The Nest of Nessies (Penny White Book 6)

by Chrys Cymri

  ‘Which is why I’m phoning you,’ came the crisp response. ‘Have you made contact with the Themis?’

  ‘One-track mind, that woman,’ Morey commented from his seat on the table.

  ‘I’m nearly there. I’ll be going back in on Monday morning.’

  Sue went into a minor rant. I put the iPhone onto speaker mode and placed it on the counter. By the time the minister had finished expressing her opinion that the lack of government in Alba was ‘even worse than Lloegyr, all those tiny kingdoms’ and concerns about the submarine, ‘there’s already some chatter on social media about a strange video with the Loch Ness monster’, I’d finished making the tea.

  I picked up the phone as I took a seat at the table. ‘How did the video leak?’

  ‘Goodness knows. Fortunately, most people only see water, not Nessie. But it’s obvious something is happening to the submarine, and some family members are asking awkward questions.’

  ‘Three days,’ I reminded her. ‘In the meantime, my contact has put out a message telling the nessies not to damage the submarine. By the way, when I’m taken to the nest, I’ll need some idea of what to say to them.’

  ‘Send back our boat, and we won’t take punitive measures.’

  Morey’s tail snapped, hitting Clyde’s shell. ‘Stupid woman. What would that be, precisely, against Alba citizens who live on the other side of unpredictable sea thin places?’

  ‘I’m not certain,’ I said carefully, ‘that elasmosauri would even understand what those are. Do I have any authority to offer something? Gold, for example, if they’re into that sort of thing?’

  ‘Her Majesty’s Government does not pay ransoms nor negotiate with terrorists.’

  ‘But sometimes you make payments to captors, don’t you? Like people captured by pirates?’

  ‘We won’t pay it,’ Sue countered. ‘But we won’t prosecute someone else who does. Such as a company who decides to act patriotically.’

  ‘And there you have your answer,’ Morey said. ‘Governments always find a way.’

  ‘Promise whatever you have to. We want our submarine and our crew back. Once they’re back in our territorial waters, well, it may be that the sea creatures don’t receive what they’d hoped for.’

  I straightened. ‘Minister, I keep my promises.’

  ‘Which is why you’re a priest, and not a politician,’ Sue said. ‘Think of it as a promise you made on behalf of the government. Negotiate in good faith, then hand the terms over to us. It’s up to us whether that promise is kept or broken.’

  ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  ‘And clear your diary in case it takes several days.’

  Morey’s snarl reflected my own feelings. ‘I will balance my responsibilities as best I can,’ I said firmly. ‘I’ll call you once I’m back again.’

  I ended the call just as Clyde pronounced, ‘Bad woman.’

  ‘I think “bad” is a bit strong,’ I said. ‘Pushy, definitely. Devious, certainly. But she’s also concerned for the crew of the Themis. I’m certain that’s genuine.’

  With a second cup of tea to fortify me, I went into my study to check the answering machine and emails. Late afternoon sun was sliding across my bookshelves when James knocked on the open door.

  ‘Ready for a break?’ My brother showed me the bottle in his hands. ‘Champagne. We’re celebrating.’

  ‘I’m always ready to break for champagne.’ I followed him into the kitchen. ‘So, what’s the occasion?’

  Skylar was setting out glasses and bowls on the table. Clyde, Jago, Morey and, I was pleased to see, Taryn were lined up on the scarred wood, waiting for their portions. James popped the cork and poured foaming liquid into the nearest flute. ‘I’ve completed on my flat. I’m now a property owner. I can move in next week!’

  ‘And I have some news, too,’ Skylar said. ‘The diocese has found a suitable house. It’ll be ready next month.’

  I accepted my glass, but the cold wine did little to remove the bittersweet taste in my mouth. ‘Congratulations.’

  James laughed. ‘Come on, Sis, I know that look. It’s not like I’m going back to New Zealand, or even Lloegyr. The flat’s less than twenty miles from here. I can still drop by with my laundry.’

  I put on my best fake smile. ‘As long as you bring a bottle of Talisker with you, consider that a deal.’

  Skylar pretended to pout. ‘I’ll be doing my own washing.’

