Here's something nobody ever tells you about being a professional Wizard: Eventually, you will be arrested or taken into custody for questioning. As near as I can tell, this is a simple fact of life for any practitioner of the Art that gets involved in public displays of power on a regular basis. Sooner or later, someone points a finger at you, or you're required to answer questions about a case you're working, or something similar. It goes with the territory.

Something else nobody ever tells you: Being in jail, even just a holding cell or interrogation room, really sucks. And that's when you're waiting to answer questions about a case. If you're a suspect, you can expect to be treated as if you've committed the crime - just for the sake of the safety of the people handling you.

Ergo: Sitting in a prison cell wearing manacles designed to dampen magical abilities while your familiars are locked in cages somewhere else in the facility and you're waiting to be questioned in relation to the utter devastation of a town - an event you had nothing to do with - after being falsely accused of the crime will really ruin your day.

Q.E.D.

The worst part of it by far - at least physically and psychologically - was having my connection to Artemis and Athena so attenuated by the manacles.

It is, of course, impossible to sever the familiar bond completely, short of killing my familiars (or me, obviously), but the magic of the manacles blunted my link with them so strongly that while I could sense their presence nearby - faintly - I could neither hear their thoughts and emotions, nor send them mine. And I had grown so used to both that it was a devastating sensation, one which left me so out of sorts that I was having a hard time stringing my thoughts together at first.

Top that physical and psychological disorientation off with the emotional distress of having no idea what had happened to my mother, who may or may not have been there during the event in question (the police STILL hadn't told me anything), and panic had begun to set in. But I was a licensed Mage, a Wizard in training, and I was not going to allow myself to panic. So I meditated. It wouldn't actually dull the disorientation or distress I was feeling, but it would allow me to push them to one side and maybe think clearly.

Once I managed to convince my body that neither my familiars nor I were in any immediate danger, I was able to shift my mind back into gear. Mostly, anyway. I still felt strangely dazed and disturbed by the absence of their thoughts and emotions.

But I was able to think again, which was a good start. But said start cleared additional room in my brain for the destruction of my hometown and my fear for my mom to spread out, and shortly that dominated the parts of my mind not taken up by the absence of my familiars.

To be blunt, I was not all that upset by the destruction of the town. Don't get me wrong; any destruction brought upon innocents is a terrible thing. But let's be truthful...there was no love lost between me and most of the town's residents. Many of them had treated me poorly while I was growing up, and that leaves emotional scars. I felt worse about not feeling badly for the other survivors of the attack than I did about the actual destruction of the town.

Good riddance.

I sighed a little. That was inappropriate.

I wouldn't allow myself to be that bitter. They were, as I said, people who had caused me no end of emotional pain when I was a little girl, and I had been more than glad to get away from them when I went to start my training. But they were still people, and no innocents deserved what had happened there. Not to mention the fact that, unless I was dramatically mistaken, they were innocent in this case; they had done nothing to bring this destruction down on them. This was, it seemed, my fault. At least indirectly.

So what was going on here? If it was Brenna who did it, why? An act of retaliation for having foiled her attempt to get a very cursed dagger I had been transporting for Hollis Ellister, my employer, a few months ago? It seemed somewhat disproportionate, at least to me. She'd evidently used fire magic on the town...perhaps I'd burned her with my phoenix construct. Though that too seemed rather like a bit of overkill as retaliation went.

I was, I suddenly realized, trying to think like someone who was quite likely insane. I was just going to hurt myself doing that. My time right now was better spent remaining calm and worrying about my mom.

The door to my cell opened and I looked up to see the Mage-detective who'd helped take me into custody standing there. He was a good-looking young man...dark brown hair, gray eyes, probably a little over six feet tall. He was wearing black trousers and a dark green shirt without a tie. Very fashionable. Not that I was in a mood to appreciate any of this. So I just stared at him, keeping my expression politely blank.

"Mage Kinnear? I'm Detective Inspector Ben Donovan. Would you please come with me? We need to ask you some questions."

