Ferryl Shayde - Book 2 - A Student Body

by Vance Huxley

  Though Ferryl/Jenny had a very good point, one she could make out loud. “I certainly can’t sneak off to meet you inside school, not now. With all the bandages, I’m a bit too conspicuous.”

  “Even if you can’t walk very well, perhaps your dad could bring you over to my house. We’ve got some lovely big comfy chairs in the Tavern so you could put your foot up while we all had a long talk. I’ll bet Abel would manage to get rid of me and Rob for a few minutes. Oh, right, you won’t know about Bonny’s Tavern.” Kelis had a little smile now, having a bit of fun. “It’s a real home from home.”

  Rob leant past Abel, determined to have his bit of a laugh even if he couldn’t hear Ferryl. “I’m a bit upset you chose Abel, Jenny, but you really are welcome over here. Maybe we could convert you to Bonny’s Tavern even if you won’t take up Art or IT.” The rest of the table laughed. Most of them took Art or IT and over half of them were beta testers for the Tavern game.

  “I know about Bonny’s Tavern. Diane told me you were really helpful and spent ages helping her. She was so happy I began to wonder if she’d got her own secret boyfriend.” Ferryl had decided to have fun as well, because Rob had already been teased about the time he’d spent talking to fourteen-year-old Diane. Ferryl/Jenny turned to Abel. “I want to come and visit as soon as possible, now everybody knows, but dad wants to meet you first. Otherwise I don’t think he’ll let me out of the house. I had to explain about us and he’s gone a bit over the top.”

  “Ooh, watch out if you visit. You could get a real surprise in Brinsford.” Justin, one of the betas who knew about magic, smirked. “He might have another secret girlfriend.” Justin meant Ferryl Shayde, living in Abel’s tattoo, which was doubly funny under the circumstances.

  “Then I’ll have to try harder to get there and find out. Though I wasn’t sure if Dad would even take off the leg-irons to let me come to school.” Ferryl/Jenny started explaining, with some exaggeration about handcuffs and security guards, that the doctors had wanted her to rest. Her dad had taken them at their word.

  The rest of the students at the table relaxed, because despite being a senior student and a seraphim Jenny had never been the snooty type. Abel assumed Ferryl couldn’t talk in his head and through Jenny’s mouth at the same time, because she stopped communicating. The whole thing fascinated him because Ferryl/Jenny seemed to be exactly the same as he remembered, totally natural. Except for Jenny holding his hand of course.

  The fifteen minutes flew by, but before letting go of his hand Ferryl promised to talk more at dinnertime. Abel went off to English in a sort of daze. He had to meet Mr. Forester? Jenny’s dad was some sort of well-off builder, or rather he paid people to build, which summed up everything Abel knew. He really hoped Ferryl/Jenny could hold his hand to give some hints while they talked, then hoped Kelis didn’t think it was because of the boyfriend thing. Could he avoid hand holding at the party? Not really because everyone else would expect it. Worse, the ones who had learned about magic would expect Ferryl to talk to them by spooky-phone, from Abel’s tattoo.

  “I reckon he’s really smitten. Did you give Jenny a glyph, or is it some sort of side effect from when you enchanted him?” Rob’s voice jerked Abel back to reality.

  “I didn’t need to give her a glyph, she’s got a leotard. Works every time.” Kelis had a smile, but Abel thought he heard a bit of a bite in that.

  Abel reminded her. “It was all news to me until this morning.”

  “It’s all news to everyone, or it will be by lunchtime. By tomorrow there might be three drunken beggars someplace who won’t know, but don’t bet on it.” Rob nudged Abel. “Wait until I tell them why Henry won’t be at school for a while.”

  “Don’t do that, there’s no need now. They’ll think I’m some sort of martial arts loony.” Abel glanced around. “It’s bad enough I’m apparently dating a girl a year above me.”

  “Oh yes, and one of the Acros dancers as well. You’ll get some stinky looks from the older boys.” Kelis narrowed her eyes. “What about our combined birthday party? I realise Ferryl dumped this on you, but you can’t break up with Jenny before then. With her being injured like that, you’d look a real pig. You’ll have to invite her.”

  “I’m more worried about no spooky-phone. The magic-type Taverners will expect to see that at least, even if I hide my tattoo.”

