C16 To Strike at the Heart

Chapter 16. To Strike at The Heart

“What in the hell was that?” Koko panted as he dropped to his hindquarters. The hair on his head had been singed off on one side by a passing spell. “I thought you were the stewards! They wanted you more than they wanted us!” Kokorum shouted. He held up his shrunken heads and pointed them at Andromeda, trying to summon their spiritual residents, but nothing more than a whipsy vapor came out. It dissipated in a moment, and Kokorum dropped them.

“What’re you doing?” Andromeda asked, grabbing for the ashes that once comprised her wand. He tried to attack them with the spirits, she had to do something, but the ashes just slipped through her fingers. She looked at Gulliver, who had sprung into motion, throwing himself at Koko. He landed on the lankier man and pinned him to the ground. Pip rushed forward, reaching for Gulliver as he moved. Andromeda was astounded at how slow the man seemed, then remembered he was a human. She intercepted him easily and grabbed him by the shoulder. With one arm she pushed Pip in the chest, she could feel his ribs bend against the palm of her hand as she sent him rolling backward. He curled up in a ball on the ground, wind knocked out of him.

“Stay down!” Andromeda commanded. She looked over to see Lucy land heavily on the ground next to Gulliver. He grabbed Gulliver by the trench coat and lifted him into the air off of Kokorum. Andromeda jumped up, aiming for the creature’s face. She’d sink her fingernails into his eyes!

Lucy thrust his massive palm forward which bent Andromeda’s ribs on impact. It forced the air from her lungs and sent her rolling backward on the ground. She used the momentum from the roll to spring to her feet. Gulliver had already gotten out of his trench coat and now swung himself from Lucy’s arm, kicking as hard as the man could with both of his legs. His feet crashed hard into Lucy’s face. Lucy moved his massive arms to snatch Gulliver out of the air, but Gulliver pushed down off of the creature into the ground.

When he landed, he sprang into a forward dive and rolled to Andromeda’s side where he crouched low, ready to keep fighting. She could hear him breathing, each breath was a growl, primal and raw. Lucy crouched as well, standing between Koko and Gulliver.

“Maybe we should leave now Gulliver,” Andromeda said.

“Wait, watch,” Gulliver responded. Andromeda leaned closer to him and could see the other side of Lucy. Lucy’s other hand was holding back Koko, who was clawing and thrashing, trying to get to Gulliver.

“Lucy, were you just trying to break up the fight?” Andromeda asked the giant. It looked at her and nodded its head.

“Me too,” wheezed Pip, who was struggling to his knees. “I didn’t mean anyone any harm.” Hearing Pip speak made Koko stop thrashing about, and look at his friend.

“You’re okay!” he exclaimed. Lucy let him run to Pip, where the magician embraced the human. He pulled back and said, “I thought she killed you! She’s a magician, and you know how us magicians are so much stronger!” Koko began to weep as his words became unintelligible.

“Let’s all breathe and talk it over,” Pip said.

“I’m sorry Pip,” Andromeda said. “It’s been a rough morning! Is everyone okay?” Andromeda could feel her face flush as she tried to refocus her tired mind. She couldn’t believe she had hit Pip. Of course, Gulliver would attack Koko, he had no memory of anything save Andromeda, and Koko had tried to use magic on her. She should have been the voice of reason.

“It’s okay,” Pip said. “I can make a drink that will fix my ribs. And one for each of us.”

Still chiding herself, Andromeda said “That would be appreciated. Gulliver,” she said, turning to her partner who still looked like a cornered animal ready to attack. “Gulliver they’re friends. It’s a misunderstanding.”

He looked into her eyes. After staring for a long moment, he nodded then relaxed his stance slightly.

“What do we do?” Pip said. “Those magicians were coming to kill us, one shot a column of fire at me!”

“We need to talk to Zedekiah,” Andromeda said. “He’d know what’s going on.”

“Your wizen won’t do anything for you,” Koko said. “We sent letter after letter to him, and he didn’t even respond until he wrongly thought we were threatening him. Bif even spoke to him, he broke cover and spoke to the man, and the man still didn’t send help. Now he’s trying to kill you. Hate to say it stewards, but you’re stuck with us.”

“I get why Garen would want to imprison us,” Andromeda said. “But that wasn’t a jail sentence. That was attempted murder.”

