Chapter 15

October 14, 2017

It was a lovely Saturday along the New England coast, and both sailboats and cabin cruisers were out in force, taking advantage of one of the last pleasant boating days of the year. Off the coast near Rockport, Massachusetts, there was a dragon among the ducks. Thor was taking several guests on a short cruise to demonstrate the spells that allowed him to run the boat by himself.

Stardancer laughed as Thor put the longboat's helm over and angled the sail to take the best advantage of the new heading by telling the ropes and tiller what he wanted them to do. “I thought these were driven by oars?”

Thor shook his head. “Only when becalmed, or in narrow waters. Rowing everywhere would wear out a crew. Even the Romans only used the oars when sails were ineffective, and they used slave rowers and needed not to care about keeping the rowers well-rested for battle.” He grinned. “And since I do not have to worry about being becalmed, I can handle a dragon boat by myself, with just a bit of assistance.”

The Director of the NSA was lounging near the mast, wearing denim shorts and a red halter-top. “Try to keep the wind-bubble small, please. We don't need to spill other boaters into the water when they hit the boundary between your winds and the prevailing ones.”

“Do not worry, young Diviner. Today is a day for seamanship, not travel. I have allowed the winds to do as they please.”

The Director's chief bodyguard was sprawled beside her on the deck, also in shorts. He refused to take the day off completely, but his only concession to his job was the earpiece tuned to the frequencies that the on-duty personnel were using. “They're trying not to let anyone get too close to us anyway. Security, after all.” He snorted. “Not that it's keeping anyone from watching us. Apparently a dragon longboat is attracting attention.”

“And this is why I am wearing modest attire instead of a proper swimsuit.” The white wolf leaned over to nuzzle him. "Don't want to shock the locals."

Thor glanced up at the sun as it started to drop into the west. “It will soon be time to head back to shore. My Asatru have promised that tonight we will be treated to a 'proper Southern barbecue'. This involves a number of whole roasted pigs and a great many chickens, to judge from this morning's activities.”

Lowe grinned. “Oh, we're in for a treat, then. Did anyone say anything about pulled pork?”

“I did hear that phrase, Diviner. You foretell a pleasant feast, then?”

Whitford chuckled. “I think most any of our people would predict that, Thor. Doesn't require any special abilities.”

* * * *

Further out in the bay, a small cabin cruiser idled, with most of the passengers working fishing lines while one of them watched the dragon boat through binoculars and a second scanned the shore. “Shameless. The dog flaunts herself. And the American leader takes the advice of such a thing.”

“And the redhead?”

“A harlot for the false heathen god, it would seem.”

“That is not even the worst of it, Salah.” His partner was taking note of the activities of the crowd on shore. “They are preparing to feast on swine.” Several of the anglers made sounds of disgust as they continued their cover activity.

“What of their security, Wahid?”

“Almost entirely on the landward side, it seems. A feint to focus their attention in that direction should allow us to get close enough once the sun has set. Their Coast Guard has only the one cutter on duty, and Tariq should be able to take it out.”

“Then I think Allah smiles upon our mission, Wahid. We need only wait for the moment to be right.”

* * * *

Bast's helicopter touched down just as the dragon boat was being hauled out onto the shore. The lioness stepped down before the blades had even stopped turning and met them at the edge of the shingled beach. “Hail and well met, my friends.”

Thor waved and jogged up to her to take her hand and bow over it with a brush of his lips. “And to you, dear Bast.” He nodded to where the helicopter was still spooling down. “You seem to enjoy flying in to visit me. Perhaps I should try it myself...?”

The lioness grinned. “Indeed you should. It is an amazing thing to experience, these mechanical hummingbirds. Even if they are a bit loud.”

Lowe chuckled as she joined them. “I suspect even a real hummingbird would be noisy if it were that large, Ambassador.”

“A point.” She looked around. “Did Reynard arrive early? You requested that I bring him along, but he never showed up.”

The fox-changeling chuckled from directly behind her. “I was right there with you and you never even noticed me, Bast. I'm hurt.”

