[William of Brinsford:] [PokerRun] [Question. What’s the chance someone living in Townsend is one of the takeover people?]

  I stood there, waiting, watching two more cars pull up. Doors opened, engines cut off, and five more people climbed out, heading our way with wary looks. Two of the soldiers waved them toward someone farther up the drive. The farmyard was filling fast.

  At least the ground was dry. The storm a couple days back had dumped buckets, but the sun since then had baked the mud down to cracked earth and dust. A few cars were parking out in the field anyway. I hoped the Druids could fix that later.

  “Mental note to self. Go over Druid stats and abilities. What all can they do?” Another task for my free “Yeah, right,”time.

  [PokerRun:] [William of Brinsford] [Ralphie’s got family in Townsend. He lives about on the county line. Miller side of it. We parked at his place. He’s got family round the area, includin’ town.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [PokerRun] [Then we’ll have to do what we can to protect them.]

  [PokerRun:] [William of Brinsford] [Hope we can. Sum of them’s likely wearing armbands.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [PokerRun] [Shit. That’s bad.]

  [[PokerRun:] [William of Brinsford] [Yeah. Don’t expect him to be shootin’ his kin. Outside folk’s a different story. He’s where I got some of my intel from. He didn’t want to do a takeover so they shut him out of the final planning.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [PokerRun] [Some of us know him on sight. Unless we need to, I won’t say anything.

  [PokerRun:] [William of Brinsford] [I know you won’t. He’s more like a sixteen percent type, not two percent. About the same percent Cherokee. He don’t talk much about that either. His family moved here after the war. Didn’t want to stay there bein’ on the losin’ side and all.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [PokerRun] [Understood. Thank you. If we know who’s local and who’s not, we can work with that.]

  [PokerRun:] [William of Brinsford] [Just reached sight of town. I need to find a spot to dig in. Ralphie’s already told me he’s got his spot picked out. Got a couple of cousins with him who can shoot. Not as good as him, but good enough for this. I’ll group with him so we can pass info.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [PokerRun] [Thanks much. This helps. Let us know when you are ready. We’re moving in maybe 15. Need to get this over.]

  [PokerRun:] [William of Brinsford] [Roger that. We do.]

  Standing near the farmer’s driveway, I stared out at the wooded ridges in the distance, green and thick this time of year. Somewhere close by, a henhouse erupted in indignant squawking, the sharp sound cutting through the low murmur of voices and idling engines. A breeze shifted, bringing with it the unmistakable smell of chicken droppings and damp straw.

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  “Sheriff!” I called. “We’ve got a problem.”

  I headed his way and passed along everything PokerRun had told me about Townsend, its people, and the surrounding area.

  “Who do we target, beyond anyone shooting or casting spells at us? Those are obvious. What do we do about people who are CHARMed or controlled in some way? What can we legally do? And do you have any way to tell townspeople who are part of this group from the rest? REVEAL STATS will tell us who’re controlled,” I added.

  “Will. That’s your job,” Sheriff Harper said. “If you get another…what was it called? PVP battle? You get the bad guys marked and let the rest of us take it from there. And keep as many of us shielded as you can.”

  He stopped and grinned at me. “And live up to calling yourself a shield mage,” he said, then laughed.

  A ripple of chuckles went through the people around him. I felt my face heat up before I joined in.

  “PvP. Player versus player. Yeah. I hope we do. You going to taunt like Chief Brown did at the Battle of Eddington?”

  “Nope. I’ve been told by the State Patrol to stay on this side of the county line unless someone shoots at us or we need to rescue someone being chased. Also to keep everyone else away. I’ve sent deputies to block the county roads north and south of here for three miles in each direction.”

  “I understand, Sheriff. How do the various groups keep in touch with you?”

  “State police can handle that. Or Game Chat. You’ll have one or two of them going with you. More coming in from the other sides. Don’t know how many, but I’ll send you chat messages as I get updates.”

  He reached out and rested his right hand on my shoulder. “Don’t try to do everything yourself. Do what you do best. Tell people what you want them to do, then let them do it. You aren’t a one-man army. You go in where no one else can safely go. Take out their top people, free any hostages they have, and leave the rest for others.”

  He sighed, looked down, then back up. “We know they’re holding Hana. Or Blaze. Another agent too, from what we hear. Don’t let that stop the real mission. Free the town and the people who don’t want to be part of whatever this is. We’re officers of the law. It’s our job to put ourselves out front to protect others. That’s what you do with your shields.”

  “That’s what she would want you to do,” he continued quietly. “I’ve known her longer than you have. Almost as long as she’s been in state. Jack and I both do. We don’t want her hurt either, but I know she wouldn’t want you putting others in harm’s way just for her.”

  My eyes burned as he spoke. He was right. She was an FBI agent first. And if they were smart, they’d try to use her against me.

  “I know, Sheriff. I know,” I said. “I hate it, but you’re right.”

  That was when my back brain slipped a note under the armored door, I kept it behind. Two words. Two names. The memories they dragged up flashed hot and sharp, and I understood immediately.

  I got the message. I hated it with a passion.

  It would solve my biggest worry, if it came to pass.

  “Given the type of people we’re facing,” I said carefully, “it might come to that.”

  “Sheriff,” I said, turning my head away to hide the tears gathering in my eyes. “I’ve got to talk to some people. Then we’ll be ready to go. PokerRun should be in position. If Ralphie is too, it’s time for us to do this.”

  “Go ahead,” he said, giving my shoulder a firm clap. “Tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll spread the word. Go save the town.”

  “Will do,” I said with a grin, then headed off to find the one person who might pull off the crazy idea I didn’t want to use.

  15 Chapters Ahead.