He said it quietly, politely, and respectfully. That mollified me a little bit. So I rose and nodded. "Lead the way. Can you tell me what happened to my mother? And is there any way to turn the effect of these manacles down a bit? I'm going to have a hard time answering questions if I can't think straight."

He tipped his head and gave me a confused look. Then comprehension dawned in his eyes. "Oh! Your connection with your familiars. I've heard that the effect can be a bit disorienting. I'll have a word with the detective in charge in a few minutes. And I'm afraid I don't know what happened to your mother yet. For now..." He stepped out of the doorway and gestured for me to precede him.

If only I could figure out what was bugging me about him. Something felt off, but my brain was too full of feeling wrong and fear for my mom to figure out what.

Evidently, they'd decided I wasn't an immediate threat. He was alone as he led me down the hallway. "Decided I'm not going to try to blow up the building?"

He sounded amused. "If it's any consolation, miss, I don't think you did it. I had a Truth-sayer spell running when we took you into custody, and nothing you said indicated any kind of guilt or even awareness of what was going on."

"So why..."

"Partly for your own protection," he said when I couldn't find the right words to finish my question. "That Druid really had it in for you."

I grunted. "No kidding." Druid Fianna Somerled, had been the assistant to the High Druid of Éire - Ireland, to the rest of the world - until earlier that day. Now that he was dead, I suppose she might be the new High Druid soon. Be that as it may, she'd always considered me to be a bit of a scandal...not only am I the daughter of an unwed mother, based on my appearance my father had not been human, but one of the Sidhe.

I did not fit into her world view. And she’d never been anything but brutally honest about that.

"Right here," the detective said suddenly, gently taking my elbow and pulling me to a halt before turning me into an open doorway.

The room was every cliché I've ever heard about for an interrogation room. Bare walls, a ticking clock, microphones on the table, a chair on the far side facing the door and two across the table for the detectives to sit in. On one wall, there was a large mirror. No doubt one-way.

I shrugged mentally and moved around the table, sitting down in the lone chair on that side. "Manacles?" I asked hopefully.

"Let me find out. I'll be right back." He left the room, closing the door behind him.

According to the clock, I'd been in custody for six hours. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. Between that and the fact that it took a strong effort to keep from waving at the mirror and whoever was on the other side of it, I was able to judge my state of mind: addled.

I rubbed my forehead. Oh boy. I needed to get a grip.

Donovan returned, followed by a middle-aged woman I hadn't seen before. She wore a business suit; slacks and a trim-cut jacket of dark blue linen over a cream-colored blouse. Her hair, black turning gray, was done up in a neat bun. She moved around the table and held up a key.

In response, I held up my manacled wrists. She unlocked the manacles and pulled them free of my hands.

Instantly, full contact with my familiars flooded back into my brain.

> They both asked simultaneously, half-panicked.

> I replied gently as my mind quickly reoriented itself into some semblance of order. >

They subsided immediately, their discomfort and fear vanishing as quickly as my own. I only hoped I was right. Of course, with my mind finally clear there was nothing to stop me from thinking about other things. Like the fact that an entire town had been destroyed and there were probably people dead. And my mom...

I looked up at the woman and nodded. "Thank you. Does anyone know what happened to my mother yet?"

"We'll discuss that in a minute. Don't make us regret removing your restraints," she said flatly. "There are three armed officers outside who won't hesitate to open fire if you try anything."

Donovan glared at her. "I sincerely doubt that's necessary..."

His accent, I realized, was distinctly London. He wasn't from Éire. Curious. That must've been what was bugging me. And why were they dodging the question of what had happened to my mom? I felt the panic starting to well up again, a bitter taste in the back of my throat, and shoved it back down. Panicking would not help me right now. Not at all.

"Sit down, detective," she said quietly. "Just because we requested the help of Scotland Yard doesn't make this your jurisdiction."

Ah, he was from Scotland Yard. That explained both the odd out-of-place feeling I got from him and the hostility he was getting from the local police.

