by E. M. Cooper
‘I don’t get how goblins fit in this world,’ Marnie said as they ambled back to Andromeda with the other students, who were subdued and downcast.
‘They come because they love Old World gold,’ Oliver said.
‘What, all of them?’ Seb said.
‘Some of the more adventurous goblins head to the gold mines in the south—in what would be Africa in our world. Those who hang around quickly figure out the wizards—that they pay well and they’re vain. Most of the Old World inhabitants have no magical powers, so wizards love to flaunt theirs every way they can. Having goblin servants shows everyone their employers are rich and powerful. Sick, isn’t it?’
‘The kitchen goblins aren’t like that,’ Marnie said.
‘I’ve heard that too,’ Oliver said. ‘I suppose some find other rewards.’
‘Poor Professor Crabwinkle,’ Marnie said as they walked through the gate to Andromeda.
‘How could anyone have done such a thing?’ Oliver said. ‘Crabwinkle didn’t have enemies.’
‘Not that you know of,’ Seb said. ‘Perhaps it was an accident, or she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
‘Like a botched robbery? Maybe.’ Oliver closed the gate. ‘I really liked and trusted her. Given she was a high mage, I’m guessing whoever or whatever killed her had to be very powerful.’
Fearing Jax was the culprit, Marnie avoided Oliver’s gaze.
* * *
The following morning when Thigimus asked the kitchen staff for volunteers to go to Wandermere to help in the election, Marnie jumped at the chance. She was now waiting for a bus with Astra and Keruncle outside the entrance to Fanglewick.
A wizard in a silver gown carrying several bags and boxes landed in a vortex on the front lawn a short distance away. Moments later, two goblins rushed past Marnie and Astra, squabbling and elbowing each other as they raced to reach the wizard first.
The wizard flipped gold at the two goblins, who both dived to reach the coins but crashed into each other. Ignoring their tussle, the wizard said, ‘You two, take my heavy luggage to the staff residences. I’ll be back here after the election to collect them.’
The silver-gowned wizard was joined by another and soon a few chattering elves arrived to wait at the top of the driveway.
Professor Thigimus came rushing down the front steps from Fanglewick. ‘Greetings everyone,’ he called to the group before pointing at a green bus with lanterns on the front bumper bar trundling up the driveway. ‘The Wandermere bus is here.’
The bus was unlike any Marnie had seen. Comfy sofa chairs sat alongside each other and a goblin wandered down the aisle serving iced cup cakes from a silver platter. Thigimus sat with the driver up front chatting loudly to him about the weather. Two wizarding types bagged the first row behind the driver and spread themselves out across the four seats with their hand luggage and an owl in a bamboo cage. Three snooty elves perched on seats in the next row, plucking the travelling blanket on each seat with fingernails and dumping them on the spare seat as though they were germ infested. Keruncle made a beeline for the back seat while Marnie sat by a window, eager to see the landscape between Fanglewick and Wandermere and Astra settled beside her. Marnie was curious to see small farms dotted over low green hills and a river winding in the valleys. The houses and sheds were painted brightly in vivid contrasting colours unlike the gloomy grey tones of Downfell. After fifteen minutes or so, the farms gave way to more houses and smaller allotments.
‘We’re getting close,’ Astra said.
The bus veered down a steep curving road into a city set in a valley. Major roads fed into the centre where a towering grey building sat like a lighthouse on a mountain visible from every part of the city. Smaller white buildings with shining domes and spires clung to the lower hills.
‘Magic folk live in the upper part of Wandermere and ordinary folk on the flat lands,’ Astra said as she tidied her hair and smoothed her tunic. ‘The Imporium’s at the very top.’
‘What a massive bird,’ said Marnie craning her neck to see what looked like a giant eagle high in the sky.
Astra followed her gaze. ‘That’s no bird. Wait until you get to the Imporium and then you’ll understand.’
The bus followed a circular road to the mountain top and pulled up outside a grand entrance where armoured goatees bearing spears strode up and down the dazzling white pavement behind a spurting fountain.
