Amelie: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Yes. My wife and I have two little ones,’ David said.

  ‘Excellent. My preference was to give the cottage to a family. The room you were in last night isn’t ideal for children.’

  ‘We were together, warm and safe. That was enough,’ David said earnestly. ‘Thank you sir,’ he added quietly.

  Jim nodded. ‘Blake can show you the cottage when you’re done here. You’d be reporting to him so you can let him know if you want to take the job; unless you’ve already made your decision?’

  ‘I must think it over and let my wife see the cottage,’ David said. ‘But I’d like to provisionally say yes please.’

  ‘Good to have you on board,’ Jim said warmly and shook his hand. Through the quick contact he skimmed David’s thoughts. He was far more excited than he was showing and knew his wife would be delighted with any solid structure she could call home. ‘I’d better get a cleaning crew organised then, so you can move straight in.’ Jim said lightly and left him in Blake’s capable hands. He walked straight down to the stable block and went into the empty cottage. As he’d expected there was a strong smell of damp and mildew; not particularly welcoming. He could also sense the presence of a variety of vermin. He shivered, opened the front door and prepared an eviction spell. He shivered again, watching rats, mice and cockroaches rush out the door. Less visible were the fleas, mites, moths and other small insects that had been making their homes in the remains of the furniture. He repeated the spell for the upper floor and then attic. The spell he’d come up with to clean the dormitory had been surprisingly effective and simple, turning the existing damp into cleansing steam. He opened the upstairs windows examining just how worn and rotten they were. But all the other cottages also needed doing. That was a job for a crew to assist with. So, beginning in one of the three bedrooms he created steam and worked slowly from top to bottom. Mildew, damp and grime washed down the walls.

  Amelie sitting in a rather boring lecture by Vako raised her head to the window. She noticed Vako and the other students also turned, sensing powerful magic. It could only be Jim and whatever he was doing, he was working alone. ‘Damn that man,’ Amelie muttered. ‘Excuse me Vako,’ she said with absent courtesy already rising.

  ‘Has he called you?’ Vako asked.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then he obviously doesn’t need assistance,’ Vako said coolly.

  ‘Does the power he’s using feel like minor spells to you?’ Amelie asked. ‘I believe you were just telling us how dangerous casting strong spells without backup can be,’ she added. Vako reluctantly nodded and with that acceptance she shrugged off her jacket, closed her eyes and became an eagle. She wriggled out of her remaining clothes but paused a moment feeling odd in her belly. She swiftly grabbed her clothes together in her talons, aware the whole class was staring at her. She shoved them in her small canvas book bag and flew out the door, bag in her talons.

  Her class mates quickly went to the window, as did Vako, and watched the eagle fly out the front door way below them and sweep right immediately and at speed, her wings beating powerfully.

  Jim felt Amelie’s rapid approach and looked out the window. The eagle’s searching gaze locked on him and she landed on the open window casement. ‘Hello love, I thought you were in class?’

  ‘I was and then we all felt tremendous energy waves and I knew you were doing something, but all alone. That’s dangerous love, not to mention exhausting,’ she chided him, looking around the room with interest. She came in properly and changed back to human form.

  ‘What is it?’ Jim asked hearing her sharp intake of breath and seeing her hand was on her stomach.

  ‘I don’t know. I feel strange. It was as though my innards didn’t want to change into bird form,’ she said.

  ‘You’ve gone white,’ he said anxiously and linked with her. That didn’t help so he withdrew from her mind and sent his senses into her body. Her hand on her belly gave him the clue where to look.’

  ‘You’re smiling,’ she observed although aware he was still exploring.

  ‘You’re pregnant Am,’ he told her.

