“You mean you haven’t figured it out yet?” Burnside shook his head. He was biting his lip, barely suppressing a smile.
“Figured what out?”
“Who do we know of who is an expert at working wards and also quite adept at stealing arcane artifacts?” Burnside stroked an imaginary beard as he mock pondered the question. “Hmmmmm? Can you think of anyone?”
“Rattling relics!” Zani exclaimed.
“So you see, it’s mydutyto take you back,” Burnside said. “You won’t be changing history.”
“Because I’ll be making it!” Zani finished, excitedly.
“Precisely.” Burnside smiled knowingly. “Shall we get going, then?”
Item No. 039-L | A few extra minutes. A much cleaner bag
Liminal Lint
I won my first Liminal at a street fair when offered a choice of prizes. It was between one of these treasures and a goldfish. Only one of them promised to eat pocket crumbs and freeze time on occasion. The choice was obvious.
Liminals aren’t illegal to catch, just nearly impossible. These fuzzy, golf ball sized creatures can slip between seconds, leaving behind a shimmer of fluff, often mistaken for dryer lint. Once acquired, they’re perfectly happy to live at the bottom of your bag, feeding off forgotten receipts and snack wrappers while keeping the interior spotless.
The real magic? A few minutes of borrowed time when you need it most. A pinch of Liminal Lint, plus the included incantation, and suddenly, you’ve got just enough breathing room to catch a train, find your passport, or throw on some pants before the bellhop bursts in.
Each jar contains one content, well-fed Liminal and a time-tested incantation card.
Side effects may include mild smugness.
Chapter31
The Train, Part Two
Burnside and Zani hovered over the train, tracing its course through the forest, and discussing the best way for her to accomplish the task.
As she watched herself and Cosimo at the train station, she reflected on how much her life had changed since coming to Primrose Court. The Zani she was seeing was rosy-cheeked and fresh from adventure. But the way she was staring up at that vampire was foolish, almost childish. She could see that now. She was only glad that Will wasn’t here to see it. Because it certainly wasn’t how she felt now.
Zani could hardly remember what she had been thinking. She recalled she had wanted him to kiss her. But now when she closed her eyes and pictured kissing someone, the only face that came to mind was Will.
She watched as Cosimo kissed her on the forehead and bid her farewell. Once more, she watched him seem to disappear. But from this vantage point, she could see he hadn’t gone far. He’d been hiding in the shadows, watching as she boarded the train. Cosimo had even stood on the platform watching the train depart, his expression concerned.
Where had he gone from there? Straight to Catalina?
“We could port down to the train at any time now, but the less time we spend, the better.” Burnside warned. “We mustn’t disturb anything. We can’t change what happened.”
“I couldn’t if I tried,” Zani shrugged. “My wards are still working.”
How relieved she was to know that her wards weren’t compromised. A stranger hadn’t bested her magic after all. Her warding skills were powerful and intact. If only she’d had more self-confidence, she would have reached this conclusion sooner. Nobody else could have found a way into her expertly protected train case. Only she could have undone it herself.
“What do you recall of the trip? Moment by moment, if necessary.” Burnside stood beside the airship’s control panel, one hand on a dial that resembled a sundial, the other on a nautical wheel. Embedded at the center of the wheel was a blue compass with strange alchemical symbols. It spun continuously as the airship followed along invisibly behind the train.
“There was a moment,” Zani remembered, “when we traveled through a storm. The lights flickered, and I saw a strange reflection.”
“What did you see in the reflection?” Burnside asked.
“I saw myself, actually!” Zani clapped her hands together, remembering. “But the reflection was strange. My hair was longer, wind tossed and wild.”
“Have you had a look in the mirror recently?” Burnside laughed, but it came out more like a hacking cough. When he went to take a sip from his flask, it was empty.
“Here, let me…” Zani took the flask and crossed to the bar. “Which one?” She pointed to the crystal decanters. Burnside pointed to a short round bottle. It was nearly empty. There was only enough of the purple viscous liquid to fill his flask halfway. The concoction smelled like whiskey, but clearly had more magic than the basic spirit alone.
