There wasn’t any of the putrid smells that Lukas normally associated with decomposition. More than anything else, the room smelled of fresh snow and pine. Lukas could almost see what had happened from the damage.

Lukas renacted his thoughts as he recreated the scene. “Midden came into the room here. His first attack shattered the bed and wounded the victim. Badly. Then he picked him up and threw him into the ceiling, weakening it. See those dark spots around the opening? More blood.” He paused. “Who was it that died?”

“Jeofram.” Sirach couldn’t meet Lukas’ gaze.

“Convenient for you.”

Sirach flushed. “I didn’t ask Midden to kill him!”

“Well, he did. This is where Jeofram tried to crawl away. Right here.” The Changed pointed to the smashed dresser. “Midden hit him with that and then threw the body out the window. Which is where you found him, right?”

The bony inn-keeper nodded. “Yes, but Midden wouldn’t let us send for Jeofram’s family. He said that he would take care of the body.”

“Of course he did.”