by Vashti Hardy
Arthur noticed her cheeks blush a little.
… has successfully persuaded the Geographical Society to recognize the official names of the Continents in all of their documents, publications, maps and correspondence forthwith. The land masses usually referred to as the First, Second and Third Continents will now be officially and routinely referenced as Vornatania, Nadvaaryn and the Ice Continent respectively.
Welby gave Harriet a tap on the shoulder. “Excellent work, Harrie.”
She smiled. “It’s a small change, but a huge advancement. Even the Eastern Isles is problematic – Eastern for whom?”
“What do the people who live there call them?” asked Arthur.
“There are many languages there, but the people of the islands call them Stella Oceanus in their common language, which means the stars of the sea,” said Harriet.
Arthur thought that sounded much more poetic.
“But I’m pleased the Geographical Society have accepted the continent name change, at least; it’s a big step for them.”
“I expect it met with some resistance from some of the families?” said Felicity.
Arthur knew one in particular who wouldn’t have liked the change. One that put themselves at the top of everything.
“I bet the Vanes tried to block it.” Maudie scowled.
“Indeed,” said Harriet.
“Good to see you having more influence after your achievements.” Welby nodded.
“Shame about the Ice Continent though,” said Arthur, wrinkling his nose. “I mean, it’s not the most exciting name. I bet the thought-wolves have a much better name for it.” His heart burned at the memory of meeting the wondrous creatures on their expedition south. They had the ability to communicate directly through thought. Tuyok, their pack-leader, had become a true friend, and Arthur missed him, as though a piece of him had separated and would remain for ever in the frozen continent with the wolves … and his father.
Maudie looked at him, and he could see that she felt the same way.
Harriet’s attention had now been taken by something else in the newspaper, which was making her frown intently.
The twins noticed. “What is it?” they said in unison.
Harriet put her hand up for a moment, finished reading, then folded the Lontown Chronicle and placed it on the table. “There’s a meeting this afternoon at three chimes at the Geographical Society. All esteemed explorer families are invited to attend; apparently there’s a highly important matter to discuss.”
Arthur leant in. “What else does it say?”
“Little else.”
“Are we going?” Maudie asked.
“Of course we’re going,” Arthur said keenly, then looked at Harriet. “Aren’t we?”
“We’re meant to be setting off for the Eastern— I mean, Stella Oceanus in less than two weeks,” said Maudie, “and we’ve still got the transformer valve to connect, the upper roof mechanism to restore, and the balloon pumps to clean, let alone my new project.”
“Maud, stop talking; you’re making me want to go back to bed.”
She pushed his arm playfully.
Harriet grinned. “We’re perfectly on schedule; we will be finished on time. I’ve got the rest of the crew arriving in two days to help with any final touches. Welby, if you and Felicity can stay behind and continue preparations for their arrival, we’ll update you when we get back from the Society.”
“Certainly, although I have to go out on some business first,” Welby said.
Arthur glanced at Maudie and did a subtle martial-art hand twist.
“Have you finished collating all the maps, Arthur?” Welby asked.
“I’m almost there.”
“Pah! I took the liberty of checking, and you still have much work to do.”
Arthur blushed under his freckles.
“If you think you’ve even scratched the surface with the few maps you’ve collected, well … the Stella Oceanus are in their hundreds and scattered like a bucketful of Parthena’s birdseed.”
With a swoosh, Parthena flew into the room, landed beside Arthur and turned her head to regard Welby – even for a hawk, the look of bemusement was clear.
Arthur stroked her head. “Don’t worry, he knows you don’t like bird-seed really, Parthena.”
Queenie, the oversized, fluffy, sapient cat sitting on Harriet’s lap, gave a soft meow from under the table as if to say, “me neither.”
“You’ve perhaps researched only two or three of the commonest maps at most.”
“I’m being thorough.” Arthur turned to Harriet. “So that’s really all it says about the meeting?”
