I couldn’t just sit here, I had to go, and now. But how? He’d insisted I couldn’t use magic to get there. And I was up against Dean, an alchemist and a traitor. He was well aware a faerie like me could hide until I was right on top of him, so he’d be ready with detection spells. Maybe he’d even left a trap behind in this room. I quickly heightened my senses and looked around, but I was too upset to do a proper investigation, much less release any traps.
Should I ask other alchemists for help? No, that was a bad idea. I had to assume he was monitoring my actions. If I didn’t show up with the dragon egg as directed, if I did anything suspicious, Larry, Jeffrey, and Laura would absolutely be in danger.
“Jack, you there?”
A knock on the window. I jumped to my feet, nearly tripping as I made my way across the darkened room. Staggering, I opened the window and saw a young, tanned centaur with dreadlocks. He looked at my face, looked at the state of the room, and his eyes widened.
“What the hell happened? A tornado hit you?” he asked.
“Vince,” I wailed, holding fast to the window frame to keep myself upright. Even by the glow of the headlights and neon signs, I could tell my fingers were horribly pale. “Vince, I got a job for you. Rush delivery.”
The words were out before I’d consciously thought it through, but as I spoke I realized this was the best approach.
“Can you give me a ride to Great Hill in Central Park? Fast. ASAP. A bad guy kidnapped Larry and my client.”
Jeffrey wasn’t technically my client, but I didn’t have time to explain the complexities.
“If I don’t go to him, three lives are in danger. Please, Vince!”
“Hmm. I dunno about that, Jack,” Vince said. He clearly knew I was desperate, but he scratched his chin and glanced at the delivery bag on his shoulder. “You know I’m just the postman. Others handle the taxi service. If I step on their turf, it’ll really piss ’em off.”
“This is a personal favor. Just think of me as a package. You deliver things that live, talk, and think all the time, right? What’s the difference if the sender herself is the cargo?”
“I don’t know if the taxi folk’ll see it that way…”
“I’m not kidding, Vince. This is serious.”
“Sorry, but rules are rules, Jack. Ask your house automousebile. I’d love to help, but—”
Vince was already backing away.
“Vincent McNeill-Windrunner!” I roared. At his full name, Vince froze, his hindleg still raised. I ran to my desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a white envelope. I dumped out the Linden leaf inside and thrust it under Vince’s nose. “How about this? The express fee and the charter fee upfront. You get a penalty from the taxi people, you can pay ’em off with that. I’m in a hurry. Get me to Central Park, now! Please!”
“Whoa!” Vince grabbed the leaf the dragon aerie mage had sent, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. “You give me something like this, I’d have to be your personal taxi for the next year.”
“I don’t have time for chit chat! Hurry! Central Park!”
“Aye aye, boss.”
I clambered out the window and heaved myself onto the centaur’s back. As I did, Vince kicked the wall, and we rocketed like a bullet across the New York evening.
“You said ASAP, right?” Vince moved his leather bag to his back and glanced over his shoulder. “This might get a bit intense. You ready for it?”
“Go for it, Vince!”
“Roger that!”
His speed increased dramatically. The view around me blurred, everything melting together, the lights turning into lines as they sped past us.
I was getting a sound lesson in just how fast a centaur could run if they wanted to. This was like a top-speed roller coaster, except we bounded this way and that, making sharp turns and sudden drops that sent us slamming into the ground. The wind was so strong I could barely breathe. I gritted my teeth and held onto Vince’s back for dear life, but it felt like my organs were being shaken so hard they’d never go back to their original locations. His bead necklaces thrashed like mad things, and the silver bits and feathers in his dreadlocks clattered wildly.
“Is that you, Lady Agent?” said a voice at my ear.
I forced my eyes open. A gentleman skeleton in a top hat floated next to me. Despite our blinding speed, he was easily keeping up with Vince without even ruffling his collar.
“Those uncouth men came and took Laura away. They were quite rough with her! I thought you should know. They may be plotting something dastardly!” Roderick cried.
“They are.” I nearly bit my tongue trying to talk. The roaring winds snatched my voice away. “They took my brother and Jeffrey hostage and are trying to get their hands on that jewel you saw—the dragon egg. I’ve got the necklace right here. They failed to get it from me, so now they’ve resorted to kidnapping.”
“Gadzooks!” Roderick’s teeth chattered, and he raised a fist in fury. “Such evil is truly beyond the pale. If it’s not too presumptuous, allow me to rally some support. At this time of night, there should be no issue with any number of us leaving our positions. I’m familiar with most of the local residents. One word from me and we’d gather quite a crowd.”
“That would help! Please do. I’ve got to get to where the villains are, pronto.”
“I shall soon return, my lady.”