The Temptation of Dragons (Penny White Book 1)

by Chrys Cymri

  I had shifted an unconscious Morey to lie more comfortably around my neck. ‘He saved me from myself last night.’

  ‘Good gryphon.’ She gave me a smile. ‘I knew you two would work it out.’

  The glass doors opened as we entered the cathedral. Despite the worry shooting through my legs, some of the calm the building always gave me eased into my chest. For a moment, God swooped near, and I took a deep breath of his supportive presence. The Lord is my shepherd, I reminded myself. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he is still with me.

  The welcomers greeted the Dean, and she had to stop to answer a question from one of the vergers. Then she led me up the nave, along the south transept, and into the eastern end. A metal barrier stretched across the corner, behind which hulked a black cylinder. ‘The thin place,’ she told me, ‘is just to the right of the heater.’

  ‘It’s here? In the cathedral?’

  She laughed. ‘Why do you think the “new building” is here?’

  ‘But the “new building” is over five hundred years old.’

  ‘And so is the thin place.’

  ‘So it’s not unusual to have a thin place in a cathedral.’

  ‘What’s unusual is that Nenehampton only has the one.’ Angelica pulled a key from her pocket. ‘Made it much easier to lock away. Send me a text when you’re back and I’ll let you out again.’

  She swung the gate open. I straightened my shoulders. Morey muttered but remained semi-conscious. The space between the cylinder and the wall was wide, but then it had to allow dragons through. I took a deep breath, and walked forward with more confidence than I felt.

  The shift was so easy that I stumbled. No mortal dread, no utter blackness, no soul-chilling cold. I was suddenly in another cathedral, the same feeling of calm agelessness reminding me of the constancy of God. No wonder this thin place needed to be kept under lock and key.

  When I turned around, the heater was gone. There was no new build. Instead, in a transposition of space which left me reeling, I was in the choir area. The stalls in front of me were of light oak, rather than dark, but at least the high altar to my right was dressed in the green of the Trinity season. To my left was the main body of Llanbedr cathedral, just as lofty and light-filled as my own mother church.

  ‘Reverend Penny White?’

  I turned my head, and at first all I saw was the blue and black uniform, slightly more military than that of a British policeman. Then I looked up, and further up. He was tall, thin, beautiful, and pointed ears rose under his short black hair. He was an elf. Well, why not?

  ‘Yes,’ I said, finding my voice. ‘This is Moriarty, my Associate. Currently somewhat indisposed.’

  He gave the slightest incline of his narrow head. ‘Sergeant Craddoe Finn. I’m to take you to see your brother.’

  ‘Why was he arrested?’ This was to his back, as the sergeant had already started to march down the cathedral.

  ‘We’ll explain at the station.’

  ‘Is it far?’ We weren’t even to the doors yet, and I was already beginning to puff with the effort of keeping up with his long strides.

  ‘We’ll be taking transport.’

  The doors led out onto a cathedral green much larger than that of Nenehampton. Low buildings painted in various pastel shades lined the cobbled streets which stretched away in all directions. The thick smell of coal fires floated on the slight breeze, and I suddenly realised that it was several degrees colder than in Nenehampton. I was glad that I’d put on a suit jacket.

  A dragon strode over to us. A black saddle marked Heddlu stretched across his gleaming purple hide. His neck and back were smooth, and I decided that he must have hatched without spines. His claws were capped with steel, his blue eyes were bright, and his breath smelled of nutmeg and wood smoke. The contrast between him and the tacsi dragon could hardly have been greater.

  Morey stirred. ‘Please leave me here,’ he said quietly. ‘I don’t think I'm up to a dragon flight, and I’d rather not embarrass myself in front of an elf.’

  The thought of going alone to a Lloegyr police station was an unwelcome one, but, I realised, to arrive with a hungover gryphon could be even worse. I carefully removed him from my neck and placed him on a nearby bench. Morey stretched out and closed his eyes.

  Craddoe had already mounted the dragon. He leaned down and held out his hand. Between his firm grasp and the polished rungs on the saddle, I was able to climb up in a semi-dignified fashion. I settled myself into place behind the elf.

