“That’s true,” Matt said. “If you’ll come with us to the meeting room over here. We have someone who very much wants to talk to you.”

  Captain Park didn’t follow us.

  Now we’re getting to why I’m really here, I told myself and stepped into the side conference room. The space was utilitarian, with that standard-issue, beige wallpaper patterned just enough to look like someone cared. A long, dark wooden conference table filled the room, surrounded by nine matching chairs. At the far end, a large flatscreen TV on a rolling stand loomed like a digital sentinel. The tenth chair sat tucked in the corner to my far right. No windows. No distractions. It was a room designed for closed-door discussions no one wanted overheard.

  A broad-shouldered, bald man, middle-aged, in a crisp dark gray three-piece suit, sat at the middle-left side of the table, thumbing through his phone. As we entered, he stood, pocketing the device with practiced ease.

  He came around the table and extended his hand. “My name is Sedrick Phillips. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Bannister.”

  His skin was darker than obsidian and smooth, his accent flat midwestern, but deliberate. The last time I saw someone with skin that dark was a group of Jamaican exchange students back in grad school.

  Matt closed the door behind us. I'd bet there was now an armed guard in front of it.

  “Hello, Mr. Phillips,” I said, shaking his hand. He stood several inches taller than me. He was close to Ingrid’s height. The strength in his grip made it clear that the muscle under that tailored suit wasn’t just for show. “I understand you want to talk to me? What’s this about?”

  “I work for the U.S. Secret Service. We have a few things to discuss. Please, have a seat. All of you,” he said, returning to his chair at the center of the table.

  I chose the seat directly across from him. Blaze settled in on my right, Srihari on my left. I made sure my rapier didn’t trip him as he took his seat. Matt sat one chair away from Phillips. He was on the same side, and closer to the door. The seating wasn’t accidental.

  “You caused quite a stir in Washington,” Phillips said. “You impressed some important people…and made others very unhappy. How much of what you told the President was true?”

  “All of it. True to the best of my knowledge and opinion. Why?”

  “Because, Mr. Bannister, what you said motivated the President. Motivated her enough that she’s already set some of it in motion. There’ll be more. That’s all I can say for now. She declared a national emergency this morning. Activated the National Guard.”

  “I caught that on the news. That doesn’t explain why you’re here talking to me.”

  “No, not all of it. You’ll find out more in a moment. First, I have a few questions before we proceed.” He pulled his phone back out, tapped an app, and placed it on the table between us.

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  “I’m recording this conversation. At the table: William Bannister, also known as William of Brinsford, and the First Mana Mage. Matthew Bledsoe, FBI Associate Deputy Director for Training. Hanna Pozarkova, also known as Blaze, FBI agent and Resident in Charge of the newly established FBI office in Eddington. Srihari Sakraney, professor at Eddington University and head of the Eddington System Response Department for Eddington and Chandler County. And myself, Sedrick Phillips, U.S. Secret Service.”

  He let that settle for a beat, or two, his eyes scanning each of us before returning to me.

  “The FBI already ran preliminary background and clearance checks on you. So have we. You’ll go through a more thorough security process later, but for now, we’re granting you a provisional secret-level clearance…specific to this subject. Everything said here today is classified at that level or above. Mr. Sakraney’s previous clearance is also being temporarily reinstated.”

  That’s a mouthful, just to get to the point he can ask something. I nodded silently. Lots of things happening nobody’s telling me about.

  “Mr. Bannister, you’re probably thinking of reasons for all this secrecy and aren’t thrilled about being involved. I get that. But it’s necessary if we’re going to ask for your help. The President made it clear: you won’t be put in charge of any agencies. But she still wants your advice…and your help.”

  “Huh!?” It came out before I could stop it. My brain scrambled to remember exactly what I’d offered. I already had a sinking feeling I knew what he meant.

  “Will you include her in one of your groups to face these creatures that keep appearing? Can you ensure her protection…and her active participation?”

  So, I had guessed right. I already knew my answer. I just had to phrase it properly.

  “Now the editor can’t think of the right way to say something.”

  “Yes, to the first part,” I said carefully. “I offered, and I’m still willing. I didn’t think she’d actually go through with it, or that you’d let her, but yes, I’ll build a party that includes her. The second part…that’s conditional.”

  “What are your conditions?” Phillips asked. His face was carved from black granite.

  “The obvious one. I need to know what her class is before I form the party. Second, this can’t be staged. No invisible net of agents ready to vaporize anything that gets close. If she’s in the party, she needs to trust us for protection, and we need to be able to trust her to carry her weight.”

  His expression didn’t change for the first point, but I saw it in his eyes, and his nod, that he expected that. The second one, though…that was a bitter pill. Their job was to keep her alive, no matter what.

  For the first time, he smiled. “That’s what she said you’d say. To both questions. You were right. She took the Healer class. We’re working on getting her leveled up, as you call it, before she arrives. That said, we can’t allow her into a dangerous situation without supervision. And we’d like it recorded.”

  “Getting her some experience first is smart. Ingrid won’t have to teach her how to heal from scratch. Would Blaze qualify as protection? She’s Level 6…maybe higher by the time this happens. Do you have anyone that high?”

  Phillips shook his head. “We don’t have anyone at that level. Not yet. We’re training people, but I don’t know where they’re at or how far they’ve come. I handle advance setups, not field protection.”

  I nodded. “Makes sense. Most of your people deal with financial crimes and counterfeiting, not goblins. Do you have a timeline for when she’ll be here?”

  “Not yet. And I couldn’t tell you until the day before…or the day of...depending on her plans.”

  “So, what do you need from me? Now?” That’s what I really wanted to know.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ippnMH2WwE

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