‘Why do they wear armour?’ Marnie asked.
‘The Imporium folk give them bewitched armour to counter magic.’
Marnie frowned. ‘Why?’
‘The goatees are the first line of the Imporium defence. If they’re attacked, the magic rebounds from the armour and hits the hostile outsider.’
‘Oh, so that’s why we have them at Fanglewick.’
Astra pointed at the imposing grey tower amid a confusion of smaller stone buildings and copper-covered domes. ‘That’s the Imporium and the white building with the columns is the Repository of Knowledge. It holds all the ancient magic texts from the Old World, Alveria and Xenia.’
Thigimus watched as everyone climbed out of the bus. ‘Everyone will need to stay with me until you each have a visitor’s pass. The security elves are very particular, so please be careful and don’t stray.’
A roar followed by a blast of wind made the group flinch and crouch. Marnie turned around and was astonished at the sight of a huge winged creature landing on a flat circular padded area cordoned off with gold ropes. ‘Is that a ... a dragon?’
For a few moments the dragon turned in Marnie’s direction and stared at her with its huge green eyes before blinking. It half yawned and half growled to show rows of yellow teeth glinting in the morning sun.
A pair of black clad wizards wearing goggles sat on an ornate double saddle holding leather reins. When the creature lowered its scaly head to bring them closer to the ground, the wizards climbed down a rope ladder. After the wizards had reached the ground safely, goblins scurried up the ladder to fetch the wizards’ luggage before rushing down to receive gold coins. A team of elves tugged and guided the creature to holding pens further down the road as if it were the most natural thing to do.
The group from Fanglewick was ushered forwards between marble columns into a huge cavernous hall. Important-looking mages and elves in immaculate white uniforms rushed around carrying cases and bundles of documents.
‘Who are they?’ Marnie asked Astra.
‘Government officials.’
In the centre of the hall, small vortices touched down on the floor at regular intervals in a roped off area. The swirling air created a rush of air and the smell of firecrackers as it deposited newcomers, who were greeted by a handful of grovelling goblins.
‘They like marble, don’t they?’ said Marnie examining the floor and internal columns.
‘Stay close,’ Thigimus said to Marnie after they had been processed by security staff—a collection of officious elves in white uniforms with belts, weapons and strange peaked hats. He guided them along a glassed-in corridor to a vast auditorium with a dais at the front surrounded by rows of seats. ‘Your job is to guide the officials into seats and fetch drinks, food or whatever they need from the kitchen, which I’ll show you soon.’
After they had been given uniforms and shown the layout of the kitchen and storeroom, Thigimus led them back to the election room.
Marnie stood at one entrance, offering help to anyone who seemed in need. For a while she was run off her feet fetching cherry cider for the wizards and spiced tea for the elves.
‘Excuse me,’ a woman with long black hair and an intensely pale face said to Marnie. ‘Am I in the right place for the Fanglewick election?’
Marnie grinned at her. ‘Yes, it’s just about to start. Do you need anything?’
‘Just a seat, please.’
‘That’s easy.’ Marnie guided the woman to a seat nearby.
‘Thank you.’ The woman looked over her half moon glasses with her
intense grey-blue eyes. ‘I’m Lexi Spindlewood.’ Marnie guessed she was a witch from her heavy scuffed boots, fitted black dress and laddered stockings.
‘Nice to meet you.’
As the lights dimmed over the audience, the woman beckoned her to sit down too, so Marnie slid into a seat next to her across the aisle.
Lexi rummaged in her bag, plucked out a packet of boiled lollies and offered them to Marnie.
‘Thanks.’ Marnie took one and popped it in her mouth. ‘It tastes so good. By the way, I’m Marnie Speck.’
‘I make them myself out of golden wilderberries. They’re a Xenian delicacy.’ Lexi screwed the bag up and tucked it in her patchwork bag. ‘You’re young to be part of all of this. Are you a local?’
