“Oh, I still have it.”
A flicker of alarm went through me.Because you took it from his study before burning down the rest, or because he gave it to you?“Can I see it?”
“Of course. Though, I do have a small favor to ask before I do.”
I supposed this was how rich people got rich. They never did anything for free. If Grandpa had left me the research rather than the house, I wouldn’t have to barter with a possible murderer, but he probably hadn’t thought he’d die before the research was complete.
“What would you need from me?”
“As the Keeper, your connection to the strid is quite powerful. I admired your grandfather, I did, but by the end his relationship with the strid was strained, to say the least. Understandably so! He lost two family members to it. I imagine your feelings are no less complicated. But, and I’m sure you’ve guessed as much by now, the magic of the strid is waning once more.”
I blinked. I hadn’t guessed as much. It seemed perfectly capable of sharing its visions when I’d swam in it and when I lay my head down to dream. I didn’t say as much.
“The magic has been particularly scarce since a young man started harnessing the powers himself. The spring’s magic ought to be shared.I hesitate to say this—I do not want to sound as though I’m blaming Edwin, after all—but to repair the strid, I believe you will need to find a way to … forgive it. Work with it, rather than against it.”
This conversation required a more delicate touch than I was capable of. How could I reveal that I knew the strid needed cleansing, and that someone had poisoned it, without letting him know I suspected his involvement? I didn’t want to discuss Kessian, either, in case my expression gave away that he was currently snooping through Warwick’s safe.
I edged around the topic. “I made a trip to Coill Darragh, where the forest is a source of wild magic, too. It told me I need to cleanse the strid, that it’d been poisoned. Maybe the wraith is a manifestation of the poison. If so, my grandfather’s research could help. If I could trap it, find a way to communicate with it—”
Warwick dismissed the theory with a wave of his hand. “I don’t think it can be reasoned with, and I know you’re a man who likes to get to the point, so rather than dissemble further, let me be plain.”
His osprey familiar flitted into the room, landing on his shoulder and hissing in his ear. I tensed. Warwick met my eyes.
“Why don’t you call out your accomplice, and we’ll have ourselves a proper, honest chat?”
Chapter 19
Too stunned to speak, I watched as Lionel appeared, escorting a very visible Kessian into the conservatory. He was limping, and Lionel held his cane.
I shot to my feet, and it was very gratifying to see the butler take a fearful step back. He had Kessian’s elbow in a pincer-like grip and had clearly made no allowances for Kessian’s disability on the way down the stairs. Despite my total lack of history of violent impulses, I had the urge to punch Lionel.
“I’m okay,” Kessian soothed.
Lionel still eyed me warily. “I’ve searched. It isn’t hollow, nor is there any sign of transfiguration.”
Warwick gave a nod, and Lionel handed the cane back to Kessian, who snatched it.“I expected another Ashborne, but this is much better. Perhaps we can kill several birds with one stone. Lionel, you can leave him with us,” said Warwick.
Kessian yanked his elbow free, scowling. “Sorry. I don’t know how he found me.”
“Don’t blame yourselves. A charm on the door alerts me anytime it’s opened. I’m quite good at disguising them, and I’d already taken the liberty of collecting Edwin’s research, so you wouldn’t have found it there.” He leaned over to pull a folder from amongst magazines in a rack by his armchair. “Was anything missing, Lionel?”
“A contract, sir.” He leaned in to whisper more in Warwick’s ear. I couldn’t catch what it was he said.
Warwick gave Kessian a disappointed look. “Hand it over.”
“I don’t have it, whatever it is,” Kessian said.
“I’d rather not search you.”
“I mean it.” Kessian looked to me. “I didn’t have time to go through everything in there. There were hundreds of contracts. How would I know which one to take?”
Warwick rolled his eyes. “Have it your way.”
I didn’t see what he tithed, but a sluice of liquid silver magic coursed over Kessian, into his pockets, through the buttons on his clothes. It dissipated in a sigh, but found nothing.
“That’s strange.” Warwick pointed the spell at me this time.
The sensation was something I could only compare to finding a tick or some other parasite burrowed beneath my skin. I shuddered with relief when it finally turned to mist, revealing nothing.
