Page 19 of The Dark Hiss of Magic
We couldn’t do any worse. ‘On you go.’
He walked decisively towards another bar while I followed. There was a collection of people hovering outside sucking on bowl pipes of magicked tobacco and shivering. They appeared to be of a similar age to Cos. There was only one druid amongst them, but maybe a mixed crowd would be more willing to answer questions.
I pasted on a smile. ‘Hey! We’re looking for a friend of ours. He’s gone missing and we’re really worried about him.’ I held up the picture to draw attention away from my obvious lie. ‘Have you seen him around?’
At least this time they looked at the paper but I didn’t need to hear their answers; their blank expressions told me they didn’t know him.
‘Thanks anyway,’ Thane said, reaching past them for the door. As it opened, we were blasted with a wave of music. Itwasn’t disco or heart-thumping dance beats; this was pure country.
The counter was empty and vacant stools lined its length. Nobody was buying drinks and the lone bartender, a troll, was looking bored as he polished a glass. There were plenty of people, but they were dancing rather than drinking and chatting. Line dancing.
‘We’re still in Scotland, right?’ Thane asked.
I gazed at the rows of cowboy boots and tasselled shirts. ‘Last time I checked we were,’ I said. ‘But we’re here now. Let’s give this place a try.’
I walked up to the first line of jiggling, bobbing people and raised the picture. ‘Seen this guy around?’
‘Yeeeeeeee-ha!’ They all turned away in unison, legs flicking upwards.
I moved around and tried again. As soon as I did, the line of dancers spun for a second time. I looked at Thane and shrugged helplessly. He pursed his lips and leaned into my ear. ‘Maybe not here.’
I jumped back as a waving arm was thrust in my direction. Yeah, maybe not.
‘What’s wrong with young people these days?’ he asked as we walked towards yet another pub. ‘Why aren’t they getting drunk and having a good time instead of…’
‘Dancing and having a good time?’ I asked.
‘The tassels, Kit. All those tassels.’
I smirked. ‘I think you’d make a great cowboy.’ Especially if he wore tassels.
Thane spun on the spot. ‘Howdy partner!’ he shouted. ‘Let’s have ourselves some rooting-tooting fun!’
Oh no. ‘I take that back. You’d be a terrible cowboy.’
‘Come on, dahlin’,’ he drawled with a wink. ‘We’ve still got ourselves a varmint to find!’
I raised my eyes heavenward. This was going to be a very long evening.
Chapter
Eight
We tried an Irish pub, which I was reasonably certain didn’t contain a single person from Ireland. Thane got drawn into a long-winded conversation with a female werewolf who recognised him and seemed determined to debate the merits of living within or outside a wolf pack. It sounded to me as if she were trying to recruit him, which was definitely a new experience for Thane.
We both downed two pints of heavy Irish stout but we didn’t find anyone who knew of Cos. Thane politely declined the werewolf’s offer of a third pint.
‘When was the last time you had a proper night out in Hirsel Street?’ he asked me, as we wove towards a karaoke bar.
‘Probably my retirement party,’ I admitted. ‘More than three years ago.’ A speculative expression crossed his face but he didn’t say anything. ‘What?’ I asked.
‘Nothing.’
I pulled a face. It wasn’t nothing, not with that look on his face. ‘Spit it out, Thane.’
‘Alright. Why aren’t you dead?’
My steps faltered. ‘Pardon?’
