by R A Browell
‘Not quite, but we need to be able to talk with them sensibly and thought that if the Magisterie gave us their backing…’
Silky watched Twizell as he finished the bandaging, folded the ends in neatly and started on the plaster.
‘I see,’ said the bespectacled old Kelph. He paused, as if considering what he was about to say. ‘Many people pass through Serenisa you know. We hear lots of gossip around the city. Some of it helpful, some of it not. There has been talk of the Seleni having a guest. A young girl, very beautiful by all counts’.
Silky caught Hari’s eye but neither said a word as Twizell added, ‘Still, they are a formidable trinity, those three. I don’t envy you one bit. They’re used to getting their own way, treated like royalty whenever they visit the city and happy to live up to it too. When the Seleni want something, they usually get it. I suppose your one consolation is that you won’t be of huge interest to the Seleni my dear, they never did like nymphs, something about your blood not being to their taste, but maybe I can find something for these two,’ he said and nodded towards Hari and Ziggy. ‘A little added protection against the feminine charms, so to speak,’ he added and chuckled to himself. ‘All done.’ He patted Ziggy’s arm gently. ‘And no more hanging your arms over the side of boats! Actually, I’m amazed this one let you go with such a little injury. We don’t get many survivors from zoytail attacks and those we do are usually broken into many pieces and badly slashed – nasty, nasty creatures,’ he explained. ‘You’re very lucky, my young friend, they don’t often lose their grip so easily.’
He narrowed his eyes and glanced at Hari and then started putting the stoppers on all the jars and ointments as he placed them carefully away. ‘Now then, perhaps you would all like a cup of lavandula tea while we wait for this wrist to set properly? It’ll need a couple of hours, then I’ll get those bandages off and you can be on your way, as good as new,’ he said and winked at Ziggy as he ushered them towards the back of the shop and down a narrow stone-lined corridor that opened out into a homely kitchen.
‘Come in, come in!’ he said, welcoming them with a wave of his arms. He swung the kettle onto the range to boil. ‘Make yourselves at home. Hobnob,’ he shouted, ‘we have visitors for tea!’
A beautifully dressed young domovoy appeared from a door to one side of the range. He bowed low and immediately started arranging the table. A large clock, with an unfamiliar face, hung over the mantle, ticking steadily as the kettle whistled and Hobnob fussed; laying out the best china and cutting into a large, freshly baked sponge cake. Tea was made and poured and drunk and Twizell and Silky had just settled themselves into two huge wing back fireside chairs in front of the range, when Hari jumped up; his eyes wide and his body alert.
‘They’re here!’ he shouted triumphantly, ‘I told you they’d find us!’ he added excitedly and the words had hardly left his lips when the others also heard what had caught Hari’s attention. It was the roar of three motorbike engines echoing down the narrow alleyway outside.
‘An amazing sense of hearing for a human,’ said Twizell, glancing at Silky as Hari dashed down the narrow corridor and back into the shop.
‘Blimey, what a place to find you. Could you have made it any more difficult?’ said Charlie, pushing back his windblown hair, as the skelebell shook violently on its spring and the other two leather-clad bikers bent down low to enter the small consulting room.
‘Who’s hurt?’ asked James, looking anxiously around.
‘Only me,’ called Ziggy, strolling down the stone passage. ‘I managed to break my wrist, but it’s nearly sorted, a couple more minutes and this comes off!’ he pointed to the plaster cast and bandages.
Silky was the last to enter the consulting room from the kitchen, her skirts making their usual cautionary rustle as she walked slowly and purposefully down the corridor.
She stood with her hands on her hips.
‘Bikes! Motorbikes! Really?’ she exclaimed, staring out of the shop window. ‘You actually brought those machines through the gateway?’ she stormed as she glared at Charlie and James. The three muddy machines were parked in the alleyway outside Twizell’s shop and were attracting plenty of attention. ‘Well don’t blame me if you get gremlins in the engines,’ she warned, ‘and Galdo, don’t you dare to think that these two are a valid excuse for your behaviour,’ she snapped. ‘I expected better from a valetti!’
