Storm took his customary place leaning against the back wall. Ram took his customary place at the end of the sofa closest to the Sovereign’s chair and next to the Courtpark window. Elora sat in a leather chair facing the desk and was thinking that she’d been in that office countless times and had never sat anywhere else.
“I recognize you from your files, of course. My name is Rev Farthing, but you’ve…” He motioned at Ram and Elora. “…probably heard that already.
“I wish I had better news.”
Rev spent a few minutes catching them up on the crisis. Of the three, the only one who had anything to say was Ram. He scrubbed a hand down the front of his face and punctuated the gesture with, “Great Paddy.”
“Yes. Well, insofar as this predicament affects the three of you, and this does come from on high, every able bodied knight under the age of thirty-five is being recalled to active duty.”
Ram jumped to his feet. “Active duty! For Paddy’s sake, man! We have an apartment full of boxes packed for movin’. Look at my mate. You see that fuckin’ nice bloom on her cheeks? ‘Tis ‘cause she’s daydreamin’ about a stack of an old house in Ireland, raisin’ elflin’s and black and silver pups!”
Elora had remained seated. “We have a baby, Sovereign.”
The softening of Rev’s face was barely noticeable. He’d been playing hard ass for a very long time. “Many of the retired knights have children, Lady Laiken. Perhaps even most.” He glanced at Storm. “Sir Caelian is being recalled as well.
“You have seven days before B Team rotation begins. Six hour shifts every other day.” He turned to Elora. “Sir Catch is preparing a report on which three of the trainees he thinks are most ready to go early. As martial instructor, I’d like to have your input on that as well.”
At that, Elora jumped to her feet. She was incensed. “Stop right there! Putting seasoned knights back on the street is one thing, but you’re not getting my boys before they’re good and ready to go.”
“It’s not up to me.”
“Of course it is. You’re not getting them. And as far as B Team goes, two of us have a child together. Do you understand that that’s a special circumstance?”
Rev seemed to be considering that. “You’re right. You can’t both be out on the same patrol. Take turns and I’ll be B Team’s fourth.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Storm spoke up for the first time. “You can’t handle the duties of Sovereign and be on rotation.”
“I absolutely can. And I will.” Storm opened his mouth to speak, but Rev cut him off. “So long as I’m in charge here, it’s not up to you.”
To Storm, he said, “Go spend time with your wife and report in seven days.”
To Ram and Elora, he said, “Go unpack. You’re not going anywhere until we can replace you.”
Watching as Ram and Elora looked to each other, an onlooker would have sworn an entire silent conversation took place through the connection they made with their eyes.
Ram turned back to Rev. “If our boy is going to be in danger…”
Rev interrupted. “If we’re talking about vampire, this facility, which will soon house twenty-eight active duty knights and twenty trainees, is the safest place the child could be.”
“Aye.” Ram looked dubious. “I once thought the same.”
The three members of B Team filed out into the hall, but didn’t speak until they got into the elevator. Storm punched Hub level and turned to Ram. “How about a drink?”
“You read my mind, brother.”
After they had settled into a booth near the bar Storm sat back and shook his head. “I’d rather take a horse-whipping than deliver the damn edict to Litha.”
“’Tis no’ your doin’. You’re the victim here, the victim of vampire virus once removed. If anythin’ she should be coverin’ you with sympathetic kisses and cooin’ about how The Order is king of mean.”
Storm smirked at Ram. “Once removed? You have always had the oddest way of looking at things.”
“Just another reason why you’re incomparably fond of me. Wonder what Kay’s goin’ to say about this unwelcome development.”
“Wonder what Katrina is going to say.”