As the trees came to an end they had their first uninterrupted view of the gracious mansion directly ahead. It was sited amidst the lush green splendour of extensive mature parkland, with several outbuildings set to one side. Many schools had been created by converting large old buildings, or repurposing existing ones. They exchanged wide-eyed glances. Jim had certainly landed on his feet! Stanley’s first impressions were that this had once been a lord’s country estate. Was that where the crest originated? Most family crests had meaning and their use was jealously guarded. It was unusual for someone else to be allowed to use it, unless the family had died out. He hoped they had an extensive library so he could discover the history of this area and what it signified.
Jim was waiting for them on the steps when they arrived, scattering all other thoughts.
‘Mum, Dad, this is a lovely surprise,’ Jim said going to them and helping his mother down off her horse.
‘Oh it’s so good to see you,’ Martha burbled, hugging her son. ‘You do look well and you’ve grown. This place must be good for you. I’m sorry we couldn’t get here in the spring as you wanted. One thing after another stopped us setting off, but we finally made it.’
‘Don’t worry about it. We hadn’t fixed a date for your visit anyway. It’s just lovely to see you both,’ he added going to hug his father now he’d dismounted. He released him quickly, like he had with his mother, keeping rigid control over his ability, aware it was immediately trying to take strength from his parents. ‘You must be tired. Come on inside,’ he invited, letting the grooms take the horses.
‘This office is yours?’ Stanley asked as Jim led them down a broad corridor and then opened a door into a very masculine oak panelled room. The rectangular room was spacious, bright and airy, dominated by three sets of tall windows spaced evenly along the outer wall, casting clear daylight throughout. Two of the walls featured floor to ceiling glass fronted bookcases. The remaining wall, close to the door, had a huge map, painted directly onto the wall. The age darkened but polished oak furniture matched the panelling, door and shutters. Whilst all showed age, everything felt nicely lived in but well maintained, creating a distinguished air.
‘Yes. I was offered the Head Master role soon after we arrived and have been doing it for well over a year ago now.’
Stanley eyed the large paper strewn desk, showing evidence of the interrupted work in progress. Full trays added to the impression of a very busy workload. Jim was clearly not a figurehead but could very well be the decision maker running things.
Jim waved them over to the set of four wingback armchairs set beside an empty fireplace. They were set out in a friendly conversational grouping, indicating how often the head master entertained guests in his office. Moments later, a dignified lady entered with a heavy tray. Jim helped her set out a pot of tea, cups and biscuits on the small table between them before she departed. Armed with cups of hot refreshing tea, they all sat back and could relax.
‘This is a surprising job to take on at your age.’
‘I know, but actually I enjoy it. It’s rarely dull around here and I’ve found it both a challenging and rewarding role.’
‘I’m sure, but it’s a very large responsibility to hand over to someone without years of experience.’
‘You’re right, but they were desperate for aid. When the headmaster and his second died unexpectedly, one of the senior teachers had to step forward. Vako’s still here on the staff, although he should really have retired by now. But in the early days he was able to teach me what I needed to know and how things were run. It’s not often I need to discuss things nowadays, but he is here when problems crop up.’
‘Ah, that explains it and does relieve my mind.’
Jim nodded and glanced at his mother, surprised she was so quiet that his father was able to speak and found her staring at him.
‘There’s something new about you,’ she remarked noticing his questioning regard. ‘You seem strangely different but I can’t put my finger on what it is.’
‘Our boy’s not a youth anymore. He’s grown up and filled out,’ Stanley pointed out. Hugging Jim had proven just how tall and solidly muscled he’d become.
‘Yes of course, but that’s not all that’s changed,’ Martha said staring at him in puzzlement.
‘Did you know I wasn’t a Sensitive?’ Jim asked.
‘Of course you’re a Sensitive,’ Martha said. ‘You’re unusually strong, to be sure, but you passed every Sensitive test.’
‘You’re a Leach, aren’t you?’ Stanley offered quietly.
‘You knew?’
‘No, but I suspected something was off when they asked you to delay your graduation year to work as a journeyman. Normally the guild can’t wait for students to graduate, because once they’re fully trained wizards, they can be put to work in a wider variety of jobs. They didn’t do that with you. They chose to leave you only partly trained, slowing your development and indeed usefulness. The other thing that rang alarm bells with me was the fact you were sent off to distant places, separating you from your friends, not to mention us. They were isolating you from other wizards.’
‘A leach? I don’t believe this,’ Martha exclaimed. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because I was simply guessing,’ Stanley explained. ‘I had no proof and his tutors had been silenced. They tried to make me believe I was imagining things. That of course Jim was merely a Sensitive, but being a strong one, with an aptitude for sensing magic in children, his skills were urgently needed in the field. At the time I had no real reason to doubt them, because a leach is a very rare ability and does have many similarities to a sensitive. I only know the signs because one of my grandparents was one. Unfortunately, he was regarded as the black sheep of the family, the odd one. I never really knew him because he became a recluse. He felt he needed to disappear from everyone’s memory, hide from those who would use him. He fostered an impression of insanity to keep others away and rarely ventured out of the university.’
