The Magick of Merlin by Charlotte E. English

Author:Charlotte E. English [Charlotte E. English]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlotte E. English
Published: 2022-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

12

‘I’ve certainly learned that lately,’ I muttered, thinking back over all the bizarre things I’d witnessed in the past year. Jay’s Waymastery whizzery, and that thing he did with the voids. Perambulating buildings and a small army of chatty, haunted houses. Alternate Britains drenched in magick. Paintings of long-dead (sort of) people, who talked like they were still alive (which they sort of were). Griffins and Farringale. Turning into a unicorn.

That lyre.

‘Can you give us some kind of lead?’ I pleaded. ‘We just need a direction to go in.’

‘It may be that you will not be able to restore this grimoire into the Elvyngs’ possession,’ said Milady.

‘Uh. Then… then what do we do? We need that argent.’

‘I can send a negotiator to Ms. Elvyng. Perhaps she can be persuaded to sell the argent, if she is offered a suitable price. If not money, then there may be something else she will find desirable.’

‘That could work,’ I said, if doubtfully. Crystobel seemed very set on the grimoire. ‘What would you like us to do in the meantime?’

‘You won’t find this Merlin by looking,’ said Milady. ‘If she wishes to find you… she will do so. And I think perhaps she might, Ves.’

‘So… we’re waiting.’

‘Of course, if you have other leads to investigate unrelated to the woman from your exhibition, by all means pursue them.’

We didn’t. ‘Can I have a chocolate party while I wait?’

I heard the smile in her next words. ‘I believe you capable of mustering your own supplies of chocolate by this time, Ves.’

‘Yours are better,’ I said. Not only did they trounce every other conceivable hot chocolate in consistency and flavour, they also had a way of making you feel better. Plus, they were a display of Milady’s approval, like a gold star from your primary-school teacher (or a unicorn sticker, on one memorable occasion in my personal history). What’s not to love?

‘Very well,’ said Milady. ‘You’ll find a pot by your chair in the first-floor common room. Jay is waiting for you.’

Down I went, feeling rather predictable, but honestly not minding very much.

It wasn’t quite true that Jay was waiting for me. He was there, to be sure, slouched in his Jay-chair, but since he evinced zero interest in my appearance I couldn’t imagine him to be missing me very much. When my cheery greeting went unanswered I sat quietly down, and sipped chocolate in silence.

He didn’t move, not for ten minutes. Then suddenly he stirred, as though waking from a weird open-eyed slumber, and looked at me. Startled, like I’d just popped up out of thin air. ‘Ves,’ he said.

‘Hi!’ I said. ‘I’ve been here a while?’

‘Sorry, I was… thinking.’ He sat up a bit, snagged the rest of the chocolate (to my mild regret) and downed half the cup in one gulp.

‘About?’

‘The grimoire, mostly.’

‘To any great effect?’

‘If you mean have I solved the mystery, then no.’

‘Damnit.’

‘But I did have some new thoughts.’

‘I like New Thoughts!’

He grinned at me. ‘You might not like these.’

‘Hit me with them.

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