Charon Unguarded (Ferryman Saga Book 1) Page 10

  CHAPTER 14

  The Green Haired Barman Isn’t So Green

  ‘Nothing to worry about.’ Hermes looked up from the note. His voice was level but his face was blank again. Charon felt his heart racing but deliberately decided to still his breathing. Courting trouble at this point would be a distraction and lose him an ally, assuming he hadn’t already lost him. He realised then that Hermes was not looking at him but over his shoulder at the barman. It was the same one that had been behind the bar when he and Hermes had had their initial catch-up. The night when Charon’s boredom had ended. How he now longed for a return to those uninteresting times.

  Without a word, Hermes stood and approached the bar. Charon assumed at first that he had changed his mind and gone to get a drink. That was until Hermes reached over the bar, grabbed the boy by his shirt front and dragged him over the bar, scattering glasses in the process. Several continued to roll and smashed on the floor and into the sink behind the bar. Charon leapt out of his chair and moved to separate the pair. Hermes had punched the boy so hard he had crumpled to the floor and was in the process of dragging him back to his feet and, by the time Charon had got there to separate them, Hermes had him bent backwards over the bar.

  ‘Hermes! Stop!’ Charon shouted. ‘What the hell are you doing!?’ He planted a hand squarely on the barman’s chest holding him firmly in place and the other was held out, warning Hermes to keep his distance. Charon didn’t want him wandering off without finding out what had happened between the boy and Hermes to inspire such an extreme reaction. What he had not expected was the boy’s laughter. Hermes moved to take another swing at him but Charon blocked the punch. ‘That’s enough!’

  ‘He’s a stinking spy, Charon,’ Hermes shouted, pacing and running his fingers back through his hair.

  Charon rounded on the boy. ‘Is this true?’

  ‘What if it is?’ The boy laughed again as he wiped green blood from his nose with the back of his hand. It left a smear across his cheek.

  ‘Well,’ Charon’s mouth tightened, ‘the way I see it I have a choice, and in that so do you.’ His grip on the boy tightened against his struggling. ‘You can either tell us who you are and who you work for and, if I like the answer, I will continue to prevent Hermes from doing you any more damage. If I do not like the answer …’

  The boy ceased laughing but his face was still manic. He had clearly not counted on this. Being caught had probably not figured highly on his possibility list either. Overconfidence is a common ailment. Particularly susceptible are investment bankers, local radio DJs and people who buy lottery tickets on a regular basis. Eyes wide open, he sputtered an answer. ‘I’m Robin.’

  ‘Just Robin?’ Charon asked.

  ‘He’s Robin Goodfellow. He’s a puck. Mischief maker and all-round good for nothing, former dog’s-body for the Fae. They threw him out but he’s trying to worm his way back into their good books,’ Hermes interrupted and tried to move in for another swing.

  ‘Hermes, be quiet. I want to hear it from him,’ Charon said quietly.

  ‘You trust him, but you’re questioning me?’ the boy asked as he jerked his head in Hermes direction. Charon did not answer. ‘You’re wasting your time, you know. There is nothing you can do to stop what’s coming.’

  ‘What do you know about what is coming?’ This piqued Charon’s interest again. Hermes wasn’t just angry with the boy. He wanted to shut him up. Why else would he be so angry to see him? What was an exiled minor-member of the Fae to Hermes unless he knew something Hermes didn’t want him to share?

  ‘I know who released those monsters, and I know you’re looking in the wrong place.’ He laughed again. ‘I also know the Titans are just a means to an end.’

  ‘And that end is?’ Charon caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror above the bar. His eyes were glowing again and it took all the self-control he had to shove the ball of burning rage rising inside him back down. Anger wouldn’t help him. Not here. The boy had also seen his face and nodded frantically. Charon released him. It was more out of disgust at his cynical selfishness than sympathy for the boy. This information would be useful evidence to take to Zeus on Tuesday. He only hoped that Zeus would let him get a word in edgeways.

  ‘The Giants want the Earth for themselves. They have no intention of sharing. Not with you, or the Titans, or anyone else.’

