Pre-War (cont.)
It was early afternoon when Ransom pulled up in front of the manor inhabited by the Hollowman family. While he waited to be buzzed through the gate, he let his gaze wander across what he could see of the grounds.
Despite the desperate winter chill, the lawn was still mostly green. The trees were leafless, though, as was to be expected. Blanketed horses grazed in the distance. It was peaceful here, a far cry from the havoc that had taken the city of Rhydin in its fist.
It took a few moments for the intercom posted across from the driver's side window to buzz. "Good afternoon," came Brian's cultured voice. "May I help you?"
Indeed, it was downright tranquil out here in the country. Ransom wondered if it would stay that way, or if the countryside would eventually succumb to the same disease currently ravaging the city.
The sound of the intercom drew his attention back to matters at hand. He buzzed his window down and said, "Hey, it's Ransom. I'm here to see Andrew." He made sure to lean his head out of the car and tug his sunglasses down so the house security specialist could see his face and identify him.
The slight pause that followed Ransom's greeting indicated that Brian was closely studying the image of him on the screen indoors, looking for any signs of subterfuge. His voice came over the intercom again a few moments later. "Of course, Mr. Chandler. Come on up."
A louder buzz signaled the gate releasing, and then the heavy iron affair began to slowly swing open, admitting Ransom's car.
Ransom waited patiently while the house's head of security-slash-butler did his thing, keeping his face turned up toward the security camera mounted above the intercom. He flashed the camera a smile when he was finally admitted, said his thanks, and buzzed his window back up.
On his way up the drive, he considered the house itself and wondered if he should speak to Eden about the two of them looking for property further out in the country. Her own house was technically situated in the countryside?it had to be, given its sprawl?but perhaps it would be nice to have an even larger plot of land to call their own.
When he reached the house, he left his Audi coupe in the circular drive and walked up the steps that flanked the front entrance.
The house was a stately affair built of neutral stone, with the stylings of a traditional English country house. There was an odd sense of sentience about it, though, as if its windows were eyes that watched Ransom's approach. Neatly trimmed shrubbery stood in the flower beds and ivy crawled across the facade.
The front door opened as Ransom started up the steps and Brian appeared in the doorway. Despite his station, he was dressed fairly casually in blue jeans and a sport coat, which undoubtedly disguised the piece he kept on his person.
He welcomed Ransom with a smile, a handshake, and a familiar slap on the back. Then he led him inside and through the house to the sunroom, which overlooked the gardens at the back of the property. "Mr. Hollowman, Mr. Chandler is here to see you," he said, pausing just inside the doorway.
Andrew was seated at a table in front of one of the tall windows, his middle son, Rory, situated in his lap. A small selection of plates and bowls sat on the table in front of them, each with the remnants of some dish inside it. Andrew had just reached into one of the bowls when Brian spoke up and he turned a droll look on them.
"So formal today," he said drily as he took a slice of apple from the bowl and brought it close, offering it to the toddler in his lap.
"I have to amuse myself somehow," Brian said cheerfully.
"Yes, gods forbid you be bored," Andrew replied, clearly amused. "C'mon in, Ransom."
Brian turned to Ransom with a grin, winked, and then went out again.
Ransom smiled, amused by the back-and-forth between the two men, and then, when invited, he walked deeper into the room. "Hey," he said as he approached the table. He took off his sunglasses. "Thanks for agreeing to see me today."
He eyed the little boy sitting in Andrew's lap and smiled his most harmless smile. He didn't invite himself to sit at the table with them, but stood off to the side, well within Andrew's line of sight.
Andrew arched a thin, neat brow at Ransom. "My, my. You're formal today, too. Is it catching?" His voice held the same note of dry amusement he'd used with Brian. "Next thing you know, I'll have to have the place sprayed for cultured cooties." He nudged Rory gently, laying some extra ?ew? into the words.
The little boy in his lap hiccuped a quiet giggle, but that sound quickly dissolved into coughs. Andrew's eyes lit up with pleasure, but that was quickly tempered by what came after. He rubbed a hand along Rory's back, helping soothe away the disturbance in his lungs, and cocked his head toward the chair across from him.
"Have a seat," he said to Ransom. "Thanks for the call, by the way. We really appreciate it."
Ransom quirked a grin. "Just taking my cues from you guys," he said. "Thought it might be a royals ruse day in the house."
