Page 57 of Horn of Winter

“Glenfiddich?”

She nodded. “I’ll be back with your drink in a few minutes. Dinner will take about twenty.”

“That’s fine.”

She collected the menus and hurried away. I crossed my arms on the table and looked around the room, studying thecustomers and listening to the various snippets of conversation. Once my drink arrived, I picked it up with one hand and let my other drop under the table, running my fingers over the darkly stained wood. The building’s inner song was strong and sweet, and I slipped into her network easily, following the weblike lines of energy up to the next floor. There were two ensuite bedrooms up there from the feel of things, the weight of furniture in each almost identical. There was a small additional bit of weight in the bedroom to the rear of the building, but it was too light to be human. A suitcase or bag of some sort, I suspected. Neither room was currently occupied, so I followed the network of energy around to the door frame of the room that contained the suitcase. A trick that I—and most other pixies with the ability to manipulate wood—often used to give forewarning of an intruder was to lightly weave the frame to the door. Even if said intruder was another pixie, there was usually some lingering evidence of their presence in the song of the wood. The door here remained unaltered. I continued on, following the glowing golden rivers to the outside of the building and the room’s window frame. It also showed no sign of alteration.

Did that mean the ghul had been wrong and the pixie she’d followed wasn’t staying here? Possibly, but I doubted it. That other pixie had snared the ghul’s interest, and I rather suspected she’d kept watch on theentirepremises for much longer than she’d made out. If that pixie had slipped out another entrance, the ghul would have noticed.

I pulled out of the network and sipped my drink, debating what I should do next. Questioning the owners about whoever was staying up there was out, if only because I didn’t want them warning their guest someone was asking after them. And I couldn’t use the pixie obedience magic on them because it would leave a tell for the other to sense. I checked the terrain images on Google Maps, which told me there was a sturdy metal staircasealong the side of the building that led onto a small walkway and a gate. That was obviously what guests used to come and go when the pub was closed. There also appeared to be rear cameras, though whether they worked or not was another matter entirely. Still, I wasn’t about to risk a little external breaking and entering until I knew for sure whether the room’s occupant was my aunt. I certainly didnotwant to barge in on some innocent pixie.

A younger waitress arrived with my meal and cutlery. I thanked her and hungrily tucked in. It was the best damn pie I’d eaten in ages.

As I sat back with a satisfied smile, the older woman approached. “Can I get you something else, dear? A dessert, perhaps? I can recommend the apple pie and homemade ice cream.”

I hesitated, and then nodded. To hell with the waistline. “And a pot of English Breakfast would be good, too. Tell me, have you rooms to rent here?”

“Aye, two, although one is booked for the next week. You looking for accommodation?”

I nodded. “We just need the one night, if that’s possible.”

“We can do that, no problems. We’ll sort it out when you’re paying up before you leave.”

“Perfect. Thank you.”

Once she left, I dragged out my phone and rang Eljin.

He answered immediately. “I hope this call means you’ve changed your mind about tonight?”

“Sadly, I’m flying out early tomorrow with Mathi?—”

“Council business, I take it?” he cut in.

“We got a lead on the horn, and another on a woman who may know the name of the person behind this whole mess. They’re in the same area, so we’re combining searches.”

“Then to what do I owe the honor of this call?”

“I was wondering if you might be available tomorrow evening?”

“Always, though I take it you have something more than a mere date planned?”

“I need company for a cover story.”

He laughed. “More than happy to help out.”

“Excellent. I’ll send you the details when I book the room.”

“Room? I like the sound of that.”

“There’s no guarantee of sex, I’m afraid. It’s a watch-and-wait operation.”

“Understood, but I will point out that sex isn’t the be-all and end-all of a relationship.”

“You would be the first man in history who thinks that.”

“You obviously hang around the wrong sort of men.”

Given my terrible luck with men, that was undoubtedly true. “I need to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

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