Galdo started to shake at the nymph’s reprimand as the others looked down at the floor and also started to shake.
‘And you four can wipe those smiles off your faces!’ she added angrily.
‘That nymph’s worse than my mum, any day!’ frequenced Charlie as the others finally couldn’t hold on much longer and they all exploded in a fit of triumph, relief and laughter.
*
‘There, that’s done!’ said Twizell, unwrapping the bandages, ‘and not a bad job, though I say so myself!’
Ziggy lifted his hand into the air and spread his fingers wide, before rippling them as though he were playing the keys of an invisible piano. He twisted his wrist around and around in a circular motion.
‘That feels fantastic! Thank you Dr Hopringer,’ said Ziggy politely.
‘I’m glad you think so,’ said the bonesetter, beaming as he bowed his head slightly, ‘and Twizell please, Dr Hopringer makes me sound so much older than I really am. To friends I’m Twizell.’
The clock over the mantle, ticked interminably slowly and the boys smiled to themselves. The thought that this ancient, hollow-backed Kelph was worried about sounding old seemed oddly surreal.
‘Well, Twizell,’ said Ziggy, ‘thank you for an awesome job!’
‘Awesome job?’ repeated Twizell raising his eyebrows slightly as he glanced at Silky. She smiled. Ziggy was obviously the one taking lessons from the others, at least for now…
All five teenagers were sat around the kitchen table. Ziggy, Charlie, Hari and James were tucking into mugs of lavandula tea and platefuls of crumpets, which Hobnob was busy toasting and buttering; the serving plate emptying as fast as he was filling it. Galdo was still sniffling into his handkerchief, delicately nibbling the corner of a chocolate cupcake between intermittent sighs.
‘I was thinking, Twizell. Maybe you’d accept an invitation to visit me in the Farisian libraries. As a thank you,’ offered Ziggy. ‘We have a marvellous section on anatomy from throughout the four worlds; medicine, herbology, pharmacology. In fact, most ‘ologies’ you can think of…’
Twizell smiled and this time all of them noticed a halo of light that seemed to shine from within his hollowed back.
‘Most kind and most acceptable, my young, learned friend and before you go, I have something for those of you that intend to visit Aldrovanda. You should understand that the Seleni are unpredictable and have become very efficient in using their talents, especially against those of the opposite sex. It is my understanding that whilst the female is not totally immune to their attractions, that they prefer to feast on the male of any species and particularly humans,’ he said gazing at Hari, Charlie and James, ‘and so I have three gifts that may be of assistance.’ He rose from his seat, opened a cupboard and, one by one, handed Silky three small jars.
‘The first is something so simple, that many forget it when they approach the Seleni but I like to think of it as an insurance policy, just in case… I give you humble beeswax. It can be used to stop your ears and dilute the impact of their intoxicating melodies. The second is tibast ointment, a poisonous plant extract which causes strangulation and choking if consumed. Should the Seleni sense it on your skin, it will perhaps make you slightly less appealing and should they still choose to bite you, they will experience a choking sensation which probably wouldn’t harm a creature such as a vampire long term, but it would certainly give you a little time to make your escape. This ointment is particularly potent and carries a warning - do not under any circumstances let this cream pass over your own lips - on a vampire the cream merely slows them down
but on a human the results would be fatal.’ He looked pointedly at Charlie, Hari and James. ‘And finally, vandelrot root. This is a rare substance, which when mixed with daric acid, will have increased intensity for a vampire. It sedates those who inhale, acting as a powerful tranquillizer. Again, should you find yourselves in difficulty, it will give you time to escape and once again this preparation comes with a warning and you must take care. Even though, as humans, you may not be quite as sensitive to its effects as the vampire, vandelrot is particularly potent and who would want to slumber, even for a moment, in the presence of a hungry vampire?’
‘Humans not as sensitive as the vampire?’ James frequenced. ‘Does he really have no idea what we are?’
‘Did you tell him we were humans?’ frequenced Charlie.
