shapechange. Telling him about the Dark Ones, and that "Inspector Michael Cornwall" was actually a

two-thousand-year-old adept, the son of a half-breed enchantress and a legendary British king, seemed

more than enough to strain credulity. He had decided not to bother trying to explain that Modred was

actually a warlock known as Wyrdrune, whose real name was Melvin Karpinsky, an erratic young man

from Queens who had been kicked out of thaumaturgy school and had the ability to physically manifest a

spirit entity residing in an enchanted runestone. Things were complicated enough as they were.

shapechange. Telling him about the Dark Ones, and that "Inspector Michael Cornwall" was actually a

two-thousand-year-old adept, the son of a half-breed enchantress and a legendary British king, seemed

more than enough to strain credulity. He had decided not to bother trying to explain that Modred was

actually a warlock known as Wyrdrune, whose real name was Melvin Karpinsky, an erratic young man

from Queens who had been kicked out of thaumaturgy school and had the ability to physically manifest a

spirit entity residing in an enchanted runestone. Things were complicated enough as they were.

"Alittle trouble?" Billy's voice deepened by several octaves and his accent changed as Merlin spoke

through him. "Not three seconds after I arrived here, a blasted unicorn appeared in the center of the living

room! Do you have any idea what it was like, trying to get him through the door?"

"I'm sorry," Wyrdrune said. "I don't know what went wrong. I guess I screwed up."

"So whatelse is new?" said Merlin sourly. "Did you at least manage to escape from the police? Or was

Paul forced to bail you out?"

Briefly, Wyrdrune told him what had happened.

"Well, perhaps it's for the best," Merlin said when Wyrdrune finished. "Telling Loomis might have been

risky, but at least he now knows what he's up against and it might prevent him from doing anything

foolish. I think your instincts were correct, Paul. Joe Loomis strikes me as a man who can be trusted.

With any luck, he'll be able to keep this field agent from getting in our way."

"Where's Kira?" Wyrdrune asked.

"Asleep upstairs, I should imagine," Merlin replied. "I saw no point in disturbing her. We could all use

some rest. Though how I'll get to sleep now with all this coffee Billy dumped into us is beyond me."

"Has anyone seen Gomez?" Paul asked.

"No, I haven't seen him," said Merlin. "And come to think of it, I haven't seen Broom, either."

"Broom's probably in the closet," Wyrdrune said, going toward the kitchen. "I'm just going to tell it not to

bother getting breakfast, since we're all probably going to be asleep."

"I'm worried about Gomez," Paul said. "I know he's only trying to help, but I'd hate to see anything

happen to the old warrior. I've grown quite attached to him."

Merlin smiled. "I know what you mean. There are times when I still miss Archimedes."

"Your computer?" Paul said, frowning.

"No, my owl," said Merlin. "The original Archimedes. My computer is named after him. I never did find

out what became of him after I fell under Morganna's spell. There were times when I was sorely vexed

with that cantankerous bird. My robes were always covered with droppings and I must have threatened

to have him stuffed a thousand times, but I do miss him."

"Broom's not here," said Wyrdrune, coming back in from the kitchen. He was frowning.