The Pendragons # 4
by Travis Hiltz 2001

"Town and country"

Among the crowds out enjoying some unusually mild fall weather, two figures strolled down the sidewalk, deep in debate.

"I see no need need for this frivolity," Wynter, the Pendragonšs resident wizard said. " I have much to do back on Lyonesse."

"Wynter," Interrupted Kate Mckellion, Journalist, and single-parent turned mystical defender of the realm. " Spending time among your team mates and the people youšve been chosen to protect is not frivolous."

"Especially when my team mates do not trust me?" Wynter said, quietly.

"We trust you, well not Joe, but mostly it's we don't know you. How are we going to get to know you if the only time you leave your room is to fight some magical menace? Joe suggested we take you on a pub crawl, I thought a wardrobe fix would be a better way to spend the time."

Wynter paused, glanced down at his white, ankle length robe, then back up at Kate.

"What's wrong with my clothes?"

"You look like an albino monk. Come on, a nice polo and a pair of chinos and you'll feel like a brand new mage."

Wynter looked doubtful, but followed Kate into the first store.

Back on Lyonesse

Peter Hunter sat in one of the meeting hall's massive oaken chairs, sipping his tea and studying the large globe that floated above the round meeting table. An odd blend of magic and holographic technology, this luminous earth slowly turned in it's orbit. Peter was still recovering from his attack by Nekros, so he'd spent most of the day in his bathrobe, wandering the Pendragon's castle headquarters. The 'monitor sphere' was turned so that the U.K. was facing Peter. It was a mass of red 'warning dots'. Each one the focal point for some form of mystical energy. To Peter it looked like England had the chicken pox.

"Going to be a busy fall," He murmured, sipping his tea.

Back in London

Romany Wisdom rolled over and blearily peered across her bedroom.

"Uuhhh..." Was all the conversation she felt she could manage.

"Morning," Joe Chapman announced. He was the current Union Jack, Romany's current romantic interest and way too cheerful for this early in the day.

"You know, I did warn you that the drink tends to flow when Colin and I get together."

"Shoot me first, then you can lecture all you want," Romany groaned.

"Shouldn't you be out fighting ogres or something?"

"No ogres scheduled till Thursday. I'm joining up with Kate for lunch. Want to come?"

At the mention of food, Romany rolled back towards the wall and buried her head under the pillow.

"Do I look presentable?" Wynter asked.

Kate raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. Wynter's waist length hair was now done up in a pony tail. He'd traded his robe in for a white polo, chinos and sneakers.

"Still lacking in color, but at least you dress like you live in this century," Kate told him. "Some nice John Lennon sun glasses and people will just assume you're either Euro-trash or read a lot of Anne Rice."

"Is that good?"

"Not really, but you've got to start somewhere. How are you doing anyway? I have been keeping you running."

"If you are referring to the clash with Nekros, I am fine. Peter really suffered the worst of it. I've had a bit of experience with necromancy." *

(* See last issue-Trav)

"So, you've said. Good to hear you're doing okay. So, what's an Ambrose Shard ?"

Wynter faltered in mid-step and peered at Kate.

"I'm a reporter, it's my job to pay attention," She said, meeting his gaze.

"It is something I will discuss with Peter Hunter at the appropriate time."

"One of those things that 'mortals were not meant to know'? It's things like that, that lead to your team mates not trusting you Wynter. We are on the same side, but we can't help if you don't meet us halfway."

"I know. I do not set out to be ...difficult," Wynter said, quietly. " but I must allow things to occur in their own time. The path of the Pendragon is not always a straight forward one, and... the recent ravaging of Avalon has twisted and changed things even further. Do you understand, Kate?"

"If in your own way, you're trying to tell me you're muddling along like the rest of us, then yes," She said, smiling.

Wynter managed to raise one corner of his mouth in reply.

"Come on, we'll roust Joe and get some lunch. You like Chinese?" Kate shifted her grip on the shopping bags to fish out her car keys, as she and Wynter crossed the street.

"Damnit!" She exclaimed, skidding to a halt.

"Isn't that where you parked your viecle?" Wynter asked, looking at the empty parking space.

"Some bastard stole my car!"

"Maybe it was...towed?" Wynter suggested.

"If the meter'd run out there would be a ticket or a boot slapped on one of the wheels! I ...don't... believe this! Look, stay here with the stuff. I'm going to make some calls. The police, for all the good they'll do, and Joe. He's our resident street crime expert." She handed the bags to Wynter, then stalked off, rummaging in her pockets for change. "Irony is I just finished a story about a car theft ring. God hates me."

