Page 84 of Horn of Winter

Win laughed. “I’d apologize, but it would be a lie. I’ve always been a bit of a nosy parker—it’s part of the reason Marjorlaine dislikes me so much. Anyways, if this witch feels unanchored, then he likely is. It means his ties to the guild have been severed.”

“He must have done something pretty nasty for the guild to take such an action,” Mathi commented. “They’re renowned for looking the other way in their desperation to keep members and, even more importantly, their tithes.”

“Aye,” Win said. “Once you’re in, it’s usually hard to get out unless you retire or die.”

Which was another point in the favor ofnotasking the guild for help. “This guy feels young, so the severance must have happened recently. You heard gossip along those lines?”

“A severance is a dire event and cannot be described as mere gossip, young lady.” His voice was severe, but amusement twinkled in his eyes. “If he’s young, then it likely means he is—was—attending the training academy and living in. There’s only been one severance from there and it happened some three years ago—a young witch ignored the rules and ended up destroying part of the damn accommodation wing.”

“I take it he killed some students?” I asked.

“Worse,” Win grumbled. “He took out two house cats.”

“That says a lot about the value the guild puts on their trainees’ lives,” Mathi commented dryly. “Even we Ljósálfar elves do not value a feline’s life over that of humans, and everyone knows just how little we value humans.”

Win chuckled. “One reason why I remain surprised that I didn’t end up fertilizer for some tree in one of your plantations. Amir did threaten it more than once.”

“He must have rated your services more than he indicated,” Mathi said. “He is not one for recanting threats.”

I suspected there was more than a little of that in Mathi, even if he rarely showed that side to me. I munched on more bun, then picked up my coffee and leaned back in the chair. “Do you happen the know the name of the young man whose tenancy was severed?”

Win frowned. “Ascott, I think. Tony Ascott.”

“As in, Ascott Weather Services?” Mathi asked.

The older man nodded. “You know them?”

“I’ve had dealings with them.”

I glanced at him. “Enough that you could contact them and perhaps get them to bring their son in? Because the minute I go anywhere near his location, he’ll feel it and run.”

Mathi smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. “They’ll cooperate. In fact, I’ll give them a call now. The sooner we sort him out, the better.”

As he rose and headed out to the hall to make the call, Win said, “And that, right there, is pure Amir.”

“I would have said it was more his father than his uncle, but same thing, I guess.” I paused. “How dangerous is this kid likely to be?”

“He’s quick to temper and has something of a superiority complex, according to what I heard.”

Meaning the likelihood of him beingverydangerous was high. “Is his belief justified?”

“Both his parents are competent storm witches, but his abilities are stronger than either. The temper, however, is his downfall.” His gaze narrowed. “I’m thinking that you, however untrained you might be, could take him.”

I smiled. “Except for the fact the minute he feels my presence in the wind, he retreats.”

“Then don’t let him feel you.”

“Easily said, not so easily done when you haven’t a clue as to how to disguise your presence.”

“Ah, well, that is a problem.” His expression became thoughtful. “If you’re not willing to go to the guild for training, then perhaps you need to seek private tutoring. It’s not my field, but I’ve a friend who might be able to help, if you don’t mind paying a fee.”

“More than happy to.”

“Then I’ll contact her and see what she says. She’s semi-retired these days, but she does still do some outsource tutoring for those who aren’t skilled enough to enter the academy.”

“That would be brilliant, thanks.”

He nodded. “Now, I’d better give you those names I promised, because it’s likely our young Dhar-Val will have set up the meeting and be wanting to leave the minute he gets off the phone.”

---