"No," Elton says, "first we have dinner. When was the last time you ate?"
He disappears down to the street, then returns with a perfectly spherical burrito for you and another for him. You try not to tear the burrito apart like a raccoon; it's hard, because you haven't had many proper meals lately. You eat in silence for a few minutes, looking around at Elton's collection of occult statuary: a jade unicorn, scattered medallions and candle holders in brass or bronze, a bust of Athena in white marble with African features and a helm of what you hope isn't silver. Bookshelves hide tapestries and paintings, and plush velvet curtains frame the windows.
"Tomorrow afternoon," Elton says as he retrieves a dusty bottle of wine, "you need to—Do you want some?"
"Wine me."
"I prefer beer, but whatever takes the edge off."
"I actually liked that tea."
"I know it's late, but do you have any coffee?"
"Just water, actually."
Next
"I actually prefer it to tea," Elton says, rising. "I just make tea out of habit because that's what my mum did."
The coffee production is quite involved, and includes a burr grinder. Elton works as he swigs wine from the bottle. The results are quite good, even served in what appears to be a Styrian beer stein. Elton's wine ends up in a teacup.
"What was I saying?" the Shadow Lord asks.
"Tomorrow afternoon…"
"Right, tomorrow, I'm going to investigate the barrow and see how close I can get to the actual caern. Contact me in the afternoon and I'll fill you in."
You exchange plans for a few more minutes, but when you finish your coffee, Elton clearly wants you gone. But as you rise, the Shadow Lord says, "Hold on," and digs through a kitchen drawer. He tosses you an iPhone. "Here, keep this."
This will be perfect for my investigations. "Thank you."
"Please tell me this isn't your dead wife's iPhone."
Cool, free stuff. I'm not proud. "Does it still work?"
"I'll find a phone on my own." I don't want to be more beholden to a Shadow Lord than I already am.
Next