Peter Pierce

Bookbinder

Chapters 15-

Chapter Fifteen

It was three in the afternoon and Ben was now officially impatient. They would be hitting the rush our and doing a late check in at the hotel. This had all the makings of a bad road trip.

"Sorry I'm late," Tim ran up from the general direction of the woods. "My book had me looking for…"

"Can it," Ben said brusquely. "We're late and you need to get showered and into clean clothes."

"And I will be speaking with you about punctuality while you're at it," David offered an Tim's face fell as he headed up the stairs.

"Man is he going to get it," Ian whispered and Ben didn't disagree. Tim appeared to be one of the boys who could not put limits on his book. David would deal with that, he had with Ben.

Three hours later they were out of the mountains and stuck in traffic and Ben was grinding his teeth. Both boys were in the back consuming the last of the french fries and cokes from the emergency stop a half hour ago. Emergency being that if they didn't get fed Ben was sure they would mutiny.

Another hour in traffic and they were finally into the center of the city and both boys were looking up at the towering structures and flashing lights. Ben however was having a head ache at all the technology. He couldn't wait to get them into their rooms and down the packet of powder Regina had given him with a knowing smile.

"You're one of us now dear," she had patted his shoulder. "You'll need this to deal with cities from now on."

At the time he'd thought she was being nice, now he realized he really did need the herbs.

It took a bit more time and he finally pulled into a parking garage and had the boys on their way up to their first ever downtown hotel.

"I am sorry sir but we have policies," The woman at the counter looked at him like he was about the most repulsive thing she had ever seen while managing to be polite all at the same time. "We just can't let you check in to a single room with two underage boys who you are not related to. It would be against the hotel's policy."

"She thinks he's going to molest us or something," Tim stage whispered to Ian who had been looking confused. Ben shot him a glance that said he wasn't being helpful.

Ben had had enough. He pulled out his cell and fished for a number.

"Amanda here," A bright voice sounded almost immediately. "That you Ben? My car says it is anyway," she laughed merrily. "Good to hear from you."

"Hi Amanda," Ben tried to sound at least cordial. "I'm trying to check in downtown with two boys from the home town. Tim has an appointment with Dr. Charleston. The desk seems to have problems with that."

"Really," Amanda suddenly didn't sound amused. "I made those myself when Aunt Regina called. Put me on speaker."

Ben put his phone on the desk and hit the proper function.

"Amanda Chu here," the tone was decidedly formal. "Who am I speaking to?"

"Christine Carter Smelt," The woman replied just as formally. "Good afternoon Ms. Chu. I was just informing Mr. Worth about the Grand's policies on occupancy concerning minor children."

"I see," Amanda stated. "I believe you would have taken that lecture from me when I came in last fall?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Carter Smelt relied easily. "You were very clear that there would be no exceptions and what to do if someone tried to get a room. I've already sent Bill."

"Oh, my," Amanda now sounded worried. "Ben, I'm turning around now and will be there in about fifteen. Company policy is to call the police and I'm afraid once we make a call like that they'll respond quickly. I'll call Tony at work and see if he can head it off but I doubt he'll be quick enough."

Ben looked like he wanted to blow up in anger but tried not to.

"I see," he stated. "Can you at least have your receptionist see us to a conference room? I don't want the boys dealing with cops in the lobby."

Amanda gave a couple of non negotiable orders and hung up.

"OK," Ben told the boys when the door was closed. "Amanda is an old friend and her husband Tony is a Captain in the police. She's into books and Tony knows. They'll take care of this. Till they do you boys need to remember to keep your mouths shut. The cops will try to act like your best friends and get you to say stuff. They'll split us up for that and look for inconsistencies in what you say. Best response is to say nothing at all. And I do mean nothing."

"You're not very talkative," the gray haired cop offered as he slid a can of soda across to Ian. "It's all right you know. You're not the first boy to be in this situation."

Ian kept his mouth shut and his eyes off the can. One thing you learned from cop shows was you didn't touch or drink anything because the cops would have your fingerprints and DNA stuff.

They had been in the room for ten minutes and Ian had said nothing. Not even hello. The cop however seemed immune to being ignored and kept trying to be friendly.

***

Tim to ignored the can of soda. He was not at all adverse to talking it up with the guy interviewing him and they were having a really wonderful conversation about fishing.

"So you fish a lot with the guy who brought you here?" The cop slid in the question.

Tim ignored it and asked if the guy preferred streamers or wet flies for bass fishing.

***

Ben pulled the bad cop part of the equation.

"Look, we got you," the guy leaned over the table and just about snarled. "Two underage boys and neither one is your kid. You confess now you'll do less than five for soliciting a minor. Maybe even take a plea and get off with probation. Come on buddy, be smart."

Ben glanced at the clock. Amanda must be in traffic.

***

"Look son," The man put his hand on Ian's shoulder. "I know what he wanted to do to you. You can tell me. He wanted to touch you right?"

"You are touching me," Ian said at last. "And if you don't take your hand off me I'm going to scream then kick you in the nuts as hard as I can."

The cop pulled his hand away as if he'd been stung.

"Now listen," he began in a more cold voice.

"Listen to what Bill?" The uniformed Captain asked from the door. "Reacted just like I'd want my son to act if he was in the same situation."

"Captain," The older cop stood up straighter. "I've just been trying to get some basic information. From the kid's reluctance to talk I suspect we have a perp on our hands."

"Ben?" The Captain laughed. "That's a hoot. Ben and my wife are old friends. She made the reservations for him herself and he would have been the best man at our wedding if he could have made it. Ben Worth is no more a child molester than I am."

Ian smirked.

"As for the boy keeping quiet?" he shrugged. "That happens to be the kid's right," he turned to Ian. "Ian, lets get you back to Ben and get you guys checked in."

"But…"

"My call," The Captain stated. "If you disagree you can put it in your report. Not that it will go anywhere, my boss happened to meet Ben a long time ago and they fish regularly."

