‘I um, I need to talk to Austin,’ said Gwyn, feebly, looking anywhere but into Amber’s eyes. ‘I see,’ she replied at a leisurely pace. Most people she would send away and tell them to make an appointment, but Gwyn had never come to one of Austin’s residences asking to see him before, and she had never seen Gwyn look so uncertain, so she took a risk and let them in. ‘In here,’ she said dictatorially, ushering them into Austin’s study. ‘Sit on a sofa and don’t touch anything. I’ll go and let Austin know you’re here.’ A few minutes later Austin entered the room, surveying the scene, his lip twitching as he tried to hide his smile; Gwyn’s appearance was exactly as Amber had described it; this had all the hallmarks of something entertaining. He sat purposefully on one of the leather sofas, taking in each of them in turn, before finally asking, ‘how is it that I can help, Gwyneth?’ ‘Well, um, you see, um…’ ‘…Anita’s found a way to make it look like the relic has been returned to the Gods and she’s working with the Institution to go through with it,’ Patrick blurted, unsure Gwyn’s resolve would hold if he didn’t intervene.