  ‘The same offer is open to you,’ I assured her. ‘But until you’re out, the cooking rota stands. Whose turn is it tonight?’

  James laughed. ‘Mine, and you know it. I put in an order at the Indian takeaway on Billington road. It should be here in ten minutes.’

  The champagne was consumed by the time the doorbell rang, even Jago being permitted a small portion. I opened a bottle of Merlot as Skylar set the table and James sorted the orders. Morey and Taryn excused themselves, deciding to hunt their own dinners. Jago and Clyde were given samples of the various curries. The snail gulped down the spiciest one and asked for seconds.

  I cleared away the dishes and made coffee. Skylar and James started up a discussion about removal firms, which sent me out into the back garden for fresh air. The sun was just beginning to set. Raven was still fast asleep, and I walked carefully around his large body to take a seat on the bench.

  Clyde joined me a moment later. Jago climbed up my leg to make himself comfortable on my knee. ‘Okay?’ the snail asked.

  ‘It’s felt like a pretty full house,’ I said. ‘But I’ve got used to James, and Skylar, being around.’ I rubbed his shell. ‘At least I’ll still have you and Jago, as well as Taryn and Morey.’

  Orange and green chased through Clyde’s body. His tentacles writhed at Jago. ‘Well, maybe not us,’ the small gryphon said. ‘Just remember, if Uncle Clyde goes off to theological college, I’ll be there with him.’

  ‘Just Morey and Taryn, then.’ My face was warm, and I realised that I’d gained a sunburn during my efforts on the Safe Haven. ‘Which is great, of course, but I’ve become used to having you two around, as well.’

  ‘Everything ends,’ Raven said, lifting his head from the grass. ‘No one stays forever.’

  ‘My mam and tad will be together forever,’ Jago retorted, running up to my shoulder.

  Raven chuckled. ‘Of course. Without a doubt. Gryphons understand loyalty.’

  ‘We do.’ Jago’s voice trembled, and I could see that he was confused by the dragon’s cynicism. ‘And rats, too. Bastien’s gone off to see his rat king. He said it was about time he checked in. I wanted to go with him, but I still can’t fly.’

  ‘It’s hard to be without flight,’ Raven said softly. ‘I know. My wing was torn by my mother when I escaped her clutches. I healed. So will you.’

  ‘I don’t know when.’ Jago’s crest was lying flat along his neck and back.

  The dragon rose to his feet. ‘Patience, young gryphon. Something important is worth waiting for.’ His eyes flicked to me. ‘Or someone.’

  ‘Even if they’re very different from you?’ Jago asked thoughtfully.

  ‘It’s the differences which make life interesting,’ Raven replied. ‘Challenging, but also interesting.’

  I found myself yawning. ‘Are you going to spend the night out here?’

  ‘My wings ache.’ Raven’s red-rimmed nostrils expanded as he took a deep breath. ‘And it doesn’t smell like rain.’

  ‘It’ll be a bit tight, lad, with all those snails.’ Albert was peering over the fence. ‘Come over to mine, if you’d like.’

  Raven studied my neighbour’s face for a moment. ‘Do you cut your grass?’

  ‘Every ten days, this time of year.’

  ‘That sounds far more comfortable than these weeds.’ The dragon shook his wings loose. Albert drew to one side as Raven made a flying leap from one garden to another. ‘Would you mind making a bucket of tea? I could use a drink.’

  ‘Nothing stronger? I was about to open a bottle o
f ale, myself.’

  ‘Nothing stronger,’ Raven said firmly.

  ‘Alcohol’s poisonous to dragons?’

  ‘Not at all. We have some good brewers in the search dragon settlement.’

  ‘I’ll make us some tea, and you can tell me more.’

  As their conversation rumbled on, I returned to the house. For some reason, Albert’s easy acceptance of the dragon made me uneasy. I decided it was time for a night cap and an early trip to bed.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ‘Are you sure these are enough?’ Skylar asked as she carried the orders of service to the car. ‘There are, what, thirty copies here?’

  ‘Probably ten more than we need.’ The Golf already felt far too comfortable as I slid into the driver’s seat. ‘You know full well that a half of our regulars stay away from All Age services. They either treat it as a Sunday off, or go to another church so they can have communion in peace.’

