Nobles of the Fourth Epoch

Gray...

Before coming to the meeting, Angel had communicated with "Magician" Fors through Mr. Fool and learned the name and appearance of the Abraham Family descendant she was about to meet. She could therefore confirm that the man before her was telling the truth.

That made his middle name all the more striking. Angel quickly collected herself, nodded, and took the chair opposite Dorian. "Then I assume Ms. Wall has already told you who I am."

She had not disguised her appearance for this visit. "Magician" Fors Wall had likely told her teacher that Angel was the "Golden Queen." Concealing it would only breed suspicion between them. Besides, Angel needed that name to lend credibility to their conversation.

A renowned Pirate Queen was more trustworthy than an unknown Demigod who skulked about and refused to identify herself.

Nor did this violate the Tarot Club's rule against revealing other members to outsiders. Neither "Magician" nor "Empress" had revealed her membership to Dorian.

"Of course. I've read about your deeds at sea in the newspapers. It's a great honor to see for myself the beauty said to surpass even a Siren's."

Dorian Abraham offered the compliment without fawning. Angel could tell he meant it, especially the part about her looks, but a necessary trace of wariness remained in his eyes. Even a High Sequence Witch's Charm had not robbed this Abraham descendant of his judgment.

From what "Magician" had revealed about the Abraham Family, the man before her was probably only a Sequence 7 Beyonder, certainly no higher than Sequence 6. Yet he was worldly and strong-willed. He must have digested his current Potion long ago and stabilized his condition completely, Angel judged.

Angel had known since discovering an exchange between "Magician" and her teacher that the Abraham Family possessed ways to