Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals by Dan Abnett, Nik Vincent Page A

more easily than lies. Some form of the truth at least.
    “I came for the antiquities… for the jewelers,” said Lara.
    “Explain yourself,” said Ares.
    “The myth of the Golden Fleece originated in Colchis, where gold was mined using sheepskins laid in streams. The gold collected in the wool and was combed out. You can call me superstitious if you like, but I thought if I could find something made from Colchis gold… I thought it might be a lucky charm for my friend.”
    “Is that all?” asked Ares.
    “That’s it,” said Lara. “You can check my return ticket if you don’t believe me. I’m in Paris for a couple of days, and then I need to go back to see my friend.”
    Ares pressed a discreet button on a console on his desk, and the large double doors to his office opened. Crewcut entered, and the two men exchanged a few words in French. Ares addressed him as Hydarnes, and Lara also heard the name Darius.
    So Crewcut’s name is Hydarnes, thought Lara. That makes Windcheater Darius.
    Then, she heard the words “dix mille Immortels.”
    The Ten Thousand Immortals, thought Lara. She remembered bookmarking the wiki entry and the home page for the Ten Thousand Immortals. What was that note in the Book?
    Crewcut turned to Lara, and she noticed that he was wearing an earpiece. He hadn’t been wearing it in public.
    “Come with me,” he said.
    Lara looked at Ares. Who was this man? She didn’t stop looking at him as she rose slowly from the chair. She was in no hurry to leave the room. She did not know what was coming, but she knew that she had to find some way to get out of that building. Ares was a dangerous man. She didn’t like him, and she didn’t trust him.
    Finally, she turned and followed Hydarnes out of the room.
    Alone in his office, Ares sat at his desk and threw a switch on his console.
    “Yes, Ares,” said a voice.
    “If Miss Croft tries to escape, let her go,” said Ares, “but don’t make it easy. I want to see what she’s capable of. She might still prove useful.”
    “As you wish, Ares.”
    Chapter 12
    P onytail was waiting outside the door and went ahead of Lara down the stairs. At the bottom of the second flight, Lara spoke.
    “Lydia, whatever your name is. I really need a bathroom.”
    Ponytail turned and looked over her shoulder at Crewcut.
    “Yes, Ares,” said Crewcut, making Lara wait. He was speaking into his cuff, which Lara assumed housed a mic attached to his earpiece.
    “Come on,” said Lara, appealing to Ponytail again. “I need my bag, and I need a bathroom. It’s embarrassing.” They had descended another floor.
    “As you wish, Ares,” said Crewcut.
    “There are two of us, and she’s just a kid,” said Lydia.
    “Fine,” said Crewcut. “Did you check the bag?”
    “Nothing but a change of clothes,” said Ponytail.
    Lara didn’t sigh with relief.
    “Whatever,” said Crewcut.
    They had stopped on the first floor. Lara had her back to a wall, and Crewcut was standing very close to her, blocking her in. Ponytail took the flight of stairs down to the ground floor and then back with Lara’s bag. She escorted Lara along a short corridor into a large anteroom that appeared to serve as some sort of reception room or waiting area. There was a door to the left that Ponytail gestured towards.
    Lara took her bag and entered the room. She locked herself in the bathroom and looked around. The bathroom was large with a tall, narrow window onto a balcony.
    Noise, she needed noise.
    I can’t believe I’m doing this… Of all the clichés!
    Lara started making retching noises as she opened the window. She flushed the toilet and ran water in the sink. Then, she made more retching noises as she slid out of the window onto the tiny balcony. The window was so narrow that she almost got herself wedged, and the balcony wasn’t much more than a shelf.
    Lara reached in and flushed the toilet once more, making more retching noises.
    Then, she climbed over the low railings of