‘I had a great-grandfather who was a leach?’ Jim shook his head in bemused wonder. ‘I never knew that. I’ve been wondering how I could be one, because most strong abilities are hereditary and I know neither of you are leaches.’
‘No, but your mother and I are both sensitives, so you have a double dose of that ability. And with a recessive leach also in your bloodline, you were always likely to be strong. It was a question of whether you’d remain a very strong sensitive or take the next step to become the leach.’ Stanley shrugged. ‘I’m sorry. I wish they’d been honest with sharing your test results. If they had I would have known what the results meant and could have warned you.’
‘It’s all water under the bridge at this point,’ Jim said with a shrug. ‘I know what I am, which is the important thing and now know how it came to be.’
‘How are you handling it?’ Stanley asked anxiously. ‘Any problems?’
‘It’s been rocky at times, but I’m handling it,’ Jim admitted and snorted, thinking of all the things he’d been through. ‘I suppose the one thing you’re sensing is my leach side effect of being with Amelie.’
‘Side effect?’
‘It’s easiest if I show you. Just don’t panic.’
‘Panic?’ Martha queried anxiously, hastily setting her cup aside.
‘Show us,’ Stanley said quietly and caught hold of his wife’s hand. Jim stood and suddenly seemed quite a different person. His presence became a formidable tangible strength that washed over them. His eyes turned gold, his form blurred and between one blink and the next a huge lion stood where their son had been. Martha squeaked in shock, her hand gripping his with almost bruising force.
‘I now have a lion,’ Jim told them, his voice low and gravelly in this form. Whilst his lion was curious and wanted to greet his kin properly, he could scent their nervousness. His lion wanted to rub his face on them, to give them his scent and take theirs in return, so all knew they were under his protection. Reluctantly he kept
his feet still so he wouldn’t approach them, knowing it would take time for them to accept his lion form without fear.
‘What a fantastic beast he is,’ Stanley assured him, picking up echoes of his son’s disappointment at their nervousness. ‘This is because your Amelie is an animus warrior wizard?’
‘Yes.’
‘Does that make you a warrior wizard too?’
‘No. Our bonding simply gave me an animus ability to turn into the lion,’ he said and returned to his human form. ‘Alongside my original wizard ability of course.’
‘Nothing else has changed? You have to be kidding; your energy is off the chart,’ Stanley pointed out uneasily.
‘I’ve had to defend myself a few times, so have grown some. My lion enables me to better handle unexpected influxes of power,’ Jim said with a shrug, not really wanting to discuss it further.
‘Have you managed to complete your last year of studies?’ Stanley asked noticing his son’s reaction.
‘I’m working on it, but its slow going. Obviously the graduation year course work is not meant to be easy and it’s sometimes hard to juggle that with my headmaster duties.’
‘You’re taking the same classes as your students?’
‘No. I didn’t think that was sensible if I was going to maintain student respect. One of the teachers has agreed to tutor me outside of regular hours. One to one tutelage does make for quicker progress, so I haven’t needed as many lessons to keep pace with the curriculum. I’m probably not covering things in such depth, but condensing subjects to cover the point of each exercise does work.’
‘Well, while I’m here I’d be happy to help in whatever ways you need.’
‘Dad, you’re an archivist.’
‘Yes. That means I know about a large number of different subjects. You do have a library here, I trust?’
‘We do,’ Jim acknowledged feeling suitably chastened. ‘You might be interested in the books I have in here. Many of them are old and some are rare.’
‘Before you get diverted with your books,’ Martha interjected. ‘When are we going to meet your wife and our granddaughter?’
‘We’re not yet married,’ he admitted.
‘You haven’t married the mother of your child? Jim!’ she chided, tut-tutting at him.
‘Well not yet. I was waiting for you both to get here before having the ceremony. That’s why I had hoped you’d arrive in the spring.’
‘You should have said! We’d have tried harder to get here earlier. This really doesn’t look very good, or set a good example.’
‘I know, but now you’re here we can get a date set. Ah, before I take you to meet Amelie, I should perhaps mention that you actually have two granddaughters.’
‘What? You didn’t mention she was pregnant again,’ Martha exclaimed.
‘She isn’t. Holly is older. Her mother is called Drew.’ Jim waited, bracing himself.
‘But, I thought you said you’d met Amelie when you were arrested and been with her ever since?’ Martha queried.
‘Yes, but you have to remember we were strangers and she’d been badly treated. Whilst we became friends quickly, that was all, for quite some time,’ he said and shrugged. ‘Drew and Holly now live here so you can meet them if you wish. Drew runs Haven’s Rest, the Inn, with her brother.’ He said no more on the subject, noticing his mother’s frown and that her lips were pressed together in disapproval.
‘Does everyone know?’ Stanley asked.
‘Everyone who needs to know: yes. I don’t publicise it, but neither is it a secret.’
‘What happened?’ Stanley asked quietly.
‘I had a very brief and casual fling before Amelie and I got together. I didn’t cheat on her and won’t.’
‘That’s all I need to know,’ Stanley remarked in relief, grasping his son’s shoulder. ‘Take us to meet your fiancée and Daisy.’
