Eight Kings (The King's Watch Book 6)

by Mark Hayden

  ‘How’s the house-hunting going?’ I asked Vicky.

  ‘Flat-hunting. We’re a long way from being able to afford a house within an hour of the City. Thanks for the coffee.’ She sipped her latte and looked at the pastries on the counter. ‘Better not. The flat-hunting’s going champion, if you enjoy sticking your neb into other people’s lives. I must say I’ve got a taste for it since I met you.’

  ‘Do you blame me for all your bad habits?’

  She gave that some serious consideration. ‘Yes.’

  There was a blast of damp air and the other two members of our party blew in, trying to shake their umbrellas outside without getting wet. Mina spotted us and dragged a slightly dazed looking Sofía over to the table.

  ‘Where did this rain come from?’ said Mina.

  ‘I told you last week. There was a change in the Jet Stream and a hurricane in the Caribbean.’

  ‘So?’ said Mina. ‘That means nothing to anyone.’

  ‘She’s got a point,’ added Vicky. ‘I have no idea what it means either.’

  ‘It meant rain in a week’s time, which is why I told you a week ago, and you’re ganging up on me again. Sofía, you have to stick up for me.’

  ‘Why should I do that? You are big enough to look after yourself.’ She sniffed her espresso and started adding sugar. ‘Although, I have been talking to Papa.’

  She gave me a strange look, as I were responsible for all my father’s peculiarities instead of being their recipient.

  She finished stirring and downed her coffee in one. ‘He says that I must learn all about the weather and how to drink tea, and that this is all I need to fit in over here.’

  ‘Sounds about right,’ said Vicky with a sage nod.

  ‘Totally,’ added Mina. ‘And get used to London prices. That helps.’

  ‘Never!’ said Sofía. ‘Is it too late to go to Napier College in Scotland?’

  ‘Yes!’

  Her face fell. ‘Tell me again about the Dean. I don’t have to call her My Lady?’

  ‘No, and you’ll meet her yourself soon enough,’ said Mina. She does like to use a little tough love on my little sister.

  ‘Nice coat,’ I said. ‘Is it new?’

  ‘Very new and very expensive,’ said Sofía with a sidelong glance at Mina.

  ‘Enough about the weather and shopping,’ said Vicky. ‘I want to hear all about Pramiti if you’re gonna drag us off on a mission.’

  That was our cue (Sofía and me) to head out for a smoke and for me to ask about how Mum was getting on. Fine, is the answer. Dad and Sofía have been meeting during bridge nights, so Mum could pretend it wasn’t happening. When we got back inside, Vicky and Mina both had their phones out and were arguing.

  ‘We’re trying to get an Uber,’ said Mina. ‘My rating is higher than Vicky’s.’

  ‘No it isn’t.’

  I got out my own phone and checked for the twice-daily update from Lena. ‘Good news,’ I said. ‘Hedda is awake and talking. Things are looking good for her.’

  ‘That is good news,’ said Mina.

  ‘Ooh! I’ve got one,’ said Vicky. ‘Uber on its way.’

  Mina and Vicky were off on a Pramiti-related quest that needed a Sorcerer and clashed with our upcoming appointment in Salomon’s House.

  ‘And we’re walking,’ I said to Sofía.

  ‘In this rain?’

  ‘Quicker and much more dog friendly,’ I said, and zipped up my coat.

  She hesitated a second, then joined me. ‘It is not so bad, this rain,’ she said. ‘I do not like Ubers and I prefer to walk.’

  We left the warmth of the coffee shop and waited patiently to cross Byward Street.

  ‘If you spend any time with Vicky, you’ll have to get used to Ubers. How are you feeling?’

  She gave an epic shrug, so big the umbrella tilted away from her. ‘About the college, I don’t know. If it is good, it is good. I am more worried about dinner tonight. I can cope with Papa not knowing the world of magick, but Rachael… What will we talk about?’

  ‘We’ll talk about whatever Rachael wants to talk about. Haven’t you spotted that yet?’

  She laughed. ‘Si. Also, I have been thinking about what to do if I get into the Invisible College.’

  ‘You’ll get in. The Dean owes me, so that’s not a problem. It has to be your choice. If you think it’s right for you.’

