Page 14 of Horn of Winter

“Not by me it hasn’t.” There was dry amusement in her sultry tone. “I am not foolish enough to go downthatpath a second time.”

“Someone has, and it would appear that Maran Gordan’s sister has taken up the option.”

“Keeryn has spent half her life refusing to join the family business. I doubt that has changed.” She threw some more wood on the fire and cast me a wry smile. “Although the gossipmongers whisper of Maran’s death and a certain Aodhán pixie being responsible. Revenge can be a mighty motivator.”

And if Keeryn had heard those rumors, it would certainly explain her accepting a kill contract on me. Why not profit while gaining revenge?

“Have you any idea who might have brokered the contract on Bethany?” Mathi asked.

Kaitlyn glanced at him. “I do not.”

“But you could find out, could you not?”

Though it was formed as a question, it definitely wasn’t. Kaitlyn stared at Mathi for several seconds, her expression a mix of amusement and wariness. I watched the silent battle and lightly rubbed my arms. Despite the fire, it seemed to be getting colder in here. Even the song of the building’s wood was beginning to slow as the chill increased.

Eventually, Kaitlyn said, “A favor given is a favor owed.”

“Or perhaps, a favor given is one receipt lost. The Oldaker incident, perhaps.”

That faint flicker ran through her eyes again but all she said was, “That would be ideal.”

“Good. You’ll contact me with the details the minute you uncover anything?”

“I will.” Her gaze returned to mine. “Is that all?”

I hesitated. “I don’t suppose you know if Keeryn Gordan is staying in town?”

“If she has accepted the contract on you, then she would have gone to ground. Just because she didn’t join the family business doesn’t mean she hasn’t the family talents. And, of course, that also means it’s unlikely she used her true persona to accept the commission. Maran never did.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I would have thought that would make contract breaches a trifle harder to deal with.”

“Aside from the fact few would dare breach any contract I broker, Ialwayshave a no-fault clause inserted to ensure problems do not rebound back on me.”

In other words, as long as she got her money, she really didn’t care. “Well, if you do happen to hear anything about her, could you pass it on?”

“It would be my utter pleasure.”

The insincerity positively dripped off every word. I smiled and stepped back, then hesitated, gaze scanning the shimmer creeping across the ceiling. “You haven’t annoyed a weather mage of late, have you? Because the chill in this place is invasive to the point of being unnatural.”

She waved the comment away. “The heating system broke down last night, and I’m awaiting the arrival of a plumber. They are rarer than hens’ teeth of late, apparently.”

“Which explains the chill inside, but not the concentration of ice that is happening on the exterior. It looks and feels targeted, Kaitlyn.”

Her gaze narrowed. “What is your second sight saying about the matter?”

“Absolutely nothing, but that doesn’t negate the fact that this just doesn’t feel right. It might be wise if you pack some things and spend a few days at a?—”

“I will never get a plumber here if I’m staying elsewhere,” she said crossly. “I’ll be fine.”

Famous last words, but it wasn’t like I could force her out. As a half elf, she was immune to pixie obedience magic. I waved a hand. “Fine. Your choice.”

“Indeed. Now please, do leave. I’d like to get a few more hours’ sleep before the day’s work begins.”

We headed out, the gently fading song of the building’s fabric sounding very much like a final goodbye. There was absolutely nothing I could do about that except hope that I was wrong, that it was nothing more than the lack of heating in an old and very likely insufficiently insulated building.

The front door’s locks slid firmly back in place as we left, the sound echoing in the cold stillness of the night. The ice on the pavement was thicker, the icicles longer. I studied the nearby buildings but once again had no sense that a weather witch or even a storm mage was near—though surely a storm mage would be more thunder and lightning than ice and a bone-deep chill.

And really, why would either be targeting Kaitlyn? If someone was after revenge for a contract she’d arranged, surely they’d go after the person whoplacedthe contract or even the person who fulfilled it, rather than the intermediary between the two.

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