Harriet paused. “It does say something else… It says that Eudora Vane is chairing it.”
Queenie poked her head above the table and Parthena outstretched her wings and ruffled them. Maudie and Arthur exchanged a glance.
“Harrie, last night we followed Smethwyck,” said Maudie.
She frowned. “Why did you do that?”
“I was restless—” Arthur began.
“As usual,” Maudie added.
“—and I was at the window, seeing if Parthena wanted a night flight, when I saw him walking down the street suspiciously, so we followed him.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any point in saying that perhaps you should’ve told me?”
“Sorry, but he would’ve been gone by then. Anyway, he broke into a house, then went to the Vanes and gave them some books he’d taken.”
“You went to the Vanes?” Harriet said slowly, as though helping it to sink into her brain.
“We didn’t go inside.”
“Just to the window,” Maudie confirmed.
“But what if you’d been caught?” Harriet shook her head. “Which house did he break into?”
“Er…” he looked at Maudie who shrugged. “We forgot to look at the number, but we are pretty sure it was Ermitage Wrigglesworth’s.”
“Do you think this meeting might have something to do with what they found?” asked Arthur.
Harriet thought for a moment. “I’m sure it will, but all the explorers must log their detailed plans before travel with the Geographical Society and nearly everyone has copies of Wrigglesworth’s by now; they’re available to anyone who asks. Eudora must suspect he was up to more than he revealed to the Society.” She tapped the newspaper. “Well, one thing is for certain – if Eudora Vane is involved, there’s bound to be trouble.”
As the watchtower began the first chime of three, Maudie, Arthur and Harriet turned the corner to the Lontown Geographical Society. The square bustled with people making their way towards the Society building. Arthur felt a cold shiver run through him as he thought of the first time they’d come here and been told the lie about what had happened to their father at South Polaris – how their father had been wrongfully accused of stealing fuel from a rival sky-ship. The false story had been that their father and his crew had perished because of supposedly vicious creatures, which had turned out to be the peaceful thought-wolves, and really, it had been Eudora Vane behind it all, because she’d hated their father for marrying her sister. To Eudora Vane, it was unthinkable that a new-blood explorer could marry someone from a respected heritage explorer family.
Maudie looked across at Arthur. “Are you all right?”
“I’m just remembering, you know…”
“I know.”
“Scraggleneck scratchings, two for a sovereign!” came a call.
Maudie and Arthur looked over to where the sound had come from: a stall in the square.
“I don’t believe it,” Arthur huffed.
It was Mr Beggins, one half of the vile couple who had bought the twins from their governess, Mistress Poacher, after their father’s death. They’d been taken to live in the Slumps of Lontown, in a leaking attic room with a soggy mattress and hardly any food before they managed to escape and join the Culpepper crew. Mr Beggins stood behind a hand-pushed cart. He ran a hand back through his greasy hair,
then noticed Harriet and the twins.
“Oi! You owe us for those two ungrateful little blighters!” Mr Beggins called, storming over towards them.
Harriet put her hands up to hold Arthur and Maudie back. “Leave this one to me.”
“Mr Beggins, how interesting to meet you properly. I had rather hoped Felicity’s lucky spoon knocking you out would be the last vision I would have of you. Alas, here we are.”
His face blushed crimson, with both embarrassment and fury. He opened his mouth but Harriet’s calm-yet-forceful demeanour and her absolute mountain-like resolve were formidable, and although the two stood perfectly even in height, she seemed to tower over him.
“I would hate to think you were operating here without an article 561,” she said.
“I … well… Of course…” he bumbled.
“Is it two- or three-years’ imprisonment, Arthur? Arthur is very well read on Lontown law these days. What was it you were telling me about the law on paying for children, then forcing them to cook and clean for you without a sovereign in compensation, and making them sleep in a filthy room with holes in the roof and no food?” She said it with a bright airiness, but her sober undertones were clear as the Lontown afternoon sky.