‘No, he just assumed that we were when Silky said we were from the human world,’ replied Hari.
‘I wouldn’t be so sure,’ added Ziggy. ‘He’s a bright guy. I think he knows that you’re not humans, but that you’re not regular vampires either. He’s being very specific in his warnings.’
Hari glanced towards the fireside to make sure that Silky and Twizell hadn’t noticed their private interchange.
‘Twizell, you are most kind,’ Silky replied, gathering her belongings. ‘I wonder if we could prevail upon you for one more favour. Might we leave the motorbike machines with you? They seemed to attract rather a lot of attention earlier and we won’t need them to get to Aldrovanda. The boys will collect them before they return home, speaking of which, where would we find a gateway in Aldrovanda should it be needed?’
Twizell thought carefully. ‘They removed the Aldrovanda gateway many years ago, when the island was first given to the Seleni. They weren’t sure if vampires could be trusted, at least not to start with.’ Twizell glanced at Hari, James and Charlie. ‘There’s very little surface bedrock here in Serenisa, plenty across on the mainland of course. I think the Magisterie’s Palace will have a gateway, but it’s most probably very little used. You understand that we Kelphs prefer to keep ourselves to ourselves,’ he explained. ‘People are generally welcomed here, but we are not great travellers. It may have been different in the old days, but times change. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. If I were you I should ask the Magisterie. If they are happy to grant you safe audience with the Seleni, then I can’t see how a request to use the gateway would be a problem. You will take care,’ he said as he leaned forward and pressed Silky’s hand, ‘and let me see you and that boy of yours before too long? Maybe I should make a visit to Holmewood, you always used to say how beautiful it was in the spring. A short holiday perhaps,’ he added and smiled as he led them down the passage to the surgery door. ‘You get more and more like your dear mother,’ he said fondly. ‘Look after her,’ he said to the teenagers, ‘and remember, be careful with the Seleni. They’re vampires of the old school and we all know what that means. In the main, they’re not to be trusted!’
Charlie flinched.
‘Don’t take it personally,’ frequenced Ziggy quickly. ‘Can’t you see that it’s a compliment and a warning? He’s just playing the game, giving us some useful advice without blowing your cover. He’s brighter than you imagine.’
‘And you, dearest Twizell, you know that you are welcome at my home anytime. Take good care, I shall be safe. I have these fine strapping boys to look after me.’ She smiled as she reached up to embrace the old Kelph.
Hari raised his eyebrows. ‘Like she’d ever need us to take care of her!’ he teased as they all laughed. All, that is, except Galdo, who’d been quietly watching the boys with wide eyes, whilst listening to the wisdom of the old bonesetter.
*
They joined the busy marketplace on foot and headed up towards the Serenisian palaces.
‘We can’t take him with us, not to Aldrovanda. I’m not sure his nerves could stand it. Just look at him already. What with the lindorm and Ziggy’s encounter with the zoytail, he’s working up nicely to some kind of fright meltdown. If we take him to meet the Seleni he’ll freak. He’s a liability, used to dressing people in haute couture and plumping cushions. We can’t take him, it’s unfair to him and it’ll be a hindrance to us!’
Charlie was striding alongside Silky up through the narrow, cobbled streets and trying his best to persuade her to send Galdo back to Twizell’s.
‘Charlie, you’re forgetting something. You brought him here! You can’t just abandon him in Serenisa. It’s your responsibility to get him back home, back to Pergamont.’
‘Silky, you know he can’t come with us. I need to be with the others to help Lily and Valens.’ Silky flinched at the mention of her son. ‘Why can’t we take him back and leave him with Twizell?’
‘Because Galdo needs to go back home, Charlie,’ she snapped, rubbing her temples. ‘Really, you two have just added to the complications by bringing him along,’ she sighed.
‘Silky’ said Hari softy, ‘we don’t even know that Lily is with the Seleni on Aldrovanda. We’ve had no word from Valens.’
‘You didn’t expect it!’ snapped Silky.
