Word From Afar

1. Belle makes sure to stand between Christine and the bundle, as there is no need to see more horror than a person must.
   
   She says, "These powers are both a blessing and a curse. They are both a blessing and a curse for those who have them, and they are both a blessing and a curse for the rest of society.
   
   "Our job is to make sure that the blessing part outweighs the curse part...in both cases."
2. Unnoticed by most, Kaze is silently pressing down on the space between the Russian's nose and upper lip.

Ronald Richter returns from the back room, smoking furiously.

“I’ve been in touch with our Elder,” he says, naming no names. “They’ve heard of someone tracking down new and unusual Powers in Asia – looks like he’s jumped the pond to America. Same general description, Japanese man covered with tattoos, graying temples, five feet seven or eight, 140 pounds. Our last Knight in Japan ran afoul of him, and may be lost, but he did tell us this isn’t an Imperial Army or Navy operation. Our enemy won’t have the full resources of the Imperium behind him. If we’re lucky, he’ll be in heap big trouble for losing a squad of Shadow Guards.”

“We’re to try and re-acquire him, but locate and observe only. If this guy’s anything like the Spellbound – and if you haven’t heard of that mess, consider yourselves lucky! – six Actives won’t be able to take him. More like sixteen, or sixty."

“As for the prisoners,” he says, and bows slightly as Christine winces, “they don’t know anything vital about us, so they can’t spill it if they’re taken alive. As far as the Elder’s concerned, they’re free to go. But personally, I think they’d be stupid to go it alone, with that inked-up monster looking for them.”

“What about you guys? And gals, of course. Find out anything?”

Richter sags into a chair, batting at his cigarette smoke as though it were whispering terrible things in his ear.