I nod, gesturing to Eugene to come to me. “It shouldn’t hurt.” Eugene hops into my lap, and I hold him close to my chest. Scythe and Savage pull their seats on either side of me and place their hands on Eugene’s back.
“Gently,” Savage reminds everyone. “He’s only got a widdle brain.”
Eugene lets out a warble that sounds like something in between “no I don’t,” and “yes, exactly.”
We go one at a time, with Savage connecting first. Scythe goes second, and I feel his psychic power like a beam of moonlight on a cold evening, passing me and heading into Eugene. I join them last, closing my eyes and trying to connect to the bird before me. Because I’m still new to my shark powers, I let Scythe take the lead.
“Eugene.” Scythe’s gravelly voice sounds far away to me. “I want you to think about your first memory of Halfeather House. Then we’ll try to follow a thread from there.”
Eugene makes a sound in his throat, and I feel it vibrating through my arms
The image comes to me like telepathic images do, not quite as clear as a TV screen, but vibrant enough to make out all the moving parts.
Chapter 84
Eugene
Just over a year ago
Ipeer through the bars of my cage into Mr Halfeather’s office. They’ve set my cage over the fireplace so I’m in easy reach, but it also means I get a good view of everyone who comes in and out. Tonight, Mr Halfeather welcomes a tall male with red hair, a white suit, and matching glasses. I peer at him from between my bars because his scent is very interesting.
Halfeather continues a conversation from outside. “Not even curious?”
“I refuse to touch it,” the redhead replies, wrinkling his nose. “Mace will have to pay me a fool’s ransom to get menearthat shadow demon of the abyss.”
Halfeather chuckles. “Forever the elitist, Lord Agnis. Your own collection has always been a delight to behold.”
Lord Agnis sniffs. “I certainly have neither poultry nor serpents in there, but I have a new shoebill stork who needs breaking in. You must come down for the event next week. Mace is coming.”
“I can’t wait.” They sit on the chairs near the dark fireplace, and Mr Halfeather pours glasses of alcohol.
“Is my rooster ready?” Lord Agnis asks.
Halfeather looks possessively at me, and I can’t help but fluff my wings. “Yes, but not this one. I have another one for you out the back.”
“Can’t be too careful these days with dirty basilisks slithering about.”
Halfeather chuckles. “Such a crude feat of nature. Making the rooster the basilisk’s kryptonite. This one was apparently never good at cockfighting, but his crow is the loudest I’ve come across to date, so Mace found a use for him. It’s always easier when they give themselves over tocontracted employment.”
Lord Agnis snorts, glancing at me. “Well, if this basilisk dies in his cell, we won’t have to worry, will we? If you cannot heal him, I daresay no one can. Perhaps this is why they died out in the first place.”
Mr Halfeather gulps down his wine. “Mace thinks he has one last trick up his sleeve. He’s going to hold it against me at cost price, but that estranged daughter of his is a talented healer.”
“That little female who was so weak he never married her out of spite?Heroffspring?”
Mr Halfeather smiles a secret smile. “Iwould’ve married her.”
Lord Agnis scoffs in disgust. “You always liked them fragile.”
“But notthisone.” Mr Halfeather grins outright. “She has real power.”
“What do you know that I don’t?”
Mr Halfeather leans forward in his chair. “Mace is going to contact you soon, so you may as well hear it from me. Athena’s daughter inherited the stronger Boneweaver gene, and she hasjustcome of age for the market.”
Lord Agnis gapes over his glass. “Don’t be stupid!”
Mr Halfeather leans back in his chair with a satisfied smile. “If she’s any good, I’ll buy her off him. I could use another healer around here.”