  ‘I am? I didn’t hurt it by changing, did I? Birds aren’t mammals. No wonder my innards didn’t change properly.’ She met his eyes as the realisation hit her. ‘I’m going to have your baby,’ she said slowly and threw herself into his arms, holding him closely. She heard his joy at the prospect and knew that he was feeling incredibly protective and tender towards her. She laughed happily in relief and leaned back in his arms. His eyes had turned gold, an indication he was experiencing powerful emotions. She sensed no conflict in him, as was often the case when his eyes changed like that. Maybe the yellow wasn’t just an indication of anger. She kissed him and his response was ardent, yet gentle and loving.

  ‘Let’s get this place sorted out my dear,’ she told him. ‘Then we can relax.’ He was fairly sure the baby hadn’t been injured by her change but she wanted him to check again later when they’d both calmed down. But he was adamant that she was to take no further risks by changing into any more birds.

  ‘I can’t sap your strength,’ he objected, when she offered her hand.

  ‘Jim, don’t be daft. The baby doesn’t need it yet and I’m not remotely incapacitated. Focus. Let’s get this job done,’ she added.

  He took a breath, centring himself and soaking up her strength. Now with double the power he could work twice as fast. A river of grime flowed from each bedroom across the landing and flowed down the stairs. Jim and Amelie followed, walking on clean and drying floors behind the rolling muck. He went to the door and directed it outside onto the weeds in the garden. Then they tackled the big single downstairs living and kitchen areas. A second roll of dirt was soon spread over the garden where it would fertilise the ground. He went back into the kitchen and frowned at the black goo running out of the fireplace. He sent hot steam blasting up the chimney cleaning years’ worth of soot and blockages.

  ‘That wasn’t very sensible love. We should have remembered to do the chimney first,’ Amelie laughed. The single chimney running up the centre of the house opened as a fireplace in the main bedroom. Wet soot was now spattered all over the just cleaned room.

  ‘Didn’t think of it,’ Jim muttered ruefully, cleaning up the mess. ‘At least no-one was watching that,’ he commented in embarrassment. ‘All the other cottages probably need this kind of deep clean.’

  ‘Yes, but telling them that wouldn’t be too tactful. You don’t want the occupants to think you’re implying they’re dirty. Your way of cleaning is far more effective than they’d be able to do short of soaking and scrubbing everything. You can’t do that in winter or nothing would dry. So, one of the newcomers at least has decided to stay?’

  ‘Yes, as a stable hand. David was fairly sure his wife would agree. They’re one of the ones with small children so they need a clean place,’ Jim said.

  ‘Definitely,’ she agreed and closed the windows while he tackled the rudimentary plumbing in the kitchen before heading outside to the privy. She looked around carefully for other problems, spotting rickety chairs and a sharp splintered edge where the big kitchen table had been damaged. Together they repaired these things. He also renewed the front door so it was no longer warped and would close properly. They stepped outside and walked slowly along the path scouring it as they walked, freeing it of nettles, brambles and other weeds particularly hazardous to small children. The garden wall he’d repaired the other day when doing the other cottages. The little gate opened and closed properly too.

  ‘All done,’ Jim said to Blake just coming forward with David.

  Blake raised his brows remembering just how bad this cottage had been last he’d looked. ‘I thought you were going to call a cleaning crew?’ he asked quietly, sure the headmaster had better things to be doing.

  ‘This was quicker,’ Jim said with a shrug. ‘I had sufficient help,’ he added glancing at Amelie. ‘Go on in and check if there’s anything we missed.’ He noticed the woman s
tanding beside David, obviously his wife, staring wide-eyed at the cottage and also at Jim and Amelie. Jim held the gate open invitingly for the woman. David and then Blake followed.

  Blake came out quite quickly; having seen what had been achieved in the way of cleaning and repair. He now left the pair some privacy to decide for themselves. He closed a door behind him that now didn’t scrape on the floor and walked down an old but clean brick path. Ok, the garden was an untouched wilderness, but it was winter and they all had the same amount of ground to do with as they pleased. He would be shocked if David and his wife didn’t take the offer. What else did they have in the way of options and this was a fair one by anyone’s standards. He joined the headmaster and his lady who were standing near the stable block, deep in discussion.

  ‘Is this where the second block would go?’ Blake asked.