  A hand slapped Abel on the back. “It must be that country living, all that healthy air and food. Two pretty girls in a week? I’m buying a tent and eating my greens.” The boy carried on, laughing as he strode down the corridor to the next turn.

  Abel stared after him. “Who was that?” He blushed a little. “It’s been two weeks.”

  “I don’t know, he looked like upper-sixth.” Something about Kelis’ voice made Abel glance at her. She’d started blushing as well, maybe at the pretty bit because Kelis didn’t like attention from boys. Abel kept his big mouth shut and headed for English.

  ∼∼

  At least Abel and Kelis got more information over lunch, because skin-phone worked while Ferryl/Jenny had her mouth full of food. Using the limited information Ferryl had read in Abel’s mum’s head and her own memories, the sorceress had assumed Jenny could leave home at sixteen. She’d intended healing Jenny then moving in with Abel, but once she could read Jenny’s memories that plan crashed. Worse, Jenny’s dad had taken her straight to hospital so she’d had to re-injure herself enough to explain the blood and the damage to her clothes. “And believe me that hurt. I couldn’t dull the pain because by then I‘d used up most of the magic you gave me. I’ve had no trees to get magic from so I have to manage on the usual amount from the air, which makes finishing the healing much harder.”

  “So what do you remember from the accident?” Although he spoke quietly, Abel knew others might hear so he daren’t ask his real question.

  “Everything of course, both from Jenny and you. Oh, you mean Jenny herself? She will remember up to when she let me take over. She has slept since then.” Ferryl/Jenny answered aloud. “I remember enough, Abel. You were marvellous.”

  Abel could see Kelis’ frustration growing and tried a way to answer some of the questions about Jenny. “Let’s hope you think so in twenty-one years.”

  “Of course. Even if we break up I’ll remember the boy who saved my life.” “Twenty-one? You mean when Jenny has her body back? She will remember as much of the years in between as I let her. I will make sure that includes any information from school, and enough of her life so she can recognise people. Keeping the bargain, leaving her as she is today, will be more difficult than usual. In the past the women moved two villages away and nobody knew them or realised they hadn’t aged. We will have to talk more.” Ferryl had been sealed in a pit for about two hundred years, so the last time she’d switched bodies would be early in Victoria’s reign.

  “So when do you think your dad will turn you loose?” Abel hoped the answer would be soon, so they could talk properly.

  “As soon as possible, so I can get my wits from Castle House gardens. If they include the glyphs for mazzlement, I can confuse and persuade dad to back off. Are all parents like this these days? Maybe he has arranged a marriage and worries you might ruin it. No, you don’t do that now. Sorry, I’m still settling in. Will you be able to manage for a few more days?” Though all she said was, “Not soon.”

  “Abel can wait. After all he’s already dealt with Henry attempting to beat him to death.” The gleam in Kelis’ eye and the edge in her voice were familiar, but for once weren’t aimed at Abel. Even so, he felt nervous because he didn’t want everyone knowing.

  Ferryl/Jenny froze, then lifted his hand to look at his knuckles. She turned to lean in and inspected the bruise under Abel’s eye, from much too close. “Those are fresh. I thought they were from when you saved me.” “Henry did that? Where is he! Wait, he didn’t come to school.” Amusement coloured Ferryl’s mental voice. “Did the Glyphmistress finally get her chance?”

  “Those are
from when Henry caught Abel. Alone.” The edge was aimed at Abel this time, for being so stupid, but a couple of people picked up what Kelis said.

  Even as others leaned in to hear better Rob took his chance. He’d been dying to tell someone, anyone. “The scrapes on his knuckles are from when Henry ran into them.” He paused for effect. “Hard enough to bust his arm and a few fingers.”

  Abel lost track of the rest. Ferryl mentally shouted in his head about what she’d do to Henry while apologising for not being there, which combined with Kelis and Rob adding the gory details for everyone else to create some sort of babble. Eventually Ferryl/Jenny calmed down, stroked his hand and face then gently kissed the bruise on his cheek. “I’m a bit late to return the kiss of life.” “A girlfriend would do that. It is lucky you broke the link to Kelis when you did. With her as a girlfriend it would have been difficult to explain how often I will be in Brinsford. I must be there to keep our agreement, to teach and protect you.”

  “Careful with the kissing or the teacher will see you. Mr. Sanders would have a heart attack.” Sarah sniggered, glancing towards where a teacher always sat to keep an eye on everyone. “Another one.” She tried for the right voice. “That is not acceptable behaviour.”