“I have no idea why we were there,” Gulliver said. “But I do know, the blonde one was using spells that would have killed if they had hit their mark. Is that something the Stewards Guild is supposed to do?”

“Never,” Andromeda said simply. How could she have gotten to this point? She was a fugitive! “If Garen is on the case alone, then we can expect Zedekiah doesn’t have all the information.”

“If that’s the case,” Koko said, “trying to talk to your wizen will get you killed.”

“What other options do we have?” Andromeda snapped, feeling annoyed at the man.

“I don’t know, how about not dying?” He snapped back. “Look, these shrunken heads are going to take time to recharge, neither of you has a wand, how about we just disappear? Leave the board altogether?”

“Then who will close the rifts?” Pip asked, voice devoid of its previous enthusiasm.

Koko looked at his friend, paused, then said “Let’s all clean up and get some rest. We can talk this evening. Lucy, will you be staying or going?”

The giant looked at Koko, then at all the companions, and settled itself on the ground, leaning against the side of the mansion.

Garen stepped through the portal, leaving the remains of the Armored Guards on the floor behind him. He felt more assured with each stride. First, he learned his spells could destroy Gulliver's wards. Gulliver beat several armored guards in his time in Hong Kong with those wards. Those wards had beaten The Shadow. But here, now, Garen knew he was more powerful. He had learned with Yang he could even surpass the imperial stone. Was there no limit to his power?

The portal shut with a hiss, which was drowned out by the sound of running water a room over. He walked towards the sound, following the familiar hallway to the bathroom. Through the curtain was a striking silhouette of a woman's body, moving as the woman washed.

“It’s Garen,” he said, announcing himself.

“I wondered when you’d come. Now that your little squeeze moved on with Gulliver I figured I’d be seeing you more frequently,” the woman said.

“I never got anything more than a kiss from that woman anyways,” Garen admitted. “Besides, I only wanted to have her so Gulliver couldn’t.”

“Alas, nobler intent wins the day,” she said. Garen felt annoyed by the small talk. He enjoyed Scarlet, at least he could tolerate her more than other people. That didn’t mean he wanted to spend the day listening to her talk.

“Scarlet, are you coming out soon?” he asked impatiently.

“The better question is are you coming in?” Scarlet responded.

“Might as well,” Garen said, dropping his steward’s robes to the floor.

“Try not to sound so unenthused,” Scarlet responded.

“You know how I feel about it,” Garen said as he stripped his shirt. He admired the sculpted, hard muscles of his abdomen and chest in the mirror before continuing. “I need a favor. The healers' sanctum sent a tonic over for Zedekiah, I could deliver it to him, but I have a lead on Gulliver and Andromeda.”

“Why don’t you take it now?” Scarlet asked.

“I would have to miss this,” Garen responded. “In the morning I have a meeting with Yang and won’t see Zedekiah until tomorrow afternoon.”

“Ah, priorities,” Scarlet said. “Leave the tonic on the bedside table before you leave, and I’ll make sure he gets it. How did it go with Gulliver and Andromeda?” Garen could hear the concern in her voice.

“They got away,” Garen said, anger welling up inside of him. “Gulliver's wards.”

“Oh,” Scarlet said, sounding relieved. “That’s why you don’t want to see Zedekiah. Now enough talking, get in here.”

Scarlet opened the shower curtain, revealing her soft yet firm, voluptuous body. The water glistened over her white skin, every curve was perfect, womanly beauty accentuated by the droplets of water caressing their way down her body. Garen smiled and stepped into the shower.

Gulliver let the heat of the shower soak his aching body. He got out and found his clothes clean, mended, and folded on a bench outside the shower.

“I love magic,” he said to himself. He didn’t know much about his life, but he knew how his wards and enchantments worked, and these clothes had been bewitched perfectly. He donned his attire and felt his pocket where he kept his wand. It had been enchanted to return to this pocket if he ever lost it, but apparently, the rift disabled its ability to return. That, or it was destroyed.

After he was dressed he went looking for Andromeda. She was in her room, just finishing up her shower. The bathroom door attached to her room was open, hot steam coming out. He couldn’t see her, but she had a silhouette that made him wish he could. He moved slightly, trying to get a better look when she started to turn toward him. He looked away, inspecting her room. Her quarters were much larger than Gullivers and featured a pair of large, comfortable looking chairs.

