Moon Chase - A Fellhounds of Thesk Story Page 9

  Suddenly Wil heard a voice whispering in his ear,

  ‘She will see you again, if you are brave and true, but do not think you are going just to watch, Wil Calloway – do not underestimate the power of the Wraithe Wolves – or their cunning.’

  Wil leant forward and looked towards the other end of the room – Lady Élanor was still doing battle with Nancy Wheeler and her coughing, crying brood. Neither woman was even looking in Wil’s direction, let alone talking to him. Pricilla jumped down off the chair and landed on a low stool at his feet.

  ‘You must trust your senses Wil Calloway - they will save your life,’ said the voice in a swirling whisper.

  The raven tapped his boot twice with her huge bill and crronked at him loudly. Then with a piercing look from her beady black eyes she exited through an open window with a loud flutter of feathers.

  ‘OOH! Is that the boy from the trial yesterday?’ shrieked Nancy pointing down the room with a bony finger. ‘How can you bear to have him in the house, Lady E? If you ask me, he should be back in the jail waiting for tomorrow night – and it can’t come soon enough! They should have put him on the gallows yesterday after what he did to that poor boy! Fighting for his life - I heard – blinded too, by all accounts… poor Gwenny – already lost one son and now she’s got a cripple to look after for the rest of her life…’

  Wil pressed his back into the chair and tried his best to become invisible. But Lady Élanor had clearly heard enough. She raised her voice above Nancy’s shrill tirade.

  ‘I am perfectly at liberty to have whom ever I like in Lovage Hall, especially those I believe to be innocent – as well you know, Nancy Wheeler,’ she said, her voice loaded with controlled anger. ‘As you also know, as you were in the gallery with the rest of the town yesterday, Seth is well on the road to recovery and will not suffer any lasting effects from the attack on the Fell – we are yet to find out who was responsible, AND, as I am sure you are also aware - being the wife of the jailer - I am using all the skills that I have to find out who was!’

  Nancy opened and closed her mouth several times. She looked from where Wil was trying to hide back to Lady Élanor and then craned her neck to get a better view of the other end of the room.

  Lady Élanor, now firmly in her stride, picked up a large blue medicine bottle that Tally had put on the table earlier and opened the front door.

  ‘I suggest that you give both of the children this syrup three times a day for a week and if they are still coughing after they have finished the bottle, come back and see me. I also suggest that you get them out into some fresh air!’

  She placed the bottle firmly in Nancy’s hand and led her by the elbow out through the front door, which she shut with a loud click as soon as the nosey woman’s foot left the threshold.

  ‘Well, really!’ Wil heard Nancy mutter as she hauled her sickly children away down the garden path.

  As the sound of crying and coughing got more distant the kitchen door flew open and Tally whirled in; her cheeks were crimson and she was completely out of breath.

  ‘Eli, Eli – he’s gone! He’s escaped!’ she cried, her eyes wild with alarm.

  ‘What? Who has gone? You haven’t been listening to Nancy Wheeler’s malicious gossip have you, Talasina? Wil is still here - see for yourself. He has not escaped - it’s just Nancy trying to make trouble before tomorrow night. She’s probably cross because I…’

  ‘No!’ cried Tally. ‘Sir Jerad Tinniswood! He’s gone Eli … and he tried to take Tanith!’

  Lady Élanor’s face went from soft pale cream to grey in a heart beat.

  ‘Where is Tanith now? How did this happen? Is he alright?’

  She was already out of the Hall and across the courtyard. Tally raced after her. Wil, unsure quite what to do, followed.

  ‘Horace fell asleep… Tinniswood picked the lock… he tied Horace up!’ she panted as she sped after her sister who was charging up the path through the beech wood towards the stables, her mane of long silver hair flowing behind her. ‘He knocked Bryn out… Willow stopped him … taking Tanith… Eli… Tanith is alright… I’ve given Bryn… some Centaury… he’s got a… nasty bang on… his head.’

  Lady Élanor was unstoppable. She reached the stables opposite the stock shed where Wil had spent such an unsuccessful morning and kept going until she reached the very end stable. A golden horse leant over the stall door and whinnied softly as she approached.

