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A woise, Ipsissihtest bit sorry I already liked her ‘But there’s a witch here to see Adeptus Exeency and he won’t take no for an answer’

Winter’s face shuttered The Ipsissiestured to the woman to let him in Aa red robe and looked as skinny and pale as most Order witches There was also a distinct aura of panic about him I examined him more closely There were a few odd stains around the cuffs of his robe It was difficult to tell for sure given the robe’s colour but I had a horrible feeling I knehat they were

Smythe bowed several times then shuffled his feet and twitched ‘I’m so sorry, I wouldn’t have bothered you if it weren’t i’ He was doing everything he could to distance himself from responsibility It was a tactic I kneell

‘And?’

He licked his lips ‘Maybe I should talk to Adeptus Winter on his own?’

‘Is that a question?’ the Ipsissimus snapped ‘Because the answer is no Tell us what the problem is’

Smythe took a shaky breath ‘Well, I went to Adeptus Exemptus Diall’s home as instructed Not just me, there were three of us from the Arcane office’

Dread snaked its way down my spine

‘And?’

Smythe seemed to shrink into himself ‘He’s dead Diall, Imost of the journey to Diall’s horim mask and the stiff way he held himself showed his tension Truthfully, I felt sa to erous Cypher spells but I somehow doubted the Manuscripts rose up and shoved a knife into his heart

‘How are you doing?’ Winter asked, as we pulled into a wide, leafy driveway leading up to Diall’s house

My fingers plucked at ’

‘Ito be able to cope hat’s about to happen?’

I kneas referring to seeing Diall’s corpse I ht watch a lot of crime shows on television but real dead bodies would be farthan their fictional counterparts Clever ; a very dead witch was so else entirely

‘What’s the alternative?’ I asked softly ‘You have to go and check Diall’s body The binding ate with you I’ll have to cope’

‘If it’s going to be too et a verbal report from one of the other Arcane Branchthe body’

Winter really was concerned about me Given how seriously he took his job and how vital this investigation was, I was touched ‘I’ll ue around h ‘How many dead bodies have you had to deal with?’

‘Too many A while back I worked with the police on Arcane secondment There’s a lot of misery in this world, Ivy Why do you think I do what I do?’