The Sentinel/The Dresden Files (Book Verse) (Teen)

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

Title Shaman You by Subcircus
Pairing None. Characters: Blair Sandburg, Jim Ellison, Harry Dresden
Author on LJ: idontlikegravy
Author's Website : Subcircus' page on AO3

Why this must be read

Chicago is where Harry Dresden, Wizard, has his consulting business – no love potions or endless purses provided – but when Detective Blair Sandburg cons convinces his superiors to hire Harry to help solve a case that has elements of ritual magic, Harry agrees and travels to Cascade. By train instead of a jet because wizards and technology don't mix. He's surprised to find that the unlikely pair who he liaisons with are a sentinel and a shaman.

I like outsider POVs and Harry provides an interesting one as he observes Jim and Blair and their little in-jokes that he gets enough to know they're based on some interesting history between the two.

Subcircus has a deft hand with the plot and characterizations. There is some description of gore but no more so than shows like CSI or what you see down in Ducky's morgue from NCIS. I particularly liked how she fit Blair's powers as a shaman into the Dresden Files magical universe.

A Wizard, a Sentinel, and a Shaman walk into a bar get acquainted.



***

I knocked on Sandburg’s door and didn’t have to wait long before the door was opened by the detective in question. He smiled warmly when he saw me.

“Mr Dresden, please come in.”

I was very glad of the invite; Sandburg’s apartment was surrounded by a very strong protective field, so strong that without an invite I would probably end up flat on my ass. Last time I’d encountered such a strong one was when I visited Murphy’s home, and that had been built up by generations of families living there.

I stepped across the threshold and into the apartment; a spacious loft with typically Spartan decoration for a man’s home. I was surprised to see several tribal icons around the place, and the place was spotless; I’d got the impression that Sandburg wasn’t this neat.

“Who is it, Chief?” I recognised Detective Ellison’s voice, which sounded like he was upstairs. That explained the neatness at least. Looked like the partners shared the apartment and I briefly wondered if they were partners in more ways than one, not that I cared either way.

“Just your friendly neighbourhood wizard,” I answered before Sandburg could and gave Ellison a wave as he came downstairs to investigate. He nodded in greeting before heading to the kitchen area to get a drink of juice. He offered the carton in the direction of Sandburg and me so I shook my head.

“I’m taking Mr Dresden to the last crime scene. Want to come?” Sandburg said. Ellison shuddered, which made Sandburg grin; obviously I was missing out on a private joke here.

“Ready when you are, Detective Sandburg,” I said.

“If we’re going to be working together, you should call me Blair,” he said with a smile. I nodded and returned the smile.

“It’s Harry then.”

“And that, Harry, is Jim,” Blair added. Jim looked over at us and nodded his consent.

“He also replies to Sandburg, Curly or Hey you,” he said with a grin. Blair glared at him.

“You think you’re funny, but you’re not,” he said.

“You’ve just got no taste, Professor,” replied Ellison. As I watched the back and forth between them I warmed to Blair and Jim. They made a strange pair, but something about them made me think we were going to get on well.

Blair poked his tongue out at Ellison before he grabbed a jacket and his keys and then we headed out.

*-*

Sandburg owned a vintage green Volvo that had me pining for the Beetle. It’s not the roomiest of vehicles, but Blair’s box on wheels made it feel like a limousine in comparison. The Volvo was in good condition, he obviously took great care of her, but it wasn’t designed for someone of my height, which is weird, given how tall Swedes are.

We drove for about half an hour, passing the time with general, light chit-chat, the kind of friendly conversation that is pleasant but superficial. He took me to a stretch of woodland just on the outskirts of Cascade and we parked up in a lot that was no more than a patch of dirt by the road. We walked for a few minutes until we reached a clearing that I recognised from the case file. We were only a few hundred yards from the highway but the thick woods were an effective muffler and the only sounds in the clearing were our footsteps. It was too quiet, which is always a bad sign.

“It’s so quiet,” Blair commented. “I didn’t notice before; there were cops stomping about the place. But there are no birds or animals.”

I nodded. I was impressed that he’d noticed that. There was obviously a dark energy around the place keeping animals away. As I stepped into the clearing properly, a shiver ran down my spine like someone had dropped an ice cube down my shirt, confirming that this place had indeed been used for black magic.

“Someone just walked over my grave,” muttered Blair at my side. I looked at him askance and he gave me a sheepish grin and a shrug. “Just got the shivers. It’s this place.”

So, Detective Sandburg had enough power to sense the evil in this place. That was an interesting nugget to be filed away for later.


Shaman You by Subcircus (20846 words)