“Hey, pardon me,” Andromeda said. She came out, wrapped in a towel. She had laid her clothes out and grabbed them. As she walked back into the bathroom Gulliver enjoyed how short the towel was. Her legs were smooth and toned. She shut the door.

At long last, she came back out, smelling like springtime flowers.

“Let’s get you caught up,” she said. She talked, he listened. It had to have been an hour or so. He couldn’t believe he was in so deep, a fugitive? He had been in magical law enforcement? How could he forget all of that?

“So, let me make sure I’ve got this all straight,” Gulliver asked. “Yang, the general, claimed the premier sent a letter requesting steward protection, then when the premier came out of China, the stewards weren’t prepared because they didn’t know about it, and no one has looked to see where the letter was sent?”

“I’m not sure that anyone but you traces the magical records, Gulliver,” Andromeda said. “We should have looked there though. It would have let us know whether Garen got the letter or not.”

A knock sounded at the door. “Enter,” Andromeda said. Koko and Pip came in.

“I’ve been doing some thinking,” Koko said. “I have a sensitive question, Higginbotham, your father is dead no?” Koko asked.

“I don’t know,” Gulliver said. “Maybe.”

“He is,” Andromeda said.

“Are you the firstborn son?” Koko asked.

“I don’t know,” Gulliver said, feeling slightly annoyed.

“He is,” Andromeda said again.

“What does it matter?” Gulliver asked, failing to hide the annoyance in his voice.

“The firstborn, in almost all magician culture, inherits the wand of the father when the father dies,” Andromeda said, eyes widening. “Gulliver, I know where you keep the wand! Your wand! You, your wards, all are more powerful with your own wand. Some people won’t use the ancestor's wand because it’s not your own, you decided to, even though it couldn’t hold all your wards!” Her voice rose as she spoke, eyes lighting up. “You even said your dads' wand weakened your wards when you used them in it!”

“Frankly, we’ve discussed it, and without magic, on our side, we aren’t willing to move against the stewards guild. We don’t want to die is all,” Koko said.

“Okay,” Gulliver said to Koko. He turned and spoke again to Andromeda. “You know where it is?” Gulliver asked.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Yes!” Andromeda said. “We can get it! We just have to go to your house!”

“Koko,” Pip said. “Can they use your pocket watch?” Koko glared at Pip, who flushed then added, “Just long enough to make a portal?”

Koko glared at Pip as he threw his watch sideways to Andromeda. “Think where you want to go then click the button.”

She snatched it out of the air and conjured a portal into Gulliver's yard itself. “Alright, we have to be quick,” she said. “Since you’re with me, I can make it in the yard, but if there are stewards there, we need to get in and out fast.”

Gulliver couldn’t believe that he had to sneak into his own home. He didn’t know anything about the house, other than it was his, but he felt outraged nonetheless. “Okay, you know where it is?” he asked.

“Yes,” Andromeda said, she kept talking, but as Gulliver looked into the yard, a nostalgia came over him. He sniffed, and the crisp autumn air wafting through the portal carried with it memories. Another small boy, his brother? Did he have a brother? He stepped through the portal and peered through the yard. He could remember this place. It all came back as fog, but he could remember. “What’re you doing?” Andromeda called, following him.

He jogged to the front door and slid his finger instinctively across the right side of the door’s frame. The door slowly opened, if there were intruders, the door would have remained closed. He stepped inside, grey light filling the room. There was a ball of radiant energy hanging in the air emitting the grey hue.

“Clarence!” Gulliver exclaimed. He felt relief, he seemed able to remember his enchantments and magic. The orb lightened to a blue color. “Status update!”

Andromeda came panting into the room, “Oh hello Clarence.”

“Master Gulliver, Miss Andromeda, I saw you through the seeing glass of the wizen. I am glad you survived. Currently, Garen Oakroot is in charge of apprehending you and has authorized the use of lethal force. While observing the High Marshall through said seeing glass, I saw him collaborating with his elite team to kill Andromeda and the rest of the company you held, as well as…”

Gulliver cut Clarence off. “I need my wand.”

“At once sir.” The tiny blue orb shot out of sight around a back corner, then returned in moments. Thin tendrils of energy reached out of the sphere and held a long thin box.

