“Is it possible for it to be recorded wrong?” asked Dylon.
“A false record of my death was filed,” Remy pointed out.
“True, but the difference is your parents were the ones doing it. That’s not the usual case when a magic user is born,” Brady said.
“Whether he is or not can wait for another day, since he won’t be at today’s council meeting,” Logan said.
“Good point,” Dylon replied. “Time to head to the council chambers and get in place. Brady, why don’t you lead the way?”
“Certainly.” Turning around, Brady took the old familiar path he’d walked so many times before. So far everything had gone to plan with only a few hiccups, but none that would jeopardize the action about to occur. A smile broke out on his face as he realized he was close to achieving his goal.
~/~/~/~/~
Hearing a twig snap, Smokey looked over his shoulder, rising as Ghost walked out of the forest. Stepping away from Kevin’s parents, he asked, “All done?”
Nodding, Ghost stopped in front of Smokey. “Yeah, Ivan is keeping an eye on the yahoos we caught.”
“Are they talking?”
“Not yet…but I’m sure you can persuade them it’s in their best interest to do so. They had trackers like the first bunch but with a twist…this time who ever put them in their collars also wired them to go boom if anyone tried to remove them.”
Smokey’s eyes widened. “No fucking shit! The asshole behind this is certainly playing for keeps. Have you heard from Snow White?”
“No, still silent…how’s Harte?”
Shrugging, Smokey looked over his shoulder at Elen, then grabbing Ghost’s arm, pulled him over to the edge of the forest. “He’s not doing well…he needs to shift but can’t until he regains consciousness.”
Peering over his friend’s shoulder, Ghost noted Harte’s pale face and blue tinged lips. Then shifting his gaze back to Smokey, he asked quietly, “Have you used your voodoo on him?”
“Some…but other than keeping his heart beating, it hasn’t done much good.”
“Smokey, you have to do more…throw everything you got at him. Whoever is hunting Kev’s parents, means business. We gotta get ‘em outta here…like pronto.”
“It’s a risk…it might do more harm than good,” Smokey muttered.
“It’s either that or we move him in his current condition. Take your pick.”
Heaving a big sigh, Smokey turned, heading back to Harte. “Get everyone outta of here, willya? I don’t need an audience…especially if it goes south.” Fear of failure had kept him from using it before, but since he wasn’t going to risk moving Harte again, it left him only one choice.
Kneeling down beside the prone man, he waited until Ghost did as he asked before laying his hand on Harte’s chest. Smokey closed his eyes and prayed to the Great Spirit before beginning. His grandfather’s voice rose up in him, giving him the words taught to him long ago. Then placing his mouth over Harte’s, he exhaled, sending a tiny bit of his lifeforce into him.
Moving back from Harte, Smokey kept his eyes locked on him, hoping it would work. His grandfather’s warning about the use of this powerful incantation echoed in his head, but the alternative of Harte dying pushed it aside. He owed Harte everything after he’d stepped in and saved Smokey when his parents died. Finally, this was his opportunity to repay him.
“Gabriel! Look!”
Smokey had already seen signs that his gamble had paid off. Harte’s lips were returning to their normal color as was his skin. Now all that remained was for Harte to regain consciousness. It seemed like hours, but it was only a few minutes before Smokey saw the first movement of Harte’s eyes struggling to open. Grabbing his hand, he squeezed it, saying, “C’mon old man, it’s not like you to keep Elen waiting.”
“Who you callin’ old?” Harte whispered, weakly returning the squeeze.
“You wanna make me stop? Then wake the fuck up!”
Harte gave a raspy chuckle as he forced his eyes to open, looking first at Smokey before shifting his gaze to Elen. “Are you gonna let him talk to me that way?”
“If it gets you up, then yes, I believe I will,” Elen said, smiling at her husband.
“Feeling better?” asked Smokey.
“My shoulder hurts but the rest seems okay,” Harte responded.
