Small Favor

He nodded. "And the whole time I never even suspected it. I thought that she cared about me as much as I cared about her." He smiled faintly. "Mind you, I never claimed to be of any particular intelligence."

"Who got you out?" I asked him. "Shiro?"

"In a way," Sanya said. "Shiro had just driven Tessa from one of her projects in…Antwerp, I believe. She came storming into Rosanna’s apartment in Venice, furious. She and Rosanna had an argument I never completely understood-but instead of leaving when I was told to do so, I stayed to listen. I heard what Rosanna truly felt about me, heard her report about me to Tessa. And I finally understood what an idiot I’d been. I dropped the coin into a canal and never looked back."

I blinked at him. "That must have been difficult."

"My entire life has been one of a snowball in Hell," Sanya said cheerfully. "Though the metaphor is perhaps inverted. At the time I judged the action to be tantamount to suicide, since Tessa was certain to track me down and kill me-but Shiro had followed her to Venice, and he found me instead. Michael-not the Chicago Michael, the other one-met us at Malta and brought Esperacchius, here, with him, offering me the chance to work against some of the evil I’d helped to create. From there I have been Knighting. Is good work. Plenty of travel, interesting people, always a new challenge."

I shook my head and laughed. "That’s putting a positive spin on it."

"I am making a difference," Sanya said with simple and rock-solid conviction. "And you, Dresden? Have you considered taking up Fidelacchius? Joining us?"

"No," I said quietly.

"Why not?" Sanya asked, his tone reasonable. "You know for what we fight. You know the good we do for others. Your cause runs a close parallel to ours: to protect those who cannot protect themselves; to pit yourself against the forces of violence and death when they arise."

"I’m not really into the whole God thing," I said.

"And I am an agnostic," Sanya responded.

I snorted. "Hell’s bells. Tell me you aren’t still clinging to that. You carry a holy blade and hang out with angels."

"The blade has power, true. The beings allied with that power are…somewhat angelic. But I have met many strange and mighty things since I took up the sword. If one called them ‘aliens’ instead of ‘angels,’ it would only mean that I was working in concert with powerful beings-not necessarily the literal forces of Heaven, or a literal Creator." Sanya grinned. "A philosophical fine point, true, but I am not prepared to abandon it. What we do is worthy, without ever bringing questions of faith, religion, or God into the discussion."

"Can’t argue with that," I admitted.

"So tell me," Sanya said, "why have you not considered taking up the sword?"

I thought about it for a second and said, "Because it isn’t for me. And Shiro said I would know who to give it to."

Sanya shrugged and nodded his head in acquiescence. "Reason enough." He sighed. "We could use Fidelacchius’s power in this conflict. I wish Shiro were with us now."

"Good man," I agreed quietly. "He was a king, you know."

"I thought he just liked the King’s music."

"No, no," I said. "Shiro himself. He was a direct descendent of the last king of Okinawa. Several generations back, but his family was royalty."

Sanya shrugged his broad shoulders. "There have been many kings over the centuries, my friend, and many years for their bloodlines to spread through the populace. My own family can trace its roots back to Salahuddin."

I felt my eyebrows rise. "Salahuddin. You mean Saladin? King of Syria and Egypt during the Crusades?"

Sanya nodded. "The same." He paused in midstrop and looked up at me, his eyes widening.

"I know you’re agnostic," I said. "But do you believe in coincidence?"

"Not nearly so much as I once did," Sanya replied.

"That can’t be a coincidence. Both of you descended from royalty." I chewed on my lip. "Could that have something to do with who can take up one of the swords?"

"I am a soldier and an amateur philosopher," Sanya said. "You are the wizard. Could such a thing be significant?"

I waggled a hand in midair. "Yes and no. I mean, there are a lot of factors that tie magic to matters of inheritance-genetic or otherwise. A lot of the old rites were intimately bound up with political rulers."

"The king and his land are one," Sanya intoned solemnly.

"Well, yeah."

Sanya nodded. "Michael showed me that movie."

"Merlin was the only good thing about that movie. That and Captain Picard kicking ass in plate mail with a big ax." I waved my hand. "The point is that in many cultures, the king or sultan or whatever held a position of duty and authority that was as much spiritual as physical. Certain energies could have been connected to that, giving the old kings a form of metaphysical significance."

"Perhaps something similar to the power of the Swords?" Sanya asked.

I shrugged. "Maybe. By the time I was born the planet was running a little low on monarchs. It isn’t something I’ve looked at before."

Sanya smiled. "Well. Now you need only find a prince or princess willing to lay down his or her life over matters of principle. Do you know any?"

"Not so much," I said. "But I’ve got a feeling that we’re onto something." I glanced at the clock on the wall. "It’s getting late. I’ll be back here in about two hours, or I’ll call."

"Da," Sanya said. "We will watch over your criminals for you."

"Thanks," I said, and went back out to the workshop. Hendricks had slumped to the floor and was sleeping. Gard was actually snoring. Thomas had been pacing restlessly when I entered.

"Well?" he asked.

"Gotta get to Mac’s and meet Murphy," I said. "Let’s roll."

Thomas nodded and headed for the door.

I reached into the trash can by the door, took out an empty motor oil can, and tossed it into the least cluttered corner of the workshop. It bounced off something in midair, and Molly let out a soft yelp, appearing there a moment later, rubbing a hand to her hip.

"Where’d she come from?" Thomas demanded crossly.

"What did I miss?" Molly demanded, her tone faintly offended. "I had all the senses covered. Even Thomas didn’t know I was there."

"You didn’t miss anything," I said. "I just know how you think, grasshopper. If I can’t make you stay where it’s safe, I might as well keep you where I can see you. Maybe you’ll even be useful. You’re with us."