“That’s not a question,” Willorunia said.
I smiled at her response. “Is it possible to alter a diagnosis to show favorable results?”
“Of course it is. Anything is possible with magic, but I would be stupid to sign off on an official report being sent for further analysis if I did anything to alter it. Alterations are easily found,” she said. “Have you never worked a case involving magic before?”
“Not many,” I admitted as I took notes. “When did you last visit the inn?”
“When I helped with the diagnostic report. I’ve been very busy. Why do you ask?”
“Can Faian magic be done from a distance?” I asked.
Her gaze darkened. “Are you asking if I cursed the inn, Officer?”
“No, I’m asking if Faian magic can be done from a distance,” I said.
“Not typically, no. Especially not a rune stone curse.”
I made a note in my journal. “Not typically?”
“It would take some forethought and detailed planning to strengthen Faian magic at a distance,” she said.
“Hm… Unfortunately, we’re working with someone who’s capable of forethought and detailed planning.”
“Or maybe you’re just bad at your job,” she said.
“Maybe so. Could finding the rune stone and throwing it back in the river strengthen the curse?”
“Possibly.”
“Would the effects be immediate?”
“Yes.”
I tapped my pencil against the page. Her responses didn’t add up. Ezzila couldn’t have strengthened the curse that day, because we were with her, and Cassian throwing the stone back wouldn’t have been the reason if the curse strengthened two days later. That meant that whoever was responsible for the curse was at the inn the day we went to Dreckle. Or the night before.
“I appreciate all your help, Willorunia. Truly,” I said, tucking my journal into my coat pocket. “I’m much closer to the answer.”
“I’m doing it for Cassian. Not you,” she said.
“I’m aware.”
“Has Cassian found any of the rune stones yet?” Willorunia asked.
“No. We asked Ezzila if she would uncurse the inn, but her price was Cassian’s most cherished childhood memory,” I explained.
“She is such a snake,” Willorunia said with a heavy sigh, throwing a look over her shoulder at the closed door before eyeing the forest trail behind me. She rubbed her brow with one hand. “I should’ve cleared my schedule for this… Cassian and Jasmine are too unpracticed in magic to handle this on theirown, and I don’t want my husband losing his job over something I could fix.”
“Do you think you’d be able to find the rune stones?” I asked.
“I may be able to, but it’ll take some time. Your best bet would be to get Ezzila to admit she placed the curse, because then she’ll be obligated to break it to avoid a prison sentence, and it’s much easier for the person who placed a Faian curse to break than for anyone else to try.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” I said. “I’m waiting on the writ.”
“I’ll try to help in the meantime. Let Cassian know I’ll be down there soon,” Willorunia said.
“Thank you very much, Willo. I’ll tell him,” I said.
“It’sWillorunia,” she said, and then she shut the door in my face.
