Dia accepted a cup of tea from Betty Jo and sat back on the couch.  They were leaving in the morning and about time too, she thought.  She sipped her tea and looked around the drawing room.  Even Smitty seemed to be glad they were finally ready to go, though how he'd handle coke deprivation she didn't know.  She bit back a smile at the thought and set her cup down.  There wouldn't be any Cocoa Puffs either, poor kid.  But then that would make mornings easier for Ian who wouldn't have to watch him eat them, so perhaps it was a fair trade.  "So," she said, "We're all set for in the morning as far as I can tell."

"Everything's in place in Turkey," Betty Jo said, sipping her own tea.  "Edwards confirmed the arrangements were complete just before dinner.  And Rimes has things set up for the Turkish side of the border.  We're on our own in Iran of course, and I'm so not looking forward to living in a burkha."

Bobbie laughed.  "Me either."

"Yes, well, otherwise you do rather draw attention," Ian replied. "I still think we should put Smitty in one too."

Smitty glared at him.

"He's looking forward to the turban and flowing robes of the bedouin, like Lawrence of Arabia," Dia said. 

"Far better khaki and camo with weapons at the ready," Lev muttered. "It isn't going to be romantic."

"Unfortunately not," Jonah said, pouring himself another scotch.  "Still, there might be moments.  I'd suggest, though, Lev, that if the opportunity presents itself you teach him how to shoot a gun."

Lev looked at Smitty skeptically.  Simon snorted.

"So, we've gone over the list four times, Edwards about 10. I suppose if we've forgotten something we can, between us, create it. I'm far more concerned about unexpected roadblocks that might come up, like rampaging armies." Ian said, glumly.

"Well, we will have communication with Blackheath and the Zoo, so hopefully that will provide us some warning," Lev pointed out.

"Besides, where's your spirit of adventure, darling?" Betty Jo asked.  "And did St. John have anything more on the guys who attacked Dia outside of the museum?"

"Not much useful. Although Simon tells me he recognized one."

Simon shrugged. "I don't know much about him. Only that I've seen him in company with the ones who wanted the tapestry."

"Miryam had nothing to add either," Jonah said.

"So, satellite uplinks and hardened laptop ready to go?" Ian asked Smitty.

"Yup. And Lev has the satellite phone and GPS.  And backups for each."

"I prevailed on some contacts in Israel to give me some GPS navigation points, and if anything flares up from that end I think we'll get a heads up. At least I hope we will," Lev added.

"We will," Dia said.  "I've spoken with some contacts of my own.  They're also going to keep an eye on Miryam, to the extent that anyone can.  It bothers me that she's been so low key and hasn't tried to join us."

"Well, your last encounter was more than unusually acrimonious.  It's possible she's waiting for things to settle," Jonah said. 

"Possibly.  But I don't trust her."

"Perhaps you should tell us what you think she might do," Lev suggested. "It would help to be prepared in case she does decide to take an active interest."

"The way she looked at the Book and the key, I think you'll be lucky if she doesn't try to take them off of us at some point.  Sorry, Dia," Simon added, "but she's giving off all the signs of someone who will stop at nothing to get them."

Dia nodded.  "That or foist herself on us at some point.  Plus, having Smitty research the trials that are presumably between us and our goal suggests she knows something she hasn't shared about what we can expect.  Unfortunately I can't find a hint as to what that might be in Elihu's notes."

"You think she's got additional information that you don't have?" Ian asked.

"I think it's possible," Dia said.  "I think geopolitical troubles are ultimately the least of our concerns.  Solomon was said to be able to command any spirit or demon to do his bidding.  Traditionally the way to Eden is guarded by angels with flaming swords."  She shrugged.  "We aren't going to just walk up and knock, or at least I don't think we are and with those sorts of things guns are less than useless."

"Yes, well, perhaps Solomon as updated his sentries to fanatical militia. I'll stick with my weapons, thanks," Lev replied.

"Oh I would too," Dia said.  "But be ready for the other as well.  And remember that the prince of demons was named the father of lies.  His weapons are lies and deception, creating illusions from your doubts and fears."

"Illusions and deceptions..." Ian said thoughtfully. "The tradecraft of a good many of us," Ian said looking thoughtfully at Simon, who frowned back at him.

"Which could be an asset or not.  It depends on each of us," Dia said.  "Traditionally quests are as much if not more about the interior journey as they are the outer."

Lev snorted, and got up to refill his drink, walking around to refill the other glasses too.

"She's right, Lev," Ian offered. "But then any sort of quest, one such as this one or just a serious attempt to understand ourselves involves throwing off our prejudices and assumptions and looking at our own selves starkly. Granted, it might not be a very pleasant sight, but still."  Ian paused then added, "How is your tatoo, by the way, Lev?"

"It itches," he replied gruffly. He looked around at Dia, "And don't start telling me that has some significance in the fifteenth sepharoth or something."

She snorted.  "I wouldn't dream of it.  How's Cele?"

