She reached down as she finished, slamming her hand against the spellwork she’d scribbled along the circular shield’s edge, and the magic crashed down on them like a hammer. It shut down the freezing wind, dispersing the last of the ghosts and knocking what was left of Vann Jeger into the dirt. Even the Empty Wind, who’d been pretty much untouchable this entire time, stumbled under its weight, and when he got his head up again, his blue eyes were blazing with anger. “What are you doing?”
“What I did before,” Marci said, her voice humming with power. “I’m binding you.” She turned the shield to show him the markings she’d drawn on its surface. “Did you know that spellwork written anywhere inside a larger circle applies to the whole? Once you said your name, it was a simple trick to change the ritual’s target from Vann Jeger to you.”
The Empty Wind’s blue eyes went wide in the empty dark of his helmet. “Why?’
“Because I was warned it would come to this,” she said sadly. “I knew that you would try to take control the moment you had the upper hand. For the record, I don’t fault you for that. You’ve got your dreams just like I’ve got mine. But just because I understand doesn’t mean I’m going to let you do it.”
Julius couldn’t believe she was justtellinghim that. But though he fully expected the Empty Wind to go ballistic over Marci’s confession, the spirit did nothing of the sort. Just the opposite, he actually sounded impressed. “You planned this from the beginning, didn’t you?”
“Of course.” Marci said, lifting her head high. “Who do you think I am? A good mage always has a backup, and speaking of.” She flexed her fingers, and the magic pushing down on the field doubled, sending the Empty Wind to his knees.
“Now that I’ve got your attention,” she said. “Here are my terms.” She tapped the shield in her hands. “I haven’t completed my spellwork yet, but I’ve got enough grade-A dragon magic here to do pretty much whatever I want. With one line, I can finish the spell that will rebind you as my servant. With another, I can banish you so hard you won’t reform for another sixty years. Your choice.”
“You would banish me?” Ghost cried, incredulous. “Give up all this power?”
“Power someone else gives you isn’t power at all,” Marci replied stubbornly. “And you should know I’m not bluffing.”
“I never doubted it,” the spirit said, scowling. “But what would you gain by binding me again? We’re already linked as deeply as can be.”
“We are,” Marci agreed. “But this is for me, not you. I had no idea what I was doing the first time I bound you. This time, I know exactly what’s at stake, and I’ve made a lot of improvements.” She pointed at the spellwork on the shield. “You’d still be my spirit and subject to my orders, but you’ll keep your name and free will, and I’ve also added in a clause that bindsmeto help you with your work as much as I can, no more questions asked.”
Julius had no idea what that meant, but the Empty Wind looked extremely touched. “You’ll help?”
“OfcourseI’ll help,” Marci said, exasperated. “Just because I’m taking precautions so I don’t end up your slave doesn’t mean I don’t respect your mission. Your work is important—even the dead need a champion—but I amnotgoing to be your pet mage. I’ve done my best to be fair to both of us here. If that’s agreeable to you, then stop wasting time and come back, but if you want to keep being a menace, I won’t hesitate to do what I have to do.”
The spirit stared at Marci for a long time after that. Then, at last, he lowered his head. “I knew it,” he said as the last of the icy wind died down. “Even when I knew nothing, IknewI chose right in you.”
Marci grinned. “So you’ll take the binding?”
The Empty Wind nodded. “There is no shame in being bound to a worthy master, and Mortal Spirits, like mortals themselves, were never meant to be alone.”
“Then come home,” she said, adding one final stroke to the spellwork on the shield before holding out her hand. The circle on the shield in her hand flared at the same time, and the enormous weight of magic vanished, melting away like snow in the sun. When it was gone, the soldier with the glowing eyes was gone, too, and Ghost was sitting in the crook of Marci’s arm, his fluffy white body curled contentedly against her chest.
“Really?” she said, arching an eyebrow. “All that and you couldn’t even keep the badass haunted Roman Legion look?”
The cat gave her a nonchalant look, opening his mouth in a silent meow that made Marci roll her eyes.
“What did he say?” Julius asked.
Marci tossed the spellwork-covered shield back on the pile. “He claims it’s less work to be a cat. He’s also complaining that he’s tired. Oh, and we’re not to touch any of the weapons.”
“Pity,” Chelsie said, her voice strained. “They’d make fine trophies.”
Julius glanced at his sister, suddenly worried. He’d never heard her sound so exhausted, but there was no weakness in Chelsie’s movements as she hopped to the ground. “Julius?”
He slid down the massive pile of weaponry to stand beside her. “Yes?”
She turned to Vann Jeger. “It’s time to finish what you started.”
Julius’s stomach sank. Even now that Marci’s magic was gone, Vann Jeger was still doubled over, his head pressed down into the once again dry field. It was a truly pathetic sight, and it filled Julius with unexpected hesitation, especially since he’d been daydreaming about burning Vann Jeger to a crisp not ten minutes ago. But his sudden attack of sympathy dried up as fast as it had started when the hunter lifted his head to shoot them a look of pure hate.
“Get on with it,” he whispered, his breaking ice voice now little more than a crack. “Send me home, it makes no difference. I will always rise again, and when I do, I will hunt you all to the ends of the Earth for what you’ve done tonight.”
“Whatwe’vedone?” Julius cried, stomping over. “Wewere minding our own business. This whole thing was your fault!”
“You know nothing,” Vann Jeger growled, his black eyes moving to Marci, who was still making her way down the weapon pile. “Your human brought death himself back into this world. Do you have any idea how many will suffer because of this? But you snakes don’t care about preserving. You only know how to destroy. But the last laugh shall be ours.” His pinched face split into a grin. “The Lady has already repaired the damage from your idiot brother’s rampage. The Reclamation Project marches on. With or without me, it’s just a matter of time.”
Chelsie’s expression darkened. Julius didn’t like the sound of this “Reclamation Project” either, but he knew better than to ask. The only reason a beaten enemy dropped hints like that was when he was laying bait. For all they knew, Algonquin was already on her way.