Since the Magical Law Enforcement Act of 1907, the authority of New Scotland Yard's Paranormal Investigation Branch had expanded to a national (and sometimes, with the permission or request of the hosting country, international) level. Over time, it has become a gathering point for magically gifted investigators, owing to its position in Albion's capital.

Some of Greater Britannia's member nations - especially Éire - felt like Scotland Yard was stepping on their toes when a PIB Inspector was sent to their jurisdiction, but rarely put up a serious fuss about it. After all, like it or not, they're getting the very best paranormal-related law enforcement operatives Albion has to offer.

Donovan held up his hands in polite surrender and sat down, giving me a look that I couldn't immediately translate. I got the impression that he was on my side, though. Assuming they weren't playing me.

The woman detective moved back around the table and turned to face me without sitting down. "Mage Kinnear, you're potentially in quite a lot of trouble."

"I gathered," I said dryly. "But I came quietly and I'm willing to answer any questions you have."

"Without a lawyer present?" She asked, probably for the benefit of whatever was recording our conversation.

"If I feel the need for one," I replied politely, "I'll say so."

She looked a little surprised, then nodded. "Very well. My name is Detective Inspector Janis O'Malley. Can you tell me where you've been since last night and who would have seen you?"

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that cooperating could only help me. "On an airship from London to Dublin first. It left the London docks at about 22:00 last night and landed in Dublin at approximately 05:45 this morning," I replied. "After that, on a train to Killarney. It left the station a little after 06:30, as I recall, and didn't get in until almost 09:00. I imagine there were tons of people who saw me, and I have punched tickets for both trips."

She nodded and sat down finally. "We found them in your coat while we were going through your things."

"We repacked your bag for you," Donovan interjected. "That's a very cool bag. Home-made?"

I looked at him in surprise. "By my grandmother. Or so my mom told me." I looked back at O'Malley, who was glowering at him. "Can you tell me what happened to her? Her house was demolished..."

She returned her attention to me. "There's no evidence that she was there. We're trying to locate her now."

Relief washed over me, the panic subsiding. She hadn't been there. "Try the residence of Wizard Jonathan Tremane in Dublin," I said. "If he was there when whatever it was happened, he might have retreated there with her."

I thought I saw recognition on Donovan's face, and maybe a bit of surprise.

O'Malley narrowed her eyes at me, then turned to the mirror and nodded before returning her attention to me. "Tell me, Miss Kinnear...how were relations between you and the druid community in your hometown."

"Somewhere between strained and outright hostile," I replied honestly. "They were never comfortable with me."

"Because of your behavior towards them?" She asked, taking notes in a notebook not unlike the one I used.

"No," I said, surprised. "Not at all. I was always polite and respectful. No, they didn't like me because of my..." I trailed off, then shrugged and finished, "Uncertain parentage and Hermetic talent."

She looked up from her notebook, confused. "Uncertain parentage?"

I brushed back my pale gold hair to reveal my right ear and its delicately pointed tip. "I have reason to believe my father was of the Sidhe, but no proof - other than my ears, eyes and hair."

Donovan seemed fascinated. O'Malley simply nodded. "I see. And your Hermetic talent?"

"As I understand it, there's bad blood between the Druid community and the Order of Hermetic Wizardry," I replied. "Something that happened when I was still a toddler."

"1964," Donovan said helpfully. "The multiple-possession case of several Druids in Cork."

"Ah," O'Malley said. "So they exiled you from the town?"

"Not precisely," I said slowly. "They made it clear I wasn't welcome there, but since my mom is a member of the Council, they couldn't give me the boot permanently."

"I see," she said, taking notes.

"May I ask why I'm a suspect and how this is relevant?" I asked.

"Establishing motive," Donovan said. "You have a Mage's license and are training to become a Wizard, so you had the means..."

O'Malley turned in her chair and glared at him.

He shrugged and said nothing.

Huh. What was this all about? I mean, I understood why they were questioning me, but the hostility between the two detectives was practically tangible.