"A pain in the ass," he retorted.

She laughed again.  "Would you be interested in a small wager?"

"What sort of wager?" Lev asked suspiciously.

"You can choose the stakes.  The wager is that you'll be grateful for him before this is over."

Lev stared at her in disbelief. "What, he's going to come with us?"

"Of course," she said.  "Salem as well.  But you won't have to worry about them.  They can take of themselves.  And they help protect us."

"Of course they do," Lev muttered, glaring at Cele who was cleaning his paw utterly ignoring Lev.

"They are familiars," Jonah explained.  "They are attuned to magic to a degree beyond what we are, at least usually.  So are you going to take the bet?"

"Yes, I'll wager a kiss," Lev replied watching Dia.

She froze, color flooding her face.  Then she nodded.  "Alright.  A kiss.  I accept."

Ian was grinning. "Don't look so worried, Dia. You're sure you're going to win, right?"

"Oh absolutely," she said, dragging her eyes away from Lev.

"So you should get to slap him for his cheek," Ian added with a grin.

Simon grinned, and glanced over at Bobbie.

Dia looked struck by the notion.  Then she grinned.  "Maybe.  And maybe it's not cheek."

Lev's eyebrows rose at that, but he was wise enough to keep his thoughts to himself.

"So, we're all set then?" Betty Jo asked, taking pity on Dia.

"I'd say so," Ian replied.

"Good then, I'm turning in. See you in the morning. Come on, familiar," he added to Cele. "Didn't anyone tell you familiars are supposed to hang out with witches?" He headed to the door, Cele at his heels.

Betty Jo fluffed the pillows behind her and got comfortable, listening to the familiar sounds of Ian's bedtime routine.  She sighed with contentment.  She was so happy it was probably sinful and she didn't care.  She closed her eyes and extended her senses, listening to the rest of the house, settled in for the night and peaceful.  All was right with her world. 

Ian turned out the bathroom light and got into bed beside her.  "You look downright smug."

"I was just thinking about how happy I am.  So happy it must be sinful, in fact," she said, snuggling against him.

"You've got lousy timing, my love. We head into a close facsimile of Hell tomorrow."

"Doesn't matter," she said.  "It has nothing to do with geography."

"Hmmm. Well, you have most of your family with you, so I guess that counts for a lot."

She shook her head.  "You're incorrigible.  "You're with me."

"And you, my darling," he replied, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose, "are an incorrigible romantic."

"But you love me anyway," she said complacently, "so that's alright."

"Yes, alas, I do love you. Hopelessly."

"You make it sound like an incurable form of cancer," she said.

"It is incurable, not to mention entirely mad. Why else would I be leaving my comfortable digs and heading off into the wilds of the Middle East? I'm a civilized man, I've no business running around in the desert with a missile launcher on my shoulder."

"Because at heart you're an adventurer who needs a break from being respectable.  You're looking forward to this, so quit pretending you're not."

"I'm not looking forward to you being in danger," he replied softly,

"But you'll be there, so I'll be fine."

"You won't go throwing yourself in front of anyone will you? You will be careful?"
 
"I promise.  I'll be as careful as I can be.  And you...no heroics either," she said.

"Cross my heart," he replied then pulled her in tighter. "I hope the beds in Turkey are at least half as comfortable.  I have no such hope for our sleeping bags. However, I do have a spell in mind..."

She giggled.  "Do tell?"

"You won't mind sleeping a few inches above the rubble strewn ground, will you?" he asked with a grin.

"Oh not at all," she said.  "It sounds like fun, actually.  What else are you plotting?"

"Cocoa Puffs."

She snorted.  "What a sacrifice.  You cringe every time you see those things.  Seriously, though, what do you really think of all this?"

"I think it is something worth doing. I have my doubts about our success, but who knows. Dia certainly believes. And there are signs and portents enough to indicate something is out there. So, let's go see what it is."

"And the Golden Dawn?"

He frowned. "I never had much respect for them, I'll freely admit. I found them, from the very beginning, to be rather full of themselves. Even moreso than me, which is saying a lot. Even so, I'd rather they didn't get their hands on whatever is out there. So we'll go find it for Dia."

"So you think Miryam is telling the truth about that at least, that they're who's been threatening Dia?  But you and Jonah talked like you quashed them a long time ago.  And, if what Jonah said about them and Miryam is true, what if she's involved with them still?"

"Let's not borrow trouble. Besides, I don't see Miryam as being the sort to 'play well with others.' If she's involved with the Golden Dawn, I'd imagine it was purely to use them, and then cast them off when they'd fulfilled their purpose."

She shifted against him, adjusting the alignment of her curves against his.  "Well, I'm all for positive thinking."

"Hmmm. I'm all for putting thinking aside altogether. We might not have this much privacy for quite some time."

"You mean you don't have a spell for that?" she asked. 

"Hmmm. I'll give it some serious thought.  Tomorrow."