by Mark Hayden
‘I’m glad I wasn’t with you.’
‘Why?’
‘Then I would have been in Cordelia’s picture. I would have freaked out, too. Raven is something else, isn’t she?’
‘And half.’
Saffron had wandered out to join us, having given us some privacy first. She heard the tail-end of Mina’s remarks about Raven and asked, ‘Conrad, did your Troth ring show any reaction when Raven shook hands?’
‘No, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s only sensitive to me or the Allfather himself. What did you get from her?’
Saffron squinted at the cloudless sky. ‘Dunno, really. I’ll tell you one thing, as soon as she strapped on her seatbelt, she dialled the magick right down like a volume control. She didn’t dial it up again until she was walking down the steps to Pellacombe.’
‘And how did that go?’
Saff looked at Mina and gestured for her to tell the story. ‘I was too busy trying to remember everyone’s names,’ she added.
‘It was mortifying,’ said Mina, shaking her head. ‘Humiliating for everyone involved. I had no idea that Eseld hasn’t seen her mother for fifteen years.’
‘What!’
‘Tell me about it,’ muttered Saffron.
‘Isolde had the grace to stand well back,’ said Mina. ‘Saffron introduced the other five Daughters, and that was all very cordial. Then Ethan formally offered hospitality, and Alys accepted. When Lena went to lead the others upstairs, Isolde came forward. Cador went and gave her a hug. As you’d expect. They’ve been in contact since he went to Cambridge. She even stood next to Lord Mowbray at Cador’s graduation. I know, because I saw the picture, and talking of pictures, Eseld made me take one to show you.’
Mina was almost trembling with fury as she got out her phone. She found the picture and shoved the phone in my face. ‘Why did she ask me to do that, Conrad?’
‘A joke. When we were out riding, I asked her what she was wearing, and she said I had to wait and see.’
Eseld was posing on the staircase, one foot on a higher step and her body turned to face the camera. She’d promised me a connection to 80s pop, but I hadn’t expected Adam the Ants. With a big grin, Eseld was in full pirate mode: black and white wide striped leggings, over the knee leather boots, a black shirt and a short, black frock coat with silver facings.
‘Mmm,’ said Saffron. ‘Eseld has issues, I think.’
‘You think?’ said Mina, stowing her phone. ‘While Cador was welcoming their mother into the house, Eseld started talking to Ethan about the secure Wi-Fi router. Ethan wasn’t listening, of course. Even a block of wood like him knows something is wrong. When Isolde finished hugging her son, she turned to her daughter, and do you know what her daughter did? She said, “Your room is at the top of the stairs. Lena will show you which one.” And then she turned and walked into the Aisling suite.’
‘Ouch. That was harsh.’
‘You have no idea.’ Mina turned to look at Saffron and decided that she was enough part of the Elvenham family to continue. ‘It makes me so mad. Eseld has a perfectly good mother and treats her like that. I think I shall apply to be Isolde’s daughter when this is over. To make it worse, Eseld clearly has history with Raven, too, but I can’t work out what.’
I did some sums. ‘Raven would have been about eighteen when Eseld fled Glastonbury.’
Lena stuck her head out of the main doors. She couldn’t see the other two, just me, and spoke in German because it was quicker. ‘The opening ceremony will be in ten minutes, okay?’ She disappeared without waiting for a reply.
I translated and lit another cigarette. ‘How did they treat you, love?’ I asked Mina.
‘Like a funfair curiosity. I don’t know whether that’s because I’m a mundane accountant doing a Mage’s job or because, yet again, I’m the only non-white person in the room.’
Sometimes Mina apologises after venting. Not today.
Saffron tried to smooth things over. ‘It’s not your skin, Mina, it’s definitely the mundane thing. In Homewood, all the mundane sisters are there to serve in one way or another. They’re not used to having non-Mages at the top table.’
‘Are you?’ said Mina.
Saffron was taken aback. ‘Yeah. Of course. My brother, for one. He’s still a Hawkins. Like Cador here. After all, you can’t say that the Mowbrays haven’t made you welcome, can you?’
‘Hmm. Perhaps you’re right. Shall we go?’