  Purple wings unfurled from the strong shoulders. After two previous dragon rides, I was better prepared for the initial kick into the air. The saddle had grab handles on the cantle which separated me from the elf, and I held on to these as the dragon rose up and then levelled out.

  The cathedral now lay below us. It was a simpler construction than Nenehampton Cathedral, lacking the transept and additional buildings. Two onion-domed towers rose at the west end of a red-roofed building. This, and the roofs of the houses below, reminded me of towns in Southern Germany. In fact, I felt as if I were in the last scene of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, even though I was gliding on a dragon rather than in the Great Glass Elevator. I quoted, softly, ‘“Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted.”’

  I couldn’t pick out the police station from the air. It was only as we were landing, in a clear area obviously set aside for dragons, that I saw the brown brick building. It hulked in stubborn contrast to the more cheerful houses of pink and yellow on either side. Heddlu Llanbedr declared a heavy sign, the words white on black.

  Craddoe slipped off and then assisted me down. I was amazed how strong his thin arms were. He dismissed the dragon with a pat on the shoulder. Then he opened the door and ushered me in. I made the usual tug on my jacket.

  I’ve never been inside a police station myself, but this one looked similar to those I’d seen on television. A large lobby, a central desk, doors which presumably led to meeting rooms set into the further walls. My shoes squeaked on the tiled floor as I followed Craddoe to the desk. There another elf checked my ID, asked to see what was in my pockets, and sent off a flying rat to tell the officer on cell duty to bring James out.

  Craddoe collected a file, then took me to a meeting room. Two cups of tea were brought in. I was too nervous to think of having a drink. It took all my self control to remain seated as the door opened and James was led inside.

  He looked tired, and needed a shave, but all limbs were present and he moved without difficulty. Craddoe nodded to the other elf, and the door was shut again.

  ‘Pen, I’m so sorry--’

  ‘Master James, we brought you out because we thought you’d want to see your sister,’ Craddoe said kindly. ‘But I’ll talk to her now, okay? She can ask you questions if she needs to.’

  His tone startled me, particularly because he was once again brisk as he spoke to me. ‘James was taken into custody after he made inappropriate advances on an adult female vampire. When questioned, he denied any wrongdoing and insisted on speaking to our superiors. He became emotional. After consulting with Bishop Aeron, we decided it was best to allow him to contact you himself. I will talk you through the complaint, and perhaps the two of us can convince James that he must change his behaviour.’

  ‘All I did--’

  Craddoe gave him a smile. ‘Let the grown ups settle this, James.’

  James flushed. I had a sudden flashback to a nine year old James, red-faced as his teacher told me that my brother must stop flicking rubber bands at his classmates. The elf was speaking to James in the same manner. I told Craddoe, ‘James is twenty-two years old.’

  ‘Precisely. Below the age of majority. We have tried to bear his youth in mind.’

  I blinked. ‘Not for humans. He reached the age of majority at eighteen.’

  ‘But your book states differently.’ Craddoe slid a paperback from the file. The garish colour scheme of yellow and
orange warned me what to expect even before I saw the title. Why Your Man Won’t Grow Up, and How to Deal with Him. The elf opened the well-thumbed volume to a bookmarked page, and read from the third paragraph. “‘But men’s brains develop differently. It takes time for a boy to grow into a man. Until they reach the age of thirty-five, no one should consider a man to be mature.”’

  ‘That’s a self-help book,’ I said. ‘You can’t take it seriously.’

  The thin eyebrows rose. ‘It’s in a book, so it must be true.’

  ‘It’ll only be opinion. Like all those sorts of books are.’

  ‘But why,’ he asked slowly, ‘would anyone write a book which is not true? It’s not logical.’

  I stared at him in sudden realisation. The pointed ears, the cropped hair, the lack of emotion. Why hadn’t I seen it before? Elves were Vulcans. Or, more precisely, Vulcans were like elves. Had Gene Roddenberry ever crossed over into Lloegyr? ‘Humans aren’t logical.’

  He closed the book. ‘So James is an adult, and should be treated as such.’

  ‘Yes.’

  Craddoe frowned. ‘If he is an adult, then he could be charged with assault. The vampire could press charges.’

