pte

ard tart, the edge looking slightly nibbled. Ivy was fairly certain it was the one he picked up when she left despite his pretense of gluttony. He didn't

one time Council representative looking frail. Ivy backed out of the room and tiptoed a little way down the hall. Turning back towards the door, she thumped her foot down louder t

door frame, Hamilton was sitting up

o was recently stabbed repeated

aid. "Would you like some

p and her own, refilling both and returning his to the coffee

sipped their drinks. "While I appreciate th

are concerned about me

hen he should still be confined to bed and resting. Ivy suspected somewhe

Council's laws would outlast

ertain how to answer

of those exacting revenge for old grudges on her last visit to the city. If she thought about it, Ivy would have guessed

ws aren't anarchy

kly. Ivy took another sip of her coffee. She co

rning each individual Clan, " Hamilton told her. He lift

d." Ivy frowned. "I think. I know the Shadow Council came into being Post-Magna Carta and Pre-Black Death. That was well before the War of t

amusement. "That is why your two Seers a

hey'd like being called

assals any better?" Hamilto

using. 'Even Nikos might find it funny at least in theory. I'm sure there

modify them we would have to hold a large conference, which at the moment is not feasible." Hamilto

always considered herself more or less law abiding. She occasionally dabbled in some of the gray areas, but veered away from more criminal pursuits. With a

'd like to at least know it, "

do not have a copy of the old laws

replied. She frowned. "Our l

ad. "On that we will have to ag

a visit to see if she could figure out why he felt it de

se into the conversation. "I still have the two books I

cantations used to fuse parts together to produce a golem as well as how to take apart a golem were especially interesting. As a fire mage Ivy was not well versed in dealing with golems. They were the product of earth

m a little less sc

n you bring them back I can arrange for a copy of the Old Laws to be handed to yo

e went to great lengths to keep them concealed. At the moment her more questionable items were s

no longer illega

return for me?" She said out loud. "Is there some

on said. "Although I wou

time off to deal with his wounds and n

ve been..

not expecting the turn in

regarding the Intrigues, " Hamilton sa

" Ivy

everyone she could reach. The Intrigues, shifters who turned into large cats rather than wolves, were already infected and she enlisted the aid of her friend Troy Davenport who worked at The Center for Disease Control to deal with th

erything was more or less secret. Even the CDC

s and part of a government funded genetics project. She wasn't entirely certain wh

th the CDC. Although Owen Martin has not spread word about the illness within his people, it is known that you

" Ivy

w people are offering them. In the absence of

the speculati

is quite s

rs?" she asked. Ivy had the vague notion that diverting rumors

re others, who think the official version is somewhat suspect. I believe y

w Council and often dabbled in less than strictly legal ventures. She could see any officia

pend some time catching up with friends, " Hamilton suggested. "Room twenty-eight and you

inue research in the

you wished to continue the line of inquiry you were studying prior to leaving the archives to assist The Intrigues, I would, as yo

cess, " Ivy said carefully as she m

long." Hamilton set his cup and half eaten tart down and pulled slowly to his feet. I

en they reached the lobby, Ivy saw it still boasted a group of shifters on the couches. They were quieter than before and even tho

on to his car. As they approached the black sedan, a driver exited the

urn to town, " Hamilton said. "Call my assi

ver was closing the door. She caught a brief flash of a graying face and suspecte

of sight, blocked from view by the trees. Knowing that the gate was only left open after Carlson's exit so that Hamilton could leave, Ivy walked over and swung the gate shut. While the gate was not technically loc

e Brotherhood to infiltrate Wildwood. Their attempt set off the extra protections Ivy installed at the edge of the property j

em. As their unease with the buried extras stemmed from the fact that they couldn't actually sense them r

ed herself. Personally, she would rather have enemi

ught I'd actually hav

as she felt the whoosh of fire magic swirling around her. Recognizing her, the magic settled down and soon b