Ethan passed round small glasses of apple brandy, distilled from apples gathered on the estate and infused with herbs by Lena. My flying was done for the day, so I accepted one gratefully and took my place standing around the table in the Aisling suite. The Daughters were now all in their robes, unbleached white wool and worn long. Except for Raven. Hers were above the knee and the colour you’d expect: deep black with the yellow cord a bright line. It made her look a bit like a wasp.
Eseld’s pirate outfit looked even odder in the flesh than on the picture. In backstage clips you sometimes see actors in the most bizarre costumes talking like actors, their voices completely at odds with their appearance. Eseld’s Cornish accent made her sound like she was in role, to my ears. At one point, I’d swear her hand went to where a sword would be. Ethan cleared his throat and lifted his glass.
Mina described Ethan as a block of wood. It’s true, he’s not the most communicative host, and he didn’t waste his breath on a big speech. He meant every word, though.
‘What we do here, we do in peace and in the shadow of the Earl of Tintagel,’ he said. ‘The earl loved this land and its people. Let us do his memory justice in our commitment to its future. To the Earl of Tintagel!’
Alys was not happy. Ethan had forced her to drink to his father’s memory. It didn’t seem to bother Raven or Brook, though. Even Isolde spoke out clearly, and Lena seemed sad that he would never be her father-in-law.
We were in a circle, and Eseld had waited until the last moment and forced herself between Raven and Alys. That way, she could hide behind Raven and avoid her mother.
‘Shall we begin?’ said Cador. ‘We’ll break for lunch at one thirty.’
Everyone shuffled round or headed for the exit. I noticed Eseld use Raven as a shield again. We left the principals to their talks and Lena shut the doors behind her, using her Steward’s badge to activate a Silence over the doors and turning to face the exiles.
Isolde, Cordelia, Saffron, Mina, Lena and I were all now at a loose end for two hours. There were refreshments aplenty inside the suite, and both side rooms had exits. It wasn’t as if they were locked in like the election of a Pope. Even so, one of us had to be outside at all times, just in case.
Mina had already set up her laptop in our little corner and volunteered to take first watch. She has a lot of reading to do now that the transcript of the first session of the Flint Hoard hearing has been released. The various lawyers have started submitting their papers, too.
When Isolde walked out on Mowbray, twenty-five years ago, the new mansion at Pellacombe was only a dream. Now that her children were locked away, she asked for the tour. Cordelia nodded happily and we drifted outside as a party, with Lena in the lead. I fell into step with Cordelia and got a better look at her.
Her face was as impish as her smile. Pointy and mischievous. Alive, too. ‘I may never forgive you for that picture,’ I said. ‘I’m surprised Rick could get a signal to receive it if he’s off camping.’
She laughed. ‘I think your idea of camping and Rick’s are very different. His is more glamping, but yes, he is in the great outdoors, helping the kids to get back to nature. I’m hoping to Facetime them later.’
‘And you should watch your step with Saffron. She may get her revenge when this is over.’
Cordelia grinned. ‘And not before?’
‘She’s on duty.’
She nodded. ‘Rick said you could be a humourless bastard at times. He also said you were a good laugh. I’m still waiting for proof of the second part. I
like what you did with Alys, though. That was thoughtful.’
‘She’s not the first nervous flyer I’ve had to transport. I’m surprised she agreed to come.’
She slowed down, allowing the others to get ahead. With Lena’s voice booming, Isolde couldn’t hear us.
‘Are you really neutral, Conrad, or has the Mowbray charm seduced you? You loved flying that helicopter, I could tell. Saffron loves being treated like royalty and I’m sure Mina’s been flattered, too.’
‘Don’t forget Scout. He’s anyone’s for a bone and a game of catch. If he was a few months older, they’d probably lay on a few bitches for him.’
‘What!!! You can’t say that.’
‘It’s what they are. Don’t you have dogs at Homewood?’
‘Actually, no. Apart from a sheepdog on the farm, they’re banned as pets. You haven’t answered my question, have you?’
‘I was trying to be funny.’
‘Don’t give up the day job. Still not answered me, though.’
