Free Waging War by April White

actually wore it?”
Connor looked horrified.
    I snorted. “It might explain a lot – like
maybe the Inquisition and the Crusades.”
    “ If it’s the same ring, how does
knowing about it help anything?” Connor’s voice was still
incredulous.
    Ringo answered him. “Because understandin’ a
thing that makes no sense might just give it edges to grab onto.
And if the church ‘ad it, they might know ‘ow to fight it.”
    Connor scowled. “Bishop Cleary’s Church of
England. We don’t know any bigwig Catholics.”
    Ringo and I shared a look, and I knew
exactly what he was thinking. I grinned. “We do know a guy…”
    Connor’s face lost its scoffing grumpiness
as he suddenly got it. “The Vampire from France?”
    “Where did Bas say he’d be going next?” I
asked the guys, but Archer answered from the doorway as he entered
the room.
    “From France he was continuing his Catholic
immersion in England to learn English. But by the time of the
Tudors he would have gone to Amsterdam. Why?” Archer’s tone was
casual and light, but he moved stiffly, like he was still in pain,
and I rushed to his side. He kissed me lightly and accepted my help
to the sofa.
    “Because we need to ask him about the Blood
of Christ,” I said.
    Archer made a wry face. “I’m not sure he
ever actually drank that, but you can ask him.”
    I shook my head at him. “Seriously? You can
pun, but you can’t dodge bullets? Your self-preservation instincts
are a little wonky, my friend.” The air in the room felt so much
lighter with him in it, and I tucked myself in next to him on the
worn leather.
    Ringo opened the book and showed Archer. “Le
Sang du Christ is the Monger ring. This book describes it as one of
the Vatican treasures that went missin’ in 1842.”
    “You’re sure it’s the same ring?” Archer
studied the drawing carefully.
    “There’s an inscription – just there.” Ringo
pointed to the inside of the band where two words – oravi and vici
- were barely visible. “The ring I held in Walters’ office had the
words veni, oravi, vici engraved inside.”
    “I came, I spoke, I conquered.” Archer said
softly.
    We all stared at him as the full weight of
those three words hit us. I looked at Ringo. “You called it the
power to compel. I think the words make it clear that the Monger
ring gives the wearer the power to compel other people. And the
Mongers have probably been using it for centuries.” I shook my head
in awed horror. “How many wars were started with that ring?”
    The rest of the household filed into the
library, and I welcomed the distraction from the thought of so much
power in Monger hands. They must have just come from dinner because
everyone was dressed in formal clothes, and even Jeeves had on a
tuxedo. Archer struggled to his feet, but I knew better than to
help him up. A second later, Connor followed his lead. I watched
Connor’s eyes dart between Jeeves and Liz. She sat at a table and
then patted the seat next to her for him to join her. He complied
with a vague smile that made my heart hurt. Mr. Shaw pulled a chair
out for my mom, and Ringo stood to give Millicent his. I always
loved seeing what Millicent wore to her formal dinners, and
tonight’s jewels didn’t disappoint. She had on my favorite long
gold chain with the emerald pendant that looked like it came off
the shipwreck of a Spanish galleon, and a chunky gold ring set with
a bloodstone intaglio and circled with diamonds. The striking
jewels suited the severe lines of her satin evening gown, but not
even the reflection of sparkly things could erase the worry in her
eyes.
    Millicent nodded regally to Archer. “You’re
looking well this evening, Mr. Devereux.”
    “Thank you, milady. You are stunning as
usual.” Somehow, Archer made courtly manners sound perfectly
contemporary, and Millicent smiled at him. She looked at me and
lifted the long gold chain with the emerald over her neck.
    “Saira my dear. I’ve been meaning to