by R A Browell
James thought for a moment and then frowned as he looked first at Cadmus and then at Zigadenus. ‘You do know what you’re saying don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ interrupted Lily with a long sigh, ‘that whoever removed the Elementals must have been of my bloodline and that unless we’re prepared to wait a long time for the Carfaxes to produce another candidate or there’s another connected bloodline that ticks all the boxes, that finding the Elementals and returning them to their rightful place is down to me, and me alone. I’m right Ziggy aren’t I?’
Ziggy’s quill, which had resumed scribbling, stopped moving across the parchment and rested itself in the inkwell. The alchemist looked straight down the table at Lily and nodded.
‘I’m sorry Lily,’ he said, attempting some kind of solidarity. ‘They used to say that the sins of the fathers were revisited on the sons but maybe this time it’s the daughter who has the chance to put everything right.’
Lily picked an orange grape from the bunch in front of her, popped it in her mouth and chewed slowly as Silky watched her ward anxiously; compulsively smoothing her skirts at an alarming rate.
‘I suppose when you put it like that,’ Lily replied, ‘a girl can only do one thing can’t she?’
‘What’s that?’ asked Charlie, glancing behind and checking the door for them to make a quick escape.
‘I never saw myself as a Lara Croft type,’ she explained, forcing a smile, ‘but these Elementals must be found before they fall into the wrong hands, so I’ll try. One thing bothers me though,’ she said, finally looking at Etricklore. ‘How could a human see that latest bleed?’
‘A human?’ replied Etricklore, glancing uneasily at Silky.
Lily nodded.
‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘the most normal human being I know,’ she added, still holding Etricklore with her deep dark brown eyes. ‘My dad. Dr. Andrew Carfax.’
Missing
Charlie opened his eyes and looked up at the frieze that had been carved into the ancient wooden beams around the four-poster bed. Some of the figures looked strangely familiar, riding high on billowing clouds, chasing sunbeams and standing erect as their chariots were pulled along by winged horses. He watched their movement, his eyes finally resting on a group of half-dressed nymphs splashing in a shallow fountain, surrounded by fauns and flowers and caskets of wine as his mind immediately drifted to Abbie Parkins.
He reached over to the side table and picked up his phone. There were no messages, no signal and now no charge. He lay back against the pillows with his arms behind his head and wondered if she was lying in her bed back at home, missing him as much as he was missing her. Sometimes it was just so hard to resist temptation. He thought about Hari and James watching him just in case he got himself into trouble. They needn’t worry. Part of him, a bigger part than he dared to believe, was terrified of losing control. He’d never admit it but he appreciated their back-up. He thought back to his last rushed text to her. He’d explained his absence as a last-minute camping trip with James and Hari on the moors and promised that he’d call her when he got back into phone range but now he was fretting at the thought of other boys drooling over his girlfriend and the fact that he had no idea when they’d be back in their own world, never mind within satellite range. He sighed. He knew that eventually he’d have to tell Abbie the truth, but it wasn’t just the matter of how she’d react, there was more to it than that. He knew that he’d have to trust her with everybody else’s secret and before he could do that, the others would have to agree.
He tossed his mobile onto the bedspread and peered around the four heavy curtains into the opulent room beyond. Strange green flames flickered in the fireplace, similar to those he remembered from the Hall of Justice, and along the walls were tapestries of ancient hunting scenes and violent battles between various mythical creatures. On a carved chair, his clothes had been neatly laid out and next to them, a pair of unusual green shoes with pointed toes.
Charlie lay back, pushing his head further into the pillows, stretching his arms even higher behind his head and smiled as he gazed up at a particularly pretty, semi-naked nymph frolicking in the fountain of eternal life as unbidden, his imagination transformed her into Abbie.
There was a short sharp tap on the door.
‘Come in,’ called Charlie, sitting up abruptly.