  ‘I told you Tanith was OK, Eli… Jerad didn’t get near him - thanks to Bryn and Willow… Honestly, he’s fine,’ Tally gasped.

  Wil was intrigued by Lady Élanor. She didn’t look like she’d just run up a hill. She gently patted Tanith’s neck and murmured words that Wil did not recognise. As if in answer the horse blew short breaths through his soft nostrils and Wil could sense warm affection as Tanith greeted his mistress.

  After a few moments, finally satisfied that the animal really was alright, as Tally had said, Lady Élanor rounded on her sister.

  ‘Where is Bryn?’ she demanded.

  ‘He’s in the infirmary - with Martha. Luckily she’d come up to see if he needed help with the puppies because Sal had gone home early. He was in the middle of the yard – out cold, Martha said – Willow standing over him barking – I’m surprised you didn’t hear the noise. That’s why I came up – I heard her from the pharmacy!’

  ‘No, we were contending with Nancy Wheeler and her unhealthy brood. What with the baby crying, Emily coughing and Nancy getting overexcited when she spotted Wil, it was all I could do to hear myself!’ said Lady Élanor with a frown. She continued to stroke the horse’s nose. ‘How did you hear about Jerad?’

  ‘I wasn’t the only one who heard Willow – apparently the new wizen, Fermina Fairfax, was on her way to tell you about the escape. But she heard Willow and came straight up. She was already helping Martha with Bryn when I got here.’

  ‘Where is she now?’ asked Lady Élanor looking around as if she expected Fermina to appear.

  ‘She’s with Martha and Bryn. Martha was pretty shaken up too – finding her husband like that!’

  ‘Hmm, the discovery of stupefied bodies being protected by trusted Fellhounds is becoming a bit of a habit,’ said Lady Élanor, acknowledging Wil for the first time since they had left the Hall. ‘Thank goodness you were with me this time, Wil! At least this is one attack that neither the Order, nor anyone else, can blame you for. Let’s hope that Fermina remembers to take that bit of news back to the Order!’

  ‘Are you absolutely sure that the boy was here, Élanor?’ Morten Mortens asked for the second time in less than five minutes. Considerably agitated, his voluminous magenta gown billowed behind him as he strode around the living room at Lovage Hall.

  ‘Yes, Morten, he was with me from late morning and before that he was with Bryn up at the stables – and as both you and I were with Tinniswood at that time, I think it likely that we would have noticed if Master Calloway had joined us – don’t you?’ Lady Élanor answered testily.

  All five members of the Order of the Magewizen had arrived at Lovage Hall not long after Lady Élanor, Tally and Wil had returned from the stables. Lady Élanor had just walked into the kitchen having checked first on her new patient to find Tally administering a calming draught of elder wine to Martha and Fermina Fairfax. The two women were sitting, ashen faced, at the kitchen table. Suddenly there was a loud rap on the front door. Fermina jumped so violently that she bashed Martha’s glass across the table. But as Wil blinked, Lady Élanor caught the glass and gently returned it to Martha without a drop spilt.

  Tally had announced the arrival of the Order. First came the Grand Wizen, Morten Mortens, followed by a very angry looking Oswald Beck, a rather nervous Agatha Peasgood and a surly, blustering man named Godwyn Savidge. She showed them into the living room where, at Lady Élanor’s request, Wil had already lit candles and lamps. Not overly pleased to see them all again so soon, he escaped into the kitchen under the pretext of helping Martha to prep
are refreshments and when Lady Élanor came into the kitchen he begged her to let him go back up to the stables.

  ‘Are you mad, Wil?’ she whispered, closing the kitchen door against the animated babble from the other room. Fermina Fairfax had just gone to join them and Wil guessed that she was filling them in on events as she had seen them.

  Martha bustled around the kitchen, huffing and tutting. Large trays were expertly laid-up with china cups, saucers and plates; tea pots seemed to fill themselves and huge slabs of a honey cake that, only moments before, she had taken out of the oven were piles onto plates decorated with tiny yellow primroses. Lady Élanor dragged Wil out of Martha’s way and continued.

  ‘The Order are convinced that you had something to do with Tinniswood’s escape, Wil – and as I’m sure you know, they already think that you attacked Seth under Rexmoore’s orders, so you sneaking off now for whatever reason will not look good! For all they know, you could be taking tea and cake up to Sir Jerad who could well be hiding somewhere nearby!’

