by Victor Kloss
“That is Queen Elizabeth’s royal coat of arms,” Natalie said, pointing at the breastplate. “You will see it a lot around here.”
“Who are the men and woman surrounding Elizabeth?” Ben asked.
“They were the founding directors. You may have seen some of them as we passed through their respective floors. Within the Institute they are almost as famous as Queen Elizabeth. They were instrumental in helping Elizabeth grow the Institute in its formative years.”
Ben knew it could just be the artist glamorising them, but they looked a nobler bunch, barring Wren and possibly Alex, than those today. Each stood tall and proud, trim and fit, with a cloak and sword.
“Michael James,” Natalie continued, pointing to one of the figures, who happened to be the only one smiling, “was the first Director of Spellswords. He is credited with helping thwart King Suktar’s first and only invasion of Taecia.”
“Suktar?” Ben said, giving Natalie an odd look. “The same dark elf who wants my parents?”
Natalie nodded. “Elves live a long time, especially one as powerful as Suktar. It is said he faced off with Michael James and Queen Elizabeth herself in the heat of battle. There are hundreds of different stories of how the fight unfolded, but it is generally accepted that Suktar was sorely injured – I doubt he experienced such pain before – and it swung the battle against his army.”
Ben never had much interest in history at school, but he was captivated by Natalie’s story. He was staring so intently at the statue he didn’t notice Natalie and Charlie head for the exit until they called him.
It seemed as though they had entered the Institute days ago so much had happened, but less than six hours had passed since they had first entered the grand building. The sky was turning pink though there was still some daylight left. Ben felt the mild air on his face and sighed with pleasure.
As they passed the noticeboard Ben couldn’t resist one more look at his parents’ photo. The words “High Treason” plastered above their faces set his blood curdling and he was tempted to rip the whole thing down.
“Your diamond is gone,” Charlie said.
Ben’s attention was drawn away from the noticeboard to Natalie’s shoulder; sure enough, the single colourless diamond had vanished.
“We can make it come and go at will,” Natalie said. “Generally we only display it inside the Institute or while on official duty.”
They passed the manicured garden with its water fountain and through the gated exit between the mighty walls. Soon they were heading back down the hill along the cobbled path that was lined either side by trees and torch lamps.
“Don’t worry, it’s not far,” Natalie said, glancing at the suitcase Ben pulled.
They turned off the main road and started walking across the hill rather than down it. The timber-framed buildings were larger than usual, uncluttered and detached. Some had stables, others had hitching posts and a few even had car parks. Ben watched with amusement whenever a strange car zoomed by, making a great racket. They reminded him of the old two-seater sports cars and seemed to be favoured by the dwarves, wearing helmets and goggles. Ben recognised several makes by their badges, including several Jaguars and a few Caterhams.
When he was not looking at cars or people, he was staring at the pubs, shops, restaurants and houses. It was Saturday evening and it was fascinating to see what the Unseens were doing. Many of the elves were dressed fashionably and tended towards the restaurants or coffee shops. The pubs seemed full of dwarves, wearing smocks or jeans, most of them smoking. Then there were the goblins, all elbows and knees, who had congregated in small groups around certain unsavoury take-out joints. Of course, there were always exceptions, such as the elderly goblins dressed in pinstripe suits heading to a fancy restaurant or the homeless elf strewn across the cobbled road.
With all the looking, Ben forgot his weariness and the suitcase he was pulling, but his neck started to ache with the constant twisting and turning.
“Aha – here we are!” Natalie said. “Hotel Jigona. You’re going to love this place. Queen Elizabeth used to stay here when she visited Taecia. I guarantee you’ll never want to leave.”
— Chapter Fifteen —
Hotel Jigona
The hotel exterior wasn’t as impressive as the Institute, but it was just as fascinating. It was a skyscraper version of an old Tudor inn. The architecture was similar to neighbouring buildings with the addition of a thatched roof. A sign protruded from the wall proclaiming itself “Hotel Jigona: Official Taecian Residence of Queen Elizabeth I”.