  ‘Yes, to be parallel to the other block. Do you think this a good position? Or would it be better back to back with the existing block?’

  ‘No, here is better. With horses and barns there’s always the risk of fire. This way all the buildings are separate and the risk of fire spreading is reduced. It’s also easier to keep an eye on them all this way.’

  ‘Ah, of course,’ Jim said. The widely spaced placements of the buildings now made sense. ‘To build the new block I’m going to need plenty of timber and stone. Do you know if we have any already available? Or if there’s a quarry nearby?’

  ‘There’s a quarry about a mile from here in the woods. That’s where the stone for the house and wall came from. But I think it was mostly used up. That’s why the other buildings are wood. It’s also quicker and easier of course to build with wood.’

  ‘True, but it doesn’t last as long. I was also thinking we’d need gravel to make sturdy foundations. Where did the bricks in the yard come from?’

  ‘The village has a brick maker. But he’s expensive,’ Blake added.

  ‘But if there’s a local brick maker then there must be the right kind of clay around here?’ Jim mused, brightening.

  ‘I suppose so. The ground’s pretty heavy in places to be sure,’ Blake said. ‘Particularly up near the training ground.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jim said in dismissal and walked Amelie back up to the house.

  ‘What are you thinking?’ Amelie asked, doing him the courtesy of not guessing, since his mind was flittering over all kinds of things.

  ‘With all these people, we’re probably going to need a lot of new buildings. I quite like the thought of setting up our own brick-maker; we could then satisfy whatever material needs we have. It’d give work to several people too I imagine.’

  Back inside they sat, hands clasped around hot mugs and exchanging smiles. It had been an eventful day.

  ‘Hi Drako,’ Jim welcomed.

  ‘I understand David’s already got himself a lovely private house,’ Drako commented.

  ‘Well, the early bird catches the worm,’ Jim said. ‘It’s a little cottage beside where all the other stable hands live. He’s been to tell you then?’

  ‘Just a minute ago. His missus has taken the kids down there and he’s just collected all their kit. You’ve made them very happy.’

  ‘Glad to hear it,’ Jim said and glanced questioningly at Amelie.

  She shook her head and privately told him not to spread their news just yet. It was very early in her pregnancy for announcements. She glanced at Drako; he’d missed nothing of their private looks and was clearly curious.

  ‘So what’s the feeling with your people?’ Jim asked quietly.

  ‘Generally they’re very keen indeed, assuming they can find a place that suits them. Some of course are dubious and dismayed at the idea of splitting up and integrating with you here. This is a rather sudden and unexpected offer to get their heads around! Some fear Clan Green Bear will be lost more surely than if we surrendered to some other outsider,’ Drako explained rather apologetically. But some of his people had been trenchant in their opinions and he knew such feelings were better aired where they could be addressed openly, rather than festering in private.

  ‘But your people won’t be split up. You’ll all be here in the one place. We too all come from different places and are certainly not asking anyone to give up their identity and origin. But, a new settlement in particular, will need every individual to fully contribute. I have not asked anyone to surrender and am not at all attempting to stop anyone who wishes to leave from doing so.’

  ‘I know and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness,’ Drako said hastily, noticing Jim’s eyes had turned green and were rapidly approaching gold. They now returned to blue and Drako breathed a small sigh of relief. Whatever it was that caused the yellow in his eyes, Jim’s anger awakened a cooler, powerful and more judgemental personality. That had been the one visible when Amelie had been shot and Drako had no wish to awaken it again.

  ‘To be honest, I think they’re just surprised and need time to absorb the offer. I will tell the sceptics what you have said but I doubt any will really wish to leave. Certainly not when all can see David has landed on his feet so comfortably.’

  ‘That was the only empty cottage we had,’ Jim cautioned. ‘But I was impressed to find him already up at the training ground seeing to the horses and that he’d had the initiative to seek out Blake and get feed for them. That kind of conscientious commitment is good to see and Blake was happy to give him a job on that basis.’

