Piper by G. J. Reilly

Author:G. J. Reilly [Reilly, G. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Book of Jerrick, G J Reilly, Part 2, piper, Jerrick, Inquisitor
Publisher: G. J. Reilly
Published: 2015-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

The trolley trip to Solaris lifted Alice’s mood considerably. Evergreens laden with snow waved heavily in the breeze. Despite the cold, the lake around Solaris Island hadn’t frozen. Swans idly trawled for fish in its crystal clear depths. Alice thought it tranquil and magical all at once.

When the trolley pulled up outside the open outer doors of Solaris, Alice leapt down from the trolley and bustled inside, leaving Adam floundering behind her. When he caught up to her, she was standing in front of the visitors’ lounge fireplace looking at the plaque dedicated to her brother.

‘I’d almost forgotten what he looked like,’ she said.

‘You must miss him,’ said Adam.

‘I used to feel guilty for being jealous of him, but not anymore,’ said Alice trying not to give herself away.

The aromas from Solaris’s kitchens wafted through the corridors to tempt them, making her stomach rumble like a freight train in the quiet lounge. In some strange way, the smells reminded her of home. The kitchen had been the sacred domain of her mother until Michael had left them. The scent of sweet apple pie floated on the breeze, followed by tempting odours of slowly roasted vegetables, exotic spices and garden herbs. Rosemary, thyme and mint pervaded her nostrils, such that Alice thought they might lift her and carry her to the dining room like a leaf on the wind.

‘If that tastes half as good as it smells, we’re in for a treat,’ said Adam smiling at her.

There was a cough behind them that made them both turn. Adam bowed low.

‘Usually, lunch is served at the main dining hall for students, and only the house staff eats here,’ said Tamara. She beamed a smile at Alice and extended a hand. ‘Hello, Alice, it’s good to see you again.’ She nodded her head to the still bowing Dakin. ‘Adam.’

Alice looked at him, uncertain whether it was usual for people to bow to each other here, or whether there was something more to it.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to be discourteous.’ She inclined her head, allowing her shoulders to follow, mimicking Adam’s movements.

Tamara let out a small giggle. ‘It’s okay, Alice, you don’t have to do that. I was hoping that Adam had told you at least a little before you came here.’ Looping her arms through theirs, she set off for the dining hall. ‘Come on, let’s get some lunch, I’m starving.’

Most of the walk was taken up with Tamara’s conversation with Adam. Uninterested in their general chit-chat, Alice took the opportunity to really look at the house where she assumed her brother had spent most of his time. She noticed that unlike most stately residences, the opulence of Solaris wasn’t hiding any sort of self-conscious shabbiness. It really was a peacock of a house, ready, willing and extremely able to show itself off to the full. At first glance, Alice had found the whole academy luxurious beyond compare. Now that she was really looking at it, it had the sickening extravagance that only ridiculous amounts of money could buy.

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