The cavern fell unnaturally silent. Boe shook slightly, then lifted directly off the altar, as if raised by a gentle but invisible hand, his body loose and relaxed. He was turned in the air and the light and hissing coming from his back disappeared. He drifted gently back to the slab on his back, fully relaxed, eyes closed.
A high, innocent, bell-like voice spoke, seeming to come from all around:
“His shift is bound—the power is contained.”
The pendant spun to the back side revealing a snarling wolf’s head. A rich, unidentifiable voice emanated from the pendant and pealed through the chamber. Ethedra made a noiselike a squeak and disappeared. Abigail peeked over Number Six’s shoulder at the pendant, clutching the fox pelt.
“ABIGAIL WHITE. YOUR INTENTION IS USURPED. COOPERATE AND IT WILL GO WELL FOR YOU AND YOUR DEAR ONE.”
Abigail’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s speaking?” she demanded. Number Six stood immobile in front of her, fists clenched at his sides, steely gaze on the pendant.
“YOU KNOW WHERE THIS POWER COMES FROM—INDEED, YOU HAVE STOLEN IT FROM ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER AND USED IT FOR YOUR OWN GAIN NUMEROUS TIMES. NOW YOU WILL COOPERATE.”
“And if I don’t?”
“THE WINDOW FOR THIS POWERFUL SOLUTION WILL PASS AND YOU WILL BE ON YOUR OWN.”
“You’ll help me summon thebofox?”
“THE TIME TO SUMMON THEBOFOXHAS NOT COME.”
“You’re wrong! You’ve got to be wr—,"
“WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE MEADOW,” the voice boomed. “AND WE ARE NEVER WRONG. YOUR ONE JOB IS TO FOLLOW OUR INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY. YOU HAVE FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE YOUR WINDOW CLOSES AND YOU MISS YOUR CHANCE. WILL YOU COOPERATE?”
Abigail stared at the pendant without answering for almost a minute, a look of intense concentration on her face.
“I will,” she finally said. “What do I need to do?”
A curtain of blazing color fell over the altar. The image of a forested park and playground showed on it, with a sign saying ‘Sinnissippi Park’.
“TAKE HIM HERE NOW. SCRUB HIM OF YOUR SCENT. DROP HIM AT THE PARK AND LEAVE THE AREA. ALLOW HIM TO AWAKEN AFTER YOU HAVE GONE. DONOT STAY TO SEE THAT HE IS COLLECTED OR YOU WILL BE DETECTED, NO MATTER HOW DIM.”
“Collected by who?”
“BY SOMEONE WHO WILL HOUSE AND PROTECT HIM AND THE POWER HE HOLDS, EXACTLY AS HE IS BEING PROTECTED NOW.”
“Another Promised,” Abigail said under her breath. She touched Number Six on the shoulder. “Take him up to the car, quickly now.”
Number Six jumped into action, picking Boe up and carrying him up the stairs.
“Ethedra!”
Ethedra reappeared, her face dour. Abigail took thefheargachaoff her finger and dropped it into the well. Ethedra put her palm out and thefheargachafell from nowhere directly into her hand. Abigail pointed to theshiftsegen.
“Watch that thing for me. Call me immediately if it does anything.”
“All right. We have plans to make when you return.”
“Many.”
Abigail hurried toward the stairs that led to the roof. She clapped twice, turning the lights off, then went up the steps and out the door at the top.
Theshiftsegenglowed softly near the ceiling, pulsing with light and power, while Ethedra stood over her well, watching diligently.
♦Part 2—The Taking of Paisley White
Abigail did as she was told, dropping Boe at Sinissipi Park and leaving before anyone could sense her. Obviously, Abigail is afoxen, and a powerful one, but at this point, thewolventhought she was nothing more than a human.
