Tetra’s body jerked sharply in response. A vein throbbed in her temple and muscles bulged in her neck as she fought it, but the magic was inexorable. With harsh, twitching movements, Tetra marched up the steps to her apartment and slammed the door with a crash that reverberated around the garage.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Gleaming copper filled the Anvil Brewery’s interior. Every surface was spotless: the stark cinder block walls, the polished gray concrete floor, and the copper vats and pipes spread throughout the brewery space. Machinery hissed and magic sparkled as Val strode through the building.

She seldom left her post except when her bladder gave her no choice. Each trip to the bathroom across the brewery was an opportunity to admire the magic and machines again. Five dwarves of varying subspecies hurried to and fro, hauling sacks of grain, checking gauges and dials, and peering raptly into the vats. Wooden beer barrels lined one wall.

“Hamish, watch that temperature!” Blair yelled. He bent over a copper vat, safety goggles steaming.

A stout Copper Dwarf in overalls checked the nearest dial. “It’s piping hot, boss.” He smirked. “Like me.”

Blair rolled his eyes as laughter rippled through the other dwarves busy around the brewery.

When Val left the bathroom, Yuka was waiting for her. Sweat streamed through the Gem Dwarf’s emerald-green hair. She didn’t wear her baseball cap inside the brewery, and its luster was obvious under the electric lights.

“All quiet out there?” Yuka asked.

“Not a peep.” Val kept walking. “I’m heading out again, but Genevieve would warn us if something was coming. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. I think this has blown over. We haven’t had any trouble since you and Tetra beat up those guys at our house,” Yuka reminded her.

Val grimaced, not ready to hear Tetra’s name. “I won’t leave you until I’m sure you’re safe.”

“We know that.” Yuka smiled. “It has to be boring, sitting outside the brewery in your car all day.”

Val shrugged. “Boring means that my job is going well.”

“Yes, but I’m sure you’re sick of it. Would you like a tour of the brewery?” Yuka asked. “Have you seen beer being made?”

Val shook her head. “I bet it’s fascinating.”

“Oh, it is.” Yuka grinned. “Especially the way we do it. C’mon, I’ll show you around.”

She led Val to the vat where Blair and the other Copper Dwarf, Hamish, were busy. Steam rose from the top.

“Here’s where we mix the malted barley with hot water, the first step in extracting sugars from the grains,” Yuka yelled over the sound of an industrial mixer inside the vat. “We buy our barley from a Were-run farm outside Avalon Town. This is Hamish, Blair’s cousin.”

Hamish grinned. He had both hands pressed against the vat, and the copper glowed with heat where his fingers touched it. “Nice to meet you, Val.”

“Are you heating the vat with your copper power?” Val asked.

Hamish nodded. “That’s all I’m good for in this place.”

“Nonsense.” Yuka laughed. “Don’t listen to him. Hamish is an expert with machinery. His powers are useful, though. They save us a fortune in electricity.”

“I’ll bet.” Val raised her eyebrows. “Do you put hops in, too?”

“Of course. A variety. For different types of beer, we add different grains, too,” Yuka told her. “Our hops are Shajara Elf-grown in the heart of Fernwood Deep.”

“Amazing. No wonder the beer tastes so good.” Val grinned.

A distant roar reached Val’s ears. She raised her head, and Genevieve emitted a long, deep honk.

“Shit,” Val muttered. “Stay in the brewery.”

“What’s happening?” Yuka called.

“I don’t know yet.” Val jogged to the door. “Stay in the brewery!”

She burst through the door to find Genevieve straddling the entrance to the loading bay. A swarm of motorcycles filled the street, large, heavy bikes with engines that snarled with throaty force. Their six riders wore pistols on their hips and no helmets.

“Hey, lady!” The ringleader grinned, showing off a gold tooth. “Move your car!”

Val folded her arms with casual grace and raised her chin. “The Anvil Brewery is closed to the public. If you want a tour, you’ll have to make an appointment.”

Gold Tooth nodded at the others, who turned off their bikes. Some dismounted and strutted away from their bikes in jeans and wife-beaters, flashing cheap tattoos. They fell in line behind Gold Tooth as he approached Val.

“We need to talk to your little friends,” he purred on a cloud of smoky breath.

“Yeah? Sorry to hear that. Piss off,” Val suggested.

“Now, that’s no way to talk to prospective customers.” The guy behind him was juiced to the eyeballs. Eyeball; one was missing, the eyelids sewn shut.

“You want to taste our beer, boys, you can do that at the Iron Fist,” Val told them. “I’m not giving you another warning. This is private property. You’ve got two options: tell me about your bosses and leave, or refuse to leave so I can beat you up. Then you can tell me about your bosses.”

“You think anyone’s the boss of me, bitch?” Gold Tooth raised his hands.

Val raised her eyebrows. “Oh, you’re the guy who ordered a hit on my friends?” She pulled out her phone. “Good to know. A bunch of cops would love to meet you.”

Gold Tooth scoffed. “I’m not saying that.”

“I know. You’re too stupid to be in charge,” Val informed him coolly.

Gold Tooth’s eyes narrowed.

The loading bay door opened with a slow creak. “Everything okay out here, Val?” Blair called.

“Everything’s peachy, Blair. Go back inside, please,” Val ordered.

The Copper Dwarf ignored her and yelled to the new arrivals, “Who are you?”

“Somebody who’s here to deliver a peaceful message.” Gold Tooth stepped to the side to look around Val.

“Uh-uh.” Val held out a hand. “Not another step.”

“What is it?” Blair yelled.

“Blair, get back inside,” Val barked.