  “I forgot. We’ll have to be more careful now we are meeting in public.” Ferryl/Jenny smiled happily and Abel tried to do the same. He couldn’t kiss her because it wasn’t Jenny in charge of her lips, and he didn’t want Kelis to think he didn’t want the kiss test. Complicated didn’t even come close even without all the magic mixed in.

  “Kissing is a good reason for Jenny to persuade her dad to let her out.” Rob switched to Jenny. “How will you get to Brinsford?” He glanced across to where Jenny’s younger sister sat answering questions, probably about her sister from the glances. “Diane said you lived in Kielby, six miles away.”

  “I can ride there once my leg heals up.” Ferryl/Jenny beamed at them all. “I’ve been learning to ride a moped but only on the farm tracks. I’m still a bit wobbly but I’m sure I’ll improve.” Abel would bet on it because Ferryl would use glyphs to stay upright. “I will persuade Jenny’s dad to book me a CBT test. I will pass because Jenny has been studying and Chris’ memory held experience in driving. Then I can ride over at any time.”

  Abel relaxed as the meal progressed, because Ferryl/Jenny would sort something out so she could still train everyone in magic. He still wanted to talk privately about the attack outside the school this morning, the spooky-phone, and about exactly what Ferryl had done to Jenny, but there would be time. Even without Ferryl in his tattoo as a defence Abel wasn’t too worried. The three of them had stopped those fae outside, and he’d even beaten Henry without her.

  Lunch break ended with some teasing when Ferryl/Jenny held onto Abel’s hand and leant on him for support as they left the canteen, smiling sweetly as she passed a baffled Seraph. She hugged him tight before they parted ways to go to class, which set Abel worrying again. Having a row and breaking up looked less and less probable, especially since that would mess up Ferryl/Jenny’s reason for visiting Brinsford.

  ∼∼

  The next two days were really frustrating because Abel only saw Ferryl/Jenny in public. He couldn’t ask any real questions by phone because her dad had the same rules as Abel’s mum, occasionally checking her computer contacts. He would definitely read anything from secret boyfriend Abel and he hadn’t replaced her phone yet. Even a hastily scribbled note saying “spooky-phone” only led to Ferryl reiterating that she couldn’t make one from inside a host.

  At least Ferryl got her wits back. Kelis realised that even if Ferryl couldn’t get to Brinsford they could take them to school, so Abel dug up the two nubs of bone. They, and an unknown number like them, had been cut from the original Ferryl’s bones when the sorcerer imprisoned her. The lumps Ferryl called her wits held her collection of advanced glyphs, magically inscribed as a sort of built-in hard drive as near as Abel could figure it out. Ferryl wanted the rest back but felt sure they were inside Castle House, behind all those deadly magical defences. Until she got them, she wouldn’t remember most of her glyphs.

  The rest of the table in the canteen wanted to know what was in the secret present, but Ferryl/Jenny wouldn’t say. Mentally, through the contact, she sounded ecstatic. The following day Ferryl/Jenny told Abel she’d inserted the wits into Jenny’s bones and healed them in place. Abel didn’t even want to imagine the pain that must cause. The additional information included the mazzlement glyph, so Ferryl/Jenny could confuse anyone noticing odd behaviour. She’d also found three saplings that were still too small for dryads so she could drain a little magic from each. With the extra magic Ferryl/Jenny could re-damage herself for the doctors, but between appointments she could heal herself.

  Meanwhile, everyone else either gently teased Abel about catching an Acro dancer, or Jenny about cradle robbing. Quite a few thought a kiss of life sounded like a good way to catch either a boy or girl. The Tavern members awakened to magic knew from Abel’s texts that Ferryl had cured Jenny, so they understood the kiss of life reference. The others assumed he really had revived her, or at least kissed her very thoroughly. At least the magical ones were distracted, because this weekend would be the big party. Abel’s birthday, ten days late, and Kelis’, all combined with the second meeting of the magically-aware Tavern members.