  Odd thing to say, thought Charon, he must think we have something to do with it.

  ‘I think whoever released them has already done that,’ Hermes interrupted again. This time his voice was shaking. ‘Ask him what he’s been up to.’

  ‘Shut up, Hermes! I’m dealing with it.’ Charon’s attention returned to Robin. ‘What about the humans? This is their home. Are you working for the Fae?’

  ‘Collateral damage. The humans don’t care, do they? Just look at what they do to the place. I just go where the money is. Have to eat, don’t I?’

  ‘Fine,’ said Charon, ‘You just tell whoever you work for that we know who you are and that you have been compromised. It is not in my power to kill you myself, faery, but if I catch you spying on me or anyone else again, I won’t stop them from taking you down. Clear?’

  CHAPTER 15

  The Boss Is Not Happy

  Tuesday came. Charon had been waiting for almost forty minutes. He knew what this was. Zeus was doing his best to show Charon that he was in charge by keeping him waiting. He was in there, Charon could see him, and Zeus knew he was waiting because it was Zeus who had told him to wait outside until called. It felt like an age had passed already, but at least Zeus hadn’t been playing with time the way Ra had. Did Zeus know about that trick? A moment later, a young woman in a navy skirt suit and ridiculously high heels opened the door.

  ‘Zeus will see you now,’ she said as she held the door for him and then left the room.

  ‘Thank you.’ He didn’t recognise her but he sensed that she wasn’t mortal. Zeus would sleep with any woman who would let him near her but would never have allowed a mortal to work for him directly. Charon approached the desk cautiously as Zeus sat typing furiously, stopping only to gesture to a straight-backed office chair which he took gratefully and waited for his legs to stop trembling. The desk was empty aside from a mobile phone and a laptop.

  Once he was seated, Zeus spoke to him. ‘Mr Charon, my word, we have been busy.’

  ‘Sir?’ Charon tried to swallow but his mouth was too dry.

  ‘Eavesdropping? Unauthorised meetings? Defying direct orders from superiors and the Fae courts, and a very public visit to my Oracle.’ Zeus leaned back in the high-backed chair and fiddled with the arm. ‘Care to explain yourself?’

  ‘I came to deliver a message …’

  ‘Indeed. You are aware that you have broken several Rules of the Council and the Conditions of Settlement, not to mention committing several acts of direct insubordination.’ Charon knew that this last one was untrue and so did Zeus. Neither code prevented gods major or minor from interacting. They were written with a view to keep the peace and put an end to the bitter feuding that had contributed to their loss of power and the ability of one god to usurp them all.

  ‘Insubordination, sir?’

  ‘Hermes told you several times to stay out of it, did he not?’

  Charon seethed. He realised at that moment that Hermes had told Zeus just enough to curry favour with his father, get himself out of trouble and get Charon into a great deal of it.

  ‘Yes, but …’

  ‘But nothing! We may be stuck here for the foreseeable future but we still have rules, observance of which our existence depends upon. If a superior tells you to do something, you do it.’ He leaned forwards. ‘Hermes has been instructed to stay away from you. I have also spoken to Ra and apologised for your intrusion the other day. From now on, you go nowhere without my express permission.’ It was true that Zeus was obligated under the Conditions of Settlement to deal with discipline within his ranks and keep on non-aggressive terms with the other gods. I
t was not true that they were forbidden from interacting on a non-official basis. It could be said that his involvement was official but then he remembered something about the original meeting. He didn’t like having to do what he was about to do. Blackmail was such an unsavoury practice but desperate times called for underhanded measures.’

  ‘Did you inform the Council? About Ra’s meeting and intentions, I mean, not my own actions.’

  ‘That is irrelevant, and don’t interrupt.’ Zeus’s face might have remained stern and foreboding but the quaver in his voice revealed that he knew more than he was saying. Zeus knew he was lying. He knew Charon knew he was lying. It’s easy to spot a liar, thought Charon. Most liars make more effort to deflect attention from themselves, or convince you of their honesty, than to prove what they say. They do all they can to discredit those who contradict them. Only real ‘professionals’ can lie instinctively, and for that to work they must enter a state of semi-insanity and truly believe their own lies, thought Charon. Central London estate agents, no-win-no-fee solicitors, and many politicians have made good money from this form of lunacy. Charon had seen all of them and most of them had called themselves a ’hero’ at some point in their lives.

