Reese observed, “I bet she regrets that about now.”
Daegan hadn’t considered what Luigsech had been going through since they parted. He’d assumed she ran to inform someone of his presence, such as Cavan.
Or had she been escaping out of fear?
“To hear this Luigsech has power conflicts with what Garwyli said about the family of your father’s squires,” Quinn mused. “So she is not a human Luigsech?”
Reese shifted an impudent gaze to him. “What? Are there different varieties of Luigsechs?”
Overlooking her sarcasm, Quinn explained, “The dragon squires of Daegan’s era were all human. After Queen Maeve captured Daegan, his father, King Gruffyn, wrote in his last journal that he suspected traitors within his kingdom. For that reason, he brought in a new squire family with the name of Luigsech.”
“I didn’t think people had last names back then,” Reese replied.
Daegan explained, “They used first names, but were known as being of an area, such as Luigsech. Anyhow, the squires were always humans and trusted families as they carried the history of the dragon clans as well as performin’ confidential work.”
“Do you think this woman is impersonating someone from the squire family or just happens to have the same last name?” Reese asked, turning to watch the entrance to the centre Daegan also kept in sight.
“I do not believe in coincidences, especially not of this sort.” Daegan tensed when an older man in dark blue pants and matching vest over a short-sleeved light blue shirt walked up to the door of the ancestral centre. He carried a stack of mail and knocked.
Reese spoke in a hushed voice. “Is that someone you’re looking for, Daegan?”
“I do not think so.” Daegan watched the confusion on the old guy’s face at no one answering the door. After a moment, the man lifted his shoulders, talking to himself as he shoved letters and a magazine into a slot on the door.
Quinn murmured, “Just a postal delivery.”
“Okay, I’m ready to do this.” Reese turned to Daegan. “You said you’re looking for this guy Cavan and last saw him right before Tristan followed him. Maybe you should take me to that spot where you saw Cavan and let me start there.”
“I thought so as well,” Daegan admitted. “Now that ya are here, Quinn, ya stay to keep watch on the centre. I shall take Reese to the grocery lot.” Daegan described Cavan and Luigsech’s features for Reese then considered what to do about leaving Quinn. He could normally cloak Quinn, but Daegan hesitated to depend upon his waning power after the slow teleporting.
Quinn must have realized something being off with Daegan. He suggested, “Allow me to step out of the cloaking. I’ll drop behind these trees and call to you if anyone shows up.”
Once Quinn exited the cloaking, Daegan and Reese walked down the road where it was more open, stepping out of the way of one slow moving vehicle.
At the grocery location, he pointed out the specific place where Cavan had stood. Reese sat there and closed her eyes, then yanked her head back. She opened her eyes and blinked hard. “That’s like ... strange.”
“What did ya see?”
“He had so much power around him, it was blinding to look in any direction. He’s got a crap load of energy.” She shook her head. “I can’t see through that. Do you want to hunt another spot after he walked away and try that?”
“No. We would be movin’ ya all over the sidewalk and probably still have the same result. This was the only place I could point to for sure.”
“Sorry, Daegan.”
“Don’t apologize. Ya are aidin’ me in narrowin’ down all directions to search until I find the one to lead me to Cavan or Tristan.”
When she stood again, they moved back to where Quinn hid. He emerged and Daegan drew the cloaking around all three of them. Before Quinn asked, Daegan told him what had happened.
Running her hands over her hair in an agitated motion, Reese asked, “Didn’t you say the last place you saw Luigsech was at her cottage? Why aren’t we there?”
He’d been right to ask Reese to come here. She had as sharp a mind for investigating as she had a gift for remote viewing. “The Luigsech woman said she had to meet Cavan here this mornin’. If we do not find her soon, we go to the cottage next. But here is the best hope for meetin’ up with Cavan.”
“It’s fifteen after ten,” Reese declared. “Either one or both have missed the meeting, unless they’re inside doing it right now where we can’t see them. What’s the plan?”
Reese had voiced Daegan’s thoughts. “I shall teleport in. If someone is in there, I will contain them first then drop your cloakin’ and teleport ya in.”
“Both of us,” Reese clarified.
“Of course.”
“I should go with you to watch your back,” Quinn offered firmly.
“No, stay here. If I run into somethin’ unexpected and require help, I will call ya telepathically.” Daegan stepped from the cloaking and teleported into the front area of the ancestral centre.
Chapter 8
Daegan appeared inside the ancestral centre next to a desk facing the front window.
He called up a sword and stood still.
A distinctive “click” sounded at the rear of the building.
He ran through an opening on the left side of the room into an area full of books with blinding speed. No one there. Nothing but walls and walls of bookcases.
Something had made that sound.
He reached out with his senses to detect another energy. Then he inhaled a mix of scents from the fading flowers to a very recent visitor.
Ruadh rumbled, The woman.
Daegan agreed. His nose seemed to search out Luigsech’s scent immediately. How long ago had she been here? Was that from yesterday or ... today?
Or was he trying to assign a simple noise to her?
A solid wood exit door to the exterior stood shut with a heavy bolt slid into place. That door would have made more noise than a click.
Disappointment swamped
