Page 88 of Arcane Entanglement

Rufus frowned. “And?”

“Millbrook put some pretty clever wards on this workshop to alert him to intruders.” Shaw chewed her lip. “He must have known when that mage broke into the building. So why was he still standing here? Why didn’t he try to leave?”

Evander’s scalp prickled.

“Maybe he didn’t know whoever broke in intended to kill him. Or maybe he got distracted by a formula or one of those engineering diagrams.” Rufus indicated the chalkboard.

The Artificers at the AFD had already examined Millbrook’s work and concluded there was nothing sinister about what he was doing in his workshop.

Still, Evander had a feeling Shaw was on to something.

It was in moments like these that the forensic mage demonstrated exactly why she was a rising star in the Arcane Division.

He watched as she rose, her focused gaze scanning the area around her. She took a step here and there, her fingers occasionally brushing against surfaces.

A sudden stillness came over her in front of the hearth.

“Your Grace, I think Millbrook was surprised here.”

Evander and Rufus joined her in a few quick steps.

Shaw pointed to a barely visible scuff mark on the floor.

“It looks like he might have struggled with his assailant before he was struck on the head. There’s a faint impact mark on the mantle, just here.” Her finger traced a fresh chip in the stone. “The poker probably missed him the first time. I’d wager Millbrook was standing here when his attacker arrived. But he wasn’t just standing idle.” The forensic mage narrowed her eyes. “He was doing something. Something that had his whole attention.”

Evander followed her stare to the hearth. His pulse quickened.

“Rufus, did Mortimer mention anything about soot on Millbrook's body?”

Rufus lowered his brows as he thought back to the physical examiner’s report. “Now that you mention it, yes. There was some soot under his fingernails. We assumed it was from his work, but?—”

“But what if it wasn’t?” Evander finished.

They stared at one another, the thrill of being close to uncovering another clue brightening their gazes.

Evander crouched in front of the fireplace and called on his wind magic. He wielded his powers and carefully lifted away the layers of soot and ash filling the hearth, only to stiffen a moment later.

Rufus frowned and leaned in closer. “What is that?”

Blood pounded in Evander’s veins as he studied what he’d unearthed. He carefully lifted the object in a handkerchief.

It was a small wooden cylinder about the length of his palm, looked to made like a piece of kindling.

He could feel magic humming faintly from it.

“It’s enchanted.” Surprise jolted Evander when he recognised the power tickling his skin. “Some kind of fireproofing spell.”

His gaze swung to the hearth. The reason he hadn’t sensed its presence yesterday was likely because Millbrook had concealed it deep beneath the ash.

Shaw shifted from one foot to the other. “Go on, your Grace. Open it!”

Evander twisted the top of the cylinder with delicate precision, Rufus and Shaw watching with bated breath. Something rattled as he upended the contents in his hand.

It was a key wrapped in a blank piece of paper.

Evander held the metal up to the meagre sunlight seeping through the window, his heart racing.

It was too small to be intended for a regular door lock.