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The old man scratched his shoulder "There was risk involved for both of us But if my hints were open violations, you would not have succeeded I’ained will take you places"

Seth regarded his friends on the raft "The first place it will take us is Canada"

Chapter 22 Mark

Kendra and Bracken earned plenty of stares as they strolled along the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica She had carefully draped her wolf-hide cloak to conceal her sword and crossbow, just as Bracken had hidden his weapons beneath his bearskin cape, but even with a number of odd dressers in the crowd and an unusual assort to the pedestrians, they stood out in their rugged clothes and ar in his lip came up to Bracken "What are you supposed to be?" the skinny stranger asked

"The Santa Monica Seaside Players are putting on Henry V next weekend," Bracken replied waruy muttered as Bracken and Kendra moved away

Bracken had already employed a similar story several times He had even sidestepped the suspicions of a police officer

Up ahead, a ring of onlookers watched arubber balls A young wo beside him added live acco high and low, Kendra and Bracken wandered through the crowd

They were looking for a cat Bracken had maintained contact with Niko, who had pinpointed the shape-shifter a these trendy blocks of shops and eateries near the Southern California coastline Niko had no communication with his fellow shape-shifters, but his sense of their location reh he had only just reached the East Coast Niko could also discern that their current quarry-was at the s

Kendra passed a triceratops with a lanced up at the surrounding rooftops, expecting to gli a pink glow, and a gentle sea breeze kept the warer, Kendra tried to ignore the diners eating on a patio at small, round tables Raxtus had recently dropped theular breaks for o ships and ocean liners to eat and rest Kendra would have never ion while soaring over the ocean, but she had succeeded Raxtus had kept up a grueling pace, with Kendra sharing energy with hi above theo, Bracken had received a briefthat an Eternal naet The Sphinx had further cautioned Bracken that Nagi Luna had seen him, Kendra, and Raxtus in the Oculus They had been constantly on edge since receiving that unwelcome news

Warren had also contacted them The healer had reluctantly released him early, and he was on a plane over the Atlantic headed to New York The plan was for hiuidance on where to fly next

Seth had been in touch as well He orking on an assign with Vanessa, Newel, Doren, and Hugo Bracken had advised hiue unless a ti redhead in her early twenties sauntered toward the, stylish outfit Her eyes lingered on Bracken, who ignored her attention as he scanned the rooftops The girl shot Kendra a catty glare before she passed them Kendra had already observed several women interested in Bracken for more than his outlandish apparel

"There," Bracken aze to a narrow balcony above a restaurant A cat stared down at them, black with a partly white face and a white chest Bracken curled a beckoning finger at the ani a paw

Bracken walked closer to the restaurant, eyes glued to the balcony The cat continued licking obliviously Bracken crouched to grab a pebble and tossed it The little rock

The cat looked up, and Bracken waved it down After a languid stretch and a toothy yawn, the cat sprang fro, fro the street Bracken ran after the darting feline, with Kendra close behind

The cat raced into a narrow alley between soh school kids, Bracken tried to keep up Kendra followed less forcefully, overhearing comments like "Take it easy, Robin Hood," and "I think that dude had a sword"

Shouldering through the aroup, Kendra stumbled and fell A pair of hands helped her up It was a husky boy with red hair "What’s with the outfit?" he asked

"I’ advertise for some play," Kendra said "Seven bucks an hour Worst job ever"

Several of the high school kids were listening "Is that a real crossbow?" the redhead asked

After the fall, Kendra had failed to keep it hidden "I wish," she said "I’d shoot o"

Kendra hurried to the alleyway When she arrived, she found Bracken edging toward the cat with his pal The cat watched hi to your leader, who goes by the name Niko Three of the Eternals have perished We need to talk"

"What about the girl?" the cat asked suspiciously "She’s no unicorn"

"She’s fairykind," Bracken explained "We’re on your side But bad people are heading this way We need to find Mark"

"Follow hed

Kendra and Bracken walked down the alley with the cat, and then along a different street, until they reached a parking lot The cat led them to a corner of the lot, where they found a bench beside a low hedge The cat leapt up to the bench Kendra and Bracken sat down

"Is Mark nearby?" Bracken asked, looking around

"Not too far," the cat replied "A few blocks I’ve learned to give hi anymore"

"But you’re sworn to protect him," Bracken said

"I do my job," the cat replied "It’s become a little coirl has a peculiar aura, but before I take you to him, I need to hear your whole story"

Bracken told the shape-shifter about Graulas, the Sphinx, and the Oculus He recounted what they had found when they had tried to warn Roon Osricson He explained about the recent warning froht offer protection

"So we have assassins closing in as we speak?" the cat asked

"We don’t know exactly when," Bracken said "Could be now, could be tomorrow, but soon"

"Mark is fine at the moment," the cat said "I can clearly sense his location and histrouble I’ll know only when it arrives I should have stayed closer to him Come with me I’ll explain our proble ar to a cat on top of that ht be too much, even for Santa Monica"

The cat led them down a street toward the beach "You can call me Tux, by the way This is my favorite shape The name started as a joke, but now it’s all he calls me He thinks I hate it, but I actually don’t an his journey as an Eternal with a clear sense of purpose and commitment Despite all that has happened since, I still look back on those early years fondly We enjoyed radually eroded his character He began to regret his long life and the commitments he had made His dedication wavered Then it floundered