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Hei when I came in" Nick dropped a cell phone into Seph’s lap "It was Rachel Booker She wants you to meet her at the inn"
Seph palmed the phone and squinted at Nick "Rachel?" Rachel Booker was Madison’s older cousin ned the Legends Inn He hadn’t seen her since Madison left for Coalton County As self-appointed protector of Madison’s virtue, she’d always treated Seph with cool and cynical suspicion
Not that he was any threat lately
His heart accelerated "Why? Did she hear froends and find out"
Seph unfolded to his feet, grabbing the swing for support, still shaking off the effects of the ruffly
"I’ical assign headaches had eased, he was less tired, less out of it, and he’d put on a little weight Linda’s ht
He and the old wizard left Stone Cottage behind and headed west along Lake Road, an avenue lined with an eclectic hts bloomed under the skeletons of trees, and the wind off the lake was bitingly cold
Nick navigated the uneven cobblestones without the help of his staff, as Mercedes had proclairabbed the old wizard’s arm a couple of ti out ah," Nick said "Madison’s absence has not been good for you"
Seph rubbed his forehead irritably "I feel like I’"
"I don’t mean in the virtual sense" Nick paused "I think you should talk to Jason"
Seph rolled his eyes "Why? Is he lonely, or sos hoped I could involve hihyll Jason has considerable knowledge about ical objects, but archival work doesn’t suit him, I’m afraid He’s taut as a crossbow"
"Jason’s okay," Seph said, feeling guilty It wasn’t his fault things had worked out this way In fact, he’d gladly hand off the boundary if he could Even when he was healthy, it seemed like he just barely had it under control The pressure was intense Everyone was counting on him, and that was just what Jason craved "It’s just … I wish he could help with…so so important, he just doesn’t see it that way I’o back to Britain on his own He knows Hastings is planning so, and he’s determined to be a part of it And he wants to take some of the objects from the church back with him"
"I don’t see hoe can stop him"
"I can stop him, if I choose" Snowbeard wasthat, as a friend, you ain feeling guilty about talking behind Jason’s back "I don’t feel like I should be telling hih to handle the boundary, but there’s ate ate more Fine He had plans that would require more wizardry than ever
"What do you hear froain The old wizard was on a mission, too, and Seph was somehow the vehicle
"Not much Their landline’s disconnected, and cell phone reception isn’t good down there She e- back any tiot released from foster care, since she’s there to watch them"
Those e- I’ fine The kids are a handful It’s been cold and rainy Bright and sunny Saild turkey and a bald eagle yesterday She e-s she h a smoky blue filter
Seph hunched his shoulders in frustration He did not want her to do fine in Coalton County; he wanted her to coot to see each other, we’d just end up fighting
But it ain
They turned up the ay, passing through the winter-scorched gardens that surrounded the inn, and mounted the steps to the porch The receptionist at the desk in the foyer went to fetch Rachel Seph ran his hand over the newel post of the elaborate oak staircase Here he and Madison had planned their first date--the ill-fated picnic on the river
Rachel appeared fro her hands on her apron Her hair was stick straight and black, unlike Madison’s gilded waves, but she shared Madison’s fair cohtly crooked nose
"Thanks for co curtly to Seph and Nick "I want to show you so" She turned and cli the at the second floor and continuing up the narrower staircase to the third, where Madison stayed
"We were just talking about Madison," Seph said, easily keeping pace up the steep stairs while Nick lagged behind "Have you heard fro him with a peculiar expression "Haven’t heard a word" As they turned down the familiar hallway to Madison’s tiny room tucked under the back staircase, Seph smelled wood smoke Rachel stood aside at the entry to Madison’s quarters
The door was gone, or ed hole The wood around the doorfraray ash, smeared noith footprints