  ‘A lot of families promised to come,’ Skylar said as I aimed the car towards Beckeridge. ‘From school, and Messy Church, and from that wedding party.’

  ‘Not all promises are sincerely meant. Sometimes people agree to something just to be polite. They don’t really plan to follow through.’

  Skylar said nothing during the short drive to the church. We pulled into the parking space near St Wulfram’s. I glanced at the clock set into the tower. Half an hour before the service was due to start. I helped Skylar remove her bag from the car and we headed inside.

  Regulars straggled in. Several looked at the colourful cover of the order of service and pulled a face. Only one walked out, which I accepted as a small victory. I glanced at my watch. 9.50am. Perhaps we could think of shifting to a regular communion service.

  A happy commotion drew my attention to the door. A family came in, their three children hopping down the steps. Well, Skylar would have someone to interact with during the talk. We’d had no children at the last All Age service.

  I went into the vestry to put on my robes. The usual smell of musty files and candle wax was undercut by a hint of perfume. Skylar was already inside, doing up the buttons on her black cassock. ‘I’d still rather do the service wearing regular clothes,’ she said as she pulled the white surplice over her head. ‘It’s much more welcoming to families.’

  ‘When we have more families than elderly in the congregation, you can do that.’ I winced as I did up my own cassock. It was tighter than I’d have liked. ‘We do have one, by the way. Family.’

  Skylar stepped out of the small room. ‘Actually, we have about six. And more are coming.’

  I brushed past her. Holly was dashing around the church, asking earlier arrivals to share orders of service to free up copies for those currently pouring through the door. I hadn’t seen so many people under the age of fifty since Christmas.

  When I returned to the vestry, Skylar was pulling her grey suit jacket over her pink shirt. The cassock and surplice hung on the hook by the door. ‘You promised,’ she reminded me.

  ‘I’ll keep my robes on, if you don’t mind.’ Her face fell, and I quickly added, ‘I don’t have a nice jacket to wear. All I brought was an old fleece.’

  Skylar brightened again. ‘Next time, then.’

  ‘Next time,’ I agreed. And we headed out to lead the service.

  Except for the organist playing the worship songs at the speed of a dirge, everything went well. The families engaged with Skylar’s talk, the children chosen to hold candles for the prayers managed not to set the church on fire, and after I’d done the dismissal, one child turned to his father and asked loudly, ‘Daddy, I want to come again. This is fun!’

  Skylar led the way to the vestry. I said a quick prayer, then sent her out again. ‘Go on, speak to your fans.’

  I entered the numbers into the service registers, and then stared at the totals. Thirty children, sixty-five adults. Would they all come back for July’s All Age service?

  A soft rustle of wings made me look up. A bat settled on the floor. I just managed to shut the vestry door before the magister rose in human form. ‘Good service,’ Angwyn told me, white teeth flashing as he smiled. ‘That Grey is a worthy addition to our colony.’

  ‘Yes, she is.’ The small room was warm, and I wanted to change out of my robes. But not with a naked man standing only a few feet away from me. ‘I haven’t forgotten that some of you want to be baptized. Shall we wait until Skylar has been priested?’

  ‘Yes, that would be good. She has been the one giving us instruction.’ Angwyn scratched at his short dark beard. ‘And we want members on the Parochial Church Council. It’s our church. We want a voice.’

  ‘Well, yes, I can understand that,’ I said quickly. ‘PCC members are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, and that’s held a few weeks after Easter. So you’ll have to wait until next year, I’m afraid. You have to be communicant members of the church, that means taking communion regularly, which means at least baptized if not also confirmed. And we’d need to sort out an address for anyone who wants to stand, and get them on the Electoral Roll.’ I stopped myself and took a deep breath. ‘Plus, and this is very important, anyone who attends PCC meetings must be fully clothed.’

  His handsome face pulled into a scowl. ‘That is part of the rules?’

  ‘Well, I have to admit, it’s not written down.’

  ‘Then it cannot be enforced.’

  ‘As vicar and PCC chair,’ I said firmly, ‘I would exclude from PCC meetings anyone whose actions meant that other members are unable to concentrate on the business at hand.’

  ‘A naked body would be a distraction?’ Angwyn sounded genuinely surprised.