  She was quiet for a second. I think she was nodding and had forgotten that I couldn’t see her very well under the umbrella. ‘Yes. I understand. I was thinking about my name. You know that I am not really called Torres. Mama picked it at random when I was born.’

  ‘You’ve had it all your life, Sofía.’

  ‘Yes, and Victoria says that they only use first names at the College. Everyone will know that I am your sister, so I want to take our father’s name. If I don’t like it, I can change back when I graduate. Sofía Clarke.’

  She rolled the r when she said it. It sounded strange but good.

  We entered Frederick’s Place and I slipped Scout’s lead off. A short way down, she stopped and lowered her umbrella. The portico of Salomon’s House had just become visible. To both of us. To me through the token they gave me, and to Sofía via natural talent.

  ‘Ready?’

  ‘No. Let’s go anyway.’

  ‘Spoken like a true Clarke. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.’

  ‘That’s what Mama said when she sent me to Clerkswell. And look what happened there.’

  ‘Why have you invited Victoria?’ hissed Rachael when Sofía and I arrived at St Cecilia’s Dining Rooms. My older sister’s flat in Mayfair could just about accommodate us, but that would mean her cooking or hiring a chef. Not going to happen.

  ‘Very nice,’ I said. We had a panelled room all to ourselves. ‘Mina and Vicky have been on an engagement related mission, and you get on all right with Vicky, don’t you? Besides, you invited Alain.’

  ‘That’s because I felt sorry for him. He’s been dumped again.’

  ‘You are not trying to set him up with Sofía, are you?’

  She grinned. ‘They have to meet sooner or later. Better to do it where I can keep an eye on him. Will they be long?’

  ‘They’re in a taxi right now. No more than five minutes.’

  This was a joint celebration of our engagement and Sofía’s admission to Salomon’s House. Or as we’re calling it, “Ironmonger’s College.” This was an old Mage’s in-joke, because Salomon’s House backs on to Ironmonger’s Lane. More recently, the Occulters set up an online presence exactly for this purpose.

  The real reason that Vicky was here was that I’d had a text from Alain: Rachael wants to talk to you on your own. She has told me to make sure it happens.

  It would be a lot easier if Vicky was here to lower the temperature, and Vic wasn’t going to say no to a free dinner in an exclusive Mayfair dining room, was she? Mina looked particularly gorgeous tonight, even if her dress did look familiar. ‘Didn’t Vicky wear that to the garden party?’

  ‘She did. I thought it would look better on me, but don’t tell her that.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dare. How did you get on with Pramiti?’

  She gave me an equivocal, very Indian nod. ‘We have made a start. We are back on the hunt tomorrow, but I will definitely be back for dinner with Chris Kelly. Don’t worry.’

  During a smoke break on the roof, Alain appeared and gave me a thumbs-up sign over Sofía’s head. I didn’t mess around with subterfuge. ‘Could you give us a minute, Sofía?’ I said. ‘Alain is under orders to get me alone so Rachael can talk to me.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I have no idea.’

  Sofía shrugged and left us to it. Rachael appeared seconds after they’d gone downstairs. She must have been waiting behind the door.

  I had a terrible fear that Rachael was going to re-open old wounds about Elvenham House now that I was getting married. I was wrong.

  ‘What happened in Cornwall?’ she said
when we were alone.

  I shook my head. ‘I can tell you about the food and the view from Lamorne Point, Raitch, but that’s it. Everything else is classified.’

  Rachael really is our mother’s daughter, even if she tries to deny it sometimes. She put her left hand on her hip and tapped her right forefinger against her refreshed lipstick. In a flashback, I was six years old and about to be interrogated regarding a broken window at primary school. I tried to repress a shudder.

  ‘Don’t be dense, Conrad. I’m not talking about the secret negotiations, I’m talking about the fact that my biggest client has acquired an adult daughter. Bit close to home, that.’

  ‘To be fair, Raitch, he’s always known about his daughter. She’s only just reappeared, that’s all.’

  ‘Then why am I having to spend the weekend in Salisbury? Do you know how many times I’ve met Mowbray? Once. He came in to sign the papers when he moved to our company. That’s it.’

  ‘Lord Mowbray is a busy man.’

