There was activity everywhere. As soon as Maitho entered the security room, he noticed Epona sliding her fingers across the touchscreen, a sudden energy gripping her actions. Brigid was preparing a bulletproof vest, which had several pouches in the front. In each of these pouches, she slid a spare magazine. Once done, she added a handgun into the holster strapped to the vest's sides.
Bevan moved into an automatic set of actions, heading over to the weapon wall without being given any instructions. He placed his smartphone on the sofa before going to help Brigid. It was as though he knew exactly what he was supposed to do.
If Maitho felt like a stranger before, he felt like an alien at that moment. This wasn’t his world. He didn’t understand the coordination that the Celtic team practiced. He didn’t recognize their nuanced nonverbal communication or the easy understanding that they shared with each other.
It was as though he had discovered strange creatures and their fascinating habits. Or perhaps he was the strange one among them, unable to understand how humans truly interacted in a close-knit group.
Perhaps it was for that reason that Maitho did not ask permission to speak. Or maybe he was just tired of waiting for answers. “Why did Raiden single me out yesterday?”
The flurry of movement stopped.
Brigid was the first to react, instantly picking up another bulletproof vest and fitting it with a weapon and ammunition. “Not everything revolves around you.”
At this point, Maitho was prepared for such a response. He simply chose to continue, “We were like pests to him. Barely any challenge. Yet at no point did he target any of you.”
“What are you saying?” Bevan spoke. He gave a quick nod to Maitho. Brigid seemed to have noticed the exchange and she returned to her task, sliding a magazine into a pouch with a little more force than necessary.
Maitho didn’t know where to start, so he decided to use an obvious fact as a segue. “Cray tried kidnapping us. At least that’s what it looked like to me.” Ideas began to form connections in his mind like a complex spiderweb. But rather than choose to decipher them, he went to the next piece of information. “He wants us on his team, from what Raiden seemed to say yesterday.”
“Kidnapping is an interestin' wey tae ask us tae join a team.” Epona stood with one hand on her hip and the other on the table, as though she wanted to get back to her task, but was seeing where the conversation would go.
“Which means, all Raiden had to do was complete Cray’s mission.” More bits of information began to invade Maitho’s consciousness, each demanding attention. “Yet all he did was ask me to join him. Why?”
“You’re forgetting the part where Charon stopped him,” said Bevan. Brigid handed him a vest and he held it in one hand.
“And before that?” Maitho looked from Bevan to Epona, knowing that they were the only two volunteering to participate in his reasoning process. “Why didn’t Raiden take one of you? He could easily have kidnapped Epona. Or even you Bevan, if he wanted to. Yet all he did was talk and, well, defend himself.”
This time, both of Epona’s hands were on her hips. “Assuming whit ye say is true, then he wis just buying time.” The slight depression of eyebrows was an indication that she was going deeper into her thoughts. “Bit why would he dae that?" She took another moment to think, biting her lower lip in an intense concentration. "Was he waiting for Charon?”
Maitho pointed a finger at her. “Interesting thought, but we can only speculate. However, if that is the case, then he must need Charon to help him with his plans.”
“Whoa, whoa,” said Bevan, hands held out in front of him like he was pushing someone away. “Let's back up. Too many things happening at once. Firstly, why would he take only one of us? He needs us all, remember? What's the point in having just one member with him?”
Maitho pointed another finger, this one at Bevan. “And what will the rest of you do when one of you is taken?”
The realization transformed into a physical reaction in Epona. Her hands dropped from her hips and her mouth slowly opened, like she was trying to catch up to the words that were already in her mind. “We wid go 'n' rescue them. Ah will be damned.”
Bringing both of his hands in a clap, Maitho allowed for a pause to settle. “With that, he will have all of you wherever he needs you. And for whatever he or Cray has planned for you.”
Epona leaned forward on the desk, her shifting in her sockets. Even Brigid seemed to have paused her activity for a moment.
“You really believe that he just wants to have a conversation?” asked Bevan. His voice was soft, filled with hope. Perhaps he was hoping that things weren't as bad as they were. Maitho couldn't say.
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“I believe that I don’t want to find out.” Saying that, Maitho walked over to the walls of weapons. Brigid was quick to block his way.
“They are the property of the Celtic team.” Those were the only words that she offered.
“I’m only taking an armor and nothing else,” said Maitho.