He shrugged out of his leather jacket before he pulled out the chair Andrew had indicated. He slung it across the back of the chair and sat. His blue eyes went right back to the child in Andrew's lap. "Hey there, buddy. Not feeling good today?"
He leaned forward, one elbow on the table as he offered a handshake to Andrew. "No problem. Did you you decide what you're all going to do?" He was careful with his phrasing in front of the kid.
Andrew rolled his eyes. "You're funny." His dark eyes glinted with mirth as he watched Ransom get comfortable. Then he reached to shake the man's hand.
"He's got a cold," he explained with some chagrin, one corner of his mouth twitching back.
The toddler had light green eyes like his mother. He watched Ransom with a slow, detached sort of curiosity. After a moment, he mirrored Ransom's smile.
Andrew ran his fingers through the boy's dark hair, nodding his own dark head. "We'll be spending a week or two in London. We're leaving this weekend." He didn't look entirely happy about it, but like he had resigned himself to it.
"I try." Ransom sat back after trading grips with Andrew. His smile briefly faltered. "Aww, poor little guy."
He looked right into Rory's eyes, reminded of how Will had Eden's eyes, just like Rory had Fenn's. "I'm sorry you feel so bad, buddy. I hope it goes away soon."
He smiled again at the child, gratified when Rory mimicked him. Then he looked up to meet Andrew's gaze. "There was no way to keep him from getting it?" The twiddling of his fingers were meant to indicate magical means.
Noticing the resignation in Andrew's expression, he said, "You're doing the right thing. It'll ensure that everyone stays safe."
"He has to build up antibodies, like any other child." There was a wry note in Andrew's voice. He didn't like watching his children suffer, but in cases like this, he knew it was for the best. Again he ran his fingers through Rory's hair.
The corners of his mouth turned downward. "I know," he said quietly. He dropped a kiss on top of Rory's head and whispered there, "Gods, I know it's the right thing." He had four children under the age of five. Their safety, and their mother's safety, took priority over everything else.
"I feel guilty, though," he admitted, "because there are people I care about, like you and Eden, who will be here fighting, and I won't be here to help." He met Ransom's gaze again.
Ransom hummed, understanding what Andrew meant. He hadn't thought of it that way. But then, he was new to the whole kids thing, and Eden's son was quite a bit older than little Rory. He watched Andrew's interaction with his son, a strange, new feeling uncurling in his chest. He was quick to tamp it down, however, in efforts to stay focused on matters at hand.
"That's actually why I asked you to meet with me."
Andrew tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
Ransom hesitated, thinking about the words he wanted to use. "I was hoping there was some way you could help ? well, armor us, for lack of a better word. Eden told me about that spell you worked on her and Sebastian and the others before they went to South Carolina."
Andrew's eyes picked up a gleam, then his lips curved into a faint, bemused smile that seemed to gather more toward one side of his mouth. "That was a big spell."
"It was a good one," Ransom said, "from what I hear."
"Mm." Andrew's smile faded slowly and his brows drew. "I won't be here that evening to put it on you."
"True." Ransom nodded, his verbal pause thoughtful. "Is there some way you can write the spell so we can perform it ourselves?"
Andrew hummed again, this time more thoughtfully. His dark eyes turned toward the window and what lay beyond it?outside, down in the gardens, Sebastian was teaching Liam, their elder son, to play football. Not American football, but proper football. Sunlight gleamed on their hair, auburn and tawny brown, respectively.
After several moments, Andrew said, "It's more efficient, I think, for me to simply enchant an object, and maybe add a trigger for the spell." He looked back to Ransom.
Ransom waited quietly while Andrew thought. They were on a tight budget, time-wise, but he could afford a few minutes. Especially when dealing with someone who could help ensure that Eden didn't get gravely hurt during the course of battle. That was worth the wait, to him. He did, however, follow the other man's gaze.
When Andrew finally spoke, Ransom sat up straighter and leaned his elbows on the edge of the table. "Yeah? You can do that?" He winced the moment the words left his mouth. What a stupid question!
Andrew's eyes picked up more light and the corners of his mouth twitched, clearly amused by Ransom's choice of words. To his credit, he had the grace to simply say, "I can do that."
Ransom ran a hand through his hair, then smoothed it back down and pushed on. "What would you need for the talismans?" he asked. "From me, I mean. Or rather, us."