The lioness whirled around. “You... how...?” She frowned. “I hope you were the steward, and not pretending to be one of the pilots.”

“I never play a part I can't handle, cherie. No worries.”

Bast's frown deepened to a glare. “That does not answer my question.”

Reynard grinned again. “No, it doesn't, does it?”

Stardancer and Guardian joined them. Lowe nodded. “And now that we are all here, we can conduct a bit of business before the party. I believe our people have set up a conference room here, Thor?”

“Ya. Tis the most boring room in the entire place, and they always get upset when you spill mead on their machinery. But we have it, Diviner.”

Lowe ignored the snickers from Reynard and Stardancer. “Then let's get it out of the way before the barbecue is ready.”

* * * *

“... and Monsieur Reynard was dragged into things even before the Change. They are plotting something, but aside from the obvious business about becoming Immortals, they haven't actually spoken of it when I've been listening. And I still haven't identified the Russian. I've got our people trying to check on the organized crime rings in Russia at the moment.” Lowe leaned back in her chair. “Any ideas?”

Thor frowned. “Plots behind plots. This smells of Loki.”

Stardancer looked at him. “That's not just your prejudices speaking, I hope?”

“Nay. Ever was he one to manipulate his minions into doing what he wished while they thought they worked toward their own goals.”

Lowe nodded. “And what he wishes...”

“Aye, Diviner. What he has for an entire cycle now. Vengeance for an imagined wrong.”

“I'll be careful, then. If I can tap into their communications with magic, someone like Loki might be able to notice me the same way.”

Bast's tail switched back and forth. “Perhaps you should get your friend Shadow to assist you? Both Haroun and Fuego have mentioned her ability to conceal.”

Lowe perked an ear up. “And when did you meet with Fuego?”

Bast chuckled. “I -do- talk to Pele on occasion. She is Second among us now, and often the easiest to find.”

The wolf nodded. “Should have realized that. Next item, something I've been asking all of you older folks. What do you know about the Fae?”

Thor shook his head. “They were but legend even in my youth, Diviner. Some things were said to be of their blood, water spirits and the like, but I never met a true one of the Fair Folk.”

Bast shook her head. “Nor I.”

Lowe frowned. “And yet the Eldest and Pele will not answer questions about them. There is something to those legends, I fear.”

Reynard's ears were flattened. “If there is any truth to the legends, then names were important to them. Perhaps the Eldest refuses to speak of them for fear of bringing them back.”

“That...” Lowe paused, considering. “Perhaps I should ask him again when the magic has died...”

* * * *

USCGC Grand Isle idled slowly along the coast as the night grew deeper. The watch officer chuckled at a burst of noise from the shore. “Sounds like they're having a great party, Chief.”

“It purely does, sir.” Chief Crawford's Texan accent always seemed a little out of place on the New England coast to Lieutenant Morrison. “But at least those two fishing charters finally wandered off.”

“You noticed them, too? They were hanging around all day, and not really in a good place for fishing.”

Crawford shrugged. “No law says they have to be -good- fishermen, sir.”

Morrison chuckled. “True. But let's keep our eyes open tonight, just in case. They haven't told me who all is at this party, but the fact that we're out here tells me that it's more than just Thor today.”

A chorus of 'aye-aye sir' rippled across the bridge. Crawford pointed at the shore. “That helo is still there, too. So whoever it brought in is presumably still there.”

“The briefing papers I saw said it's another one of the pagan godlings. Happens to be an ambassador, to boot.”

Crawford nodded. "We'll keep 'em safe from this side, Lieutenant. No problem."

* * * *

The cutter assigned to security always got more aggressive at dusk, and the two boats had retreated to the Gloucester marina to refuel and compare notes. Now they were returning with a third, heading out along the standard route from Gloucester to Portsmouth. Wahid sent a text message to Muhari, who was leading the landward side of the operation. 'Now.'

Four minutes later, a set of TOW missiles streaked from their concealed launchers toward the compound. Two of them blew holes in the wire fence – the third was aimed at the checkpoint where the access road passed through the chain-link barrier, killing the two guards on duty almost before they realized they were under attack. A dozen more guards spread out from their ready room, grabbing rifles on the way out the door. A moment later they were exchanging fire with at least twice their number of attackers.