  ‘Is it?’ Charon stood and leaned across the desk as he had in Ra’s office. Time for more parlour tricks. Charon made the room darken and let his eyes flare in the low light. He no longer had the strength to cast an illusion to make the room appear as the banks of the Styx, but he could still make Zeus feel like they were back down there. It was well known that Zeus hated dark enclosed places; he needed to be able to see the sky. ‘I know the Conditions of Settlement as well as you do. I also know the rules of the Council. I also know there were no representatives of the Council in that first meeting. Nor have they been present in any of yours, or Hades’ official meetings, for some years. If the council should discover this discrepancy, what would you say would happen? It would be a shame if someone let that slip to the wrong person.’

  Zeus went pale. ‘I would be relieved of my command. So would Hades.’

  ‘Correct. Would my suspicions be correct, if I were to suggest that the reason you have done nothing to stop Ra, or even warn the Council, is because you would rather hang on to your power for a few more months, than sound the alarm and risk your position by bringing your own misconduct to their attention?’

  Zeus gave a half smile ‘It’s so easy for you to criticise. You’ve never been more than a gatekeeper—’

  ‘I am a gatekeeper. One who knows the comings and goings of everyone who uses that building. I admit I eavesdropped on the meeting and it was probably reckless, but I would not have found out what I am about to tell you had I not remained involved. You, on the other hand, hid in your office and pretended nothing was happening. I still came here to deliver a very important message knowing what it could cost me. You have just tried to punish me for doing what you should have done so that you can keep your own nose clean with the Council. You’re no better than Ra.’

  ‘So, you do have a spine after all. What are you planning Ferryman?’ He gave a half smile. If Charon didn’t know better, he might think Zeus was impressed.

  Charon considered this for a moment, ‘If you do not shut up and let me give you this message I shall pass on everything I know to the Council and the Fae courts. You’ll leave me with no choice.’

  Zeus raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. ‘Message? What message? What are you talking about?’ Zeus seemed genuinely surprised. He looked like he was going to be sick. Charon had expected an outburst of rage so the lack of expected reaction put him off but only for a moment.

  ‘The message I requested this meeting to talk about. I don’t know how much Hermes has told you,’ Charon said calmly. ‘It’s likely not to be the whole story, and frankly, I don’t care anymore, but am happy to explain it myself if you are prepared to listen. Unlike some of us, I honour my promises.’ He returned to his seat. Charon considered that he’d either just made the bravest move or stupidest mistake in his long, long life. They sat opposite each other, weighing each other up in silence for several seconds.

  Zeus breathed out deeply and pressed the intercom. ‘Hestia, please bring us two large cups of coffee. Make it the strong stuff, I think I’m going to need it.’ He released the button. ‘Okay, Charon. You have my attention. So, if you would kindly get out of my head, we can begin.’

  CHAPTER 16

  The Errand

  Charon decided to begin with the message from Odin. As expected, the news that the Titans had not only been released but were working with the Ice Giants was not welcome and several phone calls later, Charon was surrounded by all six of the head Olympians who listened intently as Charon recounted the details of everything that had happened since the meeting. About Ra hiding away and working to save his own skin without giving anyone a chance to fight back, the strange warnings, the fact the Fae courts were livid but refusing to do anything in case they exposed their existence. He described his encounter with Odin and being directed to Zoë by Carnus. He patiently answered their questions, knowing they were testing him, but all the while feeling more and more relieved that this information was in the hands of those who could do something with it. Or so he thought.

  After much whispering and muttering, none of which Charon’s mortal hearing could clearly pick up, Hera rose from her seat and came to stand in front of him holding out a perfectly manicured hand. She was smiling but she still terrified him. He rose and shook it as invited. It would have been rude not to. ‘First, I want to congratulate you. Charon, you have been so very brave but I don’t quite know how to break this to you.’