***

"Thanks Tony," Ben shook hands a few minutes later.

"No, problem," Tony shrugged. "You met the profile but only a lunatic would consider you a bad influence on a boy," he turned to his wife. "You get the rooms squared away Amanda?"

"Upgraded," Amanda said firmly. "You now have a suite. Two rooms with a sitting area. Technically it also meets corporate policy and I should have spotting it myself. We won't charge for the rooms of course and to make it up to you Tony and I are springing for dinner. There is a great pizza place right around the corner.

Great was a matter of perspective. Ben had not had a chance to down that powder and his head was splitting. Worse there was a vamp someplace close by and Ian looked thoroughly miserable. Amanda and Tim just looked a bit strained.

"We'll do better next time," Amanda leaned in to kiss his cheek at the door. "You're slated for two nights and the hotel is picking it all up for the hassle. And I promise no vamps."

"Thanks Amanda," Ben returned the hug and prayed it wasn't to late for the powder.

It wasn't and an hour later he was happily frolicking with two naked boys in the bathroom.

"This mean you going to prove the cops right?" Tim giggled as a hand grabbed him a little lower.

"It's not molesting if you're begging for it," Ian informed him imperiously. "We just gotta mess up all the beds."

"You inviting me in with you and Ben?" Tim asked wide eyed.

"Sure," Ian grinned. "I already warded the door."

***

Dr. Charles Charleston put the x-ray on the wall so that everyone could see. It wasn't normal practice but he'd dealt with enough kids from the Grove over the years to have a rather broad concept of normal.

"Nasty bit of damage," he observed and saw the look on Tim's face. He therefore added a smile. "I said nasty, not permanent Tim," The continued. "The surgeon was not exactly the best and I'm afraid his work did about as much damage as the bullet. The bone healed rather nicely though and should be just about as good as new. The bone remodeling will certainly not prevent you from sports or any other activities, though I'd approach heavy lifting a bit cautiously for a few months. Muscle damage and nerve damage are a bit more severe. You will need to work it a bit more to develop any muscle mass and I suspect your motor skills may never be perfect. Unless you decide to be a left handed basketball player or take up the violin or piano I don't see much problem."

"Can I swing a hammer?" Tim asked hopefully. "I want to be a blacksmith."

"Not much call for that nowadays," Charleston chuckled. "But I don't see why not. Work up to it slowly is all I ask. And frankly I think it would probably do a bit more good than babying it. Tissue tends to regrow if we use it and atrophy from to much inaction."

Charleston moved over to Tim and examined the arm.

"I'm going to recommend some calcium supplements for the bone," he continued. "And I'll write you something for the pain if you need it?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I think the Grove can cover that," Ben smiled and Charleston nodded.

"It will tend to get sore if he's working it," The Doctor offered. "Anything else?"

"Nope," Ben told him. "I think you just gave a boy enough reason to celebrate for one day."

***

"Anything you guys want to do for the afternoon in the city?" Ben asked as they road up the elevator.

"Naw," Tim stated with disgust. "Cities are boring and I don't like all the electrical crap."

Ben laughed. Dwarves hated electricity in all forms and it appeared Tim was fast going to develop a Foster's aversion to technology.

"Ben," Ian suddenly whined and leaned into him.

"What?" Ben looked at the pained expression.

"That vamp is in the hotel," Ian complained and rubbed his temples. "He's really powerful."

"Then he's really old," Ben offered calmly. "Remember our conversation. Stay out of his mind and we'll leave him alone if he leaves us alone."

"It's a her," Ian offered lamely and tried to do as Ben asked. It was pretty hard and he kept fighting the urge to just say the fire words and make the nasty feeling go away.

***

"You're kidding," Amanda looked like she had just been told that an entire floor of the hotel had been condemned for bedbugs, cockroaches and lice. "That's disgusting. Do you know what floor?"

"Seventeen or eighteen," Ian said promptly. "A room close to the elevators and I can't go past those two floor without feeling like I'm going to throw up."

Amanda frowned.

"I'll go over the guest registry and see what we have," she stated coldly. "You know I have a low tolerance for those blood suckers. I'll put some garlic and oak in with the sheets."

"Don't break the truce Amanda," Ben warned firmly.

"Oh, be like that," she stuck her tongue out at him as the exited the lobby. "And we're eating lobster tonight. Tony is holding us tables and I want to laugh myself silly seeing if you make a bigger mess than two boys," she glanced down. "He's addicted to the things and makes a total pig of himself."

***

Ben was eager to get out of the city and wouldn't even stop from fries till he could see open fields and trees. He did however answer his cell when it went off.

"Ben, Amanda here," Came the urgent voice. "I think you should know about your friend in 1723. Turns out Ms. De'Conte is from Italy and is part of an overbooking at the Plaza across the street. Quiet a large party. Fourteen rooms and they are booked through till the end of June. I took a walk over to have a cup of tea with the manager. A good friend who was bragging about the booking. On the way out I managed to spot a number of other people you should know about. The kind who don't read our books if you know what I mean."

"Got it Amanda," Ben paused to think for a minute. "I have a few nice young people coming in from Florida and I think they may need rooms. Could you put us up if needed?"

"Certainly," Amanda said firmly. "I hope they work in pest control. I'm very worried about having both bed bugs and roaches at the same time."

"Good," Ben replied just as firmly. "And you should have a word with Tony. I'm afraid if your Aunt Regina has her way there may be a party downtown and it could get out of hand."

"Don't worry," Amanda laughed. "Tony knows enough not to arrest someone for torching off a few candles."

"I'll call later in the week," Ben promised. "You keep your head low. Don't forget you're on the party list and I wouldn't want you attending someone elses."

"Trust me Ben," Amanda said slowly. "I'm going to take comfort in the good book on my shelf and not do a thing to start a party."

"You guys really think you're being monitored on the cell?" Tim rolled his eyes after they hung up.