  Martha looked alarmed and dropped a saucer which failed to smash into a million pieces as it hit the flagstones. Lady Élanor picked it up and handed it back, but her eyes did not leave Wil’s furious expression. Tally came in from the courtyard.

  ‘Bryn is much better now Martha,’ she said brightly, laying her small hand affectionately on Martha’s shoulder. ‘Why don’t you go over and see him, I’ll finish setting out the tea things - and don’t worry!’

  Martha dabbed her eyes with her apron.

  ‘Thank you, Tally, I think I will, if it’s all right with your Ladyship.’ A tear trickled down her cheek. ‘I don’t think I can face any more questions from that lot in there just now. I’ll go and sit with Bryn. He had me so worried – silly old fool – he should have just left it to Willow – he trained her - he knows she can look after herself!’

  ‘That’s fine, Martha,’ said Lady Élanor kindly. ‘Take some more elder wine with you too, I’m sure Bryn will be ready for a small glass now – only one though! I’ll come and check on him again when the Order has gone, I’m sure they won’t need to speak with you again for now.’

  As Martha gratefully left the kitchen clutching a small jug of wine, a soft whistle came from the kettle on the stove. A minute later the tea was ready and, after a deep breath, Lady Élanor picked up a tea pot and led the way back into the living room.

  ‘It is, after all, highly irregular that you should be accommodating this young man in your own home, my Lady - he has not yet been proved innocent,’ frowned Oswald Beck, tapping his finger on the table.

  ‘He has not been found guilty either, Oswald! And, after all, Lovage Hall is my home and I believe I am liberty to “accommodate” whom ever I wish!’ bristled Lady Élanor.

  ‘But to have him on the doorstep of the boy he attacked!’ said Agatha Peasgood looking appalled.

  ‘Surely you mean allegedly attacked, Agatha?’ Lady Élanor challenged but didn’t wait for a response. ‘And Seth Tanner is recovering perfectly well under our care. He is absolutely safe and I am so pleased with his recovery that I have just informed his mother that she can take him home first thing in the morning!’

  ‘Not before time,’ whispered Tally behind her hand. Wil laughed but pretended to choke on a piece of Martha’s delicious cake.

  ‘I am assuming that he will not be joining the Moon Chase, though?’ Godwyn Savidge cut in. He strutted up and down puffing out his chest like an overfed peacock – evidently convinced of his own importance! ‘I will not have him putting my son in danger. Giles has been training hard for this hunt – it’s his first in a very long time and I won’t have it jeopardised by an under-performing Chaser – especially one as inexperienced as Seth Tanner! I’ve never been happy about that boy joining the Chase – weak-link in the chain, if you ask me!’

  ‘With all due respect, Godwyn, we are all very aware of your misgivings for having Seth Tanner on any Moon Chase,’ stepped in Morten Mortens. ‘But in fairness to him, he has always performed exceptionally well and is a credit to his father.’

  ‘It might be better if his father was there in his place, Morten! Have you seen the way they mollycoddle that boy? I’ll bet he doesn’t even sharpen his own bolts…’

  ‘I’m sorry to break up this fascinating debate, gentlemen, but I was under the impression that you were here to discuss Sir Jerad’s Tinniswood’s recent, apparently successful escape from Saran Jail?’ interrupted Lady Élanor testily.

  Sitting by the fire as it crackled away cheerfully, Wil couldn’t see all of the members of the party as they either sat, stood or paced around the living room table, but he had already heard that dangerous tone in Lady Élanor’s voice earlier that day and was grateful that, this time it was not directed towards him.

  ‘It was reported to me that Horace Wheeler fell asleep and somehow Sir Jerad managed to pick the lock,’ said Fermina Fairfax. She peered into her tea cup - Wil got the distinct impression that another glass of Lady Élanor’s elder wine would have been better appreciated. ‘I think we should be asking the question – How did Sir Jerad Tinniswood pick a lock when all weapons and tools should have been removed from him when he was first arrested?… And also – Is Mr Wheeler competent to be in charge of Saran Jail?’

  Lady Élanor’s eyebrows rose slightly but it was Morten Mortens who answered Fermina’s questions.

