Page 23 of The Tides of March

“I’ll mind my head,” Tony teased, making Merlin titter.

“I’ll do so before the guests arrive and make sure to avoid leaving any where they might get stepped on.”

“What’s that?” Nox asked as he joined them, heading around his desk to his chair.

“We were just discussing Bryn and Everly’s wedding and how I’ll be officiating,” Merlin informed him and Nox and Tony shared amused grins. The doorbell rang and Merlin gestured for Nox to remain seated. “I’ll get that.”

“You feeling okay, T? You seem a little drained,” Nox said but Tony shrugged it off.

“Had a little trouble sleeping but it’s nothing serious.”

Nox frowned, studying Tony. “Are you sure? I’m here if you ever need an ear.”

“I know. I’m fine,” Tony said, turning when they heard Merlin’s delighted greeting. Both Nox and Tony were surprised when Howard was shown into the study.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the bookstore?” Nox asked as he hopped up and hurried to shake Howard’s hand and kiss his cheek.

“I have Everly and Bryn to mind the store when I need to run errands now, thanks to you,” he said, patting Nox’s cheek and looking around the study. “And I have been curious to see what this place is like.”

“Really? It’s just my study but have a look and make yourself at home,” Nox insisted with a wave around him.

Howard shook his head. “Just his study!” he whispered to Tony. “Not many witches of his caliber and pedigree left these days,” he said and Merlin frowned.

“You’ve visited my home plenty of times,” he noted but Howard waved him off.

“Yes, yes, but you aren’t ofhiscaliber,” he replied, causing Merlin to gasp and splutter.

“I taught him everything he knows!”

Howard made a knowing sound as he nodded. “It’s like that awful, old saying, ‘Those who can’t do, teach.’”

“I can so!” Merlin countered, then gestured dismissively. “What brings you all this way, or did you simply come to malign my talents?”

“Oh, stop being so touchy!” Howard told him, smiling at Nox and Tony. “I did have a reason…Two, even!” he said, holding up two fingers. “I rode the bus into Georgetown to pick up their wedding gift and because I received a very strange and concerning report about some…developments at Tor Mór.”

“At Tor Mór?” Merlin and Nox echoed, causing Tony and Nelson to trade baffled looks.

“What’s Tor Mór? Why do I know that name?” Tony asked them.

“Allow me!” Merlin insisted, his little hands waving excitedly as he hurried to retrieve the proper book from the shelves. He dropped it on the desk and quickly flipped to the desired page, then pointed at a speck on a map, just off of Ireland’s northwest coast. “This is Tor Mór! Said to be the resting place of Balor,” he added and Tony slapped himself on the forehead.

“Oh…! Right!” He turned to Nelson, excited. “Balor was one of the last great Fomorian warrior kings. He was defeated by his grandson, Lugh, at the Battle of Mag Tuired. His remains were said to be in an undisclosed cave on Tor Mór, hidden for all of eternity.”

“Not for all of eternity, it seems,” Howard said, widening his eyes at Merlin. “Someone may have discovered it and opened it. Several months ago, the locals found what looked like a rockslide on the side of one of the cliffs, and anew cave.”

Nox’s neck craned as he frowned. “A new cave? I didn’t hear anything about that or any notable Celtic or pagan artifacts being found recently,” he said and Howard rolled his eyes.

“You wouldn’t have because some local numpty described them as Viking remains. But I had a few friends investigate and they called me last night. They’recertainthe drawings and artifacts are much older than that and predate the Romans, even the great flood.”

“Shut the front door!” Nox whispered excitedly. Both Howard and Merlin turned to check the door, then raised confused brows at Nox, making him laugh and wave it off. “It’s a thing the kids say. Did they find anything else?”

Howard nodded. “Yes! There are someancientremains and they don’t appear to have been disturbed, but a sacrifice was made,” he said heavily.

“What kind of sacrifice?” Nelson asked, his tone wary.

“It’s worse than you think,” Howard said as he looked around the room. “An adult male seal and the head of a young man. A young Roman, coincidentally.”

“A Roman?” Tony croaked. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing.

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