‘I am the Guarantor. I gave an oath. A Clarke’s word is binding. I’m surprised Rick didn’t tell you.’
‘He did. I wanted to hear it for myself. So nothing we say will get back to the Mowbrays?’
‘And vice versa.’
I was beginning to think that Cordelia’s presence in the party was not as simple as being Page to the First. I have no idea what that purpose might be, but it was something to chew over later.
We had arrived at the summerhouse. Lena got a call on her phone and when it was over, she swore in German (Rot in Hell with the Devil, to be precise). ‘I cannot show you the dock,’ she said to us. ‘I must go back.’
‘And me,’ said Isolde. ‘It’s best if one of us is in the house.’
‘Good idea,’ said Saffron. That left me and Cordelia, as Saffron no doubt intended. She’s learning.
‘I’ll show you the tradesman’s entrance,’ I said. ‘It’s lovely by the water.’
‘Great.’
Half way down the path, she returned to her original point. Cordy … damn. No. Cordelia isn’t stupid, and whatever she said next was to someone’s agenda. Raven’s? The Daughters’? Even her own, perhaps?
‘Mowbray did it deliberately,’ she said. ‘He invited us down by helicopter because he knows it’s a bloody pain to get from Glastonbury to Pellacombe any other way. People think that Glastonbury’s in the west country. It is, but it’s not in Cornwall. Three bloody hours by car. At least. Raven jumped at the offer, like Mowbray knew she would. And Brook. Alys had no choice but to fly or be humiliated. He’s sneaky like that.’
We arrived at the water and I did my own impression of a tour guide. Cordelia seemed genuinely enchanted by it all, and we fell silent for a bit, just soaking up the beauty of the place, enjoying the breeze and admiring the skill of a yachtsman, probably Michael. I think he had his little sister as crew.
‘What’s she like to work for?’ I asked.
Cordelia turned to face me and gave me the pixie grin. ‘You mean, “Is she really a child of the gods?” don’t you? Everyone asks me sooner or later. Rick asks me every time he picks up the kids, though I reckon it’s more of a joke than anything.’
‘It’s your turn not to answer the question,’ I responded. ‘I’m fully aware that you don’t know her true nature. I just wanted to know what she’s like as a leader.’
She held her hands up. ‘You got me there. Fair enough. I’d only been elevated to Ash Coven a month when Raven became First Daughter of Ash. She upset a lot of people when she asked me to be her Page. Everyone said she’d chosen me because I was no threat to her and didn’t know any better. They’re wrong.’
She said the last words with some passion and turned to look at the water again before continuing. ‘Raven chose me because I had two small children and because she wanted someone who’d had a life outside the Coven. Working for Raven is easy.’
‘We’d better get back. I know a shortcut through the house, though I may get in trouble for using it.’
The office fell into complete silence when I walked through the door with Cordelia, and every eye followed us to the staircase. When the fire door had closed behind us, Cordelia said, ‘It must be you. I never have that effect on people.’
‘That’s because you’ve never been to the Mowbray estate before. Enjoy it while it lasts.’
‘You what? That was scary … but not as scary as this place.’
We’d emerged into the portrait corridor, and her eyes flicked between the pictures and the Lab. I pointed to the next staircase and she almost ran up it. Interesting.
Lena was standing guard outside the doors to the Aisling rooms when we got back to the main hall.
‘They have decided to eat separately,’ she announced. ‘I am sending food to the King’s Watch suite for you. Someone will be there to serve and get you anything else. Back here in one hour.’
The doors behind her opened. Ethan smiled at her and said, ‘Alles ist gut.’ It was a tiny glimpse into their intimate lives when, for once, he didn’t care who noticed. She stepped into the room with him, and the two Witches followed.
Isolde scanned the room for her daughter in vain; Eseld had already disappeared into the Mowbray’s side room. Isolde tried to talk to Cador but Síona intercepted her. I don’t think Síona even realised what she’d done.
‘Food,’ said Saffron. ‘Definitely a good idea.’
Over the excellent lunch, I repeated what Cordelia had said once the Mowbray staffer had left us.
‘So?’ said Saffron. ‘What does that mean?’
