‘I don’t have a lot of magick,’ said Alban, with a wry smile. ‘And I can’t do anything useful with it. But sartorial quandaries I can certainly solve.’
‘My hero,’ said I, and Jay rolled his eyes.
‘Welcome back, Ves,’ said Milady a little later.
I’d been delivered up to her tower by my joint escort, and they had left me there for a no-doubt minute debriefing. I’d dived past my own room on the way up, and grabbed a summer dress out of my wardrobe, plus a pair of sandals. It wouldn’t do to present oneself before Milady in nothing but a borrowed man’s shirt. I’d also found my shoulder-bag lying upon my bed, with all my stuff in it. No Mauf, though.
‘How long was I gone?’ I asked.
‘About three weeks.’
‘That’s… longer than I thought.’
‘And how did you enjoy your sojourn among the unicorns?’
‘It’s like I was one of them.’
‘Indeed.’ The air sparkled with her mirth. ‘Do you feel… in health?’
‘You mean, am I still an out-of-control magickal fountain, causing chaos wherever I go? No. I think… I think I’m okay.’
And I was. I still fizzed oddly with magick from time to time, and I couldn’t absolutely swear that weird things wouldn’t happen around me once in a while. But I felt more… centred. Less like a storm in a teacup. More like the old Ves. Kind of.
My bond with Addie, formed through the unusual and unexpected expedient of adopting her shape, her lifestyle and her company for three long weeks, held strong even when I was back in my regular configuration. I felt it, close to my heart, an invisible link across which magick flowed like the cool waters of the lily stream.
‘The Glade is a safe repository for the excess,’ said Milady with approval. ‘It is fortunate that you were able to bond with Adeline.’
‘Fortunate,’ I agreed, thinking of all the “fortunate” things that tended to happen around Milady. I hovered on the brink of asking her about my clairvoyance theory, and… didn’t. Did I lack the courage?
Apparently.
‘The lyre has been delivered back to your mother,’ Milady continued. ‘Jay has submitted a full report of its effects upon you. This is under investigation.’
‘Great.’
‘You may also like to know that Miranda is back with the Society.’
‘Ah…?’
‘She has not yet been restored to her former privileges and position, but I have hopes that this may come to pass in time.’
I said nothing.
‘Do you disapprove, Ves?’
‘I don’t trust her,’ I said bluntly.
‘We will all need time to rebuild our trust.’
‘Hmph.’ I swallowed my disgruntlement, and set the matter aside. Milady, invariably, knew best. ‘What about Torvaston’s research?’
‘Ah! Yes! You are all to be congratulated for such an exciting discovery. Your book — Gallimaufry — is with the library at present; Valerie is consulting him regarding the various records and copies he was able to make during your mission. Jay’s pictures also. The Court, meanwhile, has been loud in its praise of you all. They are extremely pleased with the results you were able to produce.’
‘Cool,’ I said. ‘And?’
‘I don’t precisely understand the question.’
‘Are we building a new Heart of Hyndorin?’
‘The Court appears to favour the term magickal modulator.’
‘Snappy. How nicely it alliterates.’
‘Quite. It is not yet known whether we will be able to recreate Torvaston’s work, but naturally we are prepared to try. Once the plans have been suitably processed, studied and stored, they will be delivered to Orlando. The Court will also be sending us one or two of their own inventors, to assist with the work.’
‘We do seem to be forging close links with the Court these days.’
‘Our goals happen to align.’
I fiddled with my own fingers, and shifted from foot to foot.
‘What is it, Ves?’ said Milady.
‘Can I come Home?’ I blurted. ‘Can we come home? It’s been wild working for the Court, but…’ I couldn’t put my homesickness into words, and I didn’t try. Milady must know how I felt.
‘I believe the project may now be declared out of your hands,’ said Milady. ‘There is no need for any repeat missions to the fifth Britain at this time.’
‘And if the Ministry takes exception to the pursuit of Torvaston’s project, we’re calling it Mandridore’s fault?’
‘It is entirely their fault,’ said Milady serenely.
‘Does that mean yes?’
‘Yes, Ves, I think it does.’
I fist-bumped the empty air.
‘Though,’ said Milady. ‘You will find that Zareen is not presently in residence.’
‘Is she all right?’
‘She is in poor health. I have sent her for treatment.’
