I thrust my feet into my boots and grabbed my parka from its hook, but went out the door without putting it on or even tying my laces.
The night was colder than ever, my breath forming a thick fog that trailed behind me as I pushed my way past my garden gate and out into the street.
But then I stopped. I had no idea which way to go. Everything around me was so quiet and so still. No one else was coming outside to see what had happened. Had I imagined it? Had I touched on some magical thing while I had been drawing the rune?
No, that made no sense. Nothing about Fe suggested violence, and that scream had clearly been panicked. Then there was the fact that it had been cut off so abruptly. Someone had been hurt, or worse.
Suddenly I heard the slap of feet running. I stepped further out in
