"Did sirens and blue lights go off when you walked into the police station?" Cerise asked.
"Very funny." Kaldar grimaced. "I had a fingerprint I lifted from a crime scene in Adrianglia. He ran it through the database. One of the thieves popped up. He is in California in a drug rehab facility." Kaldar grimaced again. "To get to him, I have to fly to the Democracy of California on the Weird's side. You know what it's like. I need backup."
William showed Kaldar his teeth. "Not happening. We're leaving tomorrow."
"Business?" Kaldar asked.
William nodded.
Kaldar sighed.
"You could request assistance from the field office," Cerise said.
"And work with a stranger? Please." Kaldar frowned. His eyes lit up. "Wait. Give me the boy."
"He's twelve!" Cerise reached over and gently popped Kaldar on the back of the head.
"Not Jack. Gaston."
Jack bared his teeth. He liked Gaston about as well as William liked Kaldar. Gaston was William's ward and Cerise's nephew or cousin or something. He was bigger, stronger, older, and he wasn't all human, either.
William shrugged. "He isn't a full agent."
"He's been trained by the Mirror for three years, he's nineteen, and he can lift a cow. I am not exaggerating. I've seen him do it. Let me take him."
"I'll think about it," William said.
"Why is everything so difficult with you?" Kaldar raised his left eyebrow.
"I'm responsible for him," William growled.
Kaldar's face turned serious. It was like someone had jerked the funny mask off his face. "William, I was there when he was born. I changed his diapers. Do you honestly think I'd let any harm come to him?"
"Let me think . . ." William leaned forward. "Yes!"
"That's ridiculous. I just need an extra pair of eyes and ears. Consider it his final exam, Professor. I can look after him much better than you."
William took a step toward Kaldar. His eyes got a predatory glint.
"All right!" Cerise declared. "Why don't we go to the house and have some delicious rabbit before I pull out my sword and have to separate you two."
She put her hands on the arms of both men and pushed them toward the house. "Come on, Jack."
There was nothing to do but follow.
JACK trotted down the path toward the woods, away from William's house. His belly was full of hare. It should've made him happy, but it didn't.
The wind brought a familiar scent of lemon. Jack stopped at a large oak and leaned against it, his back to the bark. Above him, branches rustled. A moment later, George climbed down, holding a small spyglass in his hand. He wore a white shirt, a pale brown vest, brown pants, and dark brown boots. A short rapier hung from his waist. His hair was pale blond and cut longish. His eyes were big and blue, and he looked like a girl.
"How did you know where I was?" George asked.
"You put lemon juice in your hair again."
"The juice makes it lighter." George leaned against the maple to Jack's left. "How did it go?"
"William and Cerise are leaving tomorrow," Jack said. "Mirror mission, and he doesn't know when he's coming back. William said he'll talk to Declan when he comes back. He says to stay out of trouble until he comes back."
"Not going to happen," George said.
"Yeah."
"So what are we going to do?" George asked.
"I can't stay at the house. I'll do something or say something, and they'll ship me off. With William away, nobody will tell them no."
"Rose wouldn't do that," George said.
Jack glanced at him. "She's mad, George. Really mad. I'm going to get my bag tonight and go into the woods. I'll wait it out until William comes back."
"Jack, you have to think ahead." George shook his head. "What happens if you disappear?"
Jack shrugged. He would be in the woods, that's what would happen.
"Declan and Rose will think that you ran away. They'll search for you. They won't find you, because you're good at hiding, so more people will get involved. Rumors will spread: Lord Camarine, the Marshal of the Southern Provinces, has lost his changeling brother-in-law. Obviously, he can't control him, because the beast took off into the wild. Lock your children, or he'll break into your house and devour them at night. Maybe we should hunt him down with torches." George shook his head again. "They will send you to Hawk's after that for sure. No, we need an actual plan."
"Well, I don't have one," Jack growled.
George peered through the trees. "You said William and Cerise are leaving tomorrow. Who does the wyvern belong to? I got stuck at fencing, and when I made it here, the wyvern had landed already."
"Kaldar. He has a mission in the Democracy of California. He came to ask them for help, but they're leaving on their own thing tomorrow, so he's taking Gaston with him instead."
George thought about it. "When?"
"Tomorrow evening. He has to give the wyvern time to rest before the long trip." What did that have anything to do with it?
"That's a large cabin," George said.
"So?"
"If they're flying to California, they'll pack it full of supplies, right?"
Jack looked at the wyvern. It was a large cabin. Large enough to hide in, especially if it was packed with crates and bags.
"Let me talk to Gaston. We can't pull it off without him. If it goes well, we pack tonight," George said. "We'll tell Declan and Rose we have an overnight camp for school. By the time they realize we're gone, we'll be in California."
"Gaston won't help," Jack said.
"Let me worry about that."
Jack stared at his brother. "If we go, it will be the same thing as if I ran away. The search and the torches."
"We'll tell Lark where we're going, and she will tell Declan and Rose when the time comes. They won't be happy, but Kaldar is on a Mirror mission, and Declan and Rose won't jeopardize it. Besides, it's clear across the continent. Did you see the pile of stuff on Declan's desk? It's not like he can just take off and leave the Southern Provinces to be overrun by criminals. Lark will tell them that Kaldar will take care of us." George smiled. "There will be hell to pay when we get home, but they can't send you off while you are in California. This will work."
"And if it doesn't?"
"We'll think of something else. Now we have to go home and quietly pack. Tomorrow, we have to go to school, like normal, and be very well behaved."