“We took in those ungrateful urchins out of the goodness—”
Harriet simply raised a finger to silence him. “Ah yes, that was it. Twenty years imprisonment: plenty of time to reflect on your actions.” She leant in towards him. “I hear there’s a sapient rat who is most perturbed by cruelty and makes it her life’s business to torment such prisoners. She’ll steal the paltry amount of food you’re given and just when you try to sleep, she’s there, quick as lightning, nibbling your ear, your toes, your…”
Mr Beggins had turned quite green.
Harriet laughed brightly. “I daresay a 561 is the least of your problems, Mr Beggins. Those three-day-old scraggleneck scratchings you sell are unlikely to pass Lontown health standards.” She squinted and whispered. “Aren’t they made from illegal bird poaching?” Then she slapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ve got a handle on it all. Although, didn’t we pass the police only a moment ago on Langley Way?” She shrugged. “Come along, twins. That’s enough rats for one day.”
As Mr Beggins rushed to pack away his stall, looking around frantically, the twins smiled broadly and followed Harriet up the stone steps of the Lontown Geographical Society, through the carved doorway, and into a grand hall. The majestic pillars and gilt-framed maps still took Arthur’s breath away, as did the statues of the great explorers.
They pushed through the double doors that led to the auditorium. It was a vast room beneath the enormous dome, which was the iconic landmark of Lontown. The ceiling was elaborately decorated with gilded, repeating patterns, all leading to the pinnacle of the dome, where an enormous compass was painted in the shape of a blazing sun. Around the room, chandeliers hung from the outer ceilings between pillars, and a half circle of red velvet seats pointed towards a large stage. Many of the Lontown explorer families were already in there – Arthur recognized Azalea and Dryden Bestwick-Ford, Rumpole Blarthington, Evelyn Acquafreeda the sea-ship explorer, Samuel Fontaine, Eldrid and eldest daughter Beatrice Nithercott, who must have been getting ready to captain their sky-ship, tall Hilda Hilbury in her ribboned flowerpot hat, and many others.
Harriet, Arthur and Maudie sat at the back.
“We can see everything from here,” Harriet whispered. “Sometimes the tiniest nod of the head, or glance, between explorer families can be very telling.”
Officials from the Geographical Society were seated on the platform, including Madame Gainsford with her sapient stoat resting on her shoulders like a fur collar. But she wasn’t in her usual central seat; this time it was occupied by Eudora Vane. As normal, Eudora was dressed from head to toe in a pale shade of pink, and on her jacket was Miptera, looking for all the world like a piece of jewellery. Although Eudora’s external beauty was still undeniable, Arthur and Maudie knew only too well the charred heart that existed within.
Madame Gainsford banged her gavel, then stood up. “Esteemed society, you will all be aware of the reports that one of our very own, the eminent explorer and author of numerous expedition accounts, Ermitage Wrigglesworth, has gone missing in the Eastern Isles. We were informed in the early chimes by Madame Vane that she received word from sources in the east that he may have got into danger. Where exactly, we do not know.”
Arthur leant in towards Maudie. “Sources in the east? What rubbish.”
“Madame Vane, perhaps if you would now address the esteemed families with your proposal.”
Eudora Vane stood up and spoke, her voice soft and sweet as sugar, as though she wouldn’t harm even the smallest insect. “The news I received yesterday late in the evening suggests that he may be in some peril. Details are sparse … but I have a proposal.” She smiled. “As we all know, these islands are in their thousands, and for one sky-ship to presume they can tackle them alone is futile.” She scanned the audience and paused when she reached Harriet Culpepper. It was no secret that Harriet had been planning to head off in search the following week. “And would be rather self-indulgent.”
“How dare she,” Maudie hissed.
Harriet put a gentle hand on her arm. “Don’t rise to it.” She looked straight back at Eudora without any change to her expression.
Eudora Vane walked the length of the stage. “I propose an armada of First Continent explorers to venture east and search for him.”