  ‘Ms Fairfax is of course correct in that we must investigate how Tinniswood managed to get out of his locked cell, particularly as he was under the expert eye of Horace Wheeler,’ he said helping himself to more tea. ‘But we have no idea of Sir Jerad’s whereabouts, which I think the more pressing matter at this moment !’

  He took a noisy sip from his cup before he continued.

  ‘The Moon Chase is tomorrow night and will leave us five Fellhounds down within the town. Saran could be under serious risk of attack while our defences are so diminished.’

  ‘It would have been helpful if you could have found out what Sir Jerad had learned about Saran while he was spying on the town before his incarceration,’ said Fermina Fairfax with a sly look at Lady Élanor. ‘But as I understand you failed to learn anything at all – surprising with the talents that you and your sister reputedly share.’

  She leant forward and selected a piece of cake which she disdainfully inspected before carefully taking a tiny bite from one corner – her little finger crooked showing off a very long, highly polished finger nail.

  ‘I..,’ Lady Élanor started but was immediately interrupted.

  ‘I think that Lady Élanor will not mind me saying,’ Morten Mortens jumped in. ‘She had spent only a brief time with Sir Jerad after his capture because other events have taken her attention – as you know, Fermina. As you are a newcomer to Saran and to this Order you can be forgiven for not fully understanding how we work here when questioning prisoners. I believe that in Delve Hollow, your home town, you take a more direct approach to the interrogation of prisoners – that is your choice, but you are going to have to accept – if you are to be a long-term member of the Order of the Magewizen of Saran, as I trust that you are – that we prefer a more subtle approach. I am sure, in the end, we all get the same results.’

  Then, smiling politely at Fermina, he reached past her for another large piece of honey cake – his third, Wil noted.

  ‘Hm! Well as we don’t know where Sir Jerad is, or what he knows, I really don’t see how we are going to be able to defend ourselves effectively!’ bristled Fermina.

  ‘It is fair to assume that Sir Jerad was sent here to discover the whereabouts of Lord Lakeston’s legacy. But it is well hidden and heavily protected,’ said Morten. ‘Its whereabouts is a closely guarded secret kept by only three people. The likelihood that Sir Jerad has discovered its location, or who the three are, is unlikely in the extreme.’

  ‘Perhaps it would be wise to share this secret with the Order, Morten? Just in case anything should happen to one of the mystery three?’ suggested Fermina helpfu
lly.

  ‘Do not worry yourself about that, Fermina. I can assure you that the legacy is very well protected. We would not wish to jeopardise the safety of the Order by placing such a burden on its shoulders.’ Morten smiled politely at her for a second time and popped the last chunk of cake into his mouth. That subject was clearly closed to further discussion.

  They continued to talk long into the evening without coming up with any real conclusions, although Wil did learn that there were another six working Fellhounds in Saran, as well as the two belonging to Lady Élanor and Tally – although Allana was used mainly for breeding now and Tally’s hound was still very young and inexperienced.

  It was obvious that Fermina Fairfax was unhappy that she did not know more about the Lakeston legacy or its protectors, but as no-one was prepared to be drawn on the subject, she reluctantly dropped it.

  There followed a long discussion about whether the Moon Chase should be postponed until Sir Jerad was re-captured, or at the least, his whereabouts discovered; but eventually it was decided that it must go ahead. There was still no sign of the stolen deer and concerns were growing that if they were still on Tel Harion they were in imminent danger from a number of Wraithe Wolves that had been spotted nearby.

  Wil had mixed feelings as he listened intently to this debate – part of him would have given anything not to have to go on the hunt tomorrow night, but another part of him wanted to get it over with so that he could go home.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Morning Callers

  The pheasant casserole Martha had served up within minutes of the Order’s departure lay almost untouched on Wil’s plate. With so much talk about the Moon Chase earlier that evening he was finding it impossible to think about anything else. Martha had gone back to Bryn’s bedside and Lady Élanor had followed shortly afterwards to make sure that Seth was eating his supper - Tally had refused, threatening all kinds of unpleasant ways to make him eat if he made a fuss again! So Lady Élanor, looking mildly amused had picked up the tray and left Tally and the brooding Wil alone in the kitchen.