The Wonders of Vale

2

2

‘I mean,’ said Orlando, ‘that this lyre possesses considerable power to bewitch, as you have experienced. But it exerts this power selectively, and I have not been able to determine why that is, or how it determines at whom to direct its glamours.’

Faerie glamour. That made more sense than it didn’t. ‘It had no effect on my parents, either,’ I observed. ‘And that’s after it had chosen each of them for the throne of Ygranyllon.’

‘So its interest in you is related to something else,’ Orlando mused.

I shrugged. ‘I haven’t the least idea. Nobody else seemed to, either, among the Yllanfalen.’

‘Obscurity of origin is not uncommon among ancient Great Treasures. Your mother, I understand, had some theory as to its function?’

‘She’s one of those who can detect traces of past magick performed in a location. She said it… amplified that ability, in some way.’ Mum had been injured, drugged up and half asleep at the time, so her explanation hadn’t been all that coherent. I remember the word whoosh featuring rather prominently.

‘How?’ said Orlando, with that intent look.

‘I don’t know. She was in no condition to explain.’

‘I shall send an enquiry to Ygranyllon. For now, understand that its nature remains somewhat obscure and it must be handled with great care.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Jay.

Orlando looked him up and down, as though sizing up whether or not he could be trusted with such a charge. I considered telling him that Jay was the most trustworthy person I’d ever known or could possibly imagine, and much more fitted to haul Great Treasures around than me, but a vote of confidence was clearly unnecessary. Orlando gave a satisfied nod. ‘I do believe it to possess some influence over magickal residue,’ he said, incomprehensibly.

‘Magickal residue?’ I echoed.

‘Yes. But I am not sure it is the sort of influence that might be considered… desirable.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘I suspect it of absorbing magick.’

‘Absorbing?’

‘The way you or I might absorb, for example, a fine wine.’

‘So it’s a tippler.’

‘Well on its way to becoming an alcoholic, I would say.’ Orlando’s eyes crinkled at the corners again. ‘I advise keeping it separate from your Wands, or any other such artefacts.’

Jay eyed the lyre with a hard look. ‘I’ll keep it under control.’

The crinkles deepened. ‘Doubtless. Now then, I have been instructed to share one of my newest creations with you.’ His eyes brightened; if I’d imagined him reclusive due to a disinclination to share his work, I’d been wrong. ‘Just a moment, please, I must find it…’ Orlando set off, weaving through the multiple benches with surprising grace considering his size; he’d had practice at this dance. Every workbench was liberally strewn with objects and debris, very little of which I could put any name to. He hunted through these with such single-minded focus, he did not notice Indira at his side until she lightly touched his arm.

‘It’s here,’ she said, and handed him the indeterminate object she had quietly picked up from a trestle table on the other side of the workshop.

I suppressed a smile as Orlando straightened up, and took the thing with alacrity. ‘Wonderful girl. Thank you. Now, this is an entirely new artefact! And therefore, I hope you will not be too surprised if its form or function strikes you as unusual.’

Its form certainly did. He held the precious treasure up for us to admire, and I beheld: a glass disc. At least, it looked like glass. Something indeterminate flickered in its depths, which was interesting, but this aside there was nothing remarkable about it at all.

‘What does it do?’ I said.

‘It… well, hm.’ Orlando gave the disc to Jay. ‘It is a thing of perfect chaos. There is no way at all to predict what it will do.’

‘That seems…’ I paused to consider what the right word might be. Weird? Unfathomable? Completely useless?

‘Unusual,’ Jay supplied.

‘It is!’ said Orlando. ‘At times of difficulty, it is not always easy to determine at a moment’s notice what would be best to do. No? And there is not always time to consider, either. That is where this treasure can help you. When employed, it will add a little chaos to the occasion, in just the right place.’

‘The right place for what?’ I said.

Orlando shrugged. ‘The right place.’

Genius-speak was clearly beyond me.

‘And I should tell you that it has not yet been fully tested,’ added Orlando.

Wonderful. ‘Jay?’ I said. ‘How about you hang onto that, too.’

Jay rolled his eyes at me, and put the panic button into his jacket pocket. ‘Thank you,’ he said to Orlando. ‘We’re very grateful.’

‘I think that you will be.’ Orlando looked upon both of us with vast amusement. ‘Now, if that is everything, I must return to my work.’

‘Almost,’ I said quickly. ‘I could do with some more of those sleep-spheres, if you have any.’

Orlando gave me a measuring look. I found it unsettling. ‘More?’ he said succinctly.

‘They’re handy…’

‘For what?’