Madame Gainsford gave a little cough and tapped her gavel lightly on the table. “Do use the proper names for the continents please, Madame Vane.”
Maudie leant in towards Arthur and whispered. “What’s she up to? Armada?”
Eudora gave Madame Gainsford a veiled smile of acceptance and continued. “An armada of Vornatanian, Lontown explorers will venture east. We recently lost one explorer due to a tragic mistake, a cook’s error; we shall not lose another one!”
Arthur and Maudie glanced at each other with gaping mouths.
“Tragic mistake?” Maudie said, shaking her head.
“The nerve of the woman!” said Arthur. They knew the truth: that she had been behind the poisoning of their father’s crew. But they had no evidence, and her status in Lontown enabled her to get away with it.
Around the hall, the heads of the various explorer families nodded in agreement with Eudora.
“We must hurry, for dear Ermitage’s sake. We leave on Friday.” She dipped her head to Madame Gainsford, who then took the floor.
“On behalf of the Geographical Society board, I am pleased to inform you that the reward has been increased to one hundred thousand sovereigns so that all participating families may share the fund. Please, could the heads of the families willing to join the Lontown Armada stay behind. You have much planning to do.”
Feet shuffled as many of the audience began to leave the room.
Maudie stood up. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Too right,” said Arthur, jumping up beside her. “We don’t have any time to lose if we want to get ahead of Eudora Vane and the others, and… Harrie, why aren’t you moving?”
Harriet looked pensive. “I want to find out more. For a start, why does she really want to find Ermitage Wrigglesworth so much? It’s certainly not a rescue mission in her mind.”
“The reward?” said Arthur.
Harriet shook her head. “She has more sovereigns than she could desire. The best way to find out what she’s up to is to stay as close as we can. That means playing along and being part of her plans, for now.”
The hall was emptying, other than a dozen or so explorers who were making their way to the stage to join Eudora Vane.
“We’d better get going,” said Maudie, tugging Arthur.
“Hold on a moment.” Harriet took a pen from her belt and scribbled down an address. “I want you to go here. Ask for Octavie and say I sent you. I want you to find out—”
“Off you go. We can update each other when we get back.”
Arthur took the piece of paper. It read:
18A Montague Street
CHAPTER 3
OCTAVIE
When Arthur and Maudie arrived at Montague Street, they realized the place Harriet had sent them to was just across from the house Smethwyck had broken into the previous evening.
“How strange,” said Maudie as they walked up the steps.
“I wonder what we’re meant to find out here?” said Arthur as he knocked on the door.
A woman with short, greying, wavy hair answered the door. She had a quiet, curious smile, determined eyes, and a youthful face despite the wrinkles. Her white sleeves were rolled up and she held a small piece of machinery in one hand.
“Is that an injector pump?” Maudie asked.
The woman smiled. “What an interesting way to introduce yourself.”
“Sorry. We’re looking for Octavie. We’re…”
“The Brightstorm twins. You’re rather famous in Lontown and the subject of quite a lot of closed-door explorer gossip. I’m Octavie; do come in.”
“I’m afraid we’re not entirely sure why Harriet, that’s Harriet Culpepper, our…” Arthur realized he didn’t know what to call her. Their captain? Their friend? Their sort-of stand-in parent? He wasn’t sure what to say, so he just said, “She sent us to you. She didn’t have much time to explain why.”
Octavie led them onwards. “Well, you’ve come to the right place. Come inside to my study. I have some tea in the pot, and I baked a lovely spiced fruit loaf this morning.”
They followed her into a brightly lit room full of books, odd mechanisms and tools. She put the machinery on the table and looked at them, a sparkle in her eyes that was somehow familiar to Arthur and Maudie, even though they had never met this woman before. She put her hands into her trouser pockets, which were baggy to the knees and tighter at the bottom, just like:
“Harriet,” they both said.
“We mean, you must be related to her. Are you?” asked Maudie.