“Thank you, Clarence,” Gulliver said, taking the box. He opened it, inside was his wand. He remembered spending hours meditating, infusing cone of wood with his own magical essence. He recalled the contents of the blasting cone, the wood was made from an Australian ironwood tree. Within the wood was a piece of agate. He’d performed the rituals himself to allow the stone to absorb magic. It was the secret behind his wands near limitless capacity for wards.

He had loaded the wand almost to full, it took him over a year of continually making wards before it grew warm. Warmth meant it was at capacity. As he held it in his hand, he could feel the gentle heat emanating from the wand. The warmth gave him a sense of what was in the blasting cone, thousands of wards, perhaps tens of thousands just waiting for him to use them. He’d had to alter his wards for use in his father's wand, he’d had to weaken them. In his wand, he could feel their strength, their raw power. The feeling was intoxicating.

He inspected it, the blasting cone didn’t come to a tip like a traditional wand, but was open and slightly conical, exposing the multi-colored agate within. He strode outside and held it high into the sky and bellowed “Infernum ira!” A column of flames erupted from the cone, blasting high into the sky. The blaze was so bright Gulliver had to look away. He could feel a connection to the flames, they incinerated the edges of the branches of nearby trees. They had a thirst, an unquenchable thirst for fuel to burn.

He shaped the flame in his mind into a halo, high above the treeline. He knew that the fire would burn bright enough for humans to see them for miles. He could feel that there was a reason for the halo of flame, but he didn’t quite know.

“Gulliver, what the hell are you doing?” Andromeda asked.

“Clarence,” Gulliver said, ignoring her. “What have you learned about the Chinese underground?”

“Garen, who was recently promoted to the rank of High Marshal, was in correspondence with General Yang,” the orb said, materializing next to Gulliver. “General Yang mentioned they would achieve the task with the Chinese underground. The task to which he referred is unknown.”

“I was there for that meeting,” Andromeda said.

“No, respectfully miss Andromeda, you were not. This meeting predated any incidents with the Chinese premier by six months,” the orb said. “I hope that this information is of some help.”

“I think it has been,” Andromeda said. “Gulliver, this means Yang and Garen have the premier. We have to warn Zedekiah!”

“That is not advisable. Any outlaws attempting to enter the Golden Dome will be treated as invaders and be dispatched,” Clarence said. “Garen put the two of you on the watchlist. Any steward that sees you is to detain you on site, lethal force allowed.”

“Alright, anything else of note to report?” Gulliver asked.

“Wait, how did you know he was supposed to report in the first place?” Andromeda asked.

“We told him to before we left for Vis,” Gulliver said, realizing he remembered more. “We went to see The Shadow’s moth…” he let out a cry as his legs tried to give out from beneath him. The memories fragmented again, and again. He wanted to hold them in his mind's eye, but they vanished into the ether. He could feel the frustration boil over in him, but frustration at what? He looked around and saw his home.

“Are you okay?” Andromeda asked.

“I think so,” Gulliver said. “Why are we here?” He tried to regain his feet when a most bizarre sensation overcame him. In his mind, he saw a pair of blue eyes penetrate his thoughts. It overwhelmed him, the eyes moving closer and closer until they covered his own. He looked around, well, someone else looked around for him. He wasn’t in control of his body, he could feel another presence within him, controlling him. It was benevolent and kind. Concern, regret, and a hint of fear flooded Gulliver. The presence beckoned Gulliver to it, to find it.

Benevolent or not, Gulliver's body was his own. “Get out! Get out of my mind!” he screamed, voice cracking. “Get out! Get out!” He could hear his voice, howling like a wounded dog, full of panic. The blue eyes blinked, then vanished. He slumped to his belly, breathing heavily. He didn’t know who he was, why he was, he just knew he wasn’t safe. He sobbed, rolling to his back.

He looked up and saw Andromeda staring at him, eyes widening. “Let’s go,” she said. She grabbed him under the arm and carried him through another portal.

“Is he okay?” Koko asked.

Andromeda sat heavily onto a sofa, sinking deeper than she thought she would. She didn’t like furniture that was so soft, but this was surprisingly comfortable. “I don’t know. He said he didn’t want to talk.”

“Should I make him a drink?” Pip asked.

“No,” Andromeda said. “He’s used too much alcohol. Alcoholism runs in his family. He’s not himself right now, let’s give him some time.”

