Page 65 of Horn of Winter

“No, but it could no doubt be found in that study of hers. She was meticulous when it came to her records.”

“The IIT likely took her computer when they were investigating her disappearance.”

“No doubt, but it won’t do them any good, because she never listed their private commissions on the computer. Riayn always declared she never trusted the things, and did things the old-fashioned way, as the gods intended. Of course, it helped that they didn’t have to pay tax on payments they didn’t declare.”

The latter certainly sounded like something my aunt would say, even if the former didn’t. But then, it wasn’t like I’d ever really known her all that well, and time did change people.

Time, bitterness, and greed.

“I might head over there and check it out, then.” Whether I actually could get onto the property, let alone into the house,would very much depend on whether the red knife restrictions remained. But it would be one sure way to uncover whether she’d faked her own death—if actually dying and then being brought back to life could be called faking it—or not.

“So, tell me,” Alys said, “do you still run that old tavern in Deva? Riayn was a little annoyed that your mother got the place in its entirety.”

“Given Riayn got just about every other investment in Gran’s will, I daresay that was her greed showing.”

Alys cackled in agreement, and the conversation moved on. I flicked off the phone about halfway through so as to not bore Mathi, and left an hour later with the promise to visit if I was ever up this way again.

“Well,” Mathi said as I climbed into the passenger seat. “I have spent more boring hours in my lifetime, but not by much.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No, you absolutely are not.”

I laughed. “Let’s head over to Aunt Riayn’s and see if we can get in.”

“Wouldn’t the IIT have a watch on the place?”

“From the little Sgott said, it was the local coppers who were tasked with keeping an eye on the place, and they were generally contacted before any approved visitation so they could be on hand to check IDs and ensure the person entering was who they’re supposed to be.”

“I thought the red knife’s magic had entry restrictions built in?”

“It does, but no magic is one hundred percent insurmountable—and if my aunt really is alive, then that’s certainly solid proof.”

I guided him across to my aunt’s, which was only a couple of minutes away. Mathi stopped the car yards short of the gate, and we both climbed out. I caught the wind and spun her off tothe left and right, trying to get some sense of what might await within the property’s boundaries, but she came back with little more than the happy song of the leaves she had danced across.

“The wind says we’re alone out here,” I said.

“Makes sense, given crime scenes are very rarely preserved more than a couple of days.” He studied me for a second. “You okay?”

“For the moment, yes.”

“I am unconvinced by that, but I shall pretend otherwise. Are we driving in or walking?”

“I think we need to first discover if we can actually enter.”

“That’s a given, isn’t it? The IIT and crime scene bods got in here, remember?”

“They might well have been part of red knife inclusions—the IIT would no doubt have ensured they could interview her if the need arose in the future.”

“Sgott is nothing if not thorough,” he agreed, and motioned me to proceed.

I took a deep breath to calm the sudden rise of nerves and walked around the open car door toward the front gate. I paused just a fraction before stepping over its boundary and continuing on for several yards. There was no response. No thrust of magic forcing me back. No barrier slowing my feet and making it impossible to continue.

“Well, that’s definitely confirmation the red knife has been voided,” Mathi said. “To repeat, are we walking or driving in?”

I hesitated. “Let’s drive, just in case we need to leave in a hurry.”

He nodded, and we jumped back into the car and drove in. The driveway was long and narrow, winding its way through a forest of lovely old trees. They were a random mix of pine, rowan, and ash, and their chorus was so strong I could hear it over the engine.

---