"No," Ben laughed back and pulled into the slower lanes. "I don't Tim, but being cautious is a habit we encourage. The bad guys can show up anywhere in any position. Remember, many of them lead double lives just like many of us do. Witchcraft once in a while and telephone repair man the rest would not be all that weird. Just as it's not all that weird for Amanda to be a reader and manage a hotel. Or for a woodworker to be a carpenter in the regular world. Dr. Charleston's father was a rather famous bone surgeon but his Book was a music one."

"That makes sense," Ian popped in. "They used to use tuning forks to see if a bone was broken and that's sound. He was probably really a specialist with fractures no one else could see right?"

"True," Ben laughed in surprise. "But the point is that you can run across Readers in just about any field and the same is true for witches. So while I think the chances of a witch listening in on our call are about the same as homeland security doing it, I'll still take precautions."

Chapter Sixteen

"You're sure about this?" Ian asked his Book as he had Tim hiked up a rather swollen stream.

"Of course I'm sure," Book answered "And watch were you are going, I don't want to get drowned in the damned creek."

"My book says you're right," Tim advised from just behind them. Like Ian he had his book in his backpack and was carrying on a running conversation. "And it really would be a great gift."

"Damned right it is," Book said proudly. "Amberstone is worth a Trolls weight in gold to an Elf woodworker and I happen to know all the proper wards for one. Plus your book happens to have the shaping spell."

They reached a rather shallow set of rapids.

"Here," Book proclaimed fiercely. "About ten feet [3 m] out from the bank."

"It looks deep," Tim observed then paused "Sorry, my book says it's only about three feet [1 m] but the water is ice cold. It agrees the stone is out there. About an inch or two above the gravel."

"I am so going to freeze," Ian muttered and began shucking his pack and clothes. Tim reached into his own bag and brought out a section of rope.

"So you don't drown," he told Ian as he formed a rough loop.

"That was smart thinking," Ian offered "How did you know I'd need it?"

"I didn't," Tim shrugged. "Book says that every Dwarf carries the essentials. I have a rope and a small pick ax and a flashlight and some other stuff. You never know when you're going to find a cave or a good deposit of stuff."

Ian nodded and shucked his underwear. He took a deep breath and tried not to shiver. It was a warmer day and just about sixty but that water was going to be cold!

"Bottom is gravel," Tim told him as Ian stepped off the bank.

"Yeah," Ian said after a quick gasp. "It's also icecubes."

"Wait till it hits your nuts," Book said helpfully. "I suggest you get it over with quickly. Walk out about six feet [1½ m] and I'll tell you when you're over it."

Ian did as he was told shivering the whole way.

"Lots of trout out there," Tim observed. "My book says their spawning."

"I could care less," Ian muttered. "Am I there yet."

"One more foot and then take one step down stream," Book replied.

Ian did as he was told and felt his foot hit a rather large rock. One that felt rather smooth and rough all at the same time.

"Perfect," Book praised as Ian cursed his stubbed toe. Now it's not that heavy but the water is going to make it tough. Just bend down and pick it up quickly."

Ian shook his head in resignation. If it was for anyone other than Peter there is no way he'd be in the middle of an ice cold mountain stream at the end of March with cold water on his nuts about to go even deeper. He took a deep breath squated down and reached for the rock.

A moment later he came up out of the water with a scream of shock at the cold and clutching a foot long piece of amber colored stone.

"Well, don't just stand there freezing your nuts off," Book told him. "Get out of there before you get hypothermia. Tim, why don't you practice your fire word and heat up that boulder over there, we need to thaw the little icecubes back to life."

Tim nodded and helped a shivering Ian out of the water then walked over to the four foot [1¼ m] boulder. His book gave him quiet a bit of prodding and there was a look of concentration but the rock was suddenly giving off a fair amount of heat.

"Thanks," Ian stood next to it and tried to dry off with his t-shirt while his teeth chattered.

"Lets see the stone," Tim said eagerly and took the still wet stone into his own hands. "Yup, that's Amberstone."

"It doesn't look like amber," Ian commented and leaned closer to the heat of the boulder.

"It's not," Tim told him after a brief word with his own book. "Amber is a gem and it's not really even that. It's fossilized tree sap. Dwarves don't like it much because it's not a real stone. Amberstone has a cool amber color though and will look a lot like amber once we've worked on it a bit," he paused then grimaced. "Book wants to know if you picked a shape yet. He's got a couple he's recommending and says I can do any of them."

"Well," Ian's book stated. "I'll of course confer but the one I have in mind was used by an Elf named Curical and he was rather well known for his finishing work. I will however bow to expert opinion."

That produced a bit of talk between Tim and the two books and Ian finally warmed up enough and dried off enough to get back into his clothes. By the time he was finished they had made a choice. A simple oblong sphere.

"There's enough here to make one about six inches long without any flaws," Tim told Ian and settled onto the rapidly cooling boulder with the rock in his hands. "Once it's cut though you only have a couple of minutes to get the wards on it before it shatters though. You want to take a few minutes with your book?"

Ian briefly reviewed the right ones with Book. It wasn't really hard stuff, nor would it cost a lot of power. Just concentration and intention.

"Got it," he said and settled himself on the boulder next to Tim. Thankfully it was now just pleasantly hot.

Tim bent over the rock and concentrated. Ian saw him break into a sweat and start to breath heavy.

"You're trying to hard," Ian said in his mind. "You can't even get English words right if you fight your way through pronouncing them. Focus on the intention and let the word just flow."

Tim nodded and breathed a bit more slowly. A full minute later there was a tiny fizzling sound and portions of the rock began to melt away.

"Done!" Tim exclaimed. "Now, Ian, ward it now!"

Ian set his mind to the task and let Book guide him on the details. It was after all Book's gift and he should have a part in how the end result turned out. Ian worked slowly and made sure to add everything he could.

"There," he said finally and opened his eyes.