Wynter stood, loaded down with bags, watching Kate storm off muttering to herself. His pale forehead wrinkled in thought. He then glanced down at the bags and murmured. They quickly shrank down till they fit in the pocket of his new pants. Wynter stepped into the empty parking space, and knelt down to trace a pattern on the tar with a glowing fingertip. Standing up, he closed his eyes and held his hands at his side. Several pedestrians stopped, unsure weither the pale young man was ill or just a mime. Wynter's pale eyes snapped open, he nodded decisively to himself and started walking. In the opposite direction from where Kate had gone.

"Romany, you alive in there?" Joey asked, slipping on his jacket.

"G'way."

"I'm heading out to meet Kate. No, don't bother to get up, I'll see myself out."

"Uhhhh....zzzzzzz," Romany replied, as the door closed.

The phone rang several minutes later.

After a few blocks, Wynter realized walking was taking too long. So, he did what any wizard on a quest would do.

"Taxi." He called, holding up a hand.

A black taxi pulled up to the curb, and Wynter climbed in back. The driver was a young man in a leather jacket. He raised an eyebrow at Wynter's appearance.

"Where to, Elric?"

"South."

"I'm gonna need a bit more to work with."

"Straight," Wynter instructed. " About two miles. I'll tell you when to turn. I don't know the address.

"Right," the driver shrugged, as he pulled into traffic. " Why do I get all the nutters?"

Owen and Jim were sitting around the garage, playing cards.

"I can't say I like sitting 'round," Owen grumbled, scratching at his beard.

"That's cause your losin'," Jim smirked. "Vic'll be along, then things'll be moving.

There came a knock at the door.

'What?" Owen muttered. " Vic?"

"E'd come round the back. Let's have a look."

Owen grabbed the tire iron that was leaning against his chair. Jim clicked the safety off his pistol and slid it into his coat pocket. He walked over and swung the door open. The palest guy Jim'd ever seen was standing there. The only bit of color on the bloke were his slate gray eyes.

"Whatcha want?" He asked, in his least hospitable tone.

"I'm looking for a car," The white bloke asked, blandly.

"Fix 'em only, we don't sell 'em."

"You steal them." Was the reply.

"Wha..? No, no...let's...um...not be... hasty. Iet's talk it over."

Wynter nodded and stepped inside. There was a glimpse of movement, then the tire iron caught Wynter across the right temple.

Off the coast of England

Cam was bored.
You'd think living on a magic island with his mom, who was a super hero, that there would be a surplus of interesting things going on. Cam had thought that too, for awhile. Till he learned, that being kidnapped by villains and watching his mom go off to save the world was not as much fun as Excaliber comics made it look. Even living on a magic island loses some of the thrill when you get left there with your second year english teacher.

"Uh...Mr. Hunter?" Cam said, walking into the castle's meeting room.

"Over here Cameron,"

Mr. Hunter wasn't looking too good. Though Cam supposed that happens when you get to be 103 years old and fight zombies. He was in his robe, sitting in one of the big wooden chairs, a blanket over his lab a cup of tea in his hand. " Was just watching the monitor sphere. Essay going well?"

One of the reasons that Cam was living on Lyonesse was that he was being 'home schooled'by Mr. Hunter. When the older man wasn't off helping Cam's Mum save the world.

"Yeah, finished actually."

"Good, I'll look it over later. Bit of a lazy day today."

"Okay. The...uh... TV is acting up again. I'm going for a walk. Just wanted you to know. In case my Mum gets back."

"Well, enjoy, just don't wander too far into the woods. We haven't mapped much of it."

"Gotcha," Cam said, heading out. That was kind of stuff that made Cam nuts. Living in a hero team's HQ was supposed to be cool. Instead it was like he'd inherited a couple extra parents. Did they even hear the things they said? 'Don't go too far in the magic forest. Don't wander from the castle, there might be zombies.'