‘No, a servant from Fanglewick,’ Marnie decided she could trust her, ‘who’s aiming to be a wizarding student.’
‘A wizard? Really? Pardon me for saying so, but you’re too amiable for me to have guessed that.’
Marnie laughed. ‘I’ve only recently arrived from Earth and don’t tell anyone, but I’m a scatterling.’ She wasn’t sure why she wanted her to know and almost felt like her tongue had, for a few moments, a life of its own.
‘Ah, there’s the difference. Delighted to meet you, Marnie dear and never feel apologetic about your origin.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I’d be ashamed to admit I was a full-blooded wizard given some of the hair-raising stories I hear about the Imporium set.’
Marnie wondered if she had flown on a broomstick given the state of her unruly black hair.
Lexi smoothed her hair. ‘So tell me, what happened to Crabwinkle?’
Marnie’s stomach churned.
‘Are you alright, my dear? You see, I’m a psychic witch.’
Marnie hoped she couldn’t read her mind. ‘She was murdered.’
‘Yes, I’ve heard.’ Lexi looked at her curiously. ‘Do you know more?’
‘Yes, but—.’ Now was not the time to be chatting about Jax and the beast. ‘I don’t know if I should talk about it.’ Marnie was puzzled by her irresistible compulsion to speak.
She looked at her knowingly. ‘Ah, that’s a pity.’
‘Good morning, fellow magical elite,’ Professor Thigimus spoke into a microphone on the front platform.
Lexi tittered. ‘My goodness, what a pretentious blowhard.’
‘He’s not that bad, just a little old and doddery.’
‘We are gathered, as you know, to elect a new head for Fanglewick after the untimely and tragic passing of our dear friend and colleague, Professor Mae Crabwinkle. I know it might seem too soon, but it is our duty. Anyone who wishes to nominate a candidate, please do so. Each nominee is to come to the dais. In the event of more than three candidates, we will vote.’
‘I nominate Aurora Bright,’ a tall elfin male said in the front row after jumping from his seat. ‘Her academic and research credentials, Imporium experience and proven leadership skills make her a perfect candidate.’
Aurora stood to muted applause before joining Thigimus.
‘Mage Thigimus, I nominate you,’ said a man standing near the dais.
Marnie was startled to recognise the man. ‘That’s Professor Silas, a teacher at Fanglewick.’
‘Indeed it is.’
‘You know him?’
‘Yes, I do.’
Across the hall, a woman raised her hand. ‘I wish to nominate Mage Zachary Arnold, chapter president of Northern England, Earth.’
Shocked that Mr Arnold was in the audience, Marnie shuddered.
‘Yes, he makes your spinal cord curl, doesn’t he? But don’t look so gloomy. It will take a foul election for him to end up head of Fanglewick.’
‘I wish I was so sure. I wonder how he got here given the full moon has passed and it’s waning now.’
‘Oh, it’s possible to travel at anytime, but you have to use stronger magic to deter the demons.’ Lexi half laughed. ‘He must have been eager to attend the election. It’s time to put a spanner in his weasel works.’ As she stood, she shot her hand into the air. ‘I would like to nominate the newly appointed president of the Madagascan Chapter, Mage Theodore Mystilic. He has the best student record in the history of Fanglewick.’ She sat with a satisfied grunt.
‘Mage Mystilic is here?’
Lexi pointed as a figure strode from the highest row of seats to the dais amid a ripple of disturbed voices. ‘Now the fun begins.’
‘What’s he done since he was at Fanglewick?’ a voice called from among a group of wizards.
‘Foul Imporium lot,’ Lexis muttered.
‘Are there any more nominees?’ asked Thigimus ignoring the fuss. ‘No, very well then. We have four nominees and as only three can contest the election, we will need to vote. As is customary, the head of the Imporium’s Department of Regulation will oversee the voting.’
‘Has Mage Mystilic any chance?’ Marnie asked.
‘Watch.’
Madam Honora Flay, who had been sitting behind Thigimus, came to the lectern. ‘Remember if you’re tempted to vote twice, the auditorium is monitored.’