In Tim's lap was a six inch [15 cm] oblong of what looked like pure amber. And it you concentrated on it just right it appeared to have some kind of fire deep in its core.

"Very well done," Book praised and was silent for a second. "Tim's book and I agree, neither of us has seen one quiet that well crafted before. We're placing its value at about two trolls weight in gold."

"Um, and what does it do?" Tim asked skeptically. "I know it's really cool and woodworkers want them but why? "Ah," Book sounded proud. "As to that. Well it's most common usage is as a polishing stone. Wood polished with a Amberstone will never lose its sheen. It also helps to rub the magic deeper into the wood and it can mend small breaks. Other uses are that it glows rather fiercely if there is a witch around or if you happen to run into a goblin," It paused. "And according to your own book vampires think it stinks to high heaven and if you wave the stone at one it's about the same as tossing them into sunlight. In fact you don't even have to wave it. Just get within twenty feet [6 m] and they go poof."

"Cool," Ian grinned. "Lets get back and give it to Peter."

"And get some food," Tim tossed him a granola bar. "I'm starved."

***

De'Conte sat back and considered the current state of the Vendetta. Her clan leaders back in Milan were not pleased. So far the fight had not been nearly as bloody as desired. The witches had done a bad job, yes that one who'd owned the bookstore was dead, one book burned, one boy shot in the arm, they had the general location of the Readers refuge and they had successfully tracked the main target through that old grimoire. But in return they had lost over half a dozen witches and two vampires. At this rate the whole Ron Coven and a good share of her Clan would be dead before they broke the Readers.

And on an even worse note word was coming back that the Cardinal was getting cold feet. This was no time for him to decide to cover his tracks.

Not that it would help. Not one faction of the Inquisition would want the type of war that would happen if there was an open break now.

She winced thinking about what the King's would do if suddenly the Church went after the oldest Clans back in Europe or what the Covens would do if suddenly the Church went back to remembering it's witch hunting traditions. They thought they had problems with a few pedophile priests? What would they tell the world when suddenly bishops and Cardinals started turning up dead? That witches and vampires were real and out to persecute good Catholics? Hardly!

And if one or more of the Kings decided to take a hand? Well that would certainly end any freedom among the Clans. The last clan to have defied a King had vanished in a single night back in the thirteenth century. No, if the King's took a hand she and every other vampire would obey as ordered. She prayed none of them actually took the time to look into this damned prophecy.

She briefly considered the summoning Felicia and her coven was working. Personally she gave it slim odds of success and doubted it would do much more than anger the Readers. It certainly wouldn't hold much weight with the Clan elders if it failed and it would also not carry much weight with the Church.

Which left her and her own people where? Bystanders?

The thought wasn't a pleasant one. Still, she'd made a few contacts locally despite Caleb's injunctions. There were too many people who dealt in blood and too many of them were easily bribed. She had a line on three different Readers already and it would be much better going back to Milan with some blood on her fangs than empty handed and pointing at the Coven's failures. They'd start with the old woman who lived near the rail roads. She had that habit of walking down to the local bar for a fish fry on Friday nights and she did like her beer to go with it. That would dull her senses and make her a much better target.

***

"You're sure," Caleb stated and glared at Twana with more than a bit of furry.

"Drained dry and left in her rose bed," Twana confirmed. "I got the police report."

"FUCK!" Caleb shrieked. "And what do you think the chances are that the Librarians don't go nuts. This is a confirmed vamp attack."

"Not good," Twana admitted. "You going to call Regina?"

"No I am not going to call Regina," Caleb snarled. "She'd only be in a pissy mood and if she's already that pissed I don't want to push her. She knows we're good with the Treaty. Send some flowers and our condolences. For a Librarian she really was a sweet old bitch and I had fish with her a couple times at the bar myself. Pam had a wicked sense of humor and didn't mind me being a vamp at all. But of course that was a couple of decades ago. If it wasn't for their Emissary status I'd gut the bitch who did this myself."

He leaned back in his chair.

"I'm hungry, see if you can get me another of those Italian witches. This time one with less fat and a little more meat on the bones. Last one was like eating bad veal."

***

Regina wiped away a tear and hung up the phone. Pam had been a friend for decades. She hadn't been from Oak Grove. Her own Refuge was Cherry Woods and she had been a fairly peaceful woman whose passion had been her roses and brewing exotic teas. That she'd been drained dry in her own rose beds was a crime.

She'd have to inform Cherry Woods of course. Technically, Pam was not part of the Grove and response would be up to the Woods. It had been years and she hoped her contacts and numbers were still right. For a refuge that far away they often were not and it could take most of a day to track down a phone number to the right person.

"Cherry Wood?" David looked skeptical.

"They haven't fought a vamp war since Mayflower," Ben offered. "Pacifists."

"Not true," Regina was still mopping an occasional tear. "They just have an iron clad treaty with the local Clans. They are one of the oldest refuges in North America and you should keep that in mind. Including that they have more Fosters than any other two refuges combined. I just got off the phone with their head of Security. Trevor Monsvelt, he is sending out a half dozen of their people, they will report to you Ben and will stay till you've dealt with whoever killed Pam."

Ben nodded.

"That should be soon enough," he told them about what Amanda had found. "I'm going to call a hunt in another week and we can use the muscle. I expect the Council will approve."

"You'll have our votes," Regina answered and David nodded firmly. "I'd be surprised it it wasn't unanimous."

***

Ian looked down at the lopsided tin box. It looked hastily crafted and ready to fall apart but he didn't want to dash the brilliant look on Tim's face.

"Well that is an amazing first bit of work," Book seemed bent on disagreeing. "Not very pretty of course, in fact ugly as sin, but anyone who knew what he was looking at would know quality Dwarf crafting when they saw it. Mara's book will scream like a tortured banshee when she goes in it. Well done Tim."