Probably she had gone back to the School of Weird, or some related facility. My heart twisted with regret. Poor Zar had taken a serious beating; worse than the rest of us. Had it been worth it?
‘I believe she will make a full recovery,’ added Milady. ‘But it will be some time before she will rejoin us.’
‘Soooo,’ I said, smiling in sheer relief. ‘Everybody’s okay.’
‘More or less.’
‘And we’re all Home. Or will be.’
‘I hope that you will all remain so.’
‘What’s my next assignment, Boss?’
‘Take some rest.’
I blinked. ‘That’s not very fun.’
‘But it is necessary. You are almost as much in need of restful recovery as Zareen.’
‘No way. I’ve had three weeks in unicorn paradise. I’m fine.’
‘Rest,’ said Milady firmly. ‘After which, I will have an exciting new job for you.’
My ears pricked up at that. ‘Ohhh?’
‘I cannot share too many details at present, but—’
‘Come on,’ I pleaded. ‘Don’t leave me in suspense!’
‘Well. If Orlando, and his team, conclude that a new modulator may be successfully created from Torvaston’s plans, then of course the Court will put such a project into immediate development.’
‘Yes!’
‘And that means that materials will be required.’
‘Materials… oooh. You mean magickal Silver.’
‘What the Yllanfalen refer to as moonsilver. Yes.’
‘Or skysilver. I can never remember which. Is that what we’re calling it?’
‘I think “suitable materials” will suffice.’
‘I suppose it’s as good a code word as any.’
‘As you must be aware, this kind of suitable material is in short supply,’ said Milady firmly, towing us back on track.
‘Yes. It’s supposed to be mined out, even on the fifth.’
‘I believe we can conclude that there are no more accessible, naturally-occurring sources of this material remaining.’
‘Maybe on one of the other Britains?’
‘There is little reason to think so. And if there were, I cannot in the least imagine how we would find them. Can you?’
‘Well… no. There— did Jay tell you? There is a stash of it in Torvaston’s tower.’
‘Yes, but he is not of the opinion that it would be possible, or indeed desirable, to try to take it.’
He had a point. Luan would never give it up willingly, certainly not for such a purpose. The Earl strongly disapproved of the whole idea of recreating Torvaston’s invention. And to flat-out steal it… no. We, the Society, were better than that. We had to be.
‘I do have another idea,’ said Milady.
I perked up. ‘Is this one of your hunchy-things?’
‘My what?’
I coughed. ‘Er, nothing.’
There was a slight pause.
‘The fact is,’ Milady resumed. ‘I have consulted Val.’
‘Always a good move!’
‘She reports the existence of one or two ancient resources which suggest an interesting alternative. It may no longer be possible to pull natural Silver out of the ground, but if history is to be believed, one or two individuals have undertaken serious attempts to create it.’
‘Alchemy?’ I blurted.
‘Exactly.’
‘But— but— alchemy’s a dead art. Nobody’s bothered with transmutation in years.’
‘No one has publically attempted alchemical transmutation in years,’ Milady corrected.
‘You know I’m a sucker for a nice, dark secret.’
‘Indeed. Let me worry about who is going to perform this transmutation. Your job is to discover the means.’
‘I’m on the hunt for a long-lost recipe?’
‘Yes. I want you and Val to find out if these documents are authentic, and their accounts reliable. If they are, then your next task is to unearth further resources.’
My heart performed a weird flutter of excitement. Library mission! Yes!
‘So,’ I said. ‘When you say “rest”…’
‘If some part of this period of recovery involves your spending time in the library, I shall be quite satisfied.’
‘Attended, perhaps, by a duvet and a pot of chocolate?’ I said hopefully.
‘I believe that will be acceptable.’
I whipped out my phone, now blessedly functional again. Val, I typed. Weeks-long library slumber party. You and me. Starting now.
‘I’ll get right on that,’ I told Milady.
The air sparkled again. ‘I thought you might.’
My phone buzzed. Message from Val. It said: Get down here, slowpoke.
I kicked up my heels, and got going.
Milady spoke once more as I wrenched open the tower door. ‘Ves?’ she called. ‘There’s chocolate in the pot.’
***
Here ends The Heart of Hyndorin, though maybe we haven’t seen the last of that weird piece of genius. Who knows? Episode nine will be on its way soon; if you would like to be the first to know when it is released in ebook, sign up for my email newsletter at http://www.charlotteenglish.com/newsletter You’ll also get a free book or two!
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