VoodooMoon by June Stevens Page B

there speaking to him. I didn’t know why it was my immediate reaction to believe a necromancer was making things up. I had worked with so many during my years as a Blade and had never found fault with the information provided by any of them, even Ian. Especially Ian. His reputation was beyond reproach. But there was still that little part of me that always jumped to disbelief. The lies of one so-called necromancer had jaded me. I didn’t know how to get beyond it.
    Out on the street Ian led them both to his surrey. He spoke something in the driver’s ear I couldn’t hear and the driver climbed down from his seat and walked down the block and disappeared inside a small cafe. Ian motioned to the two bench seats in the front of the carriage that faced each other.
    Looking a little reluctant, Millie took his hand and let him help her up into the surrey. I, like before, ignored his hand and lifted myself up. I settled on the seat across from Millie and Ian sat next to me. The street was anything but private so Ian reached up and let down the cloth curtains on each side of the carriage, keeping any prying eyes out.
    He glanced at me. “Can you do a sound ward?”
    I shot him a look that questioned his intelligence. Of course I could do a sound ward. Anyone with a modicum of power could do one on a space as small as the surrey. Without responding to him directly I chanted a basic soundproofing spell.
    When I was done I nodded to him then looked at Millie. The poor girl was sitting as stiff as a board on the cushioned seat. She looked scared to death, yet defiant. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, but she looked like she’d rather die than let them fall. The girl had spirit.
    I realized no one had ever answered the girl’s earlier question.
    “Millie, you aren’t in trouble. We just have a few questions for you.”
    She looked skeptical. Her voice shook as she said, “But, the man was dead. I know he was, I saw them take him away in the morgue wagon. I killed him.”
    “Yes, he was dead.” I kept my voice low and soothing. “But you have every right to defend yourself when attacked.”
    “If I’m not in trouble, why are you here?” Millie said, drawing herself up straighter.
    Ian spoke this time, surprising me with how calmly soothing his voice was. “Like Agent Moon said, we have a few questions. I know you had to tell the guards what happened last night, but it would really help if you could go over it again with us.”
    “Ok, but I don’t know what I can tell you I didn’t tell them last night. I was walking along and this man grabbed me. I kicked him and he fell. Dead.” Her voice trembled on the last word.
    I opened my mouth to speak, but lost my words when Ian reached over and took Millie by the hand. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned towards the young girl, his eyes intent on her face. “It’s okay, Millie. Take a deep breath. Now, close your eyes. Go back to last night just before the attack. Walk through it slowly and tell us. Where were you? What were you doing? What did you see?”
    Opening my senses, I searched for power coming from Ian, but there wasn’t any. He wasn’t trancing Millie. He was just being kind. And it was working.
    Millie began to speak in a soft, distracted tone as if she was concentrating very hard.
    “I had just closed up the shop. I was in a rush, I needed to get to the public Mage-Level Test. I had a buck to ride the trolley, but the streets were crowded. I was going to miss the trolley so I cut down the alley. That one.” She opened her eyes and pushed back the curtain to point to an opening between buildings that led to the next street.
    “Why don’t we walk down there, it may help your memory. Do you feel comfortable with that?” I asked.
    Millie nodded silently.
    “Ok, give me a second.” I chanted to remove the soundproofing ward then chanted another spell. “Okay, no one but the three of us will be able to hear what any of us say. But we have to