"She won't scream to anyone but herself," Peter chimed in. "I've already talked to the Bogar tree and she's agreed to give me whatever I need. We were just waiting for the dimensions. And my book already taught me the wards," he cocked his head and looked at the box. "I got some iron wood left over and can make a frame for the outside. I'll carve it with rune warnings and no one will be able to see it's lopsided."

"Thanks," Tim said sheepishly. "My book says it's lopsided because I don't have enough hammer strength yet and I lost concentration in the end. It thinks I got it right though and says I'm a damned good smith for a first time."

"I'll get the other guys lined up to put their stuff on it," Peter offered. "It will be ready for them tomorrow. I'm going to get special permission to stay up and finish the box."

"And I'll talk to mom," Tim nodded emphatically. "I know she's already found the herbs she wants."

***

It actually took the whole next day for everyone who wanted to be part of binding Mara's book to put their piece on it and the box no longer looked either lopsided or poorly crafted. It bristled with tiny satchels of powders, wards, tiny bits of wooden enlay and half a dozen music wards. Another small box of wards was waiting for the cave where it would be deposited.

Regina brought up the book and found most of the Grove gathered by the steps of the Archive.

"OK people," she warned with a thin smile. "I know why you are here and this really is a wonderful thing for so many people to take part in silencing this book after what it did. But the transfer into its new box is going to be very dangerous and I want every Foster here to guard minds. Most of you youngsters have never seen a grimoire and it will latch into your minds like a leech if it can."

She waited till she saw nods from the Fosters then motioned to David who walked up with Tim and to Ben who walked up with Ian. She herself reached into the box and removed the grimoire.

"Free so soon," the book cackled at her. "And look what you brought me! So many sweet young minds. Lets see what I can do."

It cast around and more than one child winced as it was forced back out of their minds by the Fosters.

"Someone someone," she soothed the focused on Ian. "Well, I already have a hook in your mind don't I boy. Come see what else I have for you."

She attacked and Ian batted her away.

"I'm not asleep now you horrid book," Ian shouted at her. "Stay out of my mind."

"Oh, well," The grimoire didn't seem offended at all. "So if I have no tasty treats what do you have me here for bitch?"

Regina grimaced and more than a few people winced.

David motioned to Tim who looked out at Peter who promptly joined him.

Tim opened the chest and held it out.

"I bind thee," he said in his best Dwarvish. "I bind thee in darkness, I bind thee in shadow. I bind thee not to see. I bind thee with vengeance to the darkness of earth, stone and cold."

"I bind thee," Peter said in Elvish with tears in his eyes. "I bind thee for love's sake. I bind thee for friendship's sake, I bind thee for the sake of the future. I bind thee for the past."

"I bind thee," Ian stated firmly in Elvish. "I bind thee book. I bind thy pages. I bind thy binding. I bind thy words."

"Five times bound by three," Tim finished and held out the box.

Regina didn't wait for the first scream to end. She put the book into the box and Tim shut it firmly.

Tim put one hand on the box and Peter another, Ian placed his over theirs.

"Elven fire, Dwarven fire, Seal this Box," Ian intoned and concentrated. There was a tiny sizzling sound and the box was suddenly welded shut. Ian now took the box and handed it to David.

Tim pointed towards the mountains and David nodded. Tim's book had found and chosen the cave and Tim picked up the box of wards. No one would know the location but him and David. In fact five hours later the cave would not exist. Dwarves were very good at making cave ins happen if needed.

***

"Who crafted that ritual?" Ben asked from the table over a beer.

"Not me," Regina laughed. "Did you see the power! I take it it was your work David?"

"Not mine," David yawned and took a bite of pie. "I thought it was you. Haven't seen anything close to it since the High Court years ago."

"Ian's book?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No," Ben replied. "It swears it didn't even know. Though it is pretty smug and proud of its reader right now."

"We decided over lunch," Ian came around the corner and headed for the pie not seeing what the big deal was. "Tim's book said we needed a Sealing ward and Tim wasn't sure he could do the fire seal alone so we worked on it together."

"And sealed that box tighter than even Wendal could manage," Book said merrily. "Why, I doubt you could open it if you had the entire High Court of Elves attack it. Not that anyone is getting through that maze of charms and potions. The weakest of those will last a thousand years with that much energy in the seal. Why I am so impressed…"

"Shut up book," Ian looked sheepish. "It was no big deal."

"Ian," Ben waited till he had his pie then pulled him next to him at the tables bench. "For once I agree with your book totally. It is a very big deal. I doubt Regina, David and I could have come even close. And nobody taught this to you?"

"Nope," Ian shrugged. "It just seemed right. Tim's book called it a binding so we just each put in why we were binding it and how. We did it right? It can't hurt anyone any more?"

"You did it perfectly," Regina praised and shot a quick look at David who seemed to silently agree. The prophecy they had seemed to be in agreement with the witches version.

Chapter Seventeen

Marsha raised her head and scowled. Vamps.

Well, she was twenty four years old and it wasn't like she couldn't deal with a vamp. She had gotten the word like everyone else and was fully prepared and her book had taught her the fire words when she was barely ten. If the stupid thing thought she was fair game crossing a park at midnight she was going to turn it in to dusk in the grass.

She moved out off the path and into more open grass. It was darker here but a tiny mumbled ward gave her better eyesight.

Shit, there were five of them! And they had her surrounded. She called up fire.

She got the first one before the rest latched on to her.

***

"Witness!" Caleb screamed. "What do you fucking mean you have a witness!"

"Pete," Twana shrugged. "He was hunting the park for bums. Kind of rancid tasting with the drugs and shit but Pete's a low life. Saw the whole thing. She killed one of them but according to Pete it was a newbie, the ancients she didn't scratch."

"Shit you say?" Caleb snarled. "They wouldn't dare. Turning a newbie on our territory ends their emissary status. Get me proof they did it."

"Not hard," Twana shrugged. "Pete had enough sense to get some of the ashes. Any good witch will tell you who he was and what Clan he belonged to."

