Page 90 of Horn of Winter

Rogan was why. The website still had him listed as the head of the department, as they hadn’t yet gotten around to employing someone else or even updating the page.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes—I ordered the entire wing evacuated the minute I realized what was happening. Where are you?”

I glanced at Mathi, my eyebrows raised in silent query.

“About eight minutes out if the traffic’s bad,” he replied.

“Heard that,” Lugh said. “I’m with Sgott—he’s set up shop in the Queen Vic parking area. A number of witches from the guild are also here, though they’re not having much success stopping the ice.”

“That’s because they aren’t ice witches.”

“True, but they are managing to at least slow its progress. Got something to do with the freezing point of water and keeping the air temp above it. Marjorlaine did say that the slowing could also be partially due to the witch attempting to ice such a large portion of the building and overextending her skills and strength.”

If Marjorlaine was there, the guild had to be worried about unwarranted publicity and the possibility of being held accountable. “I’d vote for the overextending, given it’s unlikely she knows where, exactly, Rogan’s office is.”

“Why would they be going after Rogan? He’s dead. If anything, it’s more likely to be me they’re after.”

“That’s a possibility, but it could also be they’re not aware Rogan is dead—his death hasn’t been officially announced, has it? Aren’t they still waiting for the IIT’s official report?”

“Yes, so maybe our crazy aunt is attempting a two-for-one deal.”

We swept into Deva’s outskirts and continued to drive through the narrower streets with unwise speed.

“Tell Sgott we’re coming in fast,” I said, and gave him the registration number. If he could get a quick warning out, it would at least give us a better chance of avoiding the cops pulling us over before we got to the parking area.

As he hung up, Mathi said, “Are you going to be able to stop the attack?”

I scrubbed my forehead wearily. “I don’t know, but I have to try.”

“You’re not going to be of any use to anyone if you fry your brain out.”

“I’m not going to call on the lightning, just the storm.”

“Because that issomuch easier on your body,” he said dryly.

I half smiled. “Actually, the knives do the majority of the work.”

“I no more believe that than you believe I’ll marry for love.”

I snorted but didn’t reply as we neared the museum. The chauffeur slowed down and, once our names were taken, we were ushered through the road barriers the police had set up. A few seconds later, we stopped close to what looked like chaos HQ. I tugged on my coat, then grabbed my knives and climbed out, leaving my purse in the car.

We walked over to where Sgott and Lugh were, the heat in the air increasing with every step. With them was a well-dressed woman in her mid-forties; she had spiky silver hair, dark brown skin, and was surrounded by a thick veil of energy that, while it didn’t fizz with lightning, still felt electric.

Marjorlaine. Had to be.

Sgott introduced us all then said, “Do you think you’ll be able to halt the progress of the ice, Beth?”

“Maybe.” I narrowed my gaze and studied the building critically. “It’s not as thick as it was on the Myrkálfar building.”

“There’s a bigger area though, and after your adventures in Helsby, I’m thinking you’ll not be at full strength.”

“What the hell happened at Helsby?” Lugh asked, his gaze jumping from me to Sgott and back again.

“Just a little destruction via lightning,” Mathi said, somewhat drolly.

Lugh sucked in a breath. “Weren’t you warned?—”

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