“I’m just saying that if you are going to use the ring, perhaps you could aim the wind toward, say, Fenway Park—”

Rory opened his mouth—and then paused, pursing his lips.

“Just a thought,” Arthur added helpfully.

Rory sighed loudly. “What else haven’t you told me? And don’t try me,” he warned, when Arthur opened his mouth. “Spill it all, and I mean all of it, Ace, because I’m not some delicate porcelain figurine you keep on a shelf somewhere safe, I’m supposed to be your partner. Start talking and don’t stop. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” Arthur muttered, but he could admit he deserved that. He took a breath. “Jade thinks we should go to London.”

“London? As in, the London where your ex, Lord Asshole, lives?”

“No,” said Arthur, drawing it out. “The London where Gwen, Ellis, and the tattooed man who knows about relics went.”

“Oh,” said Rory. “Yeah, okay, that’s better.”

“Is it?” Arthur said pointedly.

“I mean, I’d rather deal with them than your ex. Aside from the trying to kidnap and kill us part, of course.”

“Trying to kidnap? What try? We’ve both been successfully kidnapped by that lot, full stop.” They had driven into a more urban area now, shops and markets, pedestrians everywhere. “Am I the only one considering that perhaps we want to think twice before we pop into their lair for a spot of tea?”

Rory scrunched his nose. “I feel like Gwen’s too pretty to have a lair.”

“I feel like you’re not seeing the big picture here.” Arthur turned onto another random street, because Red Sox notwithstanding, he really didn’t want Rory to have to wield the wind in Boston again if they could help it.

“I am, actually,” said Rory. “Because if that Sebastian fella’s with them, he’s got that tattoo that confuses magic. Zeppler won’t be able to track me with magic.”

Arthur furrowed his brow. “But even if you can put Gwen and Ellis aside, London is also much closer to Germany than New York is.”

“Zeppler just reached across the ocean to send a lackey and the cops after me in Boston,” Rory said grimly. “I don’t think it’s safer to stay here anymore.”

Arthur sighed. “No,” he said, very quietly. “I don’t think it is either.”

They were quiet for several minutes, Rory still watching out the back of the car as the side roads turned to the highway. Arthur kept his foot on the gas but relaxed, just a fraction.

He wanted to ask more about the fire paranormal, but Rory suddenly said, “How would I pay for London?”

“I’d pay. Yes, me,” Arthur said immediately, cutting off Rory’s protest. “Funding is what I can contribute. I don’t have magic, the rest of you have to let me do something.”