Nightfall (Pact Arcanum Integrated Serial Edition) Read Online Free PDF Page B

at them both. “Cool.” She folded her arms in front of her and regarded her two triad brothers. “So how do we find this Antonio guy?”
    “We won’t have to,” Take said grimly. “If we just walk down Market Street, sooner or later some other Sentinel is going to recognize what we are; they’ll come to us.”
     
    * * *
     
    Antonio pushed his chair back from the conference table and stood as his people ushered Rory, Ana, and Take into his sunlit office in the Financial District. The other men and women around the table stared at the trio in shock and then all stood as well.
    “Welcome, my Lords and Lady,” said Antonio. “I see you have come into your power. May I have the honor of your names?”
    “My name is Anaba Nizhoni, and my brothers here are Rory Brennigan and Takeshi Nakamura. You already know what we are.”
    “Yes, we do.” He offered his hand to Take. “My Lord, we have been awaiting the Wind of Earth to emerge in this generation since your predecessor died in battle seven years ago in Egypt.”
    Take raised an eyebrow but shook Antonio’s hand. “How did that happen?”
    “He tried to lead an assault against the Court of Shadows itself.” The older Sentinel sighed. “We told him it was insane, that the defenses of their citadel had held for thousands of years, but he insisted. We had no choice but to obey. Many of our greatest leaders died next to him. I hope you will not be so foolish.” He scowled at Take, assessing him.
    Takeshi met his gaze silently for a long moment before answering. “I never asked to be a general, Antonio.”
    Letting his hand drop, Antonio nodded in acknowledgment. “No, you didn’t, any more than any of us chose to be your soldiers. However, that is the way things are. The Gift has kindled, and it chose you. There is no going back until your successor comes into his power.”
    Ana blinked. “Just like that? He gets to hold the reins until someone else comes along? That hardly seems fair.”
    Antonio chuckled. “Fairness has no place in war, my Lady. Complex moral imperatives are an imposition in combat, a disadvantage that leads invariably to defeat.”
    She smiled. “I like a man who thinks in black and white, Antonio. I think we’re going to get along famously.”
    “I hope so, my Lady.” He smiled at her. “Until yesterday, I was the Wind of Fire.”
    Ana gulped. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to take your job.”
    “As I said, my Lady, there is no place in our lives for fairness.”
    She held out her hand for him to shake. “Call me Ana.”
    Taking her hand, he turned it flat and bowed, an archaic gesture all three accepted, as intended, as a sign of respect. “I would be honored, Ana.”
    “And you can call me Take, instead of Lord,” said Takeshi. “You said you’d answer our questions.”
    Antonio let go of Ana’s hand and sat. “I did. Please sit down.” He indicated the seats next to him, and his people silently moved aside to make room. “Ask your questions.”
    Rory spoke first. “Why us?”
    Antonio laughed. “Who can question destiny?” Sobering, he said, “In every generation, the Winds have always found each other. Obviously, a greater design is in play, but the higher powers do not give up their secrets easily.” He paused. “In fact, I am surprised the Wind of Water did not accompany you here today.”
    Ana looked at Rory and Take in confusion. “It’s always been the three of us against the world, Antonio. If we have a Fourth out there, we haven’t met him.”
    The other Sentinels at the table muttered their disbelief until Antonio silenced them all with a glance before turning back to the Winds. “Strange. Are you sure? The Gift hides from us all until it kindles. Only the Children of Darkness can easily identify those in whom the Gift remains dormant and then only by direct physical contact. Otherwise, a spell with specific intent is required to separate a latent Sentinel from a human.”
    “We’re sure,” said