  Suddenly I realised my misstep. ‘And if he’s a minor? Then he’d just get a caution?’

  ‘Precisely.’

  James said, in a low voice, ‘Can I speak now?’

  The elf studied him. ‘Do you want to give a statement?’

  I cleared my throat. ‘I think we should call in a lawyer before James says anything further.’

  ‘I didn’t assault her,’ James told us. ‘We were at a bar. I tried to pick her up. That’s all. I bought her a drink, we talked, we laughed. I might have touched her arm. That’s all.’

  ‘That’s all?’ Craddoe tapped the file. ‘Are you certain?’

  ‘Of course I’m certain.’ James ran a hand through his rumpled hair. ‘Look, girls like me, okay? A drink, a chat, that’s all I need. I don’t have to work hard to get--’

  ‘Could this be a cultural misunderstanding?’ I interrupted before he could reveal more about his sex life than either of us wanted me to know. ‘What did the vampire say James actually did?’

  Craddoe opened the file and looked at the top sheet. ‘Inappropriate physical contact. Vampires don’t like to be touched.’

  ‘Well, how was I supposed to know that?’ James asked.

  The elf leaned forward. ‘You were the one who decided to go to a bar in a vampire enclave. Ignorance is no defence.’

  ‘But surely it can be a mitigating factor?’ I gave them both a rueful smile. ‘Explain to her that James honestly didn’t know he was being inappropriate. Is there some form of compensation that a vampire would accept?’

  Craddoe pushed back his chair. He opened the door and whistled. A rat flew over, and hovered on pink-feathered wings as the sergeant gave her a message. ‘I’ve sent your request to the vampire in question,’ he said as he returned to his seat. ‘Shouldn’t take long to receive a reply. We have a very good rat king network in this city. Telepathically linked. They send messages between each other for the rats to deliver.’

  The concept was fascinating, but this wasn’t the right moment to ask for more information. We sat in uneasy silence. James gulped down my tea. I tried to remember how much money I had in my current account, and wondered what the currency was in Lloegyr. Could I pay a fine in pounds sterling, or would I have to find a bank which would exchange British currency?

  Ten minutes later there was a rap at the door. Craddoe opened it and a rat squeaked a reply. He nodded and returned to the table. ‘Good news. The vampire accepts that James acted out of ignorance when he laid a hand on her arm. A pint of blood will be sufficient compensation.’

  James went pale, and I shared his alarm. ‘Neck or wrist?’ he whispered.

  ‘She’s not coming down in person,’ the sergeant assured him. ‘We’ll take the blood and send it on to her.’

  The equipment was produced. James bit his lip as the needle was slipped into his arm, and red blood filled a plastic bag. The elf who undertook the procedure was calm and efficient, and afterwards James was brought another cup of tea and several biscuits.

  Craddoe returned us to the cathedral. I was a bit concerned about James riding a dragon for the first time, but he climbed up and swung into the saddle with enviable ease. I placed myself behind him, and the sergeant gave the dragon the order to rise.

  Despite the worry he had caused me, I found myself smiling at James enjoying the flight. He pointed out unusual buildings and interesting squares as we passed over the city. Disappointment slumped his shoulders as we landed on the green and had to dismount.

  ‘Young man,’ Craddoe said sternly, still perched on the dragon, ‘make sure we don't cross paths again.’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ James said, far too brightly. ‘No more vampires for me, I promise you. You wouldn’t happen to have a sister, would you, sir?’

  I sighed. The sergeant gave me a warning look. Then the dragon was lifting them away.

  Morey was still spread out on the bench. My heart lurched as I suddenly realised that someone could have sat on him. I picked him up carefully, and cradled him against my chest.

  ‘What’s up with him?’ James asked.

  ‘He saved me from myself last night. Now he’s paying the price.’ I led the way into the cathedral.

  A unicorn was standing guard in the choir area. We waited while he patiently explained to a pair of dwarves that, no, they could not go any further but must use the side aisle to visit the east window. ‘Must be awkward,’ I said to him when the tourists had left, ‘to have a thin place just here.’