Attached via a walkway was a huge car park and stable. The bottom levels were filled with antique cars and the upper levels populated by animals Ben had seen at the top of the Institute. There was an open shaft in the centre enabling the animals to fly in and out.
“Shall we check in?” Natalie asked with a smile.
A set of large oak doors, similar to the Institute’s, was open, allowing a view into a welcoming reception area. The Royal Institute of Magic, though magnificent, could never be described as cosy or welcoming, but the hotel was both. A series of grand candle-lit chandeliers hung from the high, beamed ceiling. A crackling fire set within an ornate brick hearth was surrounded by several people in armchairs enjoying the warmth; a few young kids had sticks with marshmallows thrust into the flames. The smell made Ben’s mouth water.
Natalie was talking to a man in a black tuxedo standing behind the reception desk.
“Master Greenwood and Master Hornberger,” the man said, dipping his head as they approached. His accent reminded Ben of the royal family as he rolled his “R”s with ridiculous enunciation. His hair was jet black and shone from liberal amounts of gel.
“Welcome to Hotel Jigona. My name is Travis. I am the deputy manager and your point of call if anything is not completely to your satisfaction during your stay.”
He spoke with perfect civility but with a confidence that implied nothing ever went wrong.
“Thank you,” Ben said.
“I know you have only one suitcase, but allow me to take it straight to Miss. Natalie Dyer’s room.”
Before Ben could intervene and assure the well-spoken Travis that carrying a small suitcase was no trouble, the sound of thundering footsteps cut him short.
From the end of the room came a hulking, seven-foot troll. He had a huge nose, big flapping ears and, quite bizarrely, wore a black tuxedo. Ben didn’t know if it was the suit or the genteel brown eyes, but the troll somehow looked harmless. He ambled over, crossing the lengthy reception room in just a few strides. He bowed to each of them with an air of elegance Ben wouldn’t have believed possible.
“Thomas!” Natalie said and threw her arms round his waist. It looked like someone trying to hug a giant Redwood.
“Hello Natalie,” Thomas replied in a voice two octaves lower than Ben had ever heard before. “How have you been? I missed your witty banter at the craft night last week.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It’s been mad at the Institute recently. I’m here with friends today – this is Ben and Charlie.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Thomas said. Ben was surprised how gentle his handshake was. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but are you new to Taecia?”
“We are.”
The troll nodded. “I hope you are enjoying your first visit. It can be quite an eye-opener.”
“You said it,” Ben said, giving him a smile.
“Well I hope your time at Hotel Jigona is as pleasant as the weather we’ve been having. Now, may I take the young lady’s bag please?”
Despite the troll’s soft nature, Ben wasn’t ready to defy him so he handed over the luggage.
The troll gave one final bow and started backing away.
“I owe you a crochet lesson,” Thomas said, pointing his big finger at Natalie. “I am determined to teach you – it’s such a marvellous craft.”
“Next week, perhaps,” Natalie said, with a fond smile.
The troll turned a
nd headed towards a set of stairs Ben hadn’t noticed by the entrance.
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Travis said. He rounded his desk and they followed him through reception.
“Right before that conversation with Thomas, I thought I was starting to get used to this place,” Charlie said.
At the end of the reception were two doors. On one was a sign that said “Lift entrance”, the other said “Lift exit – DO NOT ENTER”. Travis turned the handle of the entrance door and pulled it open.
“What on earth is that?” Ben asked.
He was pointing at the jets of pink gas coming from the top of the doorway, spraying anyone who walked through. The spray was concentrated enough to conceal the lift beyond.
“Levitation. It’s really easy, follow us in,” Natalie replied.
