Page 24 of The Tides of March

“Yes,” Howard confirmed. “My sources tell me his body was found just a few miles down the coast. He was on leave and visiting a parish in Galway. But from what I understand, the poor dear was a seminarian and a guide at the Vatican and still lived with his parents in Rome.”

There was a worried groan from Nox. “Gods, what are the chances he wasn’t a virgin?”

“Why?” Tony asked. “Do you think Balor might be back and about to rampage all over Ireland?”

Nox’s nose wrinkled as he shook his head while Merlin made a dubious sound. “Not likely, lad. But if I wanted to raise a Fomorian kraken, I’d appeal to Balor,” he said and Tony held up his hands.

“Alright… Same thing. Wouldn’t we know if it had worked and a kraken was terrorizing Ireland?”

Merlin made a worried sound. “Not if it’s being fed and if it’s been summoned elsewhere,” he said and Nox nodded.

“From what I understand, a kraken isn’t necessarily a mindless thing that rampages once it’s let loose. They can be, if they’re not handled and fed properly.”

They heard a soft cough as Nelson raised his hand. “What do krakens eat?” he asked and glanced at the rolling board with the victims’ names.

“Lots of things,” Nox said, then winced. “But they’re particularly fond of virgins. Obviously.”

“What are the odds that all of them were virgins?” Nelson asked but Nox snorted.

“Come on! All four of them? In this day and age?” He laughed and threw a hand at Nelson. “I bet you couldn’t find four men over the age of twenty who were still virgins if you searched the entire state.”

“Someone might have,” Nelson said as he wagged his finger at the board.

“Maybe…” Nox said, sounding dubious and squinting at the map and the dots along Chesapeake Bay. “Ronan would have called one of us if he saw something out of the ordinary, especially if it was a kraken.”

Tony shook his head “I’m not so sure. Not if he could handle it himself,” he said and a laugh burst from Merlin.

“Handle a kraken? Himself? What do you think Ronan is?”

That earned a chuckle from Nox. “Ronan’s as surly and stubborn as they come, and he’ll sink a boat before he lets it come ashore on Pooles Island. But a merrow is no match for a kraken.”

“He told me he’s practically indestructible,” Tony said, shaking his head. “He fought something nasty the night before I came back and managed to send it packing.”

“What did he fight?” Nox asked but Tony shrugged.

“Ronan didn’t want to say, but he didn’t seem that worried about it. If anything, he was more bothered by my presence and was in a bigger rush to get rid of me.”

“That does sound like Ronan…” Nox said, sounding unsure as he turned to Howard. “Let’s check on him.”

“He’s terrible about answering his phone but he stops in at Bowleys Marina once a month. I was already planning to send some books his way. I’ll ask Bryn to run a care package over when I get back and ask if anyone’s spotted Ronan or his boat recently and if they’ve seen anything unusual.”

“Good thinking,” Merlin said distractedly, chewing on his pinky nail as he studied the calendar.

“What is it?” Nox asked him and the little man jumped and gave himself a shake.

“Mercury is approaching retrograde and will be at its most visible next weekend,” he said and Nox nodded.

“There will be a pink star and it’s said to be an omen of good communication and intellect. That’s why we’re having the wedding next weekend. Everly’s favorite color is pink and he said he needed all the help he could get when it came to communicating and intellect.”

Merlin hummed and nodded. “All very good reasons and I’m certain their union is blessed. But the tide will be higher and the seas will be wilder next Friday evening due to Mercury’s pull,” he predicted, looking even more pensive. “The following Saturday is the Ides of March.”

“As inJulius Caesar’sIdes of March?” Tony verified and Merlin cast Nox a worried glance.

“The date had far more significance to the Romans than that!” Merlin said heavily. “‘Ides’ from the Latin ‘iduare’, meaning to divide because by their calculations, full moons often fall in the middle of the month. The Romans honored Jupiter during the full moon on the ides and March’s ides was the first full moon of the year and was a notable day forsettling debts.”

“That is…concerning,” Nox agreed. “Let’s get word to Pooles Island and make sure Ronan’s alright,” he said, glancing at Tony. “You don’t want to give it a shot, do you? Ronan’s more used to your face and your voice. He might answer and be more cooperative if he knows it’s you.”

Tony laughed and shook his head. “Doubt it and I wouldn’t piss on that lousy asshole if he was on fire,” he stated with a firm nod.

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