Cam smirked as he walked out the main gate and followed the path into the woods. He'd never been big on the 'great outdoors'. He was a city kid, but there was something about this place. Cam always felt better, rested after a walk. The path wound through the woods, branching off in several directions. The Pendragons had only explored a small portion of the island. The paths that they'd checked out had markers on some of the trees. One path lead to something dangerous. Cam's mom wouldn't say what, but Joe had put up a sign that read 'Here there be dragons.' Cam was pretty sure he was joking. Taking a path lead Cam through a section where the tree tops formed a canopy over the path. This lead to what Mr. Hunter called the 'Cathedral of Owls'. The clearing was surrounded by a wall of trees and on nearly every branch perched an owl. These were the messengers of Avalon. Owls came and went as they were needed. Unfortunately since the ravaging of Avalon, owl traffic had slowed to a halt.

All forest sounds seemed to stop once you stepped into the clearing, save the hooty breathing of the owls. At first Cam had found it kind of freaky, all of them just sitting there, watching now it seemed peaceful and right.

"How's it going guys?" Cam greeted them quietly. He walked around the clearing, glancing around at the feathered multitude. The owls were still, except for the movement of their heads as they followed Cam's progress around the clearing. "Okay, talk to you later."

He followed the path as it left the clearing, and wandered through the trees. Cam paused and picked up a stick. He tapped it against branches and his pant leg as he walked. After awhile, the trees began to thin out and as Cam walked along the sounds of the woods were replaced by the roar of the ocean. Cam stood at the border of the woods and the beach.

"Wicked," He muttered, gazing out at the ocean as it washed over the shore. The breeze ruffled his hair as he breathed in the salt air. "I bet the Fantastic Four don't have their own beach." He scuffed his sneakers through the grey-white sand, walking parallel to the waves. Mom would freak if he ruined another pair of sneakers, besides the water looked cold.

"You'd think a magic island would at least have heated water. Maybe Wynter can fix that."

Thinking of the pale wizard, made Cam wonder what it was about him that got mum and Joe so uptight. Sure, Wynter didn't talk much, but he was always friendly to Cam. In his own quiet way. Most times Cam felt like he was Wynter's only friend in the group. Cam shrugged, and used his stick to trace patterns in the sand. It was, like Mr. Hunter said, a lazy day. He could try and figure out adults another time.

The sun shining on the waves caused a glare. Cam squinted into the surf. There was something else out there in the waves. Standing up, Cam cautiously made his way down the beach, and towards a rocky spot.

"Humph. I wonder what ...?"

Then the skeletal, metal hand came out of the surf and clamped onto Cam's leg.

Back in town

"That was unnecessary," Wynter muttered, regaining consciousness. He was tied to one of the garages metal support posts. The tall bearded man was standing guard over him. Wynter could see the older one, who'd answered the door, in a little side office talking on the phone.

"Good morn'," Owen said, full of mock cheer. " Had a nice rest did we?"

"All I want is my friend Kate's car," Wynter replied, in a mild tone. " It's yellow, a Toyota I think she called it. Return it and we are finished."

"Oh you're finished all right," Jim said, strolling over.

"What'd Vic say?" Owen asked.

"Said Elric here ain't a copper and ain't no super hero," Jim replied, drawing out his pistol. "So, he's landfill."

"Excuse me," Wynter said, quietly. " May I have a word?"

"What?" Jim barked.

"Toad," Wynter said, moving his fingers in an arcane gesture. He then stuggled for several minutes to free himself from the ropes, and strolled over to where two dazed looking brown toads were sitting on the cracked cement floor. One was perched on top of a pistol, the other cowered next to a rusty tire iron.

Lyonesse

After the yelp of panic, Cam realized the grip on his ankle was pretty feeble. There had been a slight zap, no worse then when you scuff your feet on the carpet then touch metal. Who/ whatever it was, wasn't trying to pull Cam into the ocean, but rather wanted to pull itself out. He knelt down and grabbed hold of the wrist. It was like a skeleton made of steel. Like in those Terminator movies. Cam pulled it free of the waves and soon had it sitting with it's back against a rock. It was some kind of robot. A robot dressed in the tattered remains of a black tunic and baggy leggings, with a chain mail overshirt. It also wore one boot, and a belt with an empty scabbard. It looked at Cam with blue lit eyes, set in it's squarish shape skull, that flickered like an old street lamp.

"Good sir wizard," It said, in a staticy voice. " I d...doth be-seech theeeeee....aid this one....or the Lady of the Waters shall...perissssshhh...."

"Oh," Cam replied. " You must be a friend of my Mum's."

On the streets of London town

Joe and Kate stood on the street corner. The police officer had just finished taking Kate's statement and had left to call it in.

"So, let me see if I understand this," Joe said. " Someone stole your car and our wizard?"