‘It means the Daughters have clear factions,’ said Mina, ‘and Raven is in a different faction to Alys. For some reason, Cordelia wanted us to know that. I wonder if the three Covens are really three factions. Don’t forget, Brook, Raven and Cordelia are all in Ash Coven. The other two are in Willow, and the Eldest Daughter is in Oak. No one from Oak is here.’
‘Do we really care?’ said Saffron.
‘Yes,’ chorused Mina and I.
Mina pointed her fork at Saffron. ‘And so should you.’
Saffron frowned. Previously, she’s gone into a huff when picked up like that. This time she thought about it first. ‘We’re here to protect the Daughters from the Mowbrays not from each other, right?’
‘True,’ I said.
‘I’m sure the Boss has an opinion about the politics inside Homewood, and I know my mother does, but do we? Yes it’s interesting and all that, but isn’t this a distraction?’
‘That’s a good question. You didn’t really talk to Cordelia, so it’s hard to explain. She mentioned Rick a lot when she was talking to me. It’s as if she wanted what she said to get back to him for some reason.’
Saffron nodded. ‘Fair enough, but you didn’t see Eseld and her mother either. If there’s a situation to keep an eye on, I reckon it’s that one. Isolde’s not going to hurt her own child, but if she forces the issue, I can see Eseld lashing out.’
‘She’s right,’ said Mina. ‘That would not be good.’
We’d all finished eating. Saffron leaned out and picked up the internal phone to summon coffee. ‘What’s the plans for this afternoon?’ she asked when she’d put the phone down.
‘If no one objects, when they’ve locked the doors I’m going to sleep for a couple of hours.’
‘Really?’ blurted Saffron.
‘Yes, really,’ said Mina. ‘He will use the excuse that he was up before dawn to go riding and that he’s been flying, but yes, he will go to sleep for a couple of hours and actually be awake when he gets up. I cannot do that.’
‘Me neither,’ said Saffron. ‘Do I get a break later?’
‘Of course. The afternoon session is 14:30 to 18:30. We’ll take two hours each.’
The coffee arrived. I reluctantly said no to more caffeine, took some water and went to the smoking shelter. When I got back to the main hall, the parties were all ready to go again. Isolde and Cordelia were already outside the space, and
the distress on Isolde’s face was starting to be really noticeable. Lena closed the doors and put the Silence in place.
I made my excuses and left them to it. Mina had a very interesting story to tell when I relieved Saffron a couple of hours later, and I’ll let her tell it herself.
16 — What Mina Saw (and heard)
The swastika at the top of this page is a Hindu symbol of good luck and prosperity, and I hope you don’t mind me including it. It’s up there to show you who is in charge while Conrad is asleep, and if you don’t like looking at it, remember that I have one tattooed on my chest; I have no choice but to look at it.
I don’t know what we would have at the top of the page if Saffron were telling the story. I would choose a silver spoon for her, or maybe a halo. If we asked her, she’d probably pick a hawk. For Hawkins. Very boring.
Conrad limped off up the stairs after saying something about the weather. He keeps talking about the Jet Stream as if it means something to me, and he even started talking about a hurricane in the Caribbean. I nodded and told him to go.
Lena wiped her hand over her face and muttered something in German, then said, ‘For me, a rest. You are all good, yes?’
I could watch Lena’s jaw all day. It really is that big. I only watch it because it is so painful for me to look at it. Every time the muscles work in her face, my head aches. When you have had your own jaw smashed to a pulp and then rebuilt, you become very sensitive to these things. I was very glad to see the back of her.
Cordelia took out her phone and said, ‘Gonna FaceTime the kids, yeah?’ Isolde nodded to her, and Cordelia wandered outside. That left Saffron, Isolde and me. Saffron is getting better at taking a hint. ‘If Conrad is asleep,’ I said, ‘can you call the Constable? I think her meeting is over now.’
‘Good idea,’ she said. ‘I’ll go to the summerhouse.’
And that left Isolde and me. She was no longer wearing the red jacket and she badly needed some colour about her, because Isolde is not the most striking person you will meet, especially given the competition from the other women around here.