“What happened when you tried to heal him?” Koko asked.

“Nothing. There was nothing there. Before, it was like a fog, made of splintered memories. Now, there was nothing. I think I need to be in a power stance to have any hope,” Andromeda said.

“Lucy, would you be a dear and guard Gulliver's room?” Koko said. The giant nodded and left the sitting room, house magically moving out of his way as he went. “So as it stands, we have a magician, who is quite powerful, just sitting in the other room?”

“Yes. And for full disclosure, he’s more powerful now. He has his own wand, and it’s...well he’s much more powerful,” Andromeda said.

“Okay, Pip and I have been discussing it, and we think Gulliver and Pip need to infiltrate the Golden Dome,” Koko said.

“They can’t,” Andromeda responded. “It’s enchanted with guilt detection, they won’t get in.”

“They will actually,” Koko said.

“I’ve already been there!” Pip exclaimed.

“Careful Pip, remember, she’s going to be a steward once all of this is done. We don’t want to show our whole hand,” Koko said, giving Pip a sly smile.

“How?” Andromeda asked.

“Well, Gulliver has no memory, if we keep it hidden from him, he won’t activate the defenses. The defense only works on magicians, Pip is a human. It won’t be activated by him at all.”

“What’re you suggesting?” Andromeda asked. “That we send a human and someone with no memory in together to infiltrate the magic records office?

Koko laughed, twirling his cane. “No my dear. I propose we send Gulliver in alone, with Pip as a backup to get him out if Gulliver loses more than just his memory.”

“I’m not sending Gulliver in blind,” Andromeda said flatly.

“We would guide him. You could whisper in his ear the whole time,” Koko said.

“No, it’s too dangerous,” Andromeda said. “I may have contacts in the dome that can still help, we just have to find a way to get in touch with them.

“Good idea, risk a meeting where you’ll get betrayed and get us all killed. Perfect!” Koko mocked.

“I’m not sacrificing Gulliver!” Andromeda shouted.

“You aren’t giving him a choice!” yelled Koko. “You’re acting like a mother hen, trying to protect her chicks! Well, newsflash Andromeda! He’s not yours! He might not even remember who you are! The least you can do is ask him!”

“If I tell him what we’re doing, he won’t be able to get past the charms,” Andromeda said, trying to remain calm.

Rain began to patter outside. “Then don’t tell him. We don’t have another choice, you have to get the stewards guild involved in stopping the rifts. We can’t do it anymore. You have to do this. If you don’t, we’ll have a second war in the magic world, cause you won’t have found Song, and the rifts will tear the whole damn world apart!”

Andromeda sat, trying to remain calm. Thunder clapped outside, she knew there wasn’t a better option. She had to send Gulliver. She had to ask him. she had to ask Gulliver to put himself at risk again. He’d done things much worse than this before, how could she be so emotional about him now?

“I’ll talk to him.” She said.

Andromeda approached Gulliver's bedroom, angry at Koko for even suggesting it, even angrier at herself for not thinking of another option. Lucy stood motionless by the door as she walked up. She knocked gently, and Gulliver responded from within, “Come in.”

She walked in, and Gulliver was sitting on the edge of his bed, blasting cone pointed to the ceiling. A light was shining from the conical tip of the wand, projecting small glass spheres in a circular orbit.

“It looks like the planets,” Andromeda said. “Just, more of them.” It really was quite beautiful.

“These are my wards. I’m almost done actually,” he said. “I’m going through the wand to see what wards I have. I haven't even touched this wand in...well I don’t know. It feels like a memory that’s not quite there. Kind of like you. I have to ask, were we a couple?” He paused, and Andromeda felt her mouth drop open. “I have to ask, to see. I don’t know who Gulliver was before, I just know that I’m what’s here now. I can feel him though. Weird that I am separated from him, but can feel parts of what he used to feel.”

“We weren’t a couple,” Andromeda admitted. “How did he feel about me?”

Gulliver chuckled, “I know I’m only here until you get him back, but that’s a question you’ll have to ask him. What I know, right here, right now, is...well…he can tell you that too.”

“What do you remember aside from that?” Andromeda asked, ignoring the flushing in her cheeks.

