with his opponent's. “I assure you that I shall remain completely unharmed. However, the electricity will course through your body with enough power to stop your heart instantly. I'd like to believe it would be painless, but I rather suspect that it will instead be absolute agony – for about five or six seconds at least.” He raised himself back to his full height. The shields around him crackled ominously.

“I shall only ask you once. Do you yield?” 

Cameron held his gaze for a moment, then his eyes dropped.

“I yield.” 

Clarence smiled brightly. His shields dropped instantly, and with a crackle of static the electricity dispersed.

“Jolly good show. Well fought, I do say.”

He turned away, and pushed the door open. Gordon Daltrey was standing outside, his face nervous. He broke into a smile as Clarence emerged.

“I gather you won then, sir?”

“Of course. Do call the council, will you?”

Gordon nodded, and began to turn away, but his eyes was caught by movement over Clarence's shoulder.

Cameron was getting shakily to his feet, a snarl on his face. He drew back his hand, a ball of fire forming in the centre of his palm as he prepared to assault Clarence's unprotected back.

Gordon stepped to the side and reached into the pocket of his suit. His hand came up holding the revolver Callum gave him. Thumbing back the hammer, he aimed and pulled the trigger in one smooth motion. 

The bullet took Cameron high in the chest and he stumbled back against the round table he had so coveted. He stared at the little man in disbelief as he slumped to the floor, a crimson stream flooding from the hole in his chest. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words emerged. He continued to stare at Gordon until his eyes went blank, and his head rolled over to settle against his shoulder.

Clarence glanced at the little man, who calmly returned his gun to his pocket.

“I gather your perspective on the world has changed, Mr Daltrey?”

“Somewhat sir. Now, if you excuse me, my team is relying on me for support.”

Clarence gestured to the round table.

“Work from here – I want the council to hear everything that's going on – and what they have allowed to come to pass.”

***

The trio walked through the abandoned streets, their eyes wary of any potential threats. Callum, leading the way, walked with his hands in his pockets, clasping the butt of his revolver.

“This is decidedly eerie,” Nathaniel murmured as they moved along the cobbled roads. “I've never seen London so quiet.”

“It makes a change, at least,” Elizabeth said. She'd left the bow-baton tucked into her belt, and was once more carrying her reliable Martini-Henry carbine. They turned the corner, and halted in their path.

The bubble of darkness was a palpable thing, spread across the road before them like a barrier. Glancing up, they could see the edges of its dome filling the sky, a more solid blackness against the inky night.

“Well, we've come this far.” Callum said. He walked towards the darkness, took a deep breath, and stepped through.

Immediately, he felt the invasive presence attempt to creep into his brain, a pervading feeling of fury and hostility. But behind  it, there was something else... fear?

Callum blinked, and tried to focus on the sensation, but as quickly as he noticed it, it was gone, the darkness retreating from his mind. He looked over his shoulder at his colleagues, and grinned.