After throwing his hands up, Dave shouted, “The fate of the world is teetering on the precipice and you’re worried about casualties? You’re letting your guide control your emotions. That bull would have you circle the herd and protect it, but you have to apply your logical mind and override the animal instinct.” Dave reached up to touch Kavon’s head or maybe slap him on it.
Kavon stepped back quickly. “Because that’s what you taught me?” Kavon asked in a low, deadly voice.
“Exactly. Track the ifrit here, in the spirit plane. Hunt it down, and you have a chance to save the world.”
That bastard. If Kavon tried to track the Anzu, it could head so deep into the spirit plane that Kavon would get lost forever. He would die, and because of the bond, he would take Darren and both their guides with him. But Dave didn’t care. How many years had Kavon tried to impress the man in front of him. How hard had he worked to be worthy of his great shamanic teacher? And now the man was ready to throw Kavon’s life away.
“Fuck,” Darren said. “Between your suicidal plans and Pochi’s genocidal backup plans, I’m starting to think we’re in more danger from our allies than our enemies.” Apparently, Darren had seen through Dave’s bullshit. Kavon was embarrassed that he had ever admired Dave.
“You are in danger, from all these ifrit. You need to confront the monster here because the guides have the power to destroy magic on Earth. When Bennu first came through, the other guides came looking for him. The wall was melting, but they were more concerned about stopping Bennu than holding the defensive line they created. So it will be humans who solve this and end the war—not ifrit.” Dave showed no doubt, no interest in any discussion. All he had was the utter certainty of a zealot. Kavon had seen the same expression on Salma’s face when she insisted the ifrit would save them all. Threads of magic drifted through the air, each as insubstantial as a cobweb.
Kavon pulled Darren closer. “I’ll consider that if our current strategy fails.”
Thunder rumbled overhead. “You’re giving them time to gather reinforcements. The ice wall won’t hold forever.”
Either the spirit plane had changed Dave or Kavon had been a shitty judge of character when he’d been younger. “It’s held thousands of years. I don’t think all the evil ifrit will come through in the next day or two.” Thunder cracked the air, and a moment later, Bennu appeared overhead. His wings created an enormous shadow that slid across the landscape.
“The barrier is failing.” Dave’s frustration rolled over the landscape. “In trying to protect your herd, you’re going to get them killed and the Earth enslaved by these creatures.” Dave’s badger came waddling in, his teeth bared. Reality bulged.
“Kavon?” Darren said.
“Do you think you can continue to manipulate me?” Kavon kept his attention on Dave. He didn’t need Dave’s approval, and he sure as hell didn’t trust him right now. Dave had trained him to distrust other shamans, to rely on himself, even when that was antithetical to his instincts and his guide. A bull wanted a herd—it wanted people, only Dave had warped him into someone distrustful and isolated. Kavon could see it now. Dave had treated him like a tool to shape for this war.
Darren grabbed Kavon’s arm, and Kavon felt the pull of some force trying to drag Darren away from him. Reality wavered around them, and Kavon caught Darren around the waist with one arm. Something pulled Darren backward, and Kavon held on as a force shoved them, and then they were back in the SUV looking out the front window at the DC street.
“Did we just get kicked off the spirit plane?” Darren asked.
“The next time I see Dave, I’m going to kick his ass,” Kavon said before he opened his car door. Coretta stood next to a bus stop, shading her eyes as she watched them. She probably wanted to avoid interrupting a spirit walk, but now she started toward them, Joe Kaslov at her side. A ghostly octopus swam through the air.
“Kavon,” Darren said.
“I see it,” he answered. If they could see hidden guides, then Bennu was near. Kavon just wished he knew why that bird was spending so much time hiding.