  ‘You don’t like free loaders and slackers,’ Drako added with a small smile. He too was going to have to be seen working, as were all his people. They’d been granted food and shelter without strings, but the sooner his people followed David’s example the better.

  ‘I believe Blake would also like a further man to join his team, assuming you and your horses all stay. Whoever it is will get a cottage like David but we’d need to build it. I’m also thinking along the lines of setting up a brick maker. There’s one in the local village so there must be good clay nearby somewhere. We still need to investigate this, but with all the building that’s likely, it makes sense to employ whoever wishes to try it. Obviously at this point, I have no idea what useful skills your people already have. But I thought creating a working village within the walls, would serve all our needs. A variety of workshops would be useful to have on site, make us all more self sufficient in any awkward days ahead. Blacksmithing, weapons making, carpentry, saw mill. Farming or animal husbandry too would be very useful. The grounds are largely unused at present. I happen to like eggs for breakfast but we don’t have more than a few mangy chickens at the moment. As I said before, your people may have skills that I haven’t thought of and the sooner they let me know what they can do the sooner I can make plans to put things into motion. But today, what would be most useful, is a party to go out and check if any of your pursuers are still nearby. We could also use any fresh meat you come across.’

  ‘I’ll get a party together,’ Drako said eagerly. Some of his men would welcome the opportunity to get out of that claustrophobically full room and hunt.

  ‘Any interested in becoming students should come down and join classes, see if they like it. I assume you don’t have any wizard skilled people?’

  ‘None that I know of,’ Drako said. ‘So students can only be animus or wizard? What of the ordinary youngsters?’

  ‘We don’t have any ourselves, but that’s not to say one of your people can’t take on the job of teaching them. We can easily set aside a classroom and they can certainly join some subjects. Terry hasn’t any magic but teaches tactics; that could be a class they could do for instance. Weapons training they could obviously do too. Training and exercising the horses will be another job of course. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.’

  ‘No limits on work available,’ Drako acknowledged. He finished his tea and took his leave. His head was now stuffed with things and options to tell his people. Sitting passively waiting for someone to give them work and a place to live wasn’t go
ing to happen. He suspected their host wasn’t going to feed and shelter the lazy for long. Bearing in mind Jim was a remarkably energetic person and a wizard, Drako was sure he’d quickly find a way to “encourage” the unwilling to do their share. This was something he wanted to make sure was understood by everyone: Jim was not to be taken advantage of. The potential of this new alliance was far too important to jeopardise.

  A few minutes later Jim felt several animus pass and glanced out the window. Drako gave him a small wave, obviously unsurprised Jim had noticed him. Jim watched them jog swiftly across the field to the people gate. They wore dark green-brown clothes and each was armed with a multitude of weapons. Jim felt his triggers on the gate activate but was glad to note only six went through. Clearly they’d left someone behind on guard at the gate to let them back in.

  A tall young man came into the room and glanced round before spotting Jim and coming directly over. In his wake were about 20 young people. When Drako passed on messages to his people, they obeyed very promptly!

  ‘You’ve brought potential students over?’ Jim asked.

  ‘Yes sir. I’m Julian,’ he added.

  ‘Excellent, come over here where there’s a bit more space and I’ll sort you into classes,’ Jim said briskly.

  ‘Won’t we all be together?’ Julian asked nervously.

  ‘You’ll be joining the class most suitable to your ability and age. There’s no point in sending someone who’s animus into a wizard class now is there?’

  ‘Ah, I see your point,’ Julian said quickly and stepped back.

  ‘Julian, you go stand over there please,’ Jim said having already ascertained at first glance he was animus. He gestured to a girl next. ‘Come forward so you’re apart from the others,’ Jim instructed and a moment later sent her to join Julian. Soon a second smaller crowd also began to form. Jim looked round quickly as a young women with a girl of perhaps twelve arrived and joined the back of the unsorted queue. When he finally worked his way to them he smiled at the girl.