The explosions stopped the party in its tracks. Thor broke off in mid-sentence and pulled Mjolnir from its holster at his side. “Someone has decided to offer battle!”

“Hold, Thunderer!” Thor turned to the wolves with a rebuke on his lips, but it died in his throat as he looked at the Diviner. Even clad in a halter-top and ragged shorts, she showed the same presence he recalled of the Norns, her eyes glowing white and a nimbus around her as she called on her power. “This is a feint. More come from the sea.”

Guardian stood by her side, somehow armed and armored when he'd been holding a tankard of ale and a plate of food a moment before. “Stardancer, stay with us. Ambassador, Reynard, you are not under my orders, but if you stay with us, I will do my best to protect you as well.”

Bast grinned, and at a snap of her fingers, one of her jackal attendants handed her a spear. “I have not yet had the chance to fight at Thor's side, Guardian. I'm not going to pass up the opportunity.”

Reynard grinned. “I believe I'll take your offer, John. Although I'd like to think I'm not -completely- useless in a fight, it's not my strongest suit.”

Most of the senior Asatru were armed with daggers at least, and began cycling back to their rooms to grab heavier blades and bows. Two of them presented themselves to Thor. “Your orders, Thunderer?”

“Alfrid, take half of your people and back up the perimeter guards. Brunhild, you take the other half and back us up at the shoreline. The wolf says we're going to have more visitors soon.” The pair saluted and started organizing their people as they came back fully armed.

* * * *

Morrison watched the radar plot as Grand Isle loitered offshore from Thor's enclave. “Sierra-eight is getting a bit close, Chief. What say we go warn him to back off a bit?”

“Sounds like a plan, sir. Helm, come to 120 and give us eight knots.”

“Eight knots at course one-two-zero, aye, Chief.”

The ship had just begun its course change when the first explosions lit up the shore. For a moment, everyone turned toward the flashes – and Tariq and his crew had been waiting for that moment to launch their own weapons. Precious seconds were lost before the cutter's people were aware of the second attack. “Missiles in the air, sir! From Sierra-eight!”

“Full speed ahead! Take them out! General Quarters!” Alarms began to sound and off-duty crew scrambled from their bunks as the ship came under fire. “Captain to the bridge!”

The cutter was already turning towards the boat that had attracted their attention, and the narrower target caused two missiles to impact the water instead. The remaining pair streaked in, one hitting the starboard bow of the ship and blowing a hole through the hull plating, and the second impacting the midships radar mast. The radar tracker went dead just as the previously unremarkable contacts designated Sierra-one and Sierra-three turned and headed for the shore at high speed.

Grand Isle never noticed them.

* * * *

“There.” Lowe pointed at the beach, roughly thirty meters north of the boat-house. “They will land there. Two boats, thirty attackers. They have SAM's, so keep the helo on the ground. She's not designed for combat.” She pointed at one of the Asatru. “You. Run and tell the pilots.”

The man glanced at Thor, who nodded in confirmation. “She speaks sooth. Do as she asks.” He ran. The rest began to set up to repel the landing, five Secret Service guards with rifles to back up the sword and bow-armed Asatru warriors, along with the Ambassador, Thor, and Guardian.

Bast's borrowed spear glowed as she funneled power into it, and clouds gathered overhead as Thor readied Mjolnir. The cat laughed, and her eyes glowed red. “And now, friend Diviner, you will see what my aspect as Sekhmet truly is.”

* * * *

Wahid smiled as his boats made full speed for shore. Half the party-goers were moving toward the landward side of the compound as Muhari's feint drew them away, leaving the so-called Immortal and his American minions exposed near the beach. <Both wolves, the red-haired harlot and a cat-faced abomination. Allah is generous.> The .50 caliber machine gun they had managed to smuggle in had been set up on the front deck to sweep the beach when they arrived.

Salah was in charge of the second boat. He had both of the missiles they had left, but the helicopter was quiet, the rotors stationary and even the running lights still off. “Burhan, watch the aircraft. Jafar, since our targets are all staying in a group, see if you can hit them with your missile.”

