He bowed formally. ‘Good to see you, Corrigan. How are things?’ ‘Peachy,’ I said, smiling back. ‘What can I do for you?’ ‘I hear you’re making considerable headway with your cumbersome rules. It’s a good idea, you know, to try and slim them down into more manageable chunks. A lot of our mages enjoy our more archaic laws.’ He leaned forward. ‘Do you know we actually have a law that states it’s illegal to cross paths with a black cat while carrying a bottle of milk on All Hallow’s Eve?’ ‘Well, we’re good at working together,’ I said calmly, ‘as it’s part of our nature. What favour do you require?’ He ignored my question. ‘And just what were you doing at the Tower of London? Dear boy, breaking into the bastion of the city’s wealth was hardly a smart move. What on earth was all it about?’ I was growing tired of his delaying tactics. ‘Spit it out, would you? I’m a busy man.’ He gazed at me from under his bushy eyebrows. ‘Very well then. We have a problem with the vampires.’ I closed my eyes momentarily.
