‘Still peculiar. Likely to become more so, now that someone’s been idiot enough to give her free rein to boss everyone around.’
‘Perhaps she will benefit from a suitable outlet for that side of her personality.’
‘I am unlikely to see anything of it, if she does.’
‘Very well.’ I braced myself for questions about my father, but Milady permitted the subject to drop. ‘I would have spoken to you yesterday, but we await Jay—’
‘Here,’ said Jay, and the door opened smartly to admit him. He smiled at me, looking bright-eyed, glowing with health and very happy indeed.
‘Good week?’ I said, returning the smile.
‘Splendid. The girls are doing well. Dev’s deep in exams, but he’ll fly through them; nobody’s worried about that except him. And I met—’ He stopped abruptly, and cast me a look I found it impossible to interpret. ‘It was a good week,’ he finished, and turned away his eyes.
The second chair took solid shape, and Jay sank into it. ‘I brought Indira back, ma’am. She’s on her way to Orlando.’
‘I know. Thank you, Jay.’
He grinned. ‘Of course you do.’
‘I have a new assignment for you both,’ she said. ‘If you are ready to continue?’
‘Perfectly,’ I said.
‘Absolutely,’ said Jay.
‘Excellent. I have had word from Mandridore regarding those books you secured from Farringale. They are not yet fully deciphered, and there is some disagreement as to the precise import of some parts. However, there appears to be some support for the hypothesis you formulated on that occasion: namely the links between magickal creatures such as griffins, and magickal surges.’
‘So they are linked,’ I said, with a glow of satisfaction.
‘There appears to be some support for the idea,’ Milady repeated, which meant: maybe, but don’t get carried away. ‘Certainly it appears that the causal relationships here may have been misinterpreted. Are griffins drawn to areas of excess magick, or do certain areas become concentrated sources of magick because of their griffin population?’
‘Maybe some of both,’ Jay suggested.
‘Yes; a symbiosis, which can on occasion get out of hand. That is possible, maybe even likely. And if this is the case, then the gradual decline of magick in Britain can be partly attributed to the commensurate decline in such creatures as griffins.
‘So: what can be done about this?’
All sorts of possibilities popped into my mind, one thought chief amongst them. ‘Had they begun to realise this in Torvaston’s day?’
‘Yes,’ said Milady. ‘His books indicate that the notion had occurred to the Court’s scholars. Of course, there is no real consensus among academics as to when the decline truly began, or how far back it can be traced; reports are conflicting, and conclusions differ widely. But if Torvaston and Hrruna knew of it, then that casts a different light on some things.’
‘Such as what they were doing with Farringale’s griffin population,’ I said. ‘Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps Torvaston wasn’t magick-drunk and addicted. Maybe he was… trying to help.’
‘Both,’ said Milady. ‘Possibly the former came about as a result of the latter, at least in part. His books seem to indicate it.’
Which made him a rather tragic figure after all, if it was true.
‘What was he really doing on the fifth Britain, then?’ said Jay. ‘Were he and his entourage really looking for a new home? Were they exiles?’
‘That is unknown. The books we have were written before that occurred, of course. If any records were created afterwards, they are presumably on the fifth Britain.’
‘Is that where we are going, then?’ I said.
‘It is. The scroll-case and its map suggest that Torvaston had a mission planned in advance of the disaster at Farringale. I want the two of you to find out what it was, and what became of it.’
Jay and I were silent for a moment, figuring out everything Milady had not specifically said.
‘The maps were of the fifth Britain, were they?’ I said. ‘The Vales of Wonder, and the Something Mountains?’
‘Hyndorin,’ supplied Jay.
‘Right.’
‘Since that is where Torvaston ended up, it seems likely,’ said Milady. ‘But there is nothing on the maps to confirm it beyond doubt.’
‘And the books? Do they explain why he wanted to go to those two places?’
‘Not in clear terms. However, the Court believes that the mission was bound up with the question of the sources of magick, and its connection with what are sometimes called the beasts of mythology.’
What had Torvaston’s scholarly book been called? A Treatise Upon Magicke: Its Sources and Histories. Something like that. And we’d heard that the fifth Britain had a much more thriving population of creatures like griffins than we did. Coincidence? Perhaps not.
Furthermore, the griffins of the fifth collected in places like the very Vales of Wonder Torvaston had been heading for.
I had to agree with the Court: there was a clear case for investigation here.
‘Is this a solo mission?’ said Jay. ‘Sounds like it’s coming from the Court.’
‘They have proposed a joint effort.’
‘And you were saving us for this,’ I said, rather cheekily.
‘I was.’ Milady admitted it with perfect serenity. ‘The Court undertakes to spearhead this venture, at least officially.’
‘So technically, we are working for them again.’
‘Technically.’
‘And the Ministry?’
‘The Hidden Ministry will be informed once we have solid findings to share.’
I grinned. ‘Top secret mission it is.’
Jay glanced at me. ‘Who are they sending to go with us? I assume we’ll have help.’
‘That is not yet known. You have one day to prepare, and will depart for the Fifth tomorrow. Whoever is to accompany you will be here by then.’
I understood from Jay’s sideways look that he was worried it might be Alban.
It probably would be Alban, to be sure. But was I worried about that, too?
I rather thought not.
Maybe?
No.
‘Is there anything else?’ I said, dismissing the subject from my mind.
‘Yes. Don’t forget to take the moonsilver lyre.’
‘Ves shouldn’t touch it,’ Jay said quickly.
‘Then you may carry it.’
He saluted. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘And, Ves, if you can contrive to take your unicorn companion along, you may also find that a useful measure.’
Who better to take on a find-the-mythological-creature game than a unicorn, indeed?
‘I imagine it can be managed,’ I said. ‘Are we using Millie again?’
‘The Court has prepared her for service.’
I hoped the process had proved a pleasant one for Millie, whatever it had entailed.
‘There is one more thing,’ said Milady, as I rose from my chair.
I paused. ‘Oh?’
‘If at all possible, I want you to find Miranda.’
I froze. ‘What?’
‘And take her with you.’
‘But— but she’s a traitor.’ That was Jay, sounding unusually upset for him.
‘She remains among the foremost experts on magickal beasts in Britain.’
‘Are there more? Can’t we get one of the others?’
‘They are unavailable.’
‘Why?’
‘Two are somewhere in South America, in search of the camahueto. They have been gone for some months, and are not expected to return for some time. One is too elderly, at ninety-seven, to accompany you on any such venture. And the last placed himself beyond our reach when he accepted an offer of employment from Ancestria Magicka.’
Jay was frowning fiercely. ‘Miranda accepted an offer of employment from Ancestria Magicka, and betrayed us on her way out.’
‘She may appreciate an opportunity to make amends.’
‘Or she may betray us again.’
‘Find her, please.’ Milady’s voice developed a rare note of steel. ‘It is my belief that you will be glad of her expertise.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ I said quickly, forestalling Jay’s next objections with a slight shake of my head.
‘Excellent. Good luck, then. Please report first to Orlando. He has some new equipment you may find useful.’
Jay and I trailed out.
‘Well,’ said Jay, with a frustrated sigh. ‘Marching orders. Only: where do we even begin looking for Miranda?’
‘Good question,’ I said. ‘But I have a feeling she never left the fifth Britain. And if she didn’t, there’s one person who might know where to find her now.’
Jay nodded. ‘Right. Time to go see Zareen.’
***
Thank you for reading Music and Misaventure! The next episode is called The Wonders of Vale, and it’s out there waiting for you. Visit www.modernmagick.net/buy-the-books/wonders-of-vale to grab your copy.
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