  He dipped his head. ‘Very awkward. Particularly on Sundays.’

  ‘Then why wasn’t the cathedral situated a bit further west?’ I asked. ‘So that the thin place could be locked away?’

  ‘The cathedral was here before the thin place formed,’ the unicorn replied. ‘This is the spot on which St Cathal died, three hundred years ago.’

  ‘Really? Was he martyred?’

  ‘No. This is where he came to pray, and one evening he simply died during his prayers.’

  Was that why this thin place was so different than others, because it had been formed by sanctity rather than by tragedy? I wanted to find out more, but Morey stirred in my arms. ‘Not feeling well,’ he reminded me weakly.

  So I swallowed my questions. ‘We need to cross over.’

  ‘Of course. I was told to expect you.’ The unicorn stepped aside.

  James took a deep breath, and I saw him tense his shoulders. I smiled to myself. His eyes widened in surprise when we simply emerged into the corner of Nenehampton Cathedral. ‘That was easy.’

  ‘Wasn’t it?’ I agreed. I pulled out my phone to send Angelica a text. Then, trying to sound casual, I asked, ‘And which thin space do you use to travel to Llanbedr?’

  ‘Oh, Anwen showed me one not far from here.’ But he didn’t volunteer any further information.

  The Dean unlocked the gate and allowed us through. I gave her my thanks, and carried Morey out of the cathedral and to the car.

  James automatically slid into the back. He started as I placed Morey on to his lap. ‘Pen?’

  ‘Just keep an eye on him.’

  I waited until we were on the A5 to talk to James. ‘What did you think you were doing? Trying to pull a vampire?’

  ‘It’s all your fault,’ he said sullenly. ‘All that Buffy you made me watch.’

  ‘What, you tried to pick up a vampire because of Buffy?’ I snorted. ‘If you really watched that show, you’ll know that actions have consequences. You’re lucky that the vampire only asked for a pint of your blood. You were in a foreign land, James. You needed to be more careful.’

  ‘Got it, Sis.’

  ‘It’s not Disneyland,’ I continued. ‘Lloegyr can be dangerous.’

  ‘I said I got it, Sis.’

  My throat was closing and my eyes were burning. I
forced myself to say it. ‘What would I do if I lost you too?’

  A long silence. I glanced at the rear view mirror. James was looking down at his feet. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Yes. Well.’ I cleared my throat. ‘Why were you in the vampire quarter?’

  His voice was still subdued. ‘That’s where Green Feather Networking has their offices. I’ve been writing better software for their computer systems. They arranged for me to stay locally, and I got bored, so I went to the bar.’

  ‘Well, be more careful, okay? And don’t try to pick up any more Lloegyr women.’

  The determined jut of his jaw was so much like our father that I had to blink tears away. Then I gritted my teeth as he said, ‘I’m twenty-two, Pen. It’s none of your business.’

  I was about to reply when there was a strange sound from Morey. A noxious smell spread through the car. James said, outraged, ‘I’ve got gryphon sick all over me!’

  Aloud, I said, ‘There’s a service station up ahead. I’ll stop there and we can get both of you cleaned up.’ But, deep within me, a small voice chuckled evilly and said, Good.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘Don’t vicars do visiting anymore?’

  I was tired. Harvest Festival was always a service which took a lot of organising. Thanking the women who had decorated all the church windows, collecting the tins of harvest gifts to stack around the altar, adjusting the microphone to be the right height for each child who came up to do a reading. Worrying that the families, who might not have come to church for years, wouldn’t know what to do during Communion. Dealing with toddlers who wandered up the aisle during the service and smiling reassuringly to concerned mothers. And now my churchwarden was blocking my exit from the clergy vestry. ‘Visit whom?’

  ‘That’s what the village is asking,’ Holly continued. ‘What about poor April? When was the last time you visited her?’

  ‘Probably a month ago,’ I admitted.

  ‘Why? What have you been doing?’

  Clearing up a snail shark infestation, I wanted to say. Dealing with a vampire who had become part of a bat colony in Rutland and needed to be coaxed back into her bipedal state. Convincing a dragon to stop stealing sheep and return to his family in Lloegyr. ‘Plenty.’