Sterling tensed at my touch, so I removed my hand. “Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? Something to eat?” I asked as I stepped into the office with Sterling and Jasmine.
Sterling lowered himself onto the plush sofa across from the oak desk. “That’s not necessary, but thank you.”
“Are you sure? You must be exhausted from the journey. And cold. You look like someone who appreciates a good cup of coffee. Do you like coffee?” I asked.
He lifted one beautiful dark eyebrow. “Yousoundlike someone who appreciates a good cup of coffee,” he said with a smile.
I laughed, probably a little too hard. “Thank you. So what’ll it be?”
“You really don’t have to wait on me, Mr. Fibbersnap. I’m here to helpyou.”
“Cassian,” I said, already sticking my head out the door. “Olive, would you mind making our guest some coffee, pretty please? And maybe something to eat?”
“Certainly,” Olive said with a nod, and then she disappeared into the kitchen.
I grabbed a folded blanket from the pile of blankets in the basket at the corner of the room and unfolded it, offering it to Sterling. “It’s cold out there,” I said, dropping the thick blanket over him when I remembered how he didn’t appreciate me touching him.
Even that amount of contact seemed to frighten him, so I backed away, leaning against the desk. Jasmine stood to the side, frowning at me. I shrugged. “What?”
“You’re making him uncomfortable,” she said.
“No, no. It’s okay,” Sterling said, waving his hand in the air while he moved his cloak aside to pull a hidden pack off his shoulders. He retrieved a small leather-bound journal from it. “You must be eager to have company after being cursed out of business.”
“It’s been awful,” Jasmine said. “We’ve had no new customers for almost an entire week!”
“I’m sorry,” Sterling said, looking up from scribbling in his journal to smile at Jasmine. “I don’t think I caught your name.”
“My name’s Jasmine Bloomday. I’m Cassian’s cousin.”
“We’re co-owners,” I explained.
“Co-owners? I thought your grandfather left the inn to you, Cassian,” Sterling said, making another note.
“He did, but I thought Jasmine and I, with our combined family knowledge of innkeeping, would know enough to make this work. She’s basically the second owner. You don’t need towrite this down, Mr., uh… Turndip,” I said, squinting at his furious note-taking.
Sterling’s note-taking paused, and then he said, “Thorndrop.” He continued writing. “And all information is valuable, Mr. Fiddlestop.”
“Fibbersnap.Cassian,” I corrected him.
He looked up from his journal to smile at me, and then he went back to writing. I supposed I deserved it, considering I butchered his name first.
“Anyway, I wanted to ask if you’d please keep the purpose of this investigation quiet. Griffin and Olive already know you’re here, but they don’t know why. I don’t want them to think I suspect they placed the curse. I don’t know who it could be, though. Maybe someone from Ladiall?”
“Why would someone from Ladiall want to curse your inn?” Sterling asked without looking up.
“Uh…” Jasmine and I had debated for a long time about whether to call an investigator, because a lot of Force officers had prejudices about magic. With some persuading from Jasmine, we agreed we could keep our family magic a secret from the investigator if it meant catching the person responsible. He didn’t need to know I was a witch’s apprentice in Ladiall. “You’re right. It’s probably not. Anyway, please don’t let on that you’re investigating who did it. I want them to think you’re here to help break the curse.”
Sterling nodded as he finished his notes. “Sure. If it’s all right, I have a few questions for you, Mr. Fogglestick.”
“F—Cassian—” I stammered. “Are you messing with me?”
“Who are Griffin and Olive?” Sterling asked.
I explained their positions at the inn just as Olive knocked on the door, and I realized how rude I was to forget introductions. I opened the door and took the platter from her, which she had prepared with a brewing jar of coffee, an empty ceramic mug, acream pitcher, sugar cubes, and a plate with sausage, potatoes, and greens.
“Sterling, this is Olive. Olive, Sterling,” I said as I set the tray on the desk.
Sterling and Olive shared their greetings while I acquired a portable folding table.