‘No, we didn’t, but at the moment we’re going purely on a hunch of a woman who talks to stones and lives in a ruin in the forest and some gossip around Serensia that their state assassins have a pretty house guest! We have to accept that Lily might not be there, in which case we’re all back to Pergamot anyway to re-think what to do next!’
Silky waited.
‘I know we all need to go to see the Magisterie,’ continued Hari. ‘But neither Ziggy nor Galdo are hunters, nor for that matter are you.’
She turned to face him, narrowed her eyes and then walked briskly away.
‘Silky, wait, hang on a minute,’ he called, running after her. ‘Listen. Here in Serenisa, we need diplomacy when we go before the Magisterie. We need the letters of introduction, the explanations, the expertise that you and Ziggs can provide, but once we’re on Aldrovanda, if Lily is with them, then there are only two options - either the Seleni listen, accept what we and the Magisterie ask of them and release Lily, or we have to take her forcibly, which might mean we have to fight. You heard what Ilia said, and Twizell… And if we have to fight,’ continued Hari, ‘the more people we have with us, the more risk there is to everyone, including Lily and Valens. I know you might not agree but we’ve been talking and we think you should leave the Seleni to the four of us; Valens, Charlie, James and me. We’re strong now. We’ve all fed on big predators and if we need to we’re ready for what’s ahead; physically and mentally.’
Silky shook her head. ‘I’m sorry but I can’t! That’s my son and the closest thing I have to a daughter out there. There’s no way I will leave it to you three… boys!’ Silky’s lower lip started to quiver. She quickly caught herself and regained her composure. ‘As I said, absolutely not. Under any circumstances!’
‘I’m sorry Silky, but you must,’ James interrupted, gently but firmly. ‘Not only are you no warrior, but you’re just too compromised by your feelings.’
‘And you’re not?’ Silky replied emphatically.
‘Actually, no we’re not,’ he replied. ‘Come on Silky, you of all people understand. You know we’re the best predators on the planet. Once we start hunting our instinct takes over and our instinct is to preserve Lily first and ourselves last. We look after our family group; pack or coven, call it what you will, and that doesn’t include you or Galdo or Ziggy or even Valens. I mean we’ll look out for him, of course we will, but if she’s there, Lily’s our priority.’ He paused as his voice softened further. ‘Silky, your motivations are different. If you had to choose between Lily and Valens, who would you choose?’
Silky didn’t answer immediately. ‘Well, who would you choose if it were a choice between any of you?’ she asked, hoping he would find his own response equally difficult.
‘Lily,’ James replied simply. ‘It would always be Lily, even if it was at the expense of any one of the others. We can’t explain it but we all feel the
same.’
Charlie and Hari nodded in agreement.
‘Is that because she’s the only one who you think can retrieve the Elementals?’ asked Silky quietly.
Hari shook his head. ‘Perversely I think our instinct has very little to do with the Elementals and the future of the planet; it’s more basic than that. She’s the future of our species. Instinctively we’ll protect her because, irrespective of anything else, Charlie, James or me, Lily is our family, she’s pivotal and that’s what we’re prepared to die for.’ Hari placed his hand gently on Silky’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry. We speak bluntly about choices that need to be made in the heat of battle. Of course, Valens is important to us, you must know that, but Lily is more so.’
Silky pressed her lips together and nodded as she swallowed hard and looked at the floor. She blinked. She knew in her heart that they all spoke sense. Wasn’t that why the gatekeepers had let them through?
The three vampires walked silently beside the thoughtful nymph, across the sunlit square and towards the magnificent façade of the Magisterial Palaces. Behind them, they could hear Ziggy and Galdo sharing horror stories about their ordeals with monsters of huge proportions as they each bragged about the strength and fighting abilities of their new sanguin friends.
‘Alright!’ said Silky finally breaking the silence as they approached the marble steps to the palace entrance and the duty guard. ‘Let’s go and get those letters of authority that you’re going to need and then you can go and and try and find our little girl whilst I get our two tall storytellers back home to the safety of Pergamont Castle!’
Aldrovanda