  ‘Break what to me?’ Charon’s heart raced. It was true that since she had divorced her unfaithful husband and gone on to live her own life, her temper was much improved, but this did not mean that she was in any way ‘nice’. The gods still granted favours among their own kind and rewarded loyalty but none of them were ‘nice’. They didn’t do ‘nice’. Charon had learned from the experience of others that if they at any point appeared to be ‘nice’, it was time to run very fast in the other direction and not look back. He swallowed.

  She took his arm and guided him to the window so they could speak privately. ‘Do not worry. You are not in trouble. What you have told us is upsetting but you did what was right. We need you to continue in this ambassadorial role you appear to have carved out for yourself. It would appear you have hidden talents.’

  ‘Not that I am not relieved, but can I ask why? I had expected to be flayed or chained to a rock for interfering.’

  Hera laughed and squeezed his arm with her free hand, ‘Yes, well, these are different times. Your question is pertinent. The reason we need you to do this is what brought you here in the first place.’ Charon stared blankly at her. ‘Your honesty and compassion for others who as you say have been denied an opportunity to fight back. You have not asked or even suggested that you might be rewarded. You, Charon, and only you, are worthy to be entrusted with this role. My brothers wanted Hermes to do it, despite his conduct, but it is clear he only tells us what he feels will best serve himself.’

  ‘And the prophecy?’

  ‘The one from Zoë? Yes, that helped to corroborate your story.’ Hera frowned. ‘She might be common and crude, but the girl is truthful and highly skilled at her job. That’s the other reason we need you. The prophecy was given to you so only you can find out what it means. Mind you, Hermes’ guesses were more astute than I think even he realises. There is a dragon living in that forest. She is very old and it has been centuries since anyone has seen her. Many believe she is already dead. If she knows anything we must find out what it is. If that prophecy is anything to go by, she is still there and waiting for you. Now, we must hurry. Travel is being arranged as we speak. Too much time has been wasted already. Go straight there and come straight back. I warn you, Charon, this is too important to put in any electronic communication, especially as you seem to have been hacked.’

&nb
sp; ‘Those warnings to stay away weren’t sent by any of you?’

  ‘No. Until today I knew nothing. Even of the first meeting but my sisters and I will deal with our brothers.’ In that moment, Hestia arrived at Hera’s side and cleared her throat.

  ‘Excuse me, Hera? Charon’s travel papers have been arranged.’ She handed Hera a folder of paperwork and looked on as she flicked through it. ‘I had to organise a temporary passport as it appears he has never owned one. A car is on its way to take him directly to the airport. There was not time for us to send anyone to your home for fresh clothing so a case will be waiting for you on the plane.’

  ‘Thank you, Hestia. You are a marvel.’ Hera turned back to Charon, ‘Remember, Charon. You must come directly back to us with whatever you find out.’ Hera passed him the file, escorted him through the door and closed it firmly behind him.

  Well, thought Charon, looks like I am going to Japan.

  CHAPTER 17

  The Dragon

  Charon stepped off the small private jet and was met by a young woman in a smart black skirt suit. He bowed at the waist in greeting, which was returned. Her face, half covered by dark glasses, barely moved. Was she like him? As he followed her off the tarmac to a small arrivals lounge, Charon considered what had brought him here. Had it really been two weeks since he’d eavesdropped on that meeting? It must have been.

  ‘Your car is waiting, Charon san.’ The young woman who had taken his documents and led him through the immigration process returned and handed them back to him. ‘If you would follow me, please.’

  He extended the handle of the small cabin suitcase the other gods had provided him with and did as he was asked. Following her through the crowds in the baggage collection, and out to the front of the airport, where a long black limousine was waiting for him, he wondered if any of these people had the first idea of what was really in those woods. The paint had been polished to a high shine and it gleamed in the winter sunshine. The driver stepped out and opened the door for him. Charon placed his carry-on into the back before turning to the young woman. She was familiar but he couldn’t think why.