Andrew was reminded of a cat, watching Ransom. Emergency grooming. He cleared his throat to rid himself of the tickle of a laugh in the back of his throat.
"Just the object. Or objects, rather. I'll need one for you and one for Eden." He paused, then added, "Is Rhys staying behind, or did he take Will through the Hedge again?"
He smoothed a hand along Rory's back, then over his hair. Rory was leaning heavily against him. He wheezed quietly while he dozed, lulled by hearing his dad talk.
Ransom licked at his teeth behind his lips and narrowed his eyes at Andrew when the man cleared his throat. That sounded like a laugh!
Andrew gave Ransom the most guileless look he could muster. What laugh?
Settling back in his chair again, Ransom said, "Rhys decided to stay and fight. Will left this morning to spend some time with his dad."
Andrew nodded, thoughtful. "That'll be good for him, I think. Rhys, I mean, though I'm sure it'll be good for Will to spend time with his dad."
Ransom arched a brow, curious over what Andrew meant. "What do you mean 'good for him'?"
Andrew shook his head and gave him a faintly apologetic smile. "Those aren't my demons to talk about. Just?" He paused to take a breath, a complicated expression crawling across his face. "Look after him in the aftermath, will you?"
The more Andrew said?and the more he didn't say?the more curious Ransom became. "Fair enough," he said with a nod. Then, more quietly, "We will. I'll tell Eden that we need to keep an eye on him."
His belly was squirming with questions, wondering what on earth kind of meaning this fight could have for Rhys. Nonetheless, he knew Andrew was right. Rhys had his secrets, just like Ransom did, and Ransom supposed that Rhys could be just as willing as he was to fight to protect those secrets. So, he didn't press Andrew on the subject. He'd just watch for an opportunity after the fight. Maybe he could ask Rhys then.
Andrew watched Ransom closely during the moments of silence that ensued after he'd made his request. He could tell the guy wanted him to say more, and he was glad when Ransom didn't press any further. Betraying Rhys' confidence wasn't an act Andrew would relish.
Ransom's gaze had drifted down to the sleeping Rory while he thought this over and he glanced up to meet Andrew's eyes again. "So, does the object need to be anything in specific? Can it be a trinket, or does it need to be something personal and important to each of us?"
Andrew met Ransom's gaze, then shook his head. "It only needs to be personal if I'm tying it directly to each of you, and there may not be time for that," he said.
"A trinket would be fine. Jewelry is sometimes the best option because it tends to be small. I prefer to use a necklace, though, because it allows the spell to spread out from the core, rather than, say, the hand. It's semantics, but magic tends to be receptive to symbolism."
Andrew shrugged gently and shifted around in his chair, carefully crossing his legs. The child in his lap stirred a little, then snuggled closer to his chest.
"It doesn't need to be anything expensive. It can literally be a trinket." Something inexpensive, or even disposable. Andrew's mind was whirling with possibilities already.
Ransom nodded again. "Yeah, we're running pretty short on time as it is." It would set him back if he had to secure an item from Eden, Rhys, and Mesteno. Speaking of ? "Are you okay with making one of these for someone you don't know? Eden and I are meeting with, and possibly fighting with, a friend of ours. His name's Mesteno."
Andrew arched a brow, then hummed thoughtfully. "Mesteno," he said slowly, tasting the shape of the name in his mouth. Curiously, he used the exact same inflection Ransom had used. "That name sounds familiar."
A cold chill crawled up Ransom's spine when Andrew parroted the name back to him in the exact same way. It was spooky; he'd long ago learned that names held power. He looked a little closer at Andrew.
"Yeah, he's ? around my height. Red hair and dusky skin. Bright gold eyes, like a cat." He provided the details, in case that jogged Andrew's memory. Rhydin was a small and incestuous town, after all.
Andrew's smile turned a little apologetic, a little placating, when Ransom seemed to hone in on him. He lifted a hand as if to wave off the offense he hadn't meant to inflict. Names were important in his line of work; he collected them out of habit.
He focused on the details Ransom gave him then. "I think I met him once, down at the docks. Through Eden, of course. He'll be joining you?"
Ransom licked his lips and relaxed a little. Then he gave Andrew a wry smile. He wasn't surprised to hear that Eden had introduced them. "Yeah. Actually, he's the one that's provided us with all of the information so far." A beat. "That stays between us, please."