"And we know plenty of witches," Caleb leaned back. "OK, send someone to that bitch De'Conte. Tell her we have proof she turned someone. She has the standard forty eight hours then she and her clan are out of here, they pay retribution, they appeal it to a King or they are fair game."

"You think they'd appeal to a King?" Twana looked skeptical.

"No fuckin way. No one is that stupid," Caleb barked. "A King's idea of justice is to kill everyone who bothered him with the complaint. But the rules are the rules and I gotta give her fair warning. You make sure she gets it. And put it in writing. Old style says it has to be delivered on parchment in fresh blood. See if someone does where the hell you get parchment these days."

***

A well tanned and rested Katy waited at the terminal. It had taken a bit to schedule flights but she'd made sure their own arrived at the same time as the crew from Cherry Wood. Ken stood beside her holding one of those ridiculous cardboard signs while Karen and Aaron waited with two rental SUV's.

As expected the Cherry Wood team was made up of college age students. This bunch though had what looked like their Professor in tow. Looks like they sent a Foster and a pretty fierce one by the looks of her as she basically resembled a fire plug with a bad attitude.

"Katy?" The Foster walked up at the head of her group. "Donna Redman. I'm hear on behalf of Cherry Wood."

"Glad to meet you," Katy accepted the handshake. "I have a couple of rentals waiting and we'll get you up to the Grove before dark."

"I would appreciate that," Donna said politely. "And I apologize for the attitude if I'm a little short. It was a fast pack and I'm afraid I didn't mix very much of a powder to keep the tech of an airplane ride at bay."

"I got plenty in my pack," Katy grinned. "Specialty of mine. Aunt Regina swears by it."

"I'd be grateful," she looked rather more at ease then turned to her young warriors. "OK, you bunch, grab our luggage and lets go."

***

"Donna Redman!" David gave her a warm hug. "Look at you. All grown up and acting as Ambassador!"

"David," Donna hugged him back just as warmly. "See I didn't end up in prison like you suspected. Jail, twice but I managed to get my act together before I did any real damage. Though I've spent the last thirty years apologizing to my book," she laughed. "And I'm not exactly Ambassador, I got handed the hunter job. Guess they couldn't find anyone else."

"Nonsense," David told her. "You like your book. You're a fighter, always was and will be. Donna meet Regina our head of Security and Ben. Ben is training for Foster but basically has the Hunter position here."

"Pleasure," Donna shook hands and took the seat at Regina's table. "And thank you for the hospitality. You're a smaller community than ours but certainly no less hospitable."

"Not at all," Regina remarked. "We're simply following a great tradition of welcoming fellow Readers."

"A tradition we will certainly do as well if given the chance," Donna replied and turned to Ben. "Any luck with the hunt for Pam's killers?"

Ben glanced at Regina then nodded.

"Ranerii," Ben stated firmly. "We have them located in two hotels in the city. There are also about a dozen Ron Coven witches with them. With your help we'll raid them on Monday after the usual rush of tourists and convention crap leaves."

"Assault?" Donna asked skeptically. "We're going to barge into a bunch of hotel rooms?"

"We'd miss some," Ben offered. "They aren't stupid and the older ones will have bodyguards. We're working on keys. We have a contact who may be able to get them. We've also got a team ready to seal all the doors and exits."

"Sewers," Donna stated. "If they run they'll go ground not to the street."

"Covered," Ben grinned. "We'll have two fifty five gallon drums of garlic and oak in them the minute we move."

"Smart," Donna agreed. "Though I still don't like the casualties we'll take if they have witches and bodyguards."

"Most of the witches will be out during the day," Ben observed. "From what we've seen there will be no more than two or three. I'm more concerned with the street punks they've been making friends with. The hotel is already complaining about that but gangsta rappers don't take hints from hotel managers easily."

"True," Donna sighed at some memory. "Pity we don't have an Amberstone or some other of those mythical weapons."

"Amberstone?" David's ears went up. "I thought that was a tool for Elf woodwork?"

"Well if you read the myths right," Donna laughed. "It's also supposed to turn every vamp within twenty feet to ash like sunlight or a good solid fire word. Don't even need to be in line of sight. If we had one of those we could just walk down the hall and be done with it," she shrugged. "Not that it means anything unless you can figure out how to get across the Gates."

Ben blinked.

"You can't cross the Gates?" Ben looked shocked.

"No," Donna shrugged. "No one East of the Adirondacks has since WWII. Something about a block they put on the European gates that reached us we think."

"Sweet heaven that must be horrible," Regina breathed out. "Well, thankfully we don't have that problem. Our gates are up and working."

"Then you can talk to the Elves and see if those Amberstones really exist?" She asked hopefully.

"Oh, they exist," Ben laughed. "In fact there is one here in the Grove. Belongs to a youngster by the name of Peter."

Donna grinned.

"And we borrow it for a day," she said happily.

"Um, it doesn't quiet work like that Donna," David shook his head. "take an Amberstone more than a mile from its owner or maker and it will shatter into atomic dust."

"And I am not asking Peter to face Witches and Vampires unless I have no other options," Ben said firmly.

"You'll need me," Ian stated firmly from the other side of the bed. "Peter can hold the stone but I can sense Vamps before anyone else. Without me you wouldn't even know they were there."

"And I'm going," Tim said just as firmly. "There isn't a witch alive that can get past a Dwarf book and someone has to look out for them if Peter is running the halls."

"No!" Ben almost shouted in protest. "This is dangerous enough."

"If it's to dangerous for me it's to dangerous for Peter," Ian said coldly and Tim nodded.

"Besides," Tim added. "You're guys have to take care of those bodyguards and the witches and anything that gets passed us. You won't have time to manage all that and protect Peter. Ian and I can."

"And we have another advantage," Ian smirked. "We're way faster than you and we can be down the hall before they even know we're in it."

"And none of those rapper types is going to take three white kids as a threat," Tim smirked. "Especially if we dress like white yuppy kids on vacation."

