“He did it?” Seraphia’s eyes widened. “But he’s on the Council.”
“Exactly. They’re up to their eyeballs in secrets,” Mac said. “And this cursed tower is one of them.”
“But the tower was cursed before Ubhan was born,” Eve said. “Otherwise, we’d remember it.”
“I don’t know how he is involved, but he is.” Carrow rubbed her arms. “If we want to break the curse on the tower, we need to get into his office and find out what, exactly, is going on.”
Can’t we just blow up the tower if it’s such a problem?
I looked at the little raccoon. “Not advisable.”
She looked at Carrow, clearly hoping to get a different answer.
“What he said.” Carrow looked at me. “It’s midnight. Now would be a good time to break into his office.”
“Ubhan is notorious for working nights,” Eve said. “He’s called the Owl of Black Church because he’s always swooping around in the dark, being creepy at odd hours.”
“So he could be there right now.” Carrow frowned.
“Let me make a call.” I stood. “Perhaps I can find a good time to break in.”
Carrow nodded, and I strode across the room, raising the comms charm on my wrist to my lips. “Miranda?”
“Yes?” She answered immediately.
“Will you check the schedules at Black Church? I need to know a good time to try to get into Councilor Ubhan’s office.”
“Yes, just a moment.”
I waited while she consulted our sources. We had access to private council information, and while we might not know everything that went on in the meetings, we at least knew when those meetings would be held.
She returned a few minutes later. “An official from Glasgow is coming tomorrow morning. They’ll all be in the main meeting room then. Apparently, it’s a big deal.”
“Perfect, thank you.” I cut the connection and returned to the group by the fire.
They seemed exhausted as they sipped their beers. Carrow looked up at me. “Well?”
“Tomorrow morning.” I relayed Miranda’s information.
“It’s for the best,” Eve said. “We need to rest.”
Carrow leaned toward Mac and Seraphia. “How do you feel?”
“A little better, maybe,” Mac said. “But weird, too.”
“Like I’m pulled toward that tower,” Seraphia said.
“Exactly.” Mac nodded emphatically.
“Me, too.” Carrow frowned. “But I’m not cursed like you guys.”
“It’s strange,” Eve said. “But I think I might feel it, too.” She laughed dryly. “Maybe I’m just easily influenced.”
“Why is this all happening now?” Seraphia asked. “I believe the pages were torn out of the book long ago. And that tower was definitely hidden long ago. There’s no way that it was done anytime within the living memory of the residents.” She looked at me. “Begging your pardon.”
I nodded. “Your point is sound, though. Whoever did it could erase my memory, but not that of the whole town.”
“As for why it’s happening now…” Carrow’s face was pale. “Maybe it’s me. I’m the new one here. Maybe I triggered it somehow. Perhaps with Orion’s Stone.”