"I don't know," Kate snapped. " I went to call the police and when I got back..." She gestured at the empty space where she'd last seen the car and Wynter. "I'm worried about this, Joe."

"You think he was attacked? Bane or something?"

"No, it doesn't feel like that. It's just...Wynter is out there and he's...well, not really good dealing with the ,so-called, real world."

"He does get a bit lost if the conversation's not about eye of newt. Do you want to report him missing?"

"That would be great if he had any paper work that proved he was here in the first place, "Kate replied. " No, I'm thinking we call Peter and do the search ourselves."

"All right. I've got some contacts that might know who's dealing with boosted cars."

"I just feel bad. I mean I dragged him along...," Kate muttered.

"Relax Kate we'll find him. It'll just take...what the Hell..?"

Kate's yellow Toyota was slowly lurching down the street, followed by a string of very vocally annoyed other drivers. Wynter managed (just barely) to steer it into the parking space by Joe and Kate. Kate rushed over to hug him as soon as he'd climbed out.

"Wynter! You're okay! and you found my car."

"Where have you been?" Joe asked.

"I am sorry If I worried you," Wynter replied, awkwardly returning Kate's hug, then prying himself loose. "Finding the car was fairly simple, it was the return trip that was the problem. All these streets look alike."

"And you've still got all the bags," Kate remarked, peering in the window.

"I'm sorry we got separated, but you seem to have handled yourself pretty well."

"We'll make a super hero out of you yet," Joe smirked.

"Excuse me, Miss Mckellion?" The police officer said, returning. " Is this the car you reported stolen?"

While Joe took the officer aside and gave him a more believable version of what had happened, Kate perched on the boot of her car.

"So, what do you think of London?" She asked, smiling.

"Interesting," Wynter replied with a shrug. " Though I do not think my clothes help me to 'blend in.'"

"Sure they do. You look like a native. Are those toads in the back seat?"

Epilogue

"Well..." Was all Peter Hunter could think to say. He, Cameron and their new friend were all gathered in the castle's kitchen. It, like so much of the rest of the castle, was a blend of the medieval and the modern. Peter sat at the table, peering thoughtfully at the robot over his cup of tea. Cam was perched on on the counter telling his story between bits of sandwich. The mismatched robot sat, slumped in the oaken chair across from Peter. He was wrapped in a blanket. Most of what he'd said since being brought to the castle was insensible. If Peter didn't know better, he'd have thought the machine was delirious or sick. Occasionally the blue eyes would flicker and the skeletal frame would twitch.

"Any ideas, Mr. Hunter?" Cam asked, worriedly glancing at the robot.

Peter smiled to himself and took a sip of tea. Between the friendship Cameron was forming with Wynter and now this, made him wonder if the spark of Pendragon left in the boy wasn't being fanned to something brighter and stronger.

"No, I think your first guess was right, Cameron," Peter said.

Cam frowned, not even his Mum called him Cameron.

"You mean he's a..."Cam began to say.

"Hi Honey, we're home!" Joe's voice rang out.

"Well, we have had quite an interesting day..." Kate said, walking into the kitchen. Then stopped and stared at the robot sitting at the table with Peter and her son. " You too, I guess?"

"Hi Mum," Cam replied, shyly.

Wynter walked through the woods to the Cathedral of Owls. He stopped at a tree and help out his arms. Two owls, a medium sized brown and a larger gray glided down to perch, their claws finding gentle purchase on the wizard's pale arms. They looked up at Wynter with wide, waiting eyes.

"I have tasks for you," Wynter said. He looked to the brown first. "Go to the green cathedral and tell he that waits there, the storm is coming. "

He raised his arm and the brown flew off.

"You, elder," He said to the gray. "Find for me the wayward shard. Lead him to the tree."

The gray cocked it's head, stretched out it's soot colored wings and was gone.

In Pendragons # 5: I stop being cute and vague about the robot and Union Jack, Albion and Spitfire go vampire hunting!

AUTHOR'S NOTES

I've always liked in comics, where after a big story line, the heroes were given a breather issue. Something low key with the beginnings of future story threads.
I especially needed it after finishing Barry's Nekros story. Jumping in the middle like that made it harder for me to get a feel for these guys, as a group and as people. Now, the fun starts.
Again, thanks to Barry for letting me follow him around the net. Any other series you're working on Barry? Also, thanks to anybody reading this. I hope it was worth the wait.

You can reach me at hiltz@cheshire.net