Travis and Natalie passed through, oblivious to the pink spray that covered them. Ben followed, Charlie close on his heels. The spray felt warm and made his skin tingle. Ben frowned as soon as he made it to the room beyond. They were not in a lift, but a small room with no ceiling, enabling them to see up to the roof of the hotel.
“This is not a lift,” Charlie said, too bemused to realise he was stating the obvious.
Natalie gave him a mysterious smile. “Isn’t it? I’ll see you up there.”
And with that, she levitated off the ground and started floating up and away. Ben and Charlie watched in astonishment until Travis cleared his throat.
“The key is simply to will yourself upwards. It’s a very simple but responsive spell, so have a care not to will yourself up too fast.”
Travis started rising smoothly and with such nonchalance he looked as though he wasn’t even aware of it.
“That sounds simple enough,” Ben said, rubbing his hands together.
The ceiling was a long way up, which meant there was a long way to fall, but Ben put that out of his mind. It was a spell, so hopefully he could control his movement both up and down.
Ben looked up and imagined lifting off.
The effect was instantaneous. He left the ground – one feet, two feet, five feet. Ben whooped, wiggling his legs and marvelling at the freedom from gravity.
With another thought, he stopped his ascent and steadied himself at a comfortable six feet off the ground.
“Come on, Charlie, it’s easy!”
Charlie looked excited yet nervous. He grabbed hold of a wooden beam that ran up the wall and shut his eyes.
“I’m doing it! I’m floating!” Charlie said.
Sure enough, when Ben squinted he saw a sliver of light between Charlie’s shoes and the ground. Charlie ascended slowly, a hand always on the beam, until he reached Ben.
“Are you ready?” Ben asked. Charlie had taken so long Ben was concerned the spell might fade and they would fall; a concern he didn’t mention to Charlie.
Charlie pried his fingers away from the beam so he was floating free. His fear finally disappeared and he smiled, flapping his limbs like someone making a snowflake.
Ben rose higher and they passed two more wooden doors, labelled “Floor 1 Entrance” and “Floor 1 Exit – DO NOT ENTER”. Travis and Natalie had already ascended further, so Ben accelerated, his stomach momentarily staying behind. Doors whizzed by and it was only when he caught up with a floating Natalie and Travis that he came to a reluctant stop by the eighth floor entrance.
“Excellent work,” Travis said. “Please note only go through the door marked 'entrance’ when entering the lift. Otherwise you will enter without being sprayed with the spell.”
They followed him through the door and into a luxuriously appointed corridor. The vanilla carpet was so plush Ben longed to sink his feet into it. Doors appeared left and right at regular intervals, each numbered. Travis stopped at number 816 and pulled out three large silver keys.
“Here we are,” Travis said, handing a key each to Ben and Charlie. “You are staying in room 816.” He turned to Natalie and gave her the remaining key. “You are in 823, just down the hall. Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9am or you can have it delivered to your room if you prefer?”
“Room service for us,” Ben said, after conferring with Charlie. “At 8:30am would be great.”
“Wonderful,” Travis said, after Natalie agreed she would like the same. “In that case I shall bid you good night.”
He bowed again and left the three of them alone outside the room. Without Travis or any other distraction, Ben was eager to relay his story to Charlie and Natalie. He inserted the skeleton key and stepped into their hotel room.
A small candle-lit chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating two generous-sized single beds that Ben eyed longingly. There was a suite of comfortable, brown chairs arranged neatly around a stone hearth where a fire crackled merrily.
“I know it’s only 8pm, but if you’re too tired, I can go to my room and we can meet up tomorrow after breakfast,” Natalie said, catching Ben’s repeated looks at the bed.
“No, I’m fine. I want to ask you some questions, but they will only make sense after I have explained what happened during the meeting.”
He took his shoes and socks off, digging his tired feet into the lush carpet and made straight for the couch. Charlie and Natalie took the remaining chairs.
Ben took a deep breath and recounted everything, downplaying only the pain in his head, which still hurt to think about. By the time he finished, Charlie was practically bouncing off his seat with excitement. Natalie, however, looked worried.