The same tall flamboyant boy, who had guided them through the various rooms the previous night, entered and bowed deeply before he performed his quick dance across to the fireplace. He bent down to a small casket on the hearth and scattered some powder on the fire, causing the flames to flare up with a sudden surge of green sparks, before they settled and threw out decidedly more heat than before. He turned to Charlie, one hand grasping his official looking file as he began gesturing dramatically with the other.
‘Good Morning Master Charlie,’ he said cheerfully. ‘We met last night, but were never formally introduced. I’m Galdo Boiler, valetti to the Laudis. Breakfast is served in the dining hall. Master James and Master Hari are already awake and dressing.’ His words were fast and precise as he continued with a hand-waving flourish. ‘Am I to assume that Master requires help with dressing?’ he offered, lifting and inspecting Charlie’s jeans. ‘It truly is a marvellous day. It makes a person glad to be alive!’ he added enthusiastically.
Charlie slowly sat further forward and stared uncertainly at Galdo. Not even the staff at Hari’s mansion would ever offer to dress him, but then again this was Farisia and maybe they did things differently here. He didn’t want to offend, but then again the thought of someone dressing him didn’t really appeal and it sounded like Hari and James were managing just fine.
‘Ur, no thanks I think I’m good, Galdo, mate; but thanks for the offer,’ Charlie mumbled as he drew the bedcovers up to his chin. ‘You could just toss my jeans over here though, if you don’t mind!’
‘Mind, Master Charlie? No trouble at all,’ Galdo replied with a wide smile. ‘I’m a valetti, that’s exactly what I’m here for,’ he added as he semi-skipped across the room. He handed Charlie his stiff, newly-laundered jeans as though he were handling garments made of priceless silk.
‘Did you wash these?’ Charlie asked, giving them a quick sniff before he quickly pulled them on, appalled that anyone other than his mother should go to such trouble.
‘Oh no Master Charlie, not I!’ replied Galdo indignantly, his nose rising higher and higher into the air with each syllable. ‘Such work is not for the valetti. Such work, Master Charlie, remains with the domovoy.’
‘The domovoy?’ Charlie asked.
‘Those who work under the cover of darkness,’ replied Galdo glancing across at an empty cup and saucer on the polished side table. ‘One must not forget to reward them for their trouble. The domovoy must never be taken for granted,’ he explained in a reverential whisper. ‘They are happy to perform domestic tasks, but they are not paid like the valetti, nor do they remain unrewarded as slaves. They stay as long as they feel welcome and appreciated, so one must always consider their needs,’ he added.
Charlie looked to the door, wondering if there was any chance of escape, but Galdo pressed on.
‘Tea and cake,’ he confided, tapping the side of his long nose. ‘It keeps them going in the wee small hours… and clothes. This is something that we valetti can appreciate; the domovoy just love their clothing. They are most highly respected, Master Charlie. We just couldn’t manage without the little people and you’ll find that Farisians will go to great lengths to ensure that their domovoy are treated as members of the family; that they’re provided with the best food and good quality clothing so that they feel appreciated and will never want to leave.’
Charlie thought of his mum and made a mental note to get her tea and cake next time he wanted his jeans ironed.
‘I believe it used to be the same in your world,’ whispered Galdo sadly, ‘but you seem to have lost track of the old ways.’ He stroked his embossed file. ‘As I always say Master Charlie
, you must never forget the little people. It’s a good lesson in life, look after the little people and they will look after you!’ he concluded proudly.
‘You make them sound like the little guys out of ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’, with their little green outfits!’ replied Charlie, glancing across at the strange green shoes. ‘My mum used to read me that fairy tale rubbish when I was about three.’ He grinned at the thought of little elves running around his mother’s tiny polished house. They didn’t have much, but Mrs Dodds kept a tidy home.
‘Rubbish? No, Master Charlie,’ whispered Galdo. ‘Your mother must have told you that anything is possible and that some fairy stories are quite true.’ Galdo looked with a wide-eyed innocence at Charlie.
‘Yeah right!’ Charlie snorted, once again looking towards the door for a swift exit.