‘What does she mean?’
‘A spell keeps the process honest—or so they say. If anyone dares to vote twice, they’ll be zapped.’
‘Killed?’
‘Burned to a crisp.’ She chuckled.
Honora stood behind Thigimus and a scattering of wizards, elves and witches raised their hands while a thin goblin counted each laboriously. He wrote thirteen on a chalkboard behind Honora in spidery handwriting. Honora stood behind Aurora, but only six hands rose into the air.
‘What? Why aren’t all the elves voting for her?’
Lexi giggled softly. ‘They’re their own worst enemy. Jealousy consumes them, especially for their own kind while many of the wizards are simply racists at heart.’
‘But an elf nominated her.’
‘Yes, he was probably just sucking up or owed her.’
‘And the witches?’
‘Wait and see.’
Honora stood behind Mr Arnold and a clutch of wizards raised their hands while the goblin counted nineteen before scratching the result on the board.
‘Of course, our shady friend Zachary has his own dark following from the Imporium.’
When Honora took the final step to wait behind Mage Mystilic, Lexi laughed amid outcries from the crowd as the ancient goblin chalked twenty votes on the board.
‘I get it,’ Marnie said and grinned. ‘The witches like to stir.’
‘Absolutely, and Mystilic has his own following. The Imporium boffins are furious though. Never mind. They’ll get over it.’
‘Congratulations, Mages Thigimus, Arnold and Mystilic.’ Honora waited patiently until the group had settled. ‘After determining the nature of Professor Crabwinkle’s death last night, the Imporium has devised the next stage of the selection process.’
Silence fell over the auditorium.
‘They believe she was murdered by a beast.’
Gasps of horror and outrage echoed through the hall.
Lexi glanced at Marnie. ‘You knew, didn’t you?’
Startled, Marnie nodded. ‘You won’t tell, will you? I mean ... I didn’t do it ... summon the thing.’
‘Summoned was it? I believe you, but when you get the chance you must tell Mage Mystilic what you know. It’s important.’
‘Why?’
‘Listen.’
Honora was still speaking. ‘... and so, we are challenging the three candidates to discover what type of beast killed Mae Crabwinkle and will give the position of Fanglewick head to the man who captures or destroys the creature.’
* * *
CHAPTER 14
Gemini House
After travelling back to Fanglewick in a crammed bus, Marnie found herself wedged between a pair of bickering elves. They were on the high notes about the election outcome, miffed no elf or woman had been voted as potential leader.
‘Sexist and rigged,’ one declared.
&nb
sp; ‘I know,’ said the other glancing at Marnie. ‘They’ll have our kind out on our ears soon.’
Marnie struggled not to smile at the mention of ears.
‘Aurora is an outstanding candidate. She’s already had a decade of experience in the Imporium and has written many notable Arithmancy texts. It’s a disgrace she was overlooked.’
Marnie couldn’t wait for the journey to be over and to tell Seb and Lissa about the election.
Seb met Marnie after she climbed from the bus. ‘Lissa has asked us to visit Gemini to see her room.’
‘Sure, why not.’
‘She said she’d be waiting out the front.’
The pair took off to Gemini together along a winding path beyond the infirmary.
‘Jax is missing,’ Seb said. ‘Some of the prefects are saying the teachers think he was killed by the beast.’
Marnie groaned. ‘If only they knew the truth.’
‘What was it like in Wandermere?’
‘I wish you could’ve come. It was amazing. Wandermere’s nothing like Downfell.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
‘The people living outside the Imporium area looked ordinary although their houses were colourful. Once we got to the mountain where the magic people live—wow.’
‘I’m jealous.’
‘There were crowds of wizards, elves and goblins wandering about. The shops around the government buildings were advertising potions, magical artefacts and spell books and cafes were selling weird food.’
‘It sounds fantastic.’
‘I even saw a dragon up close.’
‘You’re kidding? So they’re real.’
‘Yep. We have to go back and explore one day.’