Jack wasn’t sure how Cecilia’s Power worked, but he hoped she was right.
‘Don’t you think the guards will notice so many people entering a residency like this? Not to mention the noise. They aren’t exactly being quiet, are they?’
Cecilia waved a hand. ‘Don’t worry about that, Dear. We’ve got it all under control.’
‘How?’ Jack pressed.
Cecilia looked through the crowd of people. ‘See that old man over there in the corner, the one with the big moustache? He’s got a useful little talent that helps us stay hidden.’
‘What is it?’ he asked.
Cecilia winked. ‘It’s a secret, Dear. If I told you, the effect would be broken.’
‘Oh. Okay, then. What about R?ven? How did you find her?’
Cecilia looked over Jack’s shoulder at R?ven, who appeared to be having a staring competition with Xara. ‘That girl is a darling, isn’t she? Voice of an angel. I saw you talking to her before.’
‘Yeah, she’s great,’ said Jack. ‘We go way back.’
‘Oh, excellent!’ said Cecilia, grasping Jack’s arm and squeezing gently. ‘She’s ever so good. Volunteered to spy for us, and deliver messages. Said she was at our disposal.’
‘She said that?’
Cecilia nodded and was about to speak when Anton interrupted her.
‘It’ll come in handy, too, when trying to recruit new members for our army,’ he said, a smirk on his face.
‘Shut up, Anton,’ Cecilia snapped, trying to block him from the conversation by turning her back on him.
‘Army?’ Jack repeated, peering over Cecilia’s shoulder.
‘Yeah. Didn’t Cis tell you? We’re waging a war on the Realm in a fortnight.’
Chapter Twenty-Six
Across Land and Sea
KENNETH REDDING
Kenneth, Robert, Elise, Bran, Tom, and Penny sat around a circular table with maps and documents sprawled across the surface. They’d met up several days ago after travelling across the country to meet in Concord City.
It unsettled Kenneth to see his eldest daughter's face plastered across the city, but it was also a sign that she had not yet been caught. He was sure it would be big news if she had been captured … or worse, killed.
‘We received an invitation early this evening about a human-organisation meeting taking place in the city,’ said Robert.
‘Another group like us?’ asked Penny.
‘Bigger than us,’ replied Robert.
‘How did they find us?’ Kenneth asked at once. ‘And how did they know we are pro-human?’
Robert shrugged. ‘Beats me. Maybe they’ve got spies listening all over the city.’
‘When is the meeting?’ asked Elise.
Robert checked his pocket watch. ‘It was two hours ago,’ he said.
‘Well, why didn’t we go?’ Bran demanded.
‘Because we can’t trust them,’ said Robert. ‘It could be a trap.’
‘What’s this group called?’ asked Kenneth.
‘Howl, or something,’ said Robert, waving a hand. ‘I forget what it stands for. Anyway, rumour has it that they have over one hundred members, which, in my opinion, is risky business. How can they trust everyone that walks through their door?’
‘Maybe they have a way to weed out the spies,’ said Tom. ‘Perhaps a telepath?’
‘Maybe,’ said Kenneth. ‘I don’t think it would hurt to join forces with another group if we plan on overthrowing the Realm. I mean … we can’t do it with just the six of us.’
‘It would have been seven,’ said Robert, scowling. ‘If Maria were still alive.’
The table fell into sympathetic silence. The memory of Maria’s death was still fresh in their minds. One could not easily forget watching another being decapitated before their very eyes.
‘I think we should talk with another pro-human group,’ piped up Penny.
There was a general murmuring of agreement.
Robert clucked his tongue impatiently. ‘Sure, if you all want to get arrested and hanged.’ His tone dripped with sarcasm.
‘If they have as many members as you say, I’m sure the range of Powers would be security enough. Maybe they have silencers, or shields-’ Kenneth began.
‘And what if they’re not a real group?’ asked Robert. ‘What if it’s a hoax, and we get there, and there’s no meeting?’
The six looked between each other, figuring out an answer to the question.
‘One of us goes,’ said Kenneth. ‘That way the others are safe.’
‘Are you volunteering?’ asked Robert. ‘I’m sure they’d love to recruit the father of the infamous Fire-Mage.’
Kenneth looked around at the expectant eyes. They waited for his decision.
‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Ill do it. I’ll join Howl.’
‘Maybe Penny should do it,’ said Tom quickly. ‘She can shrink if they try to capture her. She would get away easily.’
Penny nodded in agreement, but Ken shook his head.
‘No, I won’t put her in danger,’ he said. ‘I will go to their next meeting and report my findings. If it’s safe … will we join them?’
Everyone around the table nodded, except Robert.