Page 58 of Horn of Winter

“I look forward to it.”

He hung up, and I spent the next couple of hours having a few more drinks and enjoying the atmosphere while listening to the old building’s song, waiting to see if the other pixie arrived upstairs. She didn’t, so once it neared closing time, I paid the bill and arranged to stay tomorrow night, using Eljin’s name. At least that way, if the innkeeper happened to mention the presence of another pixie to their other guest, they’d get his details, not mine.

The storm I’d sensed earlier had hit full force by the time I stepped outside. I tugged up my hood, shoved my hands in my pockets, and headed home. I’d never minded walking in the rain, and honestly, by the time an Uber arrived I could have been almost home anyway. Which didn’t mean I wasn’t soaked by the time I got there—I certainly was. I shucked off my coat, dripped upstairs and, once I’d cranked up the fire, quickly stripped off and jumped in the shower to warm up. But as I was tugging onmy thickest, fluffiest dressing gown, my fingers brushed the Eye, and it flared to life, spinning dark lightning through the firelit shadows.

There were visions to be had.

I sucked in a breath and released it slowly, and made myself a mug of tea first, using one with a lid to keep it hot while I used the Eye. Then, after grabbing a block of peanut caramel crisps to refuel after, I tucked my knives into the gown’s other pocket and headed for the loft. Once comfortable on the sofa, I crossed the knives on my lap, placed one hand on them, and wrapped the other around the Eye. Maybe it was the growing connection between me and the triune, or maybe I was simply becoming accustomed to using my second sight, but my mind’s eye was swept away so damn fast it was briefly disorientating.

The shadows faded enough to reveal stone steps leading down into a shadow-filled chamber that was surprisingly large, with a roof made of stone beams that fit tightly together. The entire thing was partially flooded and the air thick and damp. The vision moved toward the back of the chamber, where a step and an arch seemed to indicate a doorway. It highlighted a symbol carved into the center section—that of lightning—then swept on, through the stone, into a deeper darkness that went down, way down, into the ground and a smaller chamber. Under a single beam of improbable moonlight sat a horn whose metal rim was frosted and icy.

The vision shifted fractionally, revealing the horn had been neatly sliced in two lengthwise.

Thiswas Borrhás’s Horn. Or at least, one part of it.

Underneath it, carved into the stone and written in a language I didn’t understand, were three long sentences.

Then that vision faded, and I was spun into another location entirely. One that provided no images, only sound.

Which meant I was about to “see” Carla and whoever her damn boss was.

I swore softly, but it wasn’t like I could alter anything. Not until I found some way of getting past whatever shield they were using and forced these visions into soundandsight mode.

What news from the council?the man asked, his cold voice once again tinny-sounding. He was definitely using some sort of voice modulator along with the damn shield.

The Harpe remains low priority.Carla’s voice was clipped and somewhat annoyed.They have sent the pixie witch on a quest for the ice horn.

Mathi remains her control?

Yes. You have not spoken to him?

I have no reason to, especially on a matter such as this. That is not our way.

A comment that very much suggested this man knew Mathi, if only peripherally. Interesting.

What of the potion Linette created? Did it have the desired effect?

Linette was a new name. Shame they didn’t mention a surname, but Sgott had the group’s secretary in custody, so a quick Q&A session might be in order.

It did not. It was far too strong and all-consuming.

Unease slithered through me. All-consuming was definitely what I’d felt with Eljin last night, but ithadto be a coincidence. Didn’t it? The museum had thoroughly vetted his past before he’d been offered the position there, so if there’d been any shady or unsavory connections, they would have been found. Besides, why would he have mentioned a past altercation with the Ninkilim if he was one of them? Even if it had been meant to make me less suspicious, it was too easily checked and ran the risk of raising suspicions if not true.

No, these twohadto be talking about the council members. Carla definitely had her claws into at least a couple of them, and she’d likely be aware of the new testing measures implemented after it was discovered Gilda had been drugging Mathi. That they were now attempting to find another drug to use that would not be picked up in the screening was a totally logical step.

All-consuming is not a bad thing when the aim is to lower inherent barriers.

It is when control is lost by both parties. One cannot question if one cannot control one’s own actions. I have asked for it to be watered down.

The man sniffed. It was an unimpressed sound.The longer this all takes, the higher the probability of discovery. They are all too alert to our presence now.

The old gods dare not move directly against us. Not yet.

No, but they are becoming more active. We need to find a reason to have the Harpe moved further up the council’s list.

I am working on it.

Work harder.

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