  Their families mixing socially with the Tavern’s magical apprentices would have been enough to keep Kelis, Rob and Abel worried, without trying to hide Ferryl/Jenny’s possession as well. On top of that, two more Tavern beta players had discovered magic. Abel had to explain Ferryl couldn’t use spooky-phone to reassure them at school, because healing Jenny had taken a lot out of her. One of the other magical trainees, someone living near enough to see the new trainees out of school, explained things. Both were promised more information at the party and given wooden Tavern hexes to stop the small magical creatures they could now see trampling through their dinner and bedrooms. From cautious messages passed in corridors there would also be more people wanting to burn their protection ward down to the bone.

  Kelis brought in extra wooden plaques with the Tavern protection hex carved into them, and those were distributed. From the shifty looks Abel suspected the betas were using them to protect other locations, not just their own houses. He couldn’t blame them. Watching creatures scuttling about on a friend’s or relative’s food wasn’t easy, not when a little wooden plaque would cure it. Other, rather more teasing remarks were encouraging. From the hints some had made progress in getting finance or actually registering the game, or had development ideas.

  ∼∼

  Before the weekend Abel had to meet Mr. and Mrs. Forester, Jenny’s dad and mum, or his new girlfriend wouldn’t be coming to the party. Abel warned his mum he was going home from school in the car with Ferryl/Jenny, which raised eyebrows even if he’d already ‘confessed’ to having a secret girlfriend. Diane, Ferryl/Jenny’s sister, was alight with curiosity because, judging by what she said, Ferryl/Jenny hadn’t given many details. She started the inquisition as soon as they were all in the car. At least he could hold hands, so Abel knew what to say. He just hoped he kept it all straight once they arrived.

  Abel’s main worry failed to materialise. Jenny sat next to him and held on firmly to his hand through the entire conversation, so he could match her story. After a bit of stilted introduction the questioning began to narrow down, and Abel relaxed even more. Her parents weren’t worried about him being poor, or from a council house, or being a geek. They were both worried about the secrecy, or the reason for it. At least Ferryl had come up with the right excuse for that—Abel’s age. An almost seventeen-year-old star acrobat, one of the Acro team, shouldn’t be dating a barely-sixteen-year-old boy. The geek part made the potential for embarrassment even more believable, or would if Jenny had still been herself.

  After her accident with the lorry, Ferryl/Jenny had ‘confessed’ everything to explain the blood on Abel. Both he
r parents thanked Abel for saving her, which really did make him squirm a bit. Eventually both Abel and Ferryl/Jenny ended up blushing as her dad switched to some mild teasing but that seemed normal and relaxed everyone. The conversation turned to Abel, what he took at school and eventually to the Tavern game. Abel didn’t even have to answer most of the Tavern questions, not with Diane leaping in at every opportunity to show what she knew about the characters. Now she wanted her sister to get her some tuition from one of the creators, preferably Rob.

  Mr. Forester wasn’t completely convinced about nobody else knowing. When he delivered Abel back home, he politely insisted on meeting Abel’s mum. Abel and Ferryl/Jenny sat quietly while both parents confirmed, cautiously, that neither had known about the secret relationship. At least Mr. Forester agreed Jenny could come to the party since Abel’s, Rob’s and Kelis’ parents would be there.

  When Abel walked Ferryl/Jenny to the car her dad got in first, after pointing out he’d better look away towards the end of the road. Otherwise, he claimed, his daughter would embarrass him by complaining and possibly beating on him. At least Mr. Forester seemed to be more relaxed now. The mischievous smile before Ferryl/Jenny kissed Abel goodbye for definitely too long meant she knew what she’d done. By waiting until they were stood next to the conspicuous shiny new Mercedes, Ferryl had made sure almost everyone in Riverside Close noticed. At least the ‘Spooky-phone sorted out. At the party,’ came as some relief.

  ∼∼

  On Friday evening, after tea, Rob and Abel collected Kelis for a walk and a very private discussion. Once out of sight in Castle House gardens, Abel took over warming a slow draught of air because he found fire easier to handle, while Kelis orchestrated wind gusts for the rain shield. They ended up sat on the milk crates they’d put in the small cave near where Abel first met Ferryl. “This is going to be a shambles.” Kelis flicked a glyph at the dead leaves nearby, scattering them. “My mum has a ward but thinks it’s for meditating to soothe pain, and has no idea about magic. Your mum, Abel, can see creatures and knows the hexes carved on doors will stop them, but nothing about wards or that the hexes are magic.” She glanced at Rob. “What about your little sister? She’s been pestering all the beta players.”