Hidden Magic Ch. 16

"I want to know the details on Serinne's property, anything known about M'Graough, and their schedule."

"I can have that in a report to you by morning."

"I also need a place to stay. Us and two guards."

"I have a house in the Rectory."

"The Rectory?" Tomass asked her.

"Not from around here, are you kiddo? It's a decent neighborhood, working families, clean, quiet. One of my boys used it but he's long gone. It's clean, unoccupied, and it can be yours for the next month if you need."

"I hope to be done in less than two weeks. That will do. Lastly I want to know if there have been a recent rash of disappearances of note."

"Funny you should ask. Something crossed my desk just the morning. Seems pregnant women are disappearing. They're all older, veterans, and in their last few months of the pregnancy."

"How many?" Tomass asked urgently.

"Four confirmed and report of another recently, but no one can get a hold of the husband."

He gave me a look that spoke volumes. "Can you also get me that information tomorrow morning? Leave it at the house in the Rectory, we'll wait until the women have left for work then settle in. Thank you, Filtin, your help will save us many hours."

"There's another disappearance, not related to these, but I know your young man will want to know this."

"I don't know anyone in town."

"The sorcerer Hawls who married you left Plaindand but never made it back to his Council. There's nothing conclusive but-"

"By the goddess!" Shock rolled through Tomass and he sat back, closed his eyes, and began the rhythmic chanting of magic. Filtin watched, rapt, until he stopped, his face filled with rage. "It- it can't be!"

"What?"

"Hawls. Hawls! That's the source of all this power!"

"What do you mean?" Grabbed his hands, Tomass was shaking very badly. Filtin came around the desk and pressed a glass of water at him.

"M'Graough did it. He killed Hawls!"