"Ahh." Andrew nodded his head. "Give him my thanks then. Without that information, my family would be in danger."
Though he gave his thanks, he was careful not to say that he owed Mesteno anything. Certain phrases were important in his line of work, too?and were important to his bloodline. But he could at least agree to do this for the guy and help ensure he went home at the end of the day.
"Yeah, I'll make one for him, too. Is there anyone else?"
The corner of Ransom's mouth tugged up and he again looked at the child in Andrew's lap, just for a moment before meeting Andrew's eyes again. He shook his head. "As far as I know, no one else in our immediate circle is staying, except Koyan, and undoubtedly he's got his own means."
Then, "Thanks for doing this for us."
Andrew inclined his head, silently agreeing about Koyan. He'd only met the guy a couple of times, but he had no doubt Ransom's assessment was true.
He waved off the gratitude. "Of course. It's no trouble." The amount of work that would go into the spell was a small price to pay to ensure that the people he loved and cared for were taken care of.
Ransom smiled and moved to stand. "Excellent. I'll try to have the necklaces to you by this evening." He reached for his jacket.
Andrew's brows arched when Ransom shot up like that. "That sounds good," he agreed. "And when I'm finished, I'll have them couriered to Eden's place. That'll save you the time coming back over here."
He uncrossed his legs, then also moved to stand, taking care not to jostle the kidlet he was holding. This time he bypassed the handshake and lifted his arm to offer Ransom a hug.
"Thanks, man. That'll help a lot." Ransom paused when Andrew climbed to his feet, and then, when he was offered the hug, he took it. He, too, was careful not to jostle Rory.
Andrew kept the hug brief and familial, slapping Ransom lightly on the back. Then he pulled back to look up at him, his dark eyes gone serious. "Take care of yourselves out there, okay? Be sure all of you come back to us. Okay?"
He took a step back, out of Ransom's space. That's when he seemed to notice the remnants of his and his son's lunch strewn out upon the table. He made a face. "My apologies. I should've asked if you wanted something." He gestured at the dishes.
Ransom returned the affection, giving Andrew a light slap on the back, too. Then he met the man's dark gaze. He felt the gravity of that request all the way down to his bones. "We will," he promised. "We'll all come back."
Given space, he shrugged his jacket on and cut an amused look at the table. He shook his head. "I wouldn't have been able to stay," he said ruefully. "As much as I love AIleen's cooking, I just don't have time today." He had too much to do, and as it was, he and Eden would probably end up eating dinner while standing at the kitchen counter, discussing defensive tactics.
"When all this blows over and you guys are back in town, we'll all get together for dinner. How's that?"
A faint smirk stole across Andrew's mouth. "Don't let her hear you say that," he murmured. "She'll take it as a challenge and try to make you something for the road." Then he smiled, fully and warmly. "That sounds great. We'll be looking forward to it."
Despite the men's care, the shift in position had woken Rory and he cracked his eyes open to look at Ransom. His eyes were a little glassy.
"See you guys soon," Ransom told Andrew. ?Give Fenn and Sebastian our love.? His and Eden's. Then, noticing Rory was awake, he stroked a light hand over the boy's head. "Feel better, little guy."
With that, he turned and strode from the sunroom. He could show himself out.
?And give Eden ours.? Andrew watched Ransom go, then turned back toward the table and began to carefully stack dishes with his free hand.
Brian met Ransom in the hallway and walked with him to the foyer. As he opened the door for him, he said, "Let us know if you guys need anything else, all right?" He gave Ransom a significant look. In addition to magical implements, the members of this house were armed to the teeth.
Ransom wasn't surprised to feel Brian in his shadow, though it still set the hairs on the back of his neck on end. When they reached the door, he paused on the threshold to turn to the other man. "Thanks. We appreciate that." He cast a glance back the way he'd come. "Make sure they stay safe, yeah?"
He stepped out into the afternoon sunlight and put his sunglasses back on as he made his way to the Audi.
"Of course, Mr. Chandler." The name held an ironic lilt on Brian's tongue. He watched Ransom go to his car, then shut the door and made his way back to the security alcove to get the gate for him.
Ransom shook his head as he climbed into the Audi and keyed the engine. He paused long enough to text Eden:
Good news: AH will send talismans. Checking in with LA, then coming home.
Then he took off down the driveway and toward the next item on his to-do list.