Magical Midlife Meeting (Leveling Up #5)(49)

My empty plate was cleared away and a steaming plate was set down in its place, no time to rest between courses. Cyra stepped forward immediately, and Rufus paused, probably wondering if he was about to get a butt in his hologram again.

“Roast beef tenderloin with red wine sauce,” the server murmured softly. “Haricot verts and a buttery garlic mashed potato.”

I nodded as Cyra barged in and took more than the couple of needed bites. “This is good,” she said around her food. “Hire these cooks instead of Mr. Tom.”

Rufus waited until she was done. “Even if you are correct, Elliot…” He cleared his throat. Gesturing to Paper Reader, he said, “And I’ll mention that Maverick is—”

“Maverick?” I blurted out with a laugh.

Everyone paused and looked at me.

I covered my mouth with my napkin. “Sorry. I didn’t know his name. Just…surprised me, is all. Does he have an assistant named Goose?”

Elliot laughed heartily. Maverick’s eyebrows settled low.

“As I was saying,” Rufus continued, “I would agree that the world has certainly changed more than one might think. You won’t be able to hide away in your mountain and expect to be left alone while you plot.”

“Yes,” Maverick said, undaunted by my reaction to his Top Gun name. “When you rose the first time, you were unknown. You claimed your mantle almost out of the blue. You are watched now. The Mages’ Guild has their eye on you. Momar is aware of this meeting and eager to know what comes of it. You won’t get a chance for a mistake, and you might not even get a chance to emerge as you plan.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Elliot said, wiping his mouth. “And I’d be quite the simpleton if I hadn’t thought of all of that. Coming up out of the blue the first time wasn’t a stroke of luck, however. It wasn’t a surprise to me like it was for others. You’d best remember that.”

“Do you expect your ally to cover your back while you make your…return?” Noah asked.

Elliot pushed an invisible plate away and went back to resting his elbows on the table. He squinted at Noah. “Cover my back? No. Keep my whereabouts secret? Possibly.”

Burke huffed. “How would that even be possible?”

“For you?” Elliot tapped his pointer fingers together. “It wouldn’t. You’re here to make everyone else feel good about their status. Including the Jane.”

Anger crossed Burke’s face, but it was insanely hard to feel bad for him. It was a bummer that he was the only mage physically present. He was the kind of blowhard you’d decline an invite to a really great-sounding party just to avoid.

“So you expect us to sign on to be your ally,” Maverick said, pushing his own invisible plate away, “without telling us any more about it?”

“Yes. You have it exactly right.” Elliot dropped his hands.

“What sort of assurances do we get?” Maverick asked.

Elliot pursed his lips. “I’ll discuss all of that with the person I choose to partner with.”

“And…” Maverick crossed his arms over his chest. “How do you plan to choose?”

A grin spread across Elliot’s face. “Easy. A good old-fashioned gladiator arena where you will compete against each other to sit in a room with me and hash out the plans. It is the only way you will get to see me in person. I did not hide all this time to stick my neck out the first time I have visitors. If you want your chance with me, you will have to prove your worth first.”

My stomach sank into my shoes as I looked around at the other, much more experienced mages sitting at the table. I might have more power, but that didn’t mean squat in a face-off-type battle, not without Ivy House at my back. My team was newly formed, and I was a novice. Our chances of winning were next to nothing.

“I’ll play your little game,” Rufus said slowly, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest like Maverick had. “It does not mean I consent to work with you, but I will hear you out.”

“You will attempt to claim his audience, you mean,” Maverick said. “I, too, will play this game. I see the value in a partnership and have some ideas about how we can work around Momar to achieve our goals. With some…restrictions, of course.”

“I’ll play.” Noah threw an invisible napkin onto his plate. Maverick and Rufus gave him condescending looks. “There is more to winning than the head mage’s power. My team is infinitely superior to yours. I’ve spent years building it. I’ll clean up, no problem.”

“That’s the spirit,” Elliot said.

“I’m out.” Burke sucked down the rest of his wine. “To hell with this.” He stood from the table. “Been nice knowin’ ya, Elliot. Momar is going to make an example of you, and that’s if the Mages’ Guild doesn’t get you first.”

“Hmm,” Elliot said as Burke stormed out of the room, his poison-control person hustling behind him. “Anyone else want to acknowledge their lesser magical stature?”

“I’ll acknowledge my sanity, how’s that?” Rubber Band Face rose. “I’m not going to stand against Momar. I don’t want that kind of heat.”

“And that is why you have never risen above your paltry station.” Elliot was taunting him, no doubt trying to get him to change his mind, or apply pressure to the mages who hadn’t spoken up yet.