“Magic. I remember magic,” Gulliver said “I remember Gulliver creating and being proficient at magic. He was powerful, well, now I guess I’m powerful. I know how to use his magic, it’s incredible really. Did you know he created life with magic? Not the usual life, but Clarence is alive. And more dangerous than people know. The construct is designed to eventually free itself of Gulliver and start its own race. And it’s working. I can sense it, the dang thing is connected to me somehow.”

“Okay. So you don’t think you’re Gulliver?” Andromeda asked, trying to stay focused on the matter at hand. How could he be anything but Gulliver? Obviously, he was Gulliver. How could she fix this? She had thought it would heal over time, but it was getting worse despite her best efforts.

“How can I be?” he said simply. “A person is a culmination of their genetics and their experiences. I’ve only got the genetics. I don’t know you, I have some memories of you, but those aren’t mine.”

“Gulliver, don’t…” she started saying.

“No.” he cut in. “I’m not Gulliver. You can call me Gull, to make it easier, but I’m not Gulliver.” He stared at Andromeda, a face of stern resolve.

“Okay,” she said. She didn’t know why, but she felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She resisted the urge to grab Gulliver...no...Gull and shake him. He couldn’t just throw everything Gulliver was away. “Gull…” she said.

“Thank you,” Gull said politely. Andromeda felt a small rush of annoyance, he was so genuine in his thanks, how could this fool magician not want to be associated with Gulliver? Perhaps this would be easier than she thought.

She inclined her head to him. “We need your help. The Golden Dome is currently...”

“Golden dome?” he interrupted.

“Oh, you don’t remember that either?” she asked.

“No,” he said.

“Well, the Golden Dome is the headquarters for a law enforcement guild called the Stewards Guild. We are part of it. This is a test to see if someone can breach its defenses.” she lied. That was Koko’s idea. It still didn't stop the pang of guilt that shot through her. "One of us has to go impregnate it."

“Okay, I should go,” Gull said.

“What?” Andromeda stammered, taken aback. That was what she was going to ask him, but she didn’t expect him to respond like...well...that’s precisely how Gulliver would have reacted.

“I have this blasting cone,” Gull said. “Objectively, Gulliver was more powerful than you, and I get the feeling that with this wand in my hand, that I’m more powerful than he was. If someone is going to infiltrate it ought to be our most powerful magician. That’s me.”

Andromeda felt offended! Who was this man to say he was more powerful than her or Gulliver? Sure, his wand might be more powerful than the one Gulliver used, but she’d put her money on her partner any day! Wait, had she lost her mind? It was the same person!

“Good point,” she said, trying to keep her cool. He had to be the one to go because the guilt enchantments on the Golden Dome would detect any criminals intent to cause harm to the Stewards Guild. Unfortunately, the enchantments only prevented people from doing evil directly, they didn’t stop someone from scheming or tricking others into doing what they want.

“When do I leave?” he asked.

“Soon,” Andromeda said. “While you’re there we will walk you through the protocol via a magic link. Can you follow instructions from a magician that isn’t as powerful as you?”

“It’s part of the test. I can do whatever is needed,” Gull responded. “And I don’t mean to be rude, I can tell you’re upset.”

“I’m not upset,” Andromeda lied.

“I don’t know how to interact with people,” Gull said, almost pleading. “I’ve been nervous about this the whole time, and I’ve offended you. I’m sorry. Truly, I am.”

“It’s okay,” Andromeda said. “I just, well, I’m worried about Gulliver. He was a good man. Now, I don’t know what will happen to him.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think he’s gone though. I can feel him, deep inside. If it makes you feel better, I’m holding on with everything I am so he’s not lost. On some level, that’s part of me. Hell, that’s most of me,” Gull said.

“Thanks, Gull. You rest, we’ll plan the infiltration,” She said.

“I can help?” he offered.

“It’s pretty much plotting the protocol from our side. It’s our first time testing the dome as well,” she said. “We have to do it.”

“Okay,” Gull said. “I’ll be ready. I’ll finish checking my wards and get some rest.” Andromeda turned to leave, and he said, “There was another person in my mind. He wanted to help. I think it’s a he anyways. I think it has to do with why my memory is gone.” Andromeda remembered the night in the woods, Gulliver's claim that there is a mighty magician there.

“Okay, I’ll take care of it once this is all done,” she said. “I promise.” Gull looked at her, then nodded.