  ‘Lord??? Since when does he have a title?’

  Oops. That was a slip. ‘Erm, it’s like Mum’s CBE. Secret. For services rendered.’

  She gave me another of Mother’s looks, the one that said I don’t believe you, but that’s not the important thing.

  ‘Whatever. Why does he suddenly want see me now? I could put this Morwenna person into the trust without a face-to-face meeting.’

  ‘Medbh. Her name’s Medbh. The Mowbrays as a clan are pretty formidable. They’ll expect you and me to talk but not say anything to each other, if that makes sense. If you get her name right, it’ll give him something to think about.’

  ‘I like that. Any other hints?’

  ‘Sorry. I have no idea what he’s planning.’

  ‘Fair enough. How did Sofía really get on this afternoon? And are you sure that this Ironmonger’s place is the right one?’

  ‘It’s the right place. She’s got a scholarship there and they have a very good pupil-teacher ratio. She did very well at the interview, too.’ I pulled my lip and thought for a moment. Rachael was about to go when I said, ‘She’s enrolling as Sofía Clarke. Her idea, not mine or Dad’s.’

  ‘Oh.’ It was her turn to think. ‘I spoke to Mum about their will. She says that they’re not changing it. She thinks Dad will want to give Sofía something when she’s finished her studies. She’s going to cross that bridge when it comes.’

  ‘She’s a good kid, Raitch. Getting to know her father’s been all the inheritance she wants.’

  ‘Yeah. She is a good kid. Shit taste in music, though.’

  ‘Tell me about it. Are you coming to the Bollywood party?’

  ‘If there’s room.’ She straightened up. ‘Anyway, what are you up to this weekend?’

  ‘Mina needs to see a man about a missing ruby.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Rachael, if I tell you something, will you just accept it?’

  ‘That sounds serious. Yes, if it’s important.’

  ‘The case is tied up with Mina’s … heritage. She won’t be allowed to marry if we don’t sort it out.’

  ‘Really? I thought she was completely cut off from her family.’

  ‘No. This is about a very old debt being called in, and you’ll meet her cousin at the Bollywood party. There’ll be plenty of room at Elvenham because we’re turning the old servants’ rooms into proper bedrooms.’

  She shivered and started to walk towards the stairs. ‘We?’

  I followed her. ‘Team Elvenham. Myfanwy is already planning Christmas. Mum and Dad have booked flights.’

  ‘Then it’s my duty to come. Keep up standards.’

  When we got downstairs, Mina was deep in conversation with Sofía about something, and Vicky shocked me by announcing that Alain was being co-opted into their flat-hunt. ‘He needs to leave that place,’ she said. I couldn’t agree more.

  ‘I wonder what tomorrow night will be like?’ said Mina when we got back to Notting Hill.

  ‘Interesting. So many people have dropped hints about Chris Kelly’s domestic arrangements that I can’t wait to find out.’

  It was very interesting, and because it forms part of the search for Pramiti’s missing ruby, I’ve let Mina tell it in Ring of Troth.

  Our dinner at St Cecilia’s had been on Thursday, and we didn’t get back to Elvenham until Tuesday night, after a detour to Heathrow and Richmond. When we finally rocked up, Mina announced that the wedding would be early next summer, ‘Now that our little difficulty has been dealt with.’

  She didn’t give anything away about the wedding details, not even to me in private, and there were no announcements about bridesmaids. Yet. I don’t think she knows herself what she wants.

  One thing that did change straight away was the corner of the library in Elvenham. For many years, James Clarke’s desk had stood there, until I restored it to pride of place. On the Wednesday morning, Mina moved one of the reproduction console tables into the space and installed an altar to Ganesh on top.

  She led me to the altar and took off her engagement ring. She placed it on top of twenty pound note and recited a prayer in Sanskrit. She finished the prayer with a deep bow and took my hand.

  ‘Ganesh, hear me. I release Conrad from his promise never to lie to me now that we are betrothed.’

  She looked up at me and smiled. ‘Now it is finished. You can lie as much as you want, which I hope is very little.’

  Without waiting for a response, she picked up her ring and slid it back on her finger. ‘I’m hungry. Let’s go.’

  She left the money behind as an offering. It would go into a pot underneath the altar. Mina had told the whole house that anyone was welcome to make offerings, and Scout was advised that there would be drastic consequences if he so much as dreamt of stealing them. Ganesh does have a sweet tooth…

  28 — A Straw in the Wind

  On Wednesday evening, the day before our departure to Cornwall, I got an unexpected phone call. I was alone in the utility room doing a spot of ironing. Honestly. Mina trusts no one else with her saris. Just before the phone rang, Scout came looking for me.

  ‘What’s up boy?’

  He turned his head towards the staircase and whined. ‘Are they not playing nicely up there?’

  ‘Arff.’

  Mina, Myfanwy and Erin were in the attic, arguing about a colour scheme for the new rooms. ‘We’re well out of it.’ Scout eyed the laundry basket. Covetously. ‘You are not making a bed there, old son. It’ll be time for a walk soon.’

  At that point my phone rang. It was Eseld’s number, but not Eseld on the other end. It was her father.

  ‘Lord Mowbray! How can I help?’

  ‘My Enscriber’s injured herself. Fell over on a boat and sprained her bloody wrist. I don’t know another one I can get here in time. Eseld says you’ve got one on retainer.’

  ‘Erin works here, yes, and she’s here now. I’ll just get her.’ I muted the call. ‘Scout. Fetch Erin. Now boy!’ He scampered off and I returned to the call. ‘She’s on her way, and as far as I know, she hasn’t got any plans for the next few days.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘Apart from that, how are things going?’

  ‘Fine. Everything’s lined up and ready. Oh, and Lena asked me to pass on a message. Hedda wants to see you at visiting tomorrow night.’

  ‘How is she?’

  ‘Tough. Early exposure to Swedish winters, I suppose. Lena went to see her this afternoon and says she should make a full mundane recovery.’

  ‘That’s good to hear.’

  ‘It is. The next two and a half weeks in Glastonbury are going to be interesting.’

  ‘How come?’

  ‘They choose the new Eldest Daughter at the next full moon.’

  Because Scout couldn’t explain why he wanted Erin in particular, all three women trailed downstairs after him with shouts of, ‘Conrad! What’s happening?’

  I held out the phone to Erin. ‘Lord Mowbray has a job for you.’

  Once Er
in had gone to the sitting room for some privacy, Mina looked at Myfanwy and said, ‘Blue?’

  ‘Blue.’

  ‘Good. Shall we let her have a Japanese room?’

  ‘So long as she sleeps in it.’

  ‘Settled,’ said Mina with some finality.

  ‘Good. I’ll start organising the builder while you’re in Cornwall,’ said Myfanwy.

  ‘Are you going to tell me what you’re talking about?’ I said.

  ‘No,’ said Mina. ‘You’ll find out when it’s finished. Here she comes.’

  Erin held out my phone to me at the same time as she called Saffron on her own mobile. ‘I’m going to scrounge a lift from Saff,’ she said. ‘There’s no room in the Volvo with that dog.’

  ‘I would go home tomorrow, if I could,’ said Hedda, ‘but there will be no one at home to take me. And I don’t think the hospital believe that I’m recovered.’

  ‘Brain surgery is a serious business,’ I replied.

  Hedda was out of bed and sitting in a family room. The only sign of her trauma was a walking frame and a woolly hat to cover the dressing. She looked pale and her left eye seemed dimmer.

  ‘Thank you for the plums, and thank Lena, too,’ she said. She held the box of Pellacombe plums in her right hand and felt some of them with her left. She caught me looking at her. ‘I can use my hands and my speech. In most ways I am very lucky. The doctors do not know what I have really lost.’

  ‘Totally?’

  ‘It is like being blind or paralysed. I remember the feeling of magick, but it simply doesn’t work any more. Even when Raven comes to see me, she is just a very tall woman.’

  I smiled. ‘What did she feel like before?’

  Hedda looked away. ‘I cannot describe it to you. Could you get me some paper towels? There is a bathroom just there.’

  She ate two of the plums, slowly and deliberately, while I told her about the plans for the Election tomorrow. When she’d finished eating, she sighed. The effort had been immense, for some reason. ‘Now you can tell Signe that I will be all right. She does not need to visit me. She must stay for the election and the banquet.’