“Remarkable!” Charlie said, springing up and pacing the room. He stared at the carpet intently, hands behind his back. “Greg and Jane knew Suktar would come for them. They knew. The question is – why?”
Ben felt dizzy watching Charlie pace. “I don’t know, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the search my dad kept mentioning.”
Charlie nodded, his eyes squinting. “That seems to be the key. Who would your parents be searching for? And why?”
“I’m sure the Institute will know,” Natalie said, giving Ben a reassuring smile. “I know it’s really hard, but try not to worry about it too much. The Institute are doing all they can to find your parents.”
Ben didn’t believe that for a second, but he pretended to look reassured. “When I protested my parents’ innocence, the Council said there were elements about my parents’ past I was unaware of. Do you know what they were talking about?”
Natalie shook her head.
“Who might know?” Charlie asked, stopping his pacing.
“Either Wren or someone in the Department of Scholars,” Natalie replied. “They know the Institute’s history inside out. I have a couple of friends who could help should we need it.”
“Good.” Ben stifled a yawn. “Now, what about these 'wood elves’ – what are they?”
“They are the oldest type of elf. While many have adapted to modern civilisation and diluted their bloodline by bonding with humans, the wood elves are pure, one hundred percent elf. They live in forests and many of them only speak Elvish. Their magic is the strongest in the Unseen Kingdoms, but the Institute hasn’t been able to use it.”
“Why not?”
“The wood elves won’t let us near them,” Natalie said. “We have sent countless diplomats out there, but the elves told us to stop coming. In our eagerness for their magic, we persisted. Last year we sent a large party, including some of our best diplomats. They never came back.”
“Where are these wood elves?”
“I’m not sure,” Natalie admitted. “With the destruction of forests, they are becoming an endangered species.”
“Where could we find out?” Ben asked casually. He saw Charlie’s pointed look from the corner of his eye, but Natalie gave no visible reaction to the question.
“The library,” she said. “I was going to show you that floor anyway as you’ve not seen it yet, so that will give us something to do down there.”
Ben turned to Charlie. “I was expecting one of yo
ur rants when I mentioned that Robert is an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth.”
“Natalie already told me,” Charlie replied. “I did have a mini rant, but then I realised if I can accept dragons pulling underground trains to magical islands, I should be able to deal with Queen Elizabeth secretly having a son.”
Another yawn escaped Ben’s lips before he could stop it and Natalie stood up immediately.
“You look exhausted. I will let you sleep.”
Another gigantic yawn prevented Ben from protesting. Natalie wished them good night and left.
It was all Ben could do to stumble over to his bed. “You have to get under the covers,” Ben said, spreading himself and groaning with pleasure at the softness.
“I’m not tired,” Charlie replied. He was sitting on his bed, cross-legged. “You wouldn’t be either if they hadn't cast that Memory Search spell. It's only 8:30pm.”Charlie gave Ben a sudden calculating look. “You want to track down these wood elves.”
Ben, still in his spread-eagle position, turned his head to face Charlie.“I had a feeling you’d worked that out. Thankfully Natalie seems clueless.”
“She doesn’t know you for the raving nutcase you are,” Charlie said. “Didn’t you hear what Natalie said? Hunting down those wood elves is suicide.”
“It’s the obvious thing to do,” Ben said, stifling another yawn.
Charlie looked at him as if he’d sprouted wings. “Are you mad? If we found the right group of wood elves who know your parents, it could be useful. However, set against that already slim possibility is the much larger probability of being killed.”
“Don’t be such a pessimist,” Ben said. “I know it’s a long shot, but the longer I’m here the more I feel that the answers to my family’s disappearance lie outside the Institute, not within it. We have two leads: the dark elves and the wood elves. Given that the dark elves are trying to hunt my parents down, I think we have a better shot with the wood elves, despite their unfriendly response to the Institute.”