“Sgott didn’t tell you about Lugh’s and my adventure last night?”

“He did not.”

“Why not?”

“Because our search was basically fruitless, and I went home early.”

Part of me couldn’t help but wonder if he went home alone, but I didn’t ask the question because I had no right to. “I take it that means no one was willing to talk?”

“My people certainly weren’t. I’m hoping that’ll change this morning now that Sgott isn’t with me. What did you and Lugh get up to?”

I gave him a quick update on what had happened and then said, “I don’t suppose you know an oracle going by the name Castell, do you?”

“There was a woman who went by that name living in the Coedwig Hynafol light elf encampment in Wales, but I was under the impression she’d died some fifty or so years ago.”

“Is it a common name amongst the elves up there?”

“No.” He paused. “I’ll make a few calls before I head off this morning. Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow evening?”

“That would be lovely. And thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

Hopefully it would soon be mine... I smacked the thought away, dropped the phone back onto the bedside table, then headed into the bathroom to check if my underwear had dried out on the heated towel rack overnight. It had, so I got dressed and wandered into the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

Lugh came stumbling out just as the kettle boiled. “What the hell are you doing up at this hour?”

“Cynwrig rang. He’s under the impression I’m always up early.”

“Well, you are.”

“Only when I’m working.”

“Which is basically all the time. You’re as bad as Mom when it comes to taking holidays away from the tavern.”

“Darby and I holidayed in Mallorca only a couple of years ago.”

“That was six years ago, dearest sister, and Darby is as bad as you are.”

He perched on a stool on the other side of the breakfast bar and scrubbed a hand across his bristly face. There were large bags under his eyes, suggesting he hadn’t gotten all that much sleep.

“What time did you get to bed?” I slid the cup of tea across to him, then pulled out the bread and inspected it for mold before popping it in the toaster.

“About an hour and a half ago.”

“Why so late?”

He wrinkled his nose. “Got caught up in cataloguing. I don’t get all that much time to do my personal stuff, what with work and all.”

I grinned, and his eyes narrowed. “Don’t say it.”

Which was basically a dare and one I couldn’t resist. “You need a live-in assistant, brother, just like Nialle had. Can I suggest—”

“No.”

“But I’m sure she’ll be more than—”

“Definitely not. I enjoy my bachelorhood.”

“No, you don’t. I’ve heard you complaining many a time about the lack of permanent female companionship in your life.”

“Only in my weaker moments.”