‘Here in Farisia,’ explained Galdo proudly, ‘children are told strange tales about a world where rock can burn, where machines, made of metal, are used for a primitive form of travel, even in the sky, and where such machines send men to the moon! Of course, they cannot reach the speeds or levels of agility that we can, but I believe it is still a truth that such things are possible!’ Galdo spoke as though he were imparting a universal secret.
‘I guess so,’ replied Charlie, looking at Galdo strangely.
‘Master Charlie.’ The valetti paused, shaking his head in commiseration before he continued, ‘I wonder how you can bear to live in a world that sometimes seems so very backward, particularly when you and your friends are able to achieve so much more.’
Charlie smiled. ‘Ah, but Galdo, there’s something very satisfying about having full control of an engine revving hard between your legs. It beats the epona anytime. You should try it, mate!’ he added, chuckling at Galdo’s horrified expression. ‘Hang on a minute.’ He looked carefully at Galdo. ‘You just said when we can achieve so much more. What did you mean?’
Galdo shuffled awkwardly in his long shoes.
‘You mean that you know what we are?’ asked Charlie. ‘But I thought no one here was supposed to know.’ He stared at the manservant. ‘It was supposed to be a secret!’
‘Master Charlie,’ explained Galdo, speaking proudly, ‘please understand that I am a valetti. I am completely trustworthy. A good valetti knows everything within his household and exercises the utmost discretion. I can assure you that I am the best. I have, and will always, maintain the utmost discretion.’
Galdo bowed as Charlie raised his eyebrows and then the young valetti lowered his voice and continued.
‘It is true,’ he said, ‘that the Farisians, for the most part, will not know you and your friends for what you are. They do not necessarily have your senses, most are not natural hunters. Your clothing, however, does present problems,’ he added, holding out Charlie’s t-shirt between two fingers as though it was something highly repugnant, ‘but given that Farisia and Kelpasia are complex kingdoms and that our two cultures are tolerant of difference, perhaps you will not be identified so easily as to what you truly are.’
‘Thanks!’ replied Charlie, grabbing his t-shirt from Galdo. ‘So that’s why you Farisians hate people from our world, because of your tolerance?’ he added sarcastically.
Galdo looked puzzled. ‘Hate is a strong word, Master Charlie. It is true, there is a distrust of your worlds, but I don’t know for sure that it is hatred. I understand that it is many years since anyone from your worlds has visited here. For most of us, you and the humans belong to our storybooks.’
‘And that’s why you’re keeping our being here secret,’ said Charlie, ‘because we’re the stuff of myth and legend?’
‘Something like that,’ agreed Galdo. ‘The Laudis have commanded that it should be so but I have always found it better to see people in a positive light rather than dwelling on the negative. There is too much darkness in our worlds already.’
Outside they heard the chimes of a nearby bell.
‘Now Master Charlie, you must hurry and breakfast with the others, otherwise the Council will be kept waiting and that will not do. Are you certain that I cannot help you dress?’ he asked hopefully.
‘Thanks, Galdo, but I’ve got it,’ replied Charlie pulling on his t-shirt and jumping out of bed, ‘and tell the domovoy, thanks for the shoes – they look weird but thanks all the same!’ he grinned.
Galdo nodded disappointedly and then reluctantly left the room, walking backwards as Charlie closed the door behind him.
*
‘Good sleep?’ asked Charlie, slapping both his friends on the back, their mouths too crammed with sausage, eggs and bacon to reply.
Ziggy was sitting with them, his plate piled equally high, which seemed totally contradictory because his body was so thin and gangly.
‘Ziggy here’s just been telling us that there’s a gateway between Pergamont and home,’ said Hari.
Ziggy looked up and smiled as Charlie returned from the serving benches with an overfilled plate, trying to ensure that he didn’t lose a precariously balanced sausage.
‘We were just trying to work out where it might be,’ said James. ‘You’ve not seen any markings like those in the cave anywhere at Pemberton, have you?’
Charlie shook his head, cramming a whole sausage into his mouth as he tucked into his breakfast.