Brigid leaned back and eyed him from head to toe. “I think you’ll be fine." She returned to her task. "Besides, you’ll be sitting in the car while we talk things out.”
“He called for me.”
“But we’ll take it from here,” said Brigid.
It was at that moment that Maitho realized that he might have to, in the end, take matters into his own arms. The conversation he had with Brigid earlier in the hallway kept returning to him. More specifically, it was something she had said to him that seemed to repeat itself over and over.
He needed a plan. He needed one right at that moment. Perhaps Brigid's reaction was the advantage he needed. He simply needed to make use of it.
Rather than respond to her in kind, he adopted a softer tone. It was filled with a little pride, but quite a bit of desperation as well. He needed to sell the idea that he was trying his best to work alongside the three. “At least let me protect myself. I won’t interfere but I’ll know I don’t have to worry about myself.”
He wanted someone to interrupt. To defend him. He knew that at that moment, Bevan was most likely to say something in his defense. Maitho hoped that would happen. Preferably quickly.
For a moment, it seemed as though Brigid would actually comply with his request. Maitho fervently hoped that she would not relent to his request. He wanted her to remain as her antagonistic self.
“Quinn will drive us. You’ll be safe with him.” Without saying anything else, Brigid went back to working on the last vest.
“C'moan Brigid. Let him feel safe.” Maitho was surprised that Epona spoke those words, but he couldn’t have asked for a better person to come to his aid.
“We’re leaving in ten minutes,” said Brigid, completely ignoring her own teammate. “And Epona? Focus on the team.”
Maitho put on a theatrical sigh, making sure that everyone could see his frustration. “At least tell me where we are going.” This time , Maitho didn't want Brigid to ignore his request. Yet he wouldn't be surprised if she did. Oddly, he was getting used to her behavior.
Brigid looked at him for a while before removing her smartphone. She unlocked the device before flipping through some screens. Eventually, she handed the phone to him.
The screen revealed a message. LET’S CONTINUE WHERE WE LEFT OFF. BRING MAITHO HERE.
Below the message was a link. Maitho tapped it and it took him to a map application.
The map showed him a location. He was familiar with the area. After all, he had walked its streets and dined in some of its restaurants. He had taken late night walks on its quiet sidewalks.
“I know this place,” said Maitho.
He was certain that everyone’s eyes were on him, but he didn’t check. What he was more interested in was the grid of lines and blocks on the smartphone screen, revealing a familiar location. Without another word, he handed the smartphone to Brigid, noticing her look of curiosity but choosing to ponder upon his own thoughts.
“How dae ye know it?” asked Epona. Her tone was considerate. Understanding, yet encouraging.
“That’s where my apartment is,” said Maitho.
It didn’t take long for Brigid to start moving, giving orders to her teammates. “Epona, reach out to Charon, if you can.”
“We cannae start relying on him too much,” said Epona, already picking up the crossbow from the weapon wall.
“We have to,” came the response. “If he is part of this, then we need his help.”
“All we know is that Cray needs him,” said Maitho. “That’s enough reason to keep him away.”
“And what? Go in blind?” Brigid began walking to the door. “Let me tell you this. We are not going to repeat last night. Raiden is too powerful and the only defense we have is Charon.”
With those words, she was out into the hallway. Bevan looked at Maitho, exasperation slowly growing in intensity on his face. “I could sneak in a vest,” he said and looked at Epona. The woman glanced at the closed door to the main hallway, and nodded to her teammate before proceeding to exit the room.
“Don’t get in trouble,” said Maitho. “But I think you should take that.” He pointed to the sword he had seen earlier, when he had first entered the security room the previous night. It was the sword featuring a two-inch crossguard with the symbol of a circle around a cross on it.
“Do you even know what that is?” asked Bevan, not hiding his surprise.
“That’s the Freagarach.”
“Yes, that is the Freagarach,” said Bevan, emphasizing the name as though Maitho needed to hear it again. “You don’t just take it.”
“We are going up against Raiden.” Maitho walked over to the weapon and placed his palm on the grip. “We need to truly defend ourselves.”
“I’m not killing anyone.”
“This is not for killing,” said Maitho. He placed his hand on Bevan’s shoulder, “Despite everything, I’m not letting you go underprepared.”
He left Bevan standing there, looking at the sword while deep in thought. While the other man was distracted, Maitho casually walked over to the sofa and slipped the Bevan’s phone into his pocket.
It was time to find out the truth.