Jim was very glad to have that awkward subject out in the open at last.
Everyone assumed he’d used Drew and left her behind pregnant. The truth was that they had used each other, but that didn’t sound any better. He wasn’t proud that he’d accepted Drew’s seduction in the hope of making Amelie jealous. It had worked but now realising he might never have known about Holly, he felt guilty he’d never looked back.
He hadn’t been looking forward to explaining to his parents that not only had he got two women pregnant, but that he hadn’t married either of them. Added to that, was the fact Drew now lived on site and indeed within ongoing reach. That the arrangement was entirely innocent might take some believing. At least he might be viewed in a better light for seeing to it that Drew and Holly were being taken care of. He’d enabled Drew to have a safe home and way of supporting them independently. She was not here having to beg him for handouts but could take pride in earning her way. He was Holly’s father; he didn’t want to be a faceless stranger. Drew had been generous enough to grant him access and a chance to be a part of Holly’s life and he remained grateful for that.
He had little doubt his parents would go to meet Holly and Drew at the earliest opportunity. They’d probably make a beeline down there later today to check on them. He’d make himself scarce in case there was any fallout. His mother had a knack for asking uncomfortable, probing questions. He hoped she didn’t make everyone feel awkward or upset Drew. He had enough on his plate without having to calm ruffled feathers. Drew and Holly seemed happy where they were and that was what was most important.
16. Stripe
‘Amelie, can you hear me?’
‘Stripe? Is that really you?’ Amelie asked in surprise, although the dragon’s gravelly tone and the clarity of the contact, revealing his mental strength, were quite distinctive.
‘Who else would I be?’
‘Someone pretended to be you once. I didn’t think the contact was quite right, but enough of that, I’m just surprised to hear from you. Is everything alright?’
‘You will tell me more of who dared impersonate me,’ Stripe demanded.
‘He wasn’t trying to impersonate you particularly, but trying to sound like a dragon so I’d go closer to investigate. Don’t concern yourself, it was a few months ago and the culprit has been apprehended. Tell me, what is it you wished to speak to me about?’
‘Tania is expressing the wish to visit you and begin to explore your human world.’
‘I see. I wondered how long it’d be before she asked. How are the others handling things? Her last trip to a human village and that she’s figured out how to transform into human form must have raised questions?’
‘They believe she is strange in her wishes. However, since I have shown them I can shift too, they are not picking on her for being unnatural.’
‘When do you want to come?’
‘We can be with you quite soon,’ Stripe admitted and felt her excitement was mixed with trepidation and also resignation. That last emotion was certainly not one he wished to feel from her, but it didn’t surprise him. He recognised that from the first moment they had met, he had been asking things of her. The fact she always came through for him and the dragonets had kept his faith. She’d proved her determination, strength of character and most importantly her generosity of spirit. She had saved his children’s lives when they’d been at their most vulnerable, which was something he would never forget. She had earned his trust and gratitude.
Amelie scanned her surroundings, glad it was already dark. Pushing beyond the bright magical signatures clustered in the school buildings, past those in the village and she also touched on the few at the portal, determining where people might be. Students had finished up at the training ground quite a while ago and weren’t outside in the playing fields nearer the house either.
She was relieved to sense the dragons were not yet on the grounds. Heading outside she mentally reached beyond the perimeter wall, scanning in a broad arc until she felt them. The dragons’ signature was densely concentrated, their natural magic potent. They were travellin
g fast, another difference that signified a being able to fly. She sent Stripe an image of the open meadow between school and village, where it would be safe for them to land. How large the dragonets now were she didn’t know, but she was glad he hadn’t brought all of them. Stripe alone required considerable cleared space not to foul his wings.
‘Jim, Stripe and Tania are coming to visit,’ she called. ‘I imagine they’ll be here in a few minutes.’
‘Ah. He doesn’t believe in giving anyone notice of his arrival does he? Ok, you’d best have Natalya standing by. As I recall she was the one best able to handle Tania the last time they were here.’
‘You’ve got real dragons coming here?’ Stanley asked his son in astonishment as they left the school building. ‘You’re not battening down and setting up defences?’
‘No. We know Stripe quite well; he won’t harm anyone. Amelie saved the lives of his children. She was there when they hatched, asked to help by Stripe’s dying mate. The dragonets bonded with her instead and still consider her their mother. He has called on her a few times to help out with them. Well, actually it’s just one of the dragonets that keeps getting into trouble.’
‘Trouble an adult dragon cannot solve?’
‘Tania is fixated on humans. She has even learned to shift into human form. That’s what he can’t so easily handle.’
‘Really? I had no idea they could shift.’
‘Nor did I, but she did. Well, I should say they almost look human. She walked into a village, chosen completely at random, and ignored her father’s demand to come back. She knew he couldn’t go in after her, so was making the most of riling him. She didn’t seem to appreciate the danger of discovery she was risking for them all. He had to call on Amelie to fetch her out. Can you imagine what would have happened if an adult dragon had tried to walk into a village?’
‘They’d have panicked and tried to kill him. I see that would be a problem. So this dragonet is a troublemaker?’
Forging Alliances: Wizards of White Haven Page 22