So

there's nothin' for it, then, is there?"

"I'm afraid not, Liam. Sorry."

"Well, in that case I suppose you'll be needin' a ride back to London when

you're finished, won't you?"

Wyrdrune glanced at Kira and raised his eyebrows. She shrugged.

"I mean, if I won't be rememberin' anythin', anyway," said Liam, "I may as

well

stick around an' see what it is I'm goin' ta forget."

"All right, Liam," Wyrdrune said with a grin. "But you remember what I said.

We

don't want any trouble, do we?"

"I don't know. You sure about this, warlock?" Kira said.

"Oh, I think he'll be all right," said Wyrdrune. "Hell, if we get caught,

he's

an accessory, isn't he? And he'll be all right so long as he stays with the

cab."

They pulled up in front of the entrance and got out. With many of the guests

in

costume, their appearance did not draw any comment, and though there were a

few

puzzled looks in Billy's direction, the general consensus seemed to be that

they'd gotten in, so they probably belonged there.

"Well, so far so good," said Kira. "What happens now?"

"Now we see if we can find a stairway leading down," said Wyrdrune. He

stepped

up close to her and lifted his headband slightly. "Is it glowing?"

Kira nodded. She pulled off her fingerless black glove. The sapphire set into

her palm was strobing brightly. She quickly pulled the glove back on.

"Modred's here," she said "I can feel it."

Wyrdrune nodded and moistened his lips. His mourn suddenly felt very dry.

"Yeah,

I can feel it too," he said. "Billy, stay close."

"I can take care of myself, Karpinski," Merlin said. "Or perhaps I should say

we

can take care of ourselves. You just worry about finding Modred. Remember, he

was taken prisoner for the express purpose of drawing the two of you here.

And

now that he's served that purpose, there's no longer any reason for Modred to

be

kept alive."

"The coast is clear," said Blood, returning to their vantage point across the

street from Lord Carfax's townhouse, which they'd been watching carefully for

the past half hour or so. "It doesn't look as if anyone is home."