‘For levelling inconvenient obstructions.’ I held his gaze, trying not to look innocent, because what could possibly look more suspicious than that?

‘I believe I have one or two around somewhere,’ Orlando said at last, and released me from the scrutiny.

‘Here.’ I found Indira at my elbow, a scant three of the sleep-potion jelly-spheres in her hand. These she tipped into my palm, and I quickly transferred them to a pocket in my dress.

‘Thanks.’ I smiled at her, and received a brief smile in return.

And then we were outside the workshop again, ushered out by Indira, for Orlando had already turned back to his work. I cast a final glance at his broad back, bent as he was over one of his many projects, and wondered if or when I would ever meet him again.

‘Odd fellow,’ I murmured once the door was shut on Jay and I, and bent to pick up the pup. I’d expected her to be halfway across the mansion by the time we emerged, but she hadn’t budged an inch.

‘Geniuses are like that,’ Jay said. I realised he was eyeing me carefully, while attempting to appear casual.

I stopped halfway down the corridor. ‘All right, what is it?’

‘The sleep elixir,’ he began.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. ‘No, I’m not using them to self-medicate.’

‘Really? And how are you sleeping lately?’

‘Like a baby.’

‘So fitfully, and waking up screaming.’

‘Jay. I’m fine.’

He took a moment to consider that, and emerged from his reflections unconvinced. ‘You’ve had some difficult times lately,’ he said, very seriously, and held my gaze with those velvety brown eyes of his. ‘It wouldn’t be… surprising, or shaming, if you’ve been unsettled.’

Part of me felt a vast indignation at such an intrusion. ‘I am Ves,’ I retorted, turning away again. ‘I can handle this.’

The rest of me felt rather warmed by the concern, even if it had come wrapped up in a parcel of doubts. Last year I’d been sent to the infirmary for a check-up. Milady’s orders. Rob had kindly but firmly questioned me on my health, my habits, and my sanity, even as he’d delivered the requisite physical examination. I’d been declared fighting fit, to my relief, but I’d seen doubt in Rob’s eyes as he’d dismissed me. He’d given me strict instructions to come back the very instant I needed anything, and that had been nice.

He hadn’t quite cared, though. Not like this.

Jay gave a tiny sigh, and I felt a pang of remorse for my ungraciousness. ‘I’m fine,’ I said in a more reasonable tone, and threw Jay a smile. ‘Really.’

Jay saluted. ‘You know best, ma’am.’

Did I? I wondered about that as we trailed down and down the stairs, clutching pup’s warm little body to my chest as I thought. Is there a person alive who isn’t a champion at self-deceit?

Was I fine?

‘Ves,’ a voice called as we reached the main hall. Valerie came floating up in her majestic velvet chair, wearing her most impish smile. ‘The Baron’s here. He wants to see you.’

‘That’s Prince Alban,’ I corrected, swallowing down the flutter of… something that promptly threw a riot in my stomach. Apprehension? Excitement? Terror?

‘I think not, when he’s with you,’ said Val. ‘Also, there’s a house.’

‘A house?’

‘In the driveway.’

‘Great. Our ride’s here.’ The question of whether Alban had arrived with the house, and with the intention of going with us, hovered upon my lips. Considering the mischief already bound up in Val’s grin, I decided not to ask.

‘Then it seems we’re about to ship out,’ I said instead.

‘The pup’s going with you?’

‘Yes. Actually… I need something of Miranda’s.’

Val blinked. ‘What?’

‘I’ve got to find her, and no one seems to know where she is.’ I brought Val up to speed, feeling secretly gratified by the angry set to her lips as I spoke. I wasn’t the only one who hated her guts.

‘I saw the posters,’ Val said when I’d finished. ‘I don’t think she’s here, Ves. I haven’t heard a peep about it.’

Val somehow heard just about everything, so that weighed a fair bit with me. ‘Right. So we’re going to ask Zareen, and if she can’t help us, we might need to put this critter’s nose to good use.’ I hefted the pup.

‘You go deal with the prince,’ said Val. ‘I’ll get you something stinky of Miranda’s.’ Her tone said, shouldn’t be too hard.

‘Thanks.’ I watched as Val sailed out of the hall, and took a deep breath.

Jay was staring at me again. Darkly.

‘What is it now?’ I sighed.

‘Are you going out there?’

‘To the driveway? Why wouldn’t I?’

‘He should stay away from you.’

I didn’t need to ask who he meant by he. ‘He’s not going to hurt me.’

Jay merely raised his brows.

‘Come on. Millie’s waiting for you.’ I turned and stepped smartly towards the door, shoulders back, chin high; queenly posture, Ves. Zero doubts shown.