O'Malley returned her attention to me. "You're a suspect because several eyewitnesses reported someone matching your description in town early this morning causing the destruction. She had an Elevated feline familiar with her who was chasing down and injuring or killing people who fled from the buildings they were destroying. Completely at random, from what we've been able to gather."

"How many people died?" I asked quietly, not sure I wanted to know. Whether I had done this myself or not - which I hadn't - it was still indirectly my fault. Or at least appeared to be. Innocent people - who I may not have liked much, but who were still people just going about their lives - had been hurt and killed.

When O'Malley didn't reply right away, Donovan stepped in. "It wasn't as bad as it could have been. With such a large number of Druids in town, there were few fatalities. So far, only fifteen, but a lot of people are injured. Some badly."

I didn't let it show on my face, but inwardly I winced. As I said, I might not have liked most of the people in my home town, but I didn't actually hate them either. I felt a coldness in my gut...these people had died and been hurt just because I had grown up there, because my mom still lived there. But I hadn't done it myself, and I wasn't going to give in to a guilt-trip just because I grew up there.

Donovan looked sympathetic, as if he understood what I was feeling. O'Malley was watching my reactions closely. She seemed content with what she saw, because she sat back in her chair and looked thoughtful. Before she could say anything though, there was a tapping from the mirror. She looked up, frowned, rose and left the room.

Donovan smiled apologetically. "Sorry about this. They're in a rough place. No Mages on staff, and a town completely destroyed by some serious combat magic. There were witnesses placing someone who looked like you at the scene of the attack, but there were some inconsistencies."

"Such as?" I asked curiously.

"Well," he said, opening a notebook of his own and leafing through it. "For example, the young woman who was seen attacking the town only had a single familiar, an Elevated feline, that matched the description of yours...Athena, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"But she didn't have a second familiar, and hers was wielding two curved swords instead of a shieldblade." He looked up from his notebook, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I've never seen one in person before. It's a pretty odd weapon, isn't it?"

I shrugged. "Athena's comfortable with it, and it gives her another non-lethal option in a fight." Was this guy for real? Or was he trying to keep me off balance? From his description, that sounded like Brenna’s familiar Hecate and her curved blades.

"Hit them with the squared-off side?" He asked, nodding. "Clever. Anyway," he returned his attention to his notebook. "Um...let's see...while the damage was mostly done with fire, there was a distinct residue of shadow magic around the area, which you aren't known to use..."

"Shadow magic gives me the creeps," I replied. "I don't touch it."

He nodded, making a note. "There's no aura of it around you, though I did sense fire magic on you when we brought you in."

"There was a note pinned to the wall beside my mom's gate. It combusted in my hands a few seconds before you arrived."

His eyes widened in comprehension, and he looked like he was going to ask another question before he was interrupted by the door.

It opened to reveal a distinctly disgruntled looking O'Malley. "Your alibis check out," she said to me. "You're free to go, for now. Don't leave Éire for the next few days and make sure we know where you're going to be staying. We may have more questions for you. Donovan, make yourself useful and see her out." She turned and stalked off without another word.

"Friendly," I said dryly, rising.

Donovan rose as well and shrugged sympathetically. "Like I said, she's having a hard time of it. If you know anything at all that might help..."

I hesitated. "I think I know who did it," I said carefully, "But all I have are suspicions, and what I know of her probably won't help you all that much."

He gestured for me to precede him. "Tell me what you know. Anything might help."

As we made our way through the precinct house, I told him about Brenna and our fight on the train. We stopped to collect my things, then headed towards the waiting area with my bag and Athena's sword and gunbelt over my shoulder, and my coat draped over one arm.

"...And that was when you all arrived and took me into custody," I finished as we paused at a small waiting room. "Which explains why there was fire magic lingering around me."

Donovan nodded and finished writing in his notebook. "I saw someone framed in a similar manner back in London. It's very clever, and hard to detect." He frowned at his notebook. "So this girl Brenna...you think she might really be..."