‘Me neither, and I live there,’ Hari shrugged. ‘Lil said the one at Carfax Hall is down by the lake so I’m guessing it could be anywhere on the estate.’
‘Where is Lil?’ asked Charlie.
James looked up, shaking his head. ‘You have no idea mate. Try living with four women and attempting to get anyway near to the bathroom each morning! She’ll be another hour at least!’ he replied.
‘Surely, the best way to find the gateway at Pemberton must be for you to go home using it when you leave here today,’ suggested Ziggy buttering yet another slice of toast. ‘I doubt we’ll take that route much when we start work, it’s much easier to use the one at Hallington High if we can find it. Oh, didn’t I mention,’ he continued grinning at each of them in turn, ‘Etricklore and the Council want you to start your studies with me straight away!’
James groaned. ‘Don’t they realise we’ve got exams this year? Important exams.’
‘Like that really matters now that we’re vampires!’ sniffed Charlie.
‘It matters to me,’ replied James firmly,’ and I wish you’d use the correct term, we’re sanguins, not vampires!’
Charlie rolled his eyes. ‘Whatever you call it, it doesn’t change what we are or what we do!’
‘Until you understand the historical contexts,’ continued Ziggy, ignoring the boys, ‘with the geographies of the old kingdoms, the manuscripts, the languages and have had time to search the libraries, you’re pretty useless to Lily in tracing the missing Elementals. I still have no idea what these things actually look like or from where they were originally stolen,’ he sighed, ‘and that’s before we try to find where they’ve been hidden and where we need to put them to restore the planet! We have two geographies and four worlds to search. This is going to be like searching for a needle in an oat sack! I’m telling you, after deciphering the routes that were taken by the thieves and then retracing their steps, recovering these things will be a piece of toast!’
‘Haystack and cake!’ corrected Charlie.
Ziggy frowned at the teenager. ‘What do you mean, haystack and cake?’ he asked, his brow furrowed.
‘Needle in a haystack and a piece of cake; you might be the greatest mind in all the known worlds, but you definitely have a problem mixing your metaphors, mate!’ said Charlie
‘Give it a rest Charlie, I don’t think any of us really want an English lesson just now and at least Ziggy here is trying,’ said Hari, ‘I’d like to see you come out with some Farisian grammar!’
‘Look, I’m not being funny Ziggy, but when exactly do the Laudis think we’ve got time to fit all this stuff in?’ asked James. ‘Like I’ve just said, we’ve got our main exams
in a couple of weeks, all of us have, and no one back home knows anything about all this four worlds stuff. Right now my folks think I’m at Hari’s house revising and having the odd hour off to mess around with the bikes. They’ll assume the worst if I don’t do well in my exams and Charlie’s the same, even if he won’t admit it!’
‘I’ve said I’ve gone camping,’ grinned Charlie.
Hari started to laugh. ‘You think that the worst your parents can assume is that you’ve lost interest in your schoolwork?’ he chortled. ‘Try telling them you’ve become a bloodsucking predator because of the DNA package that they happened to pass down to you and see what that does for them!’
James grinned. ‘Okay, so maybe you have a point,’ he replied, ‘but doing well in my exams and getting good grades means a lot to them and I know this might be news to you, but I don’t want to disappoint them. They don’t need to know that I’m some kind of bloodsucker, studying Farisian ancient history with Merlin here, and riding around on some terrifying, mythical creature with six nostrils and a weird chest cavity, but they do need to know that I’m going to get the grades. And besides, no matter what anyone says, these exams count towards university offers.’
‘What?’ exclaimed Charlie, ‘from a university that won’t exist because our planet has bled to death, and life as we know it is doomed?’
A number of heads from the other breakfast tables in the hall turned.
‘Okay, I take your point,’ replied James lowering his voice, ‘but you of all people know what it’s like, Charlie. Living this double life is madness when you live in a small house with five people. I keep thinking that any minute I might want to pounce on them and suck them dry!’
They all looked at him, grins slowly spreading across their faces as they turned their attention back to their plates and continued ploughing through their breakfasts.