Page 50 of A Skirl of Sorcery
‘She needed to hear me say it, Thane. She’ll cling on to life for longer if she believes there’s a chance that she’ll get her powers back. All it means is that I have to succeed.’
‘All,’ he scoffed.
I gazed at him. With his hands on his hips and his face in a scowl, he looked remarkably cute. ‘It’ll be fine. Stop fretting.’
He threw me an irritated look. ‘I’ve spoken to several people and I think you’re right that the Barrows are also victims. Nobody has seen Ashina for weeks. Other Barrow pack elders have also been absent, and they’ve been buying up all sorts of random medical supplies from witchery stores. I’m certain they’ve been attacked in a similar way to Keres.’
His voice darkened. ‘What would you have said to me if I hadn’t vowed to keep my distance and stormed up to Cayden to give him my word that I’d save the entire Barrow pack from extinction?’
‘I wouldn’t be happy,’ I conceded. That was an understatement. Another confrontation with any of the Barrow werewolves, let alone with Cayden, would result in more bloodshed. A lot more.
Thane raised his eyebrows to emphasise his point. I waved a hand at him, indicating that I understood his feelings but it was too late. I couldn’t unsay what I’d already said: the vow had been made.
‘You’re not normally this rash, Kit.’
He was right. ‘I guess I feel a sort of kinship with her. We both have an odd relationship with death that’s unlike other people’s experience.’ Thane continued to look unimpressed. ‘Besides,’ I continued, ‘I think I might know who’s behind all this.’
‘Who?’
I told him about my encounter with Bin. ‘Since then I’ve learned that the Shellycoats were burgled not long before Keres lost her powers.’
‘Okay.’
‘Keres was burgled not long before she lost her powers, too.’
This time his answer was more drawn out. ‘Okaay.’
‘And one of the windows at the Barrow stronghold had been broken and boarded up,’ I finished, ‘I think they might have also been burgled.’
His green eyes narrowed. ‘By this same trow?’
‘I don’t have any proof of that, and I’m not saying he’s definitely involved – at this point it’s little more than a punt. But it does seem strange, doesn’t it?’
‘It’s worth investigating,’ he agreed reluctantly. ‘Although it might be an unlucky coincidence.’
‘Captain Montgomery is coming up with a list of recent home burglaries. If it matches more of the magic-loss victims, we’ll have Bin the trow bang to rights.’
‘How long will that take?’
I shrugged. To be fair to Montgomery, he was a busy man. ‘A few days, I guess. Maybe longer.’
Thane’s frown deepened. ‘Does Keres have that much time?’
I certainly hoped so. ‘We don’t have to wait for the list.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because Bin told me where he lives.’ I checked my watch. ‘And if we go now, we can catch him before he heads out for the night. The sun won’t set for another two hours.’
Thane was already moving towards the door. ‘Then what are we waiting for?’
We travelledsanscats.I checked over my shoulder several times to make sure that Tiddles wasn’t following us but it appeared that while she was unwilling to acceptmyorders to stay at home, she was prepared to do what Thane told her.
‘Cat caviar,’ he informed me, after I glanced behind me for what was probably the twentieth time.
I blinked. ‘Huh?’
‘I import it from Edinburgh specially. It costs a fortune but when I give it to Tiddles, she does exactly what I tell her. It’s worth its weight in gold.’ I stared at him. ‘Don’t worry,’ Thane continued. ‘I left some for your furry family, too. It’s special – it’s not like normal caviar because that’s not safe for cats. This stuff is good for their health as well as their behaviour.’