  ‘Very much so.’

  He flicked a hand. ‘Then we will wear clothes.’

  ‘Good,’ I said. ‘Let’s talk about it in January. In the meantime, since we hold PCC meetings in the church during the warmer months, the colony will be able to listen in to the discussions.’

  ‘Yes. And respond?’

  ‘Speak to me afterwards,’ I said. ‘As any member of the congregation is entitled to do.’

  ‘Understood. That all sounds good, Father Penny.’ He held out his hand, and I offered my own for a shake. But Angwyn instead bent his head to kiss my knuckles. Then he returned to bat shape, and I opened the door so he could fly back to his colony.

  I hurried to the back of the church to claim a cup of coffee. By the time everyone had finished, everything tidied away, and the building locked up, it was nearly noon. ‘I hope you don’t mind,’ I said to Skylar as we walked to the car, ‘but I’ve arranged to drop by and collect my stuff from the Ford.’

  ‘The garage is open today?’

  ‘It’s a breakdown and recovery business.’ I unlocked the Golf and we took our seats. ‘They’re open every day.’

  The garage was on an industrial estate on the north side of town. I drove past the long drive leading to the main workshop. The Ford was parked near the fence. With a sudden pang of guilt, I drove past and parked the Golf around the corner.

  ‘Why haven’t you pulled in?’ Skylar asked as I exited the car.

  I cleared my throat, trusting my sunburn to hide my blushes. ‘Well, you see, I don’t want her to see the new car. The Ford would only get upset.’

  Skylar nodded gravely. ‘Yes. Quite right. But do make sure you say goodbye to her.’

  I retrieved the key from the office and unlocked the old car. She already smelled of petrol and neglect. Amongst the debris in the boot were a number of black bin liners, and I used them to collect up the flotsam and jetsam of over a decade of car ownership. I unearthed several mouldy sandwich containers, an out of date mapbook, and keys from previous houses. But there was also a nearly clean jumper, an unused notebook, and a small framed photograph of my parents. I tucked the last away in my trouser pocket.

  Removing everything took several trips to the Golf. When I’d finished, I returned to the Ford and laid a hand on her warm roof. ‘Well done, good and faithful
servant,’ I said. Then I forced myself to walk away for the last time.

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  ‘And don’t forget that Evie is expecting a visit tomorrow afternoon,’ I said at a far-too-early time on Monday morning. Three cups of coffee had only just taken the edge off my mental fog. ‘You’ll have to represent the church at the village hall meeting if I’m not back by Tuesday evening.’

  Skylar looked as sleepy as I felt. ‘You’ll be back by then, won’t you? I mean, Abella said she’d arrange for you to be taken to the nest, didn’t she? All you have to do then is talk the nessies into giving up the sub, so you’ll be back tonight, won’t you?’

  I leaned back in the kitchen chair. ‘You make it sound so simple.’

  ‘They’ll listen to you,’ Skylar said confidently. ‘And they’ve had the sub for long enough. I bet they’ll be glad to get rid of it.’

  ‘We’ll see.’ I picked up my coat and checked my supplies. Water, breakfast bars, oat cakes, sun lotion, sunglasses, hat, hip flask. My iPhone was already switched off and in its waterproof pouch. ‘Have you seen Morey?’

  ‘He spoke to me when I knocked on the door.’ Even under artificial light, I could see a slight flush to Skylar’s cheeks. ‘What he said wasn’t very polite.’

  ‘Getting up before four in the morning would try anyone’s patience. But he’d better make an appearance soon.’

  ‘Appearance made,’ Morey said as he landed on the table. ‘Any coffee left?’

  ‘Only if you’re quick,’ I warned him as Skylar filled a mug.

  ‘No problem.’ The gryphon stuck his head into the black liquid and gulped noisily. Coffee dripped from his beak as he looked up again. ‘Okay. Ready.’

  Light spilled through the kitchen door as I stepped out into the garden. Raven stood waiting. ‘Your neighbour has a very nice lawn,’ he said as I prepared to mount. ‘Soft under foot and belly.’

  ‘He’s retired, he has time to mow and weed.’ I scrambled up his side and took my seat. Morey dropped into the space between my legs and the spine.