“Just spit it out, brother.”

“Well, it would appear that not only has Rostin De Clari’s bloodline survived into this century, but there’s also a direct descendant living not three shops away from the tavern.”

Chapter Five

I stopped and stared at him. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “You know that little lithomancy and spell shop in the undercroft near Debenhams’s main entrance? She owns that.”

Lithomancy was a form of divination by which the future was told using specialized stones or the reflected light from those stones. “If she’s still in the magic business, she could be our missing link.”

“And might even know where the sword is.”

He began moving again, and I hurried after him. “Surely it can’t be that easy.”

“No, but wouldn’t it be nice if it was?”

It would, but nothing in this quest so far had been, and it was hard to believe that would change any time soon.

We retrieved his car and returned to Deva. Once he’d found parking near the tavern—never an easy task in the narrow streets surrounding its historic old heart—we walked down Eastgate Street until we reached the little shop. It was situated in one of only five basement-level crofts still in use, and the stone steps that led down to the doors had been hollowed out by centuries of foot traffic. The heavy—and probably original—medieval-looking doors were locked. I stepped back to scan the area and noticed the bronze plaque on the wall to the left. It read “Alinda’s Lithomancy and Minor Spells. No appointment necessary.” Under that was a list of opening times.

“It’s closed for the day, but reopens tomorrow,” I said. “I guess we come back.”

“I guess we do.” Lugh motioned me to precede him back up the steps. “In the meantime, we should head back to my place. I need to scan this notebook in case word gets out we’ve got it and someone attempts to grab it.”

“Cynwrig’s the only one who knows about it, and he isn’t going to tell anyone,” I said. “Why would he, when you’re the best person to transcribe the thing?”

“I know, but caution is nevertheless warranted given everything that’s happened.”

A statement I couldn’t argue with. “I’ll also need use the Eye at some point.”

“Why don’t you grab it now and take it with us? You can do the reading while I scan.”

My gut clenched at the thought. Castell might have urged me to use it, Beira might claim I needed to understand its power, but there remained a reluctance deep within. I wasn’t entirely sure why, though I did suspect it had a whole lot to do with stepping into Mom’s shoes and the fact that I just didn’t feel worthy, let alone ready.

“I’m not staying over at your place, Lugh. The tavern is my home, and it’s perfectly safe.”

He snorted. “The tavern’s been firebombed, and you’ve been attacked in your own bedroom, so that is a ridiculous statement.”

“Well, yes, but Sgott now has his people watching the place. The shifters will react to anyone acting suspiciously in the area, and I can seal the door to the upper stairs. I’ll be perfectly fine.”