And suddenly the three immortals could see Joan of Arc and Scathach within it. The two women were standing at the bank of a river, swords drawn, facing off against an unseen opponent.

Saint-Germain gasped. “Jeanne…”

“But something is amiss…” The Green Man’s voice echoed and his eyes blazed, illuminating his silver helmet with emerald light. His voice rose as the image within the orb spun… and revealed that the women were facing a hooded man. The figure moved and the Elder and the immortals saw the semicircle of metal that took the place of his left hand. “No! Not him. That is not possible…,” Tammuz breathed in horror.

Saint-Germain was also shocked by what he was seeing. “The hook-handed man.” His voice was thick with emotion. “But that is impossible,” he said, echoing the Elder’s words.

“You both know this creature?” Palamedes demanded, looking from Saint-Germain to the Elder.

“I know him.” The Green Man’s voice was shaking. “I saw him ten thousand years ago. He was there when Danu Talis fell.” His voice cracked. “He destroyed my world. I was sure he had perished with the island. If I had known he was still alive,” he added savagely, “I would have hunted him down and slain him.”

“Saint-Germain-who is this?” Palamedes demanded, peering into the globe.

“I stole fire from Prometheus,” he whispered, “but this is the creature who taught me its secrets.”

“What is he-Elder, Next Generation, immortal or humani?” Palamedes demanded.

“I am not sure. I believe he is neither Elder nor Next Generation. Nor do I think he is fully human. I have no idea what he is. Nicholas met him also, long before I did. He taught the Alchemyst how to translate the Codex, showed him the immortality formula.”

“What is he doing in the past?” Will Shakespeare asked.

“He is not in the past,” Tammuz said, surprising them all. “You’re looking at a Shadowrealm which has been modeled after a prehistoric world.”

And then, clear and distinct on the air, they heard a thin voice. “Scathach the Shadow and Joan of Arc. Where have you been? I have been waiting for you for such a long time. Welcome to my world.”

Clustered around the globe in Tammuz’s hand, the three immortals saw the figure stand and spread his arms wide-and then, suddenly, the hooded man looked up and seemed to stare out of the ball of smoke. They saw his blue eyes blaze and shimmer with silver light. “And Saint-Germain, too. I told you this day would come. It is time to pay your debts. Why don’t you join us? Tammuz,” the figure commanded, “send him here to me now.”

Without a word, the Green Man reached out and caught the front of Saint-Germain’s coat with his left hand; then he jammed the smoking globe into the center of the immortal’s chest.

Saint-Germain instantly turned to gray vapor and vanished.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX