Amelie: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

‘Now we have been introduced and formal notification of the due debt having been given, you have three days to comply.’

  ‘How do we know we can pay when you haven’t even said what it is you require,’ Max said almost desperately.

  ‘It is obvious a satisfactory payment can be made this time,’ Louis said easily. ‘So we will be able to avoid the same unpleasantness as at the summer meeting.’

  Max swallowed, clearly “unpleasantness” was Louis’ description of Tring’s murder. ‘What is the payment?’

  ‘One animus woman. I see two acceptable ones before me. Either will suffice. Commander Drako will be here to collect in three days time.’ With that harsh news delivered he turned to leave.

  ‘Wait,’ Amelie said sharply. ‘You were going to kidnap one or all of us; we heard you. Why?’

  ‘Once the school began refusing to accept our dues, it became necessary to collect for ourselves. Tring preferred we do that. He could then pretend students had simply run away and did not have to choose them himself. It was cowardly. But we understood we were expected this week and that the female had been chosen. Is that not correct?’

  ‘Vako,’ Jim suddenly growled. ‘That’s why he invited us here and was so desperate for us to stay.’

  ‘And why he sought to cripple you yesterday,’ Bruno added in disgust.

  Louis watched the young man’s anger as he stood in front of the panther his hand fearlessly stroking her head. She was clearly his and he would defend her, assuming the very capable looking panther needed defending.

  So the contact was trying to palm them off with a visitor, who was already spoken for? He’d also tried to reduce her man’s ability to defend her. This didn’t sound like an honourable person to be dealing with.

  ‘What if we refuse?’ Jim asked quickly.

  ‘There will be consequences,’ Louis told them.

  ‘Your agreement was with Vako. So if he doesn’t deliver you will kill him?’ Jim pressed.

  ‘Usually that is the way with a deal maker who reneges, unless he can come up with an equally good alternative,’ Louis said, and his glance strayed to the wolf.

  ‘Out of the question,’ Laurence spoke up this time, his fangs gleaming.

  ‘You can have Vako,’ Jim said coldly. ‘I doubt anyone would miss him. If you don’t kill him I probably will anyway.’

  ‘Then we will look to you as the next leader, to honour the contract,’ Louis said.

  ‘I wouldn’t be the next leader,’ Jim said feeling unsettled. ‘We have only been here a few days and had planned to be on a ship next week heading for home.’

  ‘You would leave a place where you could be first?’ Louis asked in surprise.

  Jim ignored that observation, wondering instead why the stranger seemed to think he could, or rather should, run this school.

  ‘Tell us why you think we would find it in any way acceptable to consider our women as bargaining chips.’ Jim moved aside and sat on one of the lower tiers of seats.

  Louis also took the opportunity to sit down and study the young man more closely. They’d spoken of an attack serious enough to cripple and only yesterday. Now he was closer he could detect some pain in his eyes and a hitch to his shoulder as he sat, but that was all. The panther came and sat pressed against his other side and an arm automatically rose to encircle her. Then both pairs of eyes turned to Louis, both very direct and “seeing” awaiting his answer.

  ‘It never used to be like this,’ Louis began suddenly, needing them to understand. ‘Drako’s grandfather was a student here and had many friends in the school. But when the decree came through from the King and Prince Casper’s grandfather began seeking out and trying to destroy every animus, the war came here. The governor at the time called for help to defend the school and the Green Bear clan answered. Many of our clan lost their lives then and in the years that followed. Yet even today we keep watch over this school and defend it from harm. All we ask in return is the chance to seek wives from among the older students. You used to be our greatest ally and many chose to join us. But I suppose the old ones died without passing on the knowledge of what we share,’ he added sadly.

  ‘But you must know the old agreements were made with people long dead and that we no longer expect assistance. Why do you still continue to protect the school?’ Max asked.

  ‘We live in hope the old ways and alliances will be re-instated; that a leader worthy of our trust would take over here. All animus should stand together,’ he added.

  ‘So stand together,’ Jim said. ‘Stop hiding in the shadows. If your people need brides or allies come and meet us openly and in daylight. You do not improve your chances of rebuilding friendships by sneaking in at night to kidnap people. You do see that don’t you?’

  ‘I do,’ Louis agreed and his gaze travelled to the panther.

  ‘Don’t even think about it,’ Amelie told the man. ‘Try and carry me off and I will certainly bite off something you wouldn’t want missing.’ She smiled but on her feline face it translated into a good view of long and sharply pointed fangs.

  ‘And you’d have me to contend with,’ Jim said with calm assurance and a silken promise.

  ‘I prefer the suggestion to come and meet your people,’ Louis said quickly. There was steel in the young man’s voice. He had no wish to learn firsthand what an angry wizard might decide to do to exact retribution.

  ‘Good. Vako’s just arrived,’ Jim said, his head turning for a moment. ‘He’s now hovering outside. Would you bring him in?’ Jim asked Amelie.

  ‘I’d rather snap his neck,’ Amelie growled.

  ‘That wasn’t what you wanted to do at all,’ Jim countered with wry amusement and crossed his legs.

  ‘We have company,’ she muttered and heard Jim’s snort as she turned and trotted off.

  ‘Amelie, is that you?’

  ‘Of course,’ Amelie could be heard to reply tersely. ‘Come, we’ve been hearing all about your agreement with Drako from your guests.’

  ‘Drako’s here?’ Vako’s voice was rather high.

  ‘No; his emissary Louis is here.’

  Vako came into the dim candle light of the arena and glanced round quickly. ‘Jim, I didn’t think you’d be here. Shouldn’t you be in bed?’ he added irritably.

  ‘Probably. That’s certainly my preference on such a cold night,’ Jim said. ‘I’m happy to get inside now we know the threat is over,’ he added cheerfully and rose to his feet, his hand on Amelie’s warm fur.

  Louis, hastily filing the two names away, suddenly realised this young wizard Jim had not given his name, or hers. He had the nagging feeling he’d heard those names before, too and that the omission had been deliberate. He also hadn’t risen to Vako’s goading.

  ‘Of course, now you’re here, I’ll leave it to you to arrange when the rest of Louis’ people can stop by and meet the Animus students. Janice especially comes to mind,’ he said glancing sidelong at Laurence and Kathy. ‘I believe Commander Drako himself is nearby so may wish to pop in and renew old acquaintances in the next day or so.’

  Vako stared at him in horror, bereft of words.

  ‘Will you be heading back to your people now Louis?’ Jim asked, satisfied Vako had been quashed.

  ‘Yes, that’s probably best. Drako will want to hear this news quickly,’ Louis said watching the little interplay between the two men.

  ‘Otherwise you could bring your little tent in here tonight and head off in the morning. I understand you don’t have much with you to make a warm camp.’

  Louis stared at Jim, surprised they’d found the camp. It had been very well hidden. ‘You’re right. It’s a chilly evening. If that’s ok by you then we will gladly shelter in here overnight and travel back in daylight.’

  ‘When shall we expect your return?’ Jim asked politely.

  ‘That will be for the Commander to decide. But I would expect you to hear from us fairly quickly,’ Louis advised.

  Jim nodded. ‘We’ll say good night th
en.’ He left the building, Amelie at his side and began walking back to the house. Vako hastily mounted his horse and followed.

  ‘Call the birds and get everyone inside Max,’ Jim advised and the owl immediately flew off, swiftly but still silently. Jim wished he had that amount of energy. He kept his pace steady, slower than when they’d been travelling, but even this was hard to maintain. He abruptly felt a boost of strength and glanced down. Amelie was watching him and had passed him some of her strength through the hand resting on her shoulder. He sent her warm feelings of thanks and love. It was all he had strength to do, but he sensed it was more than enough for her.

  Back at the house Vako threw the reins of his horse to the first person he saw. ‘Come,’ he snapped blackly to Jim.

  Jim did not appear perturbed by Vako’s anger and followed to the staff lounge and dropped into the nearest chair. He was aware Amelie, Bruno and Max followed too.

  ‘How dare you take it upon yourself to invite those monsters to return? You had no authority to do that,’ Vako fairly shook with anger.

  ‘Do not get on your high horse. You have far more to answer for and you know it,’ Jim snapped his civilised veneer slipping into a real snarl of anger. ‘Your sole reason for getting us here was to use us. You got us to expend our strength fixing things you couldn’t do and the whole time you had planned to use Amelie to pay the blood debt owed to clan Green Bear. You even went so far as to try and cripple me so I would be unable to aid her when they came. Do you dare deny it?’

  Vako stared as sparks crackled over Jim’s body in answer to his anger. Waves of power pulsed seeking destructive release. Jim’s temper was clearly only barely leashed. After such severe injuries the young man shouldn’t have much power left; this unexpected strength was terrifying. Vako swallowed hard, knowing Jim would instantly detect it if he lied and that might just tip him over the edge.

  ‘I cannot deny it,’ Vako whispered. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t think a wizard and an animus would be a couple when I heard of you both. By the time I met her and realised she was not animus the summons had already been issued. Someone would have to be forfeited to them. Better a stranger with no family to explain a disappearance to.’ He gasped and tried to block, but Jim splintered his defences and exploded into his mind. Vako whimpered, feeling the raw power searching his memories, pushing easily past any blocks he tried to put up, assessing every dark little secret, every plot and emotion. The search stripped him naked. Just as suddenly Jim was gone from his mind and he opened his eyes to those knowing ones from whom he now had no secrets.

  ‘Vako, it is time for you to step down as head of this school,’ Jim told him, his earlier anger gone. He ignored Max’s sharp intake of breath, his eyes only on Vako. He didn’t need to reveal Vako’s secrets to everyone else. It was enough that Vako knew he knew them.

  ‘I will only step down if you take my place,’ Vako said quickly.

  ‘Why would you want that?’

  ‘I never wanted the job,’ Vako said, ‘but there was no-one else willing or able to do it. I know you wish to return home, but this could be one too. The school needs you,’ he added with simple unadorned honesty.

  Jim was suddenly torn. He knew he could do a lot of good here and everyone else had been friendly and welcoming. He turned to meet Amelie’s eyes.

  ‘I will be with you wherever we go,’ she told him. ‘At least I don’t have to hide my nature here and there are other animus people as well.’

  ‘You’re not worried about this Drako?’

  ‘No. He is animus. We will speak to him and set him right,’ she told him blithely.

  Jim snorted softly at her confidence in his ability to change the mind of a hardened warrior. ‘Very well Vako, I will take over until such time as a replacement can be found,’ Jim said. ‘You may make the announcement. You will return to teaching the wizard class.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Vako said, grateful he wasn’t being turned out into the cold. He wouldn’t have been surprised if that had happened, but he was glad it had not been a required penance for his sins against them. He was also being allowed to retain his dignity before the students.

  ‘Good,’ Jim said. ‘We’ll tell the students to expect guests in the next few days. We’ll get them to concentrate on some housekeeping prior to then. There’s nothing like imminent visitors to concentrate the mind on getting chores sorted.’

  ‘How will you handle the debt?’ Vako asked, striving not to press but worried.

  ‘I will speak to this Drako,’ Jim said and his tone closed the subject. ‘Good night all,’ he said and departed for their quarters, Amelie at his side. He was verging on collapse and didn’t need anyone to witness just how far gone he now was. It already wasn’t good that Louis knew he’d been attacked; he’d certainly been looking for signs of weakness. With potential enemies gathering he had to regain his strength fast.

  ‘You didn’t seem weak in the slightest,’ Amelie told him, skimming his mind as she helped get his shirt off his still stiff shoulders. ‘If anything you felt more powerful than I’ve ever seen you,’ she added.

  He felt her pride and a certain admiration in her voice that seemed to feed him inside. ‘Good,’ he admitted, knowing she meant it. ‘Are we doing the right thing?’ he asked anxiously. ‘What do I know of running anything, let alone as big a place as this is.’

  ‘There is plenty of staff to do the day to day stuff and advise you on what needs to happen. You’ll work it out love,’ she said softly and cuddled up to him in their lovely snug bed. ‘You aren’t alone in any of this remember.’

  17

  Headmaster

  At breakfast the next morning Vako clapped his hands drawing everyone’s notice as he stood.

  ‘Attention everyone please. Before we tuck in, I have an announcement.’ He waited for silence. ‘As of today I am stepping down as Head. As many of you will know, I have been searching for a replacement so I could return to teaching. Wizard Jim has agreed to take over. Join me in welcoming him.’ Vako sat down clapping, as did the other teachers, and the students followed suit.

  ‘Thank you for your welcome,’ Jim said, rising to his feet and trying to ignore the fact that nearly seventy people were looking at him waiting to hear what he’d say. ‘As many of you will know, two strangers turned up on the grounds last night. What you may not know, was that they were expected. We will have honoured guests arriving in the next day or so, who used to be great allies of the school. We intend to renew the friendship and I’d like to make a good impression. With that in mind today’s lessons will concentrate on some major housekeeping and restoration chores. Yesterday we fixed the greenhouse roof. There are many similar major tasks, which the ground staff needs assistance with. We want to look our best for our guests, and in any case, many things, like our security, should be sorted out before winter sets in fully. Vako has presented me with a list of projects,’ he picked it up and waved it so all could see there were several closely written pages, ‘that is quite extensive. But many hands will make light work and most importantly, you will all learn many very useful practical lessons as we achieve these objectives. Now eat well; you will need your strength,’ he added and sat down. He was aware the teachers and many students were watching him, but he devoted his attention to studying the list whilst devouring his breakfast.

  ‘Our priority,’ he said to the teachers, ‘is our security here. Last night highlighted a number of serious flaws. Am I right in thinking that hole in the wall is in a useful spot?’

  ‘Yes,’ Bruno spoke up, glancing at his colleagues. ‘We harvest firewood and many things out in the forest. But it is a big breach in our defences.’

  ‘Terry, can you get the best people in your class, or whoever is best able to draw up clear designs. I need suggestions for upgrading the gates and security of the wall all around the grounds,’ Jim said to the tactics man. ‘I think a narrow people gate would work best in that forest site. We also need some defensive positions by the front ga
te where we can post lookouts. Bruno, can you liaise with Terry on this, I imagine your input would be useful. Max, can you get your class collecting up all the battle debris between here and the gap in the wall. I know it’s not a glamorous assignment, but I’d rather our guests didn’t see so many reminders of the last battle or be shown that we can’t even spare time to keep things tidy. Amelie found a very useable sword out there, so you might find some useful items. I’d also like you to check our visitors have actually left, now that it’s daylight. I shall take the rest of the wizard students and fix the stable block roof. Then hopefully after lunch we’ll have a plan drawn up to tackle the wall. Any questions?’

  ‘Who are these guests you’re referring to?’ Terry asked.

  ‘Commander Drako of Clan Green Bear,’ Jim said calmly. ‘He and his grandfather before him have been protecting this school. It is time to renew the alliance and I’d rather we didn’t look the poor relations. It’s not the best way to start a negotiation with powerful people. Also, if things do turn sour, I’d rather we have some defences in place. Right, to work,’ Jim added noting the clock was now close to usual lesson time. ‘Let me know progress at tea break Terry.’

  ‘What would you like me to do?’ Vako asked.

  ‘You can come with me. I could use some help and you know the students.’

  Vako nodded, relieved to let someone else make the decisions for a change.

  ‘Get your coats and boots on,’ Jim instructed those students remaining after the animus classes and the small tactics class had gone. ‘We’ll be spending the morning outside, so dress warmly.’ He waited until they had sorted themselves out and reassembled before speaking again. ‘Year One, come forward. You will be reporting to Amelie. Year Two; report to Vako. Year Three; to me. Ok, let’s go.’ Separating them out into years was simplest since they would expect to work with those in their own class and would know each other. Handling sixty students would have been unmanageable otherwise.

  Mr Blake, the horse-master heard them approaching and summoned all the grooms in readiness for whatever was required. He’d heard this young man had taken over as Head that morning; the news had spread like wildfire. Everyone was buzzing, wondering what changes he would instigate.