"Will that be enough of a change?"
"To be honest, I have no idea. Maybe the mere fact of you going in my place will be enough to break the spell, but you will be playing my role, so it may make no difference. I can't be sure. If I went in and tasted his magic, I might know, but for everyone's sake, that is something I cannot risk."
"I don't suppose we have anything on the people he might have snatched, so I can try and trace them with psychometry?"
"Not a hope. He could have taken them from anywhere, and we haven't the time to try and track them down."
Nikki grimaced. She didn't think it would be that easy, but she had to ask all the same. "So what's the third problem?"
"Weylin has raised a protection barrier around the old town. We can't get anyone in."
"If you can't get anyone in, how am I going to get in?"
"He'll create a door at a specified time. If anyone tries to come in with you, he'll kill everyone in that town, except Michael. Then he'll start killing Circle operatives." Nikki blew out a breath and slumped back in the chair. "He's got all the bases covered."
"He's had a long time to plan this revenge of his. Beating him will not be easy." Beating bad guys never was. "So, how many people are in this town?"
"Hartwood was an old mining town. He'd have to have enough people to cover the main players—barman, saloon girls, general store owner, preacher, people like that. At least a dozen, at a guess. And it is a guess, remember that. I have no idea what path his magic has taken."
"How can he possibly manage all that magic and still control all those people? Surely it would sap his strength?"
"It would, but all he would have to do is perform regular sacrifices, and his strength would be maintained."
"Meaning I might also have to try and stop those sacrifices?"
"Yes."
Great. She worried her lip for a moment then asked, "What about Michael? He has a strong mind and strong shields. How on earth would Weylin force him to play this little game?"