Ancient Mai gave Ebenezar a hard look, then lifted her chin slightly and turned away, somehow giving the impression that she had formally dismissed him from reality. "Agreed," she said. "On behalf of the Council, I accept the proposal."
I managed to stagger back to verticality. My wounded head felt like Lara had split it open, and I'd have a hand-shaped bruise on my cheek, but I wasn't going to sit there moaning about getting slapped by a girl. Granted, the girl was hundreds of years old and could change a fire truck's tires without using a jack, but there was a principle at work here. I got to my feet and then walked carefully over to stand beside Ebenezar, facing the vampires. One of the Wardens there made a little room for me, all his attention focused forward on Lara and her sisters.
Heh. They were much more comfortable with me when I was aimed at an enemy. I tried to keep a running portion of my awareness focused on Demonreach. I had done as much as I could in assembling this group. I was counting on my estimate of the killer to take it to the next level, and until he showed up, I had to keep stringing both Lara and the Council along.
The best way to do that, for the moment, was to keep quiet and let them talk.
"I suppose the first thing we must do is share knowledge," Lara said to Ancient Mai. "Would you prefer it if I went first?"
Mai considered that for a moment and then bowed her head in a slight acknowledgment.
Lara proceeded without further ado. "My brother, Thomas Raith, has been taken by a skinwalker, one of the ancient naagloshii. The skinwalker has offered an exchange. My brother for Warden Donald Morgan."
Mai tilted her head to one side. "How is Dresden involved in this matter?"
"He claims that he is attempting to establish Warden Morgan's innocence in some sort of matter internal to the Council. As a gesture of goodwill to the Council and to help keep the peace within Chicago, I have instructed my brother to offer reasonably low-risk aid and assistance to Dresden." She glanced at me. "He has abused my good intentions repeatedly. This time, he somehow involved my brother in his investigation, and Thomas was ambushed by the skinwalker."
"And that is all?" Mai asked.
Lara glared at me again, and seemed to visibly force herself to take a moment to think. "He claims that a third party was behind Warden Morgan's predicament, and attempting to set the Court against the Council. To my surprise, my own investigation did not immediately disprove his statements as lies. It seems possible that one of my financial managers may have been somehow coerced into embezzling the contents of a considerable account. Dresden claims the money was sent to an account that was made to appear to belong to Warden Morgan."
Mai nodded. "Was it?"
Lara shrugged elegantly. "It is possible. My people are working to find evidence that will establish what happened more precisely."
Mai nodded and was still for several seconds before she said, "Despite how carefully you have danced around the subject, you know exactly why we are here."
Lara smiled very slightly.
"The tale Dresden tells us lacks the credibility of simplicity," Mai continued. "Despite how carefully you have danced around saying the actual words, it seems that you wish us to believe that the White Court was not involved in the matter of LaFortier's death. Thus, your story, too, lacks the credibility of simplicity."
"In my experience, matters of state are rarely simple ones," Lara responded.
Mai moved a hand, a tiny gesture that somehow conveyed acknowledgment. "Yet given recent history, the actions of a known enemy seem a far more likely source for LaFortier's murder than those of some nameless, faceless third party."
"Of course. You are, after all, wizards," Lara said without a detectable trace of irony. "You are the holders of great secrets. If such a group existed, you would surely know of it."
"It is possible that I am unfairly judging your people in accusing them of plotting LaFortier's death," Mai replied, her voice utterly tranquil. "You are, after all, vampires, and well-known for your forthright and gentle natures."
Lara inclined her head, smiling faintly. "Regardless, we find ourselves here."
"That seems incontrovertible."
"I seek the safe return of my brother."
Mai shook her head firmly, once. "The White Council will not exchange one of our own."
"It seems to me," Lara said, "that Warden Morgan is not in your company."
"A transitory situation," Mai said. She didn't look at me, but I felt sure that the steel in her voice was aimed in my direction.
"Then perhaps a cooperative effort," Lara said. "We need not allow the skinwalker to take the Warden."
"Those who ally themselves with the White Court come to regret it," Mai replied. "The Council has no obligation to assist you or your brother."
"Despite the recent efforts made on your behalf by my King and his Court?" Lara asked.
Mai faced her without blinking and said nothing more.
"He is my blood," Lara said quietly. "I will have him returned."
"I appreciate your loyalty," Mai said, in a tone that suggested she didn't. "However, this matter of the skinwalker wishing an exchange is hardly germane to where we stand at the moment."
"Actually," I said. "It kind of is, Ancient Mai. I had someone tell Shagnasty where to meet me tonight. Depending on how he crosses the water, he could be here any moment."
Ebenezar blinked. Then he turned his face to me, his expression clearly asking whether or not I was out of my damned mind.
"Wile E. Coyote," I said to him soberly. "Suuuuuuper Genius."
I saw him thinking and I recognized it when my old mentor got it, when he understood my plan. I could tell because he got that look on his face I've only seen when he knows things are about to go spectacularly wrong and he wants to be ready for it. He let his staff fall to rest against his chest and idly dug in a pocket, his eyes flicking across the woods around us.
I don't know where Mai's head was, or if she worked out anything at all. I had a feeling that she wouldn't. Since her thought processes would all have to start from given assumptions that were incorrect, she didn't have much of a chance of coming to a correct conclusion.
"All that means," she said to me, "is that it would be wise to finish our business here and retreat from this place."
"Sadly, I am reaching a similar conclusion," Lara said deliberately. "Perhaps it is time for this meeting to adjourn."