"Give up Oaf," Ian's book added from the shelf. "They have you out maneuvered and they have to many facts. Take it graciously and insist they all bring their books. After that little stunt with Mara's book they'd just figure out a way to get into the action anyway."

***

Felicia looked at the body on the floor and winced. Cancer. Not only cancer but three STD's and a bad liver. Fucking low life was going to be dead soon anyway. Such a poor sacrifice actually set the work back and didn't help at all. She looked over at Antonio and glared.

"Not my fault," Antonio pleaded quickly. "The punks are either working for the vamps or getting smart. To many of their buddies are missing. They think it's a police sting."

"Well get me something I can use that won't be missed," Felicia snapped. "It's almost April and we need three more to bind the date. After that you only need one a month. Go see if you can round up some street kids. Try the bus station. Be creative," her eyes narrowed. "And get me a replacement. I'll be working on it all day tomorrow and I'll need most of the Coven we have here to fix this botched job."

Antonio nodded and backed away. He couldn't wait till this was over and he was back in Milan. Way to many of his friends had gone missing in this adventure and he was the third replacement just in a week ago.

***

Ben decided he didn't like logistics. A nice simple stand up fight was easier on the nerves. Plus he'd raided just about every source of help he could think of for this. Amanda and Tony were already hard at work dumping the barrels into the hotel sewer or making sure they knew which cops were going to respond to what. Tony had been rather tight lipped when Ben and Amanda had explained that but he'd not been to hard to convince.

Katy and Karen had warded the doors promptly at eight and then taken a nice long breakfast in the restaurant. One with an excellent view of the stairs, elevators and the three rapper punks eating with the Italian guy. And if their bags were a little big, well that was the fashion wasn't it?

Ken and Aaron and a few others were scattered about the building as well. Aaron thought Ken looked hot in the bellboys uniform as they both worked the elevators.

Donna and her team were at check in booking rooms. Once they cleared it was a go.

***

Ben felt like he was holding a small pack of racing hounds on a leash. All three boys looked eager and excited. Tim at least had a bit of nervous fear in his eyes but all had their books in their backpacks and were just waiting to move.

"Now?" Peter asked eagerly as Donna cleared the desk and walked to the elevators.

"Almost," Ben gave it another few seconds for Aaron and Ken to lock out the rest of the elevators. "Now!"

***

The three boys danced into the lobby like they had been there for days and were eagerly headed back to their rooms.

"Hey, Can you hold the elevator," Ian called and all boys dashed past the desk. It was a fairly common thing to see excited kids and the people at the desk barely looked up.

Ben ran for the stairs. His job was to catch and protect them on the other side of their run and he had ten flights to make in less than three minutes.

***

Donna looked at her team. If this went right they would be taking down witches and bodyguards and her people were armed with pistols. Hotel security cameras were going to go nuts if this went bad.

"This the right floor," Ken held the button to keep it closed and looked at Ian.

"Yup," Ian looked sick. "A whole bunch of them and they are really old."

Peter pulled the Amberstone from his pocket. It didn't take a genius to see that that inner fire was burning a hostile fiery yellow already.

"Remember," Donna told the boys. "You run for the far door and you don't stop till Ben has you."

"Got it," Tim said eagerly and Ken opened the door.

***

The problem with Amberstone was that though it torched vamps it also stunk to high heaven as far as they were concerned and they were warned the second the elevator opened.

"Kill them!" Someone shrieked even as the boys started running and they barely made it past the first door when a vamp came out into the hall with fangs bared.

It burst into flame but it was not the instant ash of legend and it staggered towards them.

"Burn!" Ian ordered in Elvish and the vamp suddenly turned to ash.

A guy with a gun burst into the hall and started raising his gun.

"Burn," Ian and Tim called it at the same time in both Elvish and Dwarvish. The guy screamed and clutched at his head. They'd both had intention for a vamp and the words had basically done little more than send sudden pain through him. The gun however still barked and the bullet hit the ceiling.

"Back to the elevator!" Donna barked and took a shot over the boys heads.

"This isn't working," Tim tried to pull Peter back.

"Yes it is," Ian insisted. " The vamps just aren't burning fast enough. They're setting off the sprinklers."

Another vamp hit the hallway this one smoldering and drenched with water. Ian burned him anyway just as Ben came charging in from the stairway.

Another bodyguard came charging out of the rooms and Ben tackled him before he could raise the gun. Donna's people finally abandoned the elevators and charged forward.

A witch came out the door hurling a curse and one of them went down screaming and clutching her head. Ken took her place and dropped the witch with a very loud bang from a sound word that shattered her skull.

***

Down in the lobby alarms suddenly sounded and there was a rush of people and automated calls for evacuation. Katy watched the Italian witch stand up and motion to the goons. She smoothly reached into her bag at the same time Karen did and came out with her pistol. Two seconds later they were walking out and all four of the rapper goons and the Italian were double tap dead. As added insurance Katy sprinkled a bit of brown powder on the Italian.

***

De'Conte had been the one upgraded to the better hotel and her first warning came with the cell phone. That it rang at all meant it was an emergency and she woke up to the smell of garlic at the door and the feel of wards binding it.

She had not lived these centuries though without learning the need for an escape plan even in broad daylight and her bodyguard was ready. He quickly zipped her into the sealed rubber suit and led the way out the door. He died with a bullet in his chest from a cop who say the gun. De'Conte didn't even pause and ignored the woman who threw that concoction of herbs at her. She was down the stairwell as fast as she could run. The sun would hurt her eyes even with the thick dark lenses but better that than dead.

***

Ian was desperate. There were still five of them and he didn't know how many witches. The vamps were staying in the darkness of their rooms and as far away from the Amberstone as they could get. The witches were keeping them from moving farther down the hall.

"Boys," Donna called. "We have to move back."

Ben was in full agreement with that and made another dash across the remaining space to get them moving.

