Page 34 of Cathmoir's Sons

“Rhodes mentioned you’d researched my personal history,” Lords says as he cuts up his fish into small pieces like he’s feeding a child. He seems to realize what he’s doing half-way through and puts his knife down. “I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.”

Luca grunts. “Who in the Aedis Astrum framed you?”

“A question unanswered and unanswerable at the moment.” Lords sighs. “I have several suspects but no motives. There’s Chief Judge Gerard DeSal who handed down my sentence even though the case against me was paper thin. Other than the trial, I can’t find any connection between us. There’s Charon Carver, who interviewed me twice and compiled most of the evidence that was used at my trial. He was interning at the Aedis Astrum.Seven years on, he’s replaced me as The Mr. Black. But it seems a long Path between interning for the White Cloaks and taking my position, if that was his motive. There’s Sandy Smith who was the lead prosecutor. She was Evanda Hale before she became the Fifth Pillar. Again, a long Path between prosecuting me and ascending to the governing body of the Aedis Astrum. I just don’t know.”

Luca licks his fangs. “I vote for Carver. He’s a tool.”

I chuckle. Luca and his twin have had several run-ins with the crows while at Bevington. The crows have always come off the worse in those encounters. It’s hard to sanction cats. Particularly cats like Law and Luca who can walk through walls when they choose. They really don’t give a shit that you’re trying to punish them.

The corners of Lords’ mouth twitch. “Since I’m no longer The Mr. Black, I can say without reservation that Carver was an odious bully of a student while at Bevington and I was trying to get him expelled. I believe him thoroughly undeserving of the White Cloak. I wasn’t sorry to hear he’d lost his position, although it was a nasty shock to discover he’s now chief crow.”

“Not for long,” Luca says. “We’re biding our time. Not rocking the boat until I graduate. But then he better watch his back. He pissed off Law one too many times.”

Lords takes a bite of fish, chews, and grins. “How unfortunate for him. But I have no doubt he’ll have a soft landing. His family’s very wealthy.”

Luca’s fangs appear again. “Not what my research suggests. The crows are his last resort. He turned down a position in his dad’s organization for the White Cloaks. Daddy Dearest is not forgiving. His stepmother likes him so he’s invited to family events, but otherwise he’spersona non. Trust fund has been locked up until his dad dies. Family business is going to his older sister, and by all accounts she’s a worse shark than his dad. Thewell’s run dry for poor old Charon. It would beunfortunateif he was made jobless and homeless.”

Lords’ eyes widen before he looks down at his lunch. He eats for a moment in silence while Luca and I watch him. When he lifts his eyes from his tuna, he glances between us.

“This is excellent,” he says, forking up another mouthful of fish. “And I’ll remember when dealing with you that the rumors about Cait being among the most ruthless fae are not exaggerated.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Luca says. “Why are you here?”

“He came to warn me that Kimberly’s missing,” I tell my boyfriend. “He offered me the protection of the Capricorn Guild.”

Luca bristles. “The Cait will protect you if you need protection.”

“I know, Lu.” I hold up a palm to placate him. “We were also talking about my Winter Study, trying to find who killed Cousin O. Lords has offered to help. He says I can use the Capricorn Guild’s resources.”

Luca’s gaze swings to Lords. “Really? What do you have?”

“Cooperation with both the human law enforcement and the crows’ office that I’m guessing you lack if you’ve gotten on Carver’s bad side while you’ve been at school,” Lords says.

Luca stuffs his face with several bites of fish and chews while he considers.

“I’ve been hacking into the crows’ files since we were sophomores,” Luca admits. “But I haven’t been able to get access to their physical files and there’s a lot from your time at Bevvy that hasn’t been digitized. Paper.” He huffs. “So last century. Anyway, if we can get scans or copies of the paper files through the Guild, that would be worthwhile. As for the humans, I’m notsure what they’d have of value, but it couldn’t hurt to see their evidence.”

“You are exactly the reason I’m so fond of paper.” Lords’ lips twitch. “Carver should be more afraid of you than he is. I understand human law enforcement were first on the scene. Odin’s body was discovered by hikers. Is that right?”

I nod. “Massachusetts State Police. They had his body for about two days before Uncle Bert reported O missing and the crows got involved.”

“Human forensics have gotten quite advanced in the last few decades,” Lords says, between bites of salad. “You’d be surprised what they can determine without magic.”

“Okay.” Luca shrugs. “What do you want in return?”

Lords shakes his head. “You misunderstand me. I didn’t come here to bargain. I’m concerned about Rhodes’ safety. There were too many casualties of Jedburgh Abbey. Carrie Prince ...” He trails off and swallows hard before he continues, “There can’t be any more. Not on my watch.”

Luca scratches his chin with the handle of his fork, his pale green eyes steady on Lords. Lords returns his regard, blue eyes haunted.

After a weighty moment, Luca sighs. “Look, I’ve been trained from birth to fight the Mirk. I know how to evaluate a battlefield, and I could see within a few minutes that every mage at Jedburgh Abbey was going to die. I’ve never read of an army of barghests that large. Not even in the oldest legends. They outnumbered us more than ten to one. They were led by a Demi-Urge. Their gathering attracted a Mirk Rider. More would have come if Law hadn’t killed the first one. By rights, we all should have died. We didn’t.” He tips his head at me. “Well, one of us did but not permanently.”

I chuckle. We’re getting to the point where we can laugh about my round-trip to the Mother, although it’s taken us some time.

“My point is,” Luca continues, “that walking away with a handful of casualties was a miracle. And it was only possible because we had powers on that field that Bromios and his allies never expected.Youhad allies that your enemies didn’t anticipate. There are going to be battles we won’t come out of nearly as unscathed. I’m not making light of losing Doctor Prince or the others who died, but they died for a good reason, for a cause we all felt worth dying for. I know you’ve been in prison for a long time, and you were more of a policeman than a soldier before you went in ... if you’re going to be a general in this war, if you’re going to lead the Capricorn Guild, you can’t think like a policeman. You have to think like a soldier. Otherwise, being at war, particularly a war this big, is going to eat you alive.”

Lords and I both gape at Luca. I’ve never heard him speak like this. Did Jedburgh Abbey change him that much? Or has he always been aware we were in the middle of a war, and he’s just kept me out of it?

“Lu,” I say softly.

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