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Our group turned as one, looking back at the white stairs we’d left.
Oleander—her long hair swaying in the chilly breeze—jumped down the last step while Prydwen more carefully trotted behind her.
The pair bowed to Noctus, Oleander holding the pommel of her sword to keep it from slapping the side of her leg.
“I beg your pardon for the intrusion, Your Majesty,” Oleander said to the ground. “But Prydwen and I just received messages from the Curia Cloisters that they have officially closed the case of the tracker.”
“Good. Well done, both of you. Thank you for your help that evening—it was appreciated and will be remembered,” Noctus said.
I thought Oleander with her chill personality would smile or something, but she just stood up straight, her expression serious. “It was my honor.”
“Mine as well,” Prydwen added, nerves making his voice thick until he cleared his throat. “I’m glad we were present at the time.” He slightly nodded to me, his facial muscles relaxing just enough that it seemed like he was thinking about smiling, until he straightened up again and stared at Noctus’s chin.
Charon considered the pair. “Did Pat Anderson tell you the case was closed?”
Prydwen shook his head. “It was an automated text message. Although, I also got an email about it.”
Now everyone pivoted to stare at me.
“Pat is probably avoiding calling attention to them by not personally reaching out,” I offered.
“An intelligent move.” Charon made a note in his notebook that, knowing him, was most likely a foundation for a plan he would hatch that involved using both of my siblings for the sake of Calor Villa.
Ah, well. Pat and Joy can handle themselves, even against the likes of Charon.They were probably the only duo I knew of that could take him.
“How are the new patrols at the clocktower going, Oleander?” Noctus asked.
“Good,” Oleander said. “The guards have settled into the location, and we’ve drilled them on what areas are safe to use magic in and what places are public. There has been no sign of the fae near the premises at this time.”
“That makes sense,” Aristide said. “The fae likely doesn’t know what the clocktower hides. He’s too preoccupied with his fun and games in the rest of downtown.”
“Yeah, but he may attack it just because it’s a recognizable symbol of downtown,” Ker said.
“That’s true,” Aristide said. “But it seems like the types of spells he uses are the focus more than the location. Though maybe not, it’s possible he placed the most recent spell where he did because he wanted to see the dogs’ reaction in the grooming salon and scale it for werewolves.”
“Possibly,” Noctus said. “Regardless, we can safely assume next he’ll be targeting either wizards or fae.”
“Would he really target wizards?” I asked. “Or would he write them off as not being worth the attention?”
“A thoughtful argument,” Charon said. “However, there’s already proof that the organization he works for has harassed wizards in the past.”
“If that’s true, maybe he already has a spell in mind to affect wizards,” Noctus said.
“That’s an unsettling thought,” Aristide said. “Though very possible. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have a particular target in mind.”
“The Curia Cloisters is the one place that has all of those races present,” Ker said. “Though with all the defenses on that building, he’d be insane to even try targeting it.”
“Pat said they’re raising defenses just in case,” I said. “But I think he’s half concerned they might be targeting the Regional Committee of Magic.”
“That would be even more insane,” Noctus said. “All the committee members are the magical equivalent of monsters. They would end him without blinking an eye.”
Aristide snorted. “That’s pretty rich coming from you.”
Ker laughed, her rich voice echoing over the bustle of the city.
I smiled too, but there was something about the conversation that bothered me.
Not anything anyone said, rather…it was like we were missing something.