"No," Ian pulled away when Ben tried to drag him back. "The stone just needs more power. It's making them burn but to slow. Help me."

Ben saw the boy suddenly sink down and focus into the stone. A second later Peter followed him and then Tim.

"Donna!" Ben screamed. "Cover!" And he followed them.

"Ian we don't have time for this," Ben pleaded as he saw the boy trying to pour energy into the stone.

Ian ignored him.

"Fire words," Tim offered. "I'll do Dwarvish, Peter you do Elvish and Ian can focus us in."

"We need more power," Ian clutched at them.

Ben stopped arguing. It was fairly useless.

"I'll supply that," he told them. "And don't forget to tap into your books for help, that's why your wearing them."

"Right now we're kind of busy convincing the witches you aren't here," Ian's book told him indignantly. "Now get to work you slow witted bumpkin."

"Whats a bumpkin," Peter asked.

"An upgrade from Oaf," The book replied and told him to get back to work.

Ian latched on to Ben's mind. He'd done it before and it was easy enough to make the connection. Peter and Tim were a bit harder but they were there as well.

"OK. Now, give it to me and I'll feed the Stone," Ian felt the sudden rush of power as both boys fed him energy and the fire in the stone suddenly blazed even hotter.

From one of the rooms a vamp screamed. A second later another burst into the hall already crumbling. One of the witches panicked and ran for the stairs only to run into Aaron and a fist full of herbs. He went down clutching at his throat and dropping the gun.

Ian kept feeding it power. There were two left. Then one. Then suddenly none at all and he let go of the links.

"Got em," he said breathlessly.

"Cool," Peter grinned. Tim looked a bit more pained and Ben looked winded.

"You boys are a menace," Ben chided them then glanced at Donna who motioned to the last closed door and held up two fingers.

"I am so sick of this," Ben stated and motioned to Aaron who pulled a rather large bottle from his jacket. Ben stood up took a single step and drop kicked the door. He was on the ground before it finished opening and rolling away from the half dozen gunshots. Aaron waited till they paused then tossed it the bottle. It broke and a half minute later the screaming was over.

"Sorry," Aaron looked offended. "Too much razor weed. My bad."

Donna was over her wounded warrior and looked grim.

"Can he make it?" Ben asked.

"He needs a hospital but I have him stable," Donna grimaced. "We got to get out before the police."

"Service elevator," Aaron pointed. "We've got everything locked out and we have a van at the loading dock," They all ran that way while Ben hit his cell to page the others. Cool app for that and he texted a preset message. Bug Out.

***

Half an hour later Donna brought her dear friend in who'd just been shot by a mugger. Horrible thing and no she had been to worried to call the police at the time. Could someone do it now please!

Katy and Karen were running late. Ben had received a short message that it had taken more work than expected to kill the security recordings. Pity what water damage could do to computers.

Amanda's phone call was also short and she was not happy at all. She'd missed the one in that room and Tony was not pleased at all with what they had found in the room. She'd brought up dinner and it wasn't something he could explain to the other cops easily.

Aaron and Ken were ferrying everyone up to the Grove and trading war stories.

Ben was with the boys in a separate SUV headed in the same direction. This one had a cell phone upgrade so he could plug it right into the car. It was a mixed blessing as he repeatedly had to remind the boys to keep quiet while he talked. In the end he set them to reading their books. That at least shut them up.

***

Felicia gasped.

"All of them?" She asked skeptically.

"Every single one," De'Conte for once didn't sound arrogant. Not quiet scared but close. "One of your people got away. They torched or killed everyone on that floor and the ones we had on lookout in the lobby," she looked at the six witches in the room. "This is all you have left. I'm going back to Milan. Not only are my people dead but that bastard Caleb sent me a notice. They start hunting me for violating a technicality at sundown."

"Then I suggest you leave," Felicia shrugged. "I have more than enough people to finish the summoning and it will only take one sacrifice a month."

De'Conte looked like she was going to argue then shrugged and pulled up her rubber hood. Traveling in daylight was painful but if she moved now she could be near enough to the airport to catch the right flight.

***

Four hours later she was standing in line awaiting clearance when three men in TSA uniforms pulled her from line. No one did more than watch as they ushered her to the back of the van. National Security, Caleb loved it. He even sent the passport to Regina with a note of condolences for Pam.

***

Ben needed rest. Preferably someplace warm with lots of sun and not technology.

"Palms?" David suggested over breakfast. "It's rather close to the Mexican border and they're a nice little refuge."

"Disney land," Ian suggested helpfully. "I kind of like the idea of the Magic Kingdom now. Pretty funny."

"Dork," Tim shoved him playfully. "We need a nice beach. I vote for someplace in the Caribbean."

Ben shook his head. "If I have to use technology to get there it isn't worth it," he growled.

"We could go to Baffin," Ian tried. "They hate electricity."

"I'm tempted," Ben told him and reached for the sausage plate. "But unfortunately it's blizzard season there right now."

"No more snow," Ian demanded.

"Perhaps you should all break out the fishing gear and just relax," David told them from the stove. "The forecast is for warmer weather for the next week or so and it will get up to the mid sixties. Plus it's April and trout season is open again."

Ben looked thoughtful.

"Well I did want to be a Foster so I could get some fishing time in," he murmured.

"You can teach me how to fly fish," Ian offered.

"Can we get my poles?" Tim asked eagerly. "I had to leave them in the garage when we ran for it."

"Fishing seems to be the winner," David offered and restocked the sausage plate. "I'll pull out my tying equipment."

Note to fans of this story: Very cool to see so many of you interested in a story with so little sex. I was afraid the feedback would be horrible but you seemed to like it much better than my more graphic stuff. I wrote Bookbinder and I'm not sure where to take it next. It's already a short book and I'm thinking if I pick it back up it will be a trilogy. And my personal thanks to the site host for publishing, It is a bit light on the sex for PZA norm but frankly I don't know who else would have ever encouraged me to write and put it up for you.