Jafar swung the missile toward Thor and was pleased to hear the warble that told him it had picked up. “It will, Salah. They generate enough heat to trigger the lock.”

Salah grinned. “Excellent. Fire as soon as you're in range. That is the strongest blow we can make on the Great Satan.”

* * * *

Lowe watched the future battlespace, ghostly images shifting and fading as one or another possibility was opened or shut off. She frowned as the missile's future self aimed at their group, unable to resolve the results – aside from the fact that it was targeted on the Ambassador rather than anyone else in their group. “Sekhmet, what are you -doing-?”

The lioness grinned maniacally. “I am channeling the Khet Ma'at.”

“Fire of Justice,” the wolf translated to the others. “That explains why an infrared SAM is able to track you.” She glanced at Thor. “Can you hit a missile with lightning?”

“I shall try, Diviner.”

“Good. Because they're about to fire it. Get ready... soon...”

A half-mile out in the bay, a rocket flare burst out, accelerating toward the shore. The images flickered almost too fast for Lowe to track, but... “NOW!”

A flash of lightning turned night into actinic day, and the detonation of the missile was lost in the crash of thunder as the cloud grounded through the missile into the sea. Shrapnel pattered down on the beach and beyond, and one of the boats veered off the course it had been steering to aim straight for her predicted landing spot.

* * * *

Salah was furious at the failure of the missile. “The infidels possess foul magics, but it shall not save them from bullets. Burhan, try with yours.”

Burhan nodded and aimed the last SAM at the beach.

* * * *

“Second missile. Thor...?”

“The lightnings need time to recharge, Diviner. And our enemies are almost here. Sekhmet, shall we?”

“Indeed we shall!” The lioness loped down to the edge of the beach just as Wahid's boat arrived and started to spray the rocky cobbles with fifty-calibre fire.

Lowe gasped. “It's going to miss her. John, it's coming toward -us-!”

* * * *

The second missile launched just as Thor and Sekhmet moved, and at the short range it had insufficient time to change course completely. Guardian had just enough time to tackle his mate and land on top of her. “NO!” The explosion was muted, and then they both sat up, surprised to find themselves unhurt.

“John, you've got blue eyes all of a sudden.” They were, in fact, solid blue and glowing... and a barrier stood between them and the attackers. It wavered, pulses of color rippling across it, but the explosion scar on the ground stopped where it began. “I didn't know you could do that.”

Reynard chuckled from behind them. “I don't think he knew it, either. Tres bien, mes amis. Shall we join in the festivities?”

Guardian took up his rifle again. "I think we should, yes. That machine gun is making all too much noise, don't you think?"

* * * *

The lightning bolt badly rattled him, but Wahid recovered by the time they reached the beach. The echoes of the second missile explosion were still fading when they reached the edge of the water. “Quickly, quickly! Kill the infidels!” His people jumped from the boat as it drove ashore, firing up at the pair of false gods as they charged down the slope. Off to his left, Salah's boat did the same, taking advantage of the lights of the compound to silhouette their enemies while they stared into the night. But the bullets did not hurt them, and the red-bearded man started beating on his warriors with a hammer while the cat-creature attacked Salah's group with a spear whose blade was flame. Both of them moved faster than should be possible, never where a bullet was targeted, weapons flashing in firelight, a martial dance that would have been beautiful had it not been aimed at destroying his men.

The big man laughed as he knocked the rifle out of Hisham's hands and crushed his shoulder on the backswing. Wahid scrambled to the machine gun. “Kamil, shoot them! Why aren't you shooting...” Kamil's body slumped when he grabbed his shoulder, falling away from the gun and revealing the hole in his chest. Wahid growled and swung the gun around, firing at the hammer-wielder. The bigger bullets succeeded in knocking him down where the smaller rifles had not. “Hah! Yes!” He tracked the machine gun toward the lioness, the bullets spalling off the rocky beach as he moved his aiming point, and then Thor stood up again. “I felt that one, little man.” The hammer impacted his chest a moment later, and everything went dark.