He was interrupted by the arrival of Athena and Artemis who practically bowled me over in their relief. I hugged Athena close with one arm, petting Artemis's ears with my other hand and gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

He shook his head, smiling a little in return. "Don't be. Do you think this Brenna girl might actually be related to you?"

I shrugged as Athena took her gear, our bag and my coat from me and Artemis rubbed against my leg. "No idea. I don't even know who my father is, so there's a whole side of my family I know nothing about. I can't rule it out."

He nodded. "Well, that might help. If you think of anything else," he made a business card appear in his hand and held it out to me. "Contact me. By Sending would probably be easiest...the precinct here has telephones, but..."

I tipped my head and smiled a little as I took the card from him. "In hostile territory?"

He flashed a quick smile in return. "Something like that. They didn't want to call in the Yard, but needed the expertise of a Mage. I was in Dublin on another case, so I was sent here. I'll probably be back in Dublin before long."

"That's probably where I'll be too," I replied. "I'll let you know if I think of anything."

The front doors nearby burst open and Jonathan Tremane swept in. He's good at dramatic entrances - I think it's the black fedora and red scarf he always wears when he's going out. His eyes flashed around and settled on me, relief appearing on his face as he approached.

My mom was right behind him, looking anxious and exhausted.

"Mom!" I hurried to meet them, Athena and Artemis close on my heels.

She elbowed Jonathan out of the way - gently - and wrapped me up in a hug so tight it nearly made my ribs creak. "You're all right."

"So are you," I gasped. "Obviously."

Jonathan and Athena both snickered.

Mom eased up but didn't let go of me. "It was that Brenna girl, wasn't it."

"I think so," I replied.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jonathan and Donovan talking quietly and wondered if they knew one another at all. There was a feeling of familiarity in the way they leaned towards one another.

"I'm just glad you're okay," I added, hugging her tightly again.

"Jonathan teleported us to his home in Dublin as soon as the first explosion rocked the house," she said, stepping back a little but not letting go of me. "That's the last time I want to teleport anywhere."

"Like getting squeezed through a garden hose, isn't it?"

She nodded. "That's a good way of putting it. Anyway, he wanted to go straight back, but I wouldn't let him. We tried to contact you, but the sending came back..."

"It was the magic dampening manacles they had on me," I said. "They block incoming magic as effectively as outgoing."

"That's what Jon thought it would be. So we went back and got there right after they arrested you," she said. "They had a million questions for us there before we could get away."

"I'll bet," I said dryly. "But...your house..."

"Was just a house," she replied with a gentle smile. "I'd already started to move some of my things to Jon's place in Dublin. There was nothing inside of it I can't get by without, as long as you and the girls are safe."

"You have, huh?" I asked, smiling a little.

"Come on," Jonathan said, stepping up and slipping his arm around my shoulders. "I let D.I. Donovan know you'll be staying with us for a few days. He'll let the local police know." Gently, he guided me towards the door.

It was only a fifteen minute walk from the police station to the train station, and soon we were comfortably ensconced in a train to Dublin.

"Well," I said, "How much trouble am I in?"

"Not much, from what Donovan told me," Jonathan said. "Your alibis are pretty airtight."

Athena, sitting beside me, sighed and laid her head on my shoulder. It had been a stressful day for all of us.

"She's crazy, isn't she?" I asked suddenly. "Brenna."

"I'm inclined to believe so," Jonathan replied. "I felt the power behind the first spell that blew up the shed behind your mother's house. There was fury in it."

I sighed.

"Don't worry about it right now," he said gently. "Just catch your breath and we'll take things as they come."

"Good advice for any situation," mom murmured.

I sat back and closed my eyes, slipping an arm around Athena and holding her close as Artemis rested her head in my lap. I had, it appeared, made my first real enemy. It was inevitable. Another thing they don't tell you about being a Wizard is that, sooner or later, you'll make somebody angry enough to try and hurt you.

And the people you loved.

I'd just have to find some way to make sure Brenna couldn't.