Page 48 of A Skirl of Sorcery
‘Interesting.’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s all you have to say on the matter?’
‘I’m sure you’ll get to the bottom of it sooner or later, Kit. You are tenacious, if nothing else.’ Trilby returned their attention to the vials. ‘You know, if somebody were stealing magic, they would need receptacles to put it in otherwise it would dissipate into the atmosphere and be lost forever.’
I had the sense I was hearing something important – but there again everything Trilby said was important. ‘What sort of receptacle?’
‘I can’t begin to imagine. This isn’t the same as bespelling some herbs. This sort of magic is held within a person’s body.’ They touched the centre of their chest. ‘It would take far more than glass to contain that power if it were ripped away from its natural home of blood and flesh and bone.’
Trilby made it sound even more gruesome than it was. ‘Okay.’ I waited another beat to see if any more information would be forthcoming, but they had moved their attention to another packing box. Our conversation was over. ‘Thanks,’ I muttered.
‘No problem, Kit,’ they said cheerfully, then glanced up and smiled. ‘Don’t forget what you are, will you?’
‘Huh?’
Trilby waved a hand. ‘And take care!’
My brow knitted in confusion but they had already lifted up the box and were walking away. They were done.
Keres was sittingup in bed holding a bowl of chicken soup; although it was now lukewarm, with a congealed layer forming across its surface, according to Dave she’d consumed at leasthalf of it. An appetite, even a small one, was a good sign but I knew I couldn’t be too optimistic. If Fergus was right, this was only a temporary reprieve from her symptoms. Even so, I was extraordinarily pleased.
‘I’m sorry to have caused so much bother,’ she said in a strained voice. ‘Regardless of your favour to Mallory, you didn’t sign up for this.’
‘Do not apologise for being sick,’ I replied firmly. ‘None of this is your fault.’ I took the bowl from her and held her hands. ‘And I’m working on the problem. I will find out who has taken your powers, Keres. Iwillget them back.’
Although I pushed as much heartfelt conviction into my words as I could, she didn’t believe me. She was already resigned to her fate. I stared at her pale face, saw the bruised circles under her eyes and felt the shiver in her long fingers. Then I drew in a long breath. ‘I give you my word, Keres. I will get your magic back.’
Her dark eyes widened and flew to mine. ‘No! Don’t do that. You can’t make promises you can’t keep. The consequences…’
I interrupted her. ‘I’m well aware of the consequences.’
‘But you’re just a…’ Keres stalled in mid-sentence.
I didn’t mind. ‘Just a cat lady.’ I smiled at her. ‘You don’t know cats, do you? It takes a strong woman to be a cat lady, Keres, and I’m stronger than most.’
She clearly wasn’t listening. ‘Take it back,’ she urged. ‘I don’t want your word.’
My smile grew wider. ‘Tough. You already have it.’ I leaned back in the chair. ‘But I do need some help. I have some questions and this time I need you to answer them.’
Thankfully she didn’t argue. I wasn’t stupid: I knew that Keres still didn’t trust me completely and she certainly didn’t trust that I could find the bastard who’d done this to her. But shewas beginning to accept that I was on her side and for now that would do.
Keres was weak and needed to rest so I focused on what was most important – and what would help me most. ‘Tell me exactly what happened on the night your powers were stolen.’
Her eyes took on a distant sheen. She swallowed, composed herself and began to speak. ‘I was at a house not far from here. There was a man inside dying – I’d felt the pull of his approaching passing from across the city and I knew that his end was near. On the third night, I took up position outside. I wasn’t expecting to be there for a fourth night – I wasn’t expecting to be there for more than a few hours.’
She met my eyes. ‘Death enveloped him and his home,’ she whispered. ‘It pulsated through the ground and it was impossible to ignore. I think he was glad.’
From what Holly Shellycoat had told me, he definitely was. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to distract Keres from her story.
She shook her head slightly. ‘There was no warning. The death skirl was building in me but I’d not yet reached the crescendo. I changed key, sang louder and then,’ her eyes filled with tears, ‘and then I felt the pain.’ Her hands were trembling more violently. ‘It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.’
Recounting the moment was clearly not cathartic for Keres and I certainly didn’t need her to describe how awful it had been when her magic had been ripped from her body. She didn’t need to re-live the moment for me.
‘Did you see anyone or sense anyone nearby? On the rooftops behind you, perhaps?’
She didn’t hesitate. ‘No, not before. And if there was anyone there afterwards, I was in no state to see them.’
That was disappointing but not surprising. I wetted my lips. ‘Why did you agree to come and stay so close to where it happened?’ I asked softly.
