Cursed Pack by Shelley Munro

Author:Shelley Munro [Munro, Shelley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Munro Press
Published: 2024-04-07T18:30:00+00:00

16

Frustration built in Seth as they interviewed everyone who served food in the colony kitchen or purchased supplies. Not a scrap of helpful information ensued. The facts: the sweets had held poison, and the item had come from this colony. Someone must know something. The last two people came and went, and Seth remained no wiser. He hadn’t sensed lies, which made this situation even more difficult.

“We need to speak to whoever delivered the food,” Iain said, having returned from giving Malikah money.

The head of security shrugged. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Besides, I doubt Sam would want you to question his wife while he was absent.”

Seth froze. “Sam’s wife took the food.”

“One time,” the security guy said, his cavalier attitude suggesting they were overreacting and grasping at straws. “An act of kindness on her part. You can hardly blame her. I mean, why would she poison kids she doesn’t know?”

An excellent question and one Seth had no answer for, dammit. “Who went with Sam’s wife to deliver the food?”

“Probably Fluffy. The pair are as thick as thieves.” He scratched his chin. “From memory, that was the first delivery. The second time, Sam and his wife were out of town at a business conference in Rotorua. I believe the cook organized the food basket. Surely she told you that?”

She had, but the head of security hadn’t been present, and Seth wanted to compare stories. Seth stretched out his hand. “Thank you for your time and for letting us question your people. We appreciate your cooperation.”

The gargoyle shook Seth’s hand but gave a faint eye roll, as if this was beyond him. He trailed them until they reached the courtyard. There, he handed over to a younger gargoyle and departed without a backward glance.

The guard followed them outside and planted himself on the top step. The gate clunked shut in dismissal.

Well. That had been helpful. Seth fell into step with Iain and Elspeth and decided he’d experiment and try to communicate with both at the same time. He focused and imagined splitting his question in half before sending the words forth as he’d done in the past. “That was a bust. We didn’t learn much more than we knew already.”

“I disagree,” Iain said.

“Yep, I’m with Iain,” Elspeth replied after a faint hesitation.

“You both heard me?” Seth asked aloud.

“It’s weird. Your words sort of tickle my brain,” Elspeth said. “It’s different from when I mindspeak with Iain.”

“That’s the perfect way of describing the sensation,” Iain agreed. “We should look more closely at Sam’s wife. I’ve never met her. Have you?”

“I haven’t met any gargoyles apart from the ones in Malikah’s colony. I’m a half-breed and given my experiences with the wolves, I haven’t pushed a meeting. My gargoyle advisor mentioned I’m an anomaly, although he wasn’t speaking with malice.”

“Think of it this way,” Elspeth said. “You can shift into a wolf and into a gargoyle. You have wolf allies and, through me, the dragons. That makes you a major kick-arse dude.”

Iain gave a half laugh, half snort while Seth shook his head and smiled.

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