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‘No, it’s no good denying it,’ he said quickly, as several people cried out in protest. ‘It’s true. We just don’t know. You’re all going to have to watch me carefully, because until I wield that sword we won’t know if I’m truly trustworthy. If I never find it—well, then we’ll know the sword has judged me unfit to take it, and you’ve got a whole new problem to deal with. Same with Trinity, I’m afraid to say. She’s my twin sister and I already love her, but when or if she has her magic restored…’
We all looked at each other uncomfortably, realising he was right.
‘All that’s for another day,’ Hector said firmly. ‘Right now—’
He broke off as Emrick arrived in our midst. We gathered around him, and I thought everyone seemed as pleased to see him as I was. It was quite odd, really, but there was something comforting about his presence.
‘Sorry to intrude upon you,’ he said, his lilting Welsh tones music to my ears, ‘but I thought I’d keep you up to date. Now, don’t get your hopes up, but when Hector here told me why Trinity was in Whitby, I realised the best bet would be for me to go to Sister Agnes and see if she knew anything. I can’t promise she does, mind, but it’s worth a shot.’
‘Who is Sister Agnes?’ Lowen asked. ‘Don’t I deserve to know that much at least? Especially since she seems to know about Trinity and me and clearly has something to do with our birth.’
‘You’ll know, all in good time,’ Emrick assured him, running a hand through his somewhat wild, silvery curls. ‘For now though, I need to go there alone. She’s not one for strangers, and I need to tread carefully. Besides, isn’t the most important thing right now picking up clues about Trinity?’
‘I’m hardly a stranger if she was at my birth,’ Lowen protested.
‘You’re right in a way, lad,’ Emrick said. ‘And I promise you’ll meet her soon. Right now, though, we have other things to think about.’ He glanced at Hector. ‘Are you taking Blaise back to the island?’
‘Just about to,’ Hector confirmed.
Emrick nodded. ‘Ewella’s got everything prepared for him. I expect Sirius is still in Whitby?’
‘Well, he hasn’t come back here,’ Lowen said. ‘I’m just about to go to him actually.’
‘Excellent. I’ll go with you and while you keep Sirius occupied I’ll nip away to find Sister Agnes. Fingers crossed we can get Trinity back today.’
‘You really think she’ll know where Trinity is?’ Sky asked hopefully.
‘Well, given what I’ve been told about her disappearance, it’s just possible yes. But like I say, I don’t want you to get your hopes up, because nothing’s certain just now.’ He looked round at us all, his dark eyes warm with sympathy and understanding. ‘Don’t fret now. We’ll find her. Are you ready, Lowen?’
‘I’m coming to Whitby with you,’ Keely said at once.
‘Are you sure? Obviously I needed you to take me there, but Emrick can take me now. If you’d rather stay here—
‘As if!’ she said scornfully.
‘I’ll come too,’ Sky said. ‘Sirius needs me. He’s my big brother and I want to be with him.’
‘Very well,’ Emrick said. ‘Looks like it’s a family trip. Shall we?’
Keely took Lowen’s hand and within the blink of an eye all four of them had gone.
‘Right,’ Hector said, clapping his hands together, ‘I’m going to take John to the island. Is anyone coming with me apart from Harley?’
‘I’ll stay here,’ Aunt Iliana decided ‘Just in case there’s any more news.’
‘The High Council’s going to let us know about the funeral,’ Castor reminded her. ‘Reckon we’d all be better off here, waiting to hear about that.’
‘I’m going with you, Hector,’ I said firmly. ‘I don’t care what any of you say or think. I’m not leaving Johnnie in a strange place with people he doesn’t know. I’m going with him and that’s that. If you don’t like it you’ll have to make me a prisoner too.’
‘Romy, you can’t!’ Harley protested.
‘You haven’t listened to a word I said, have you?’ Celeste said sadly.
‘I heard every word,’ I told her, ‘and you may well be right. But until I see signs of Blaise St Clair resurfacing I’ll continue to treat him as John Ford. And John Ford loves me, as I love him. I’m not abandoning him.’
Celeste shrugged before handing a key over to Hector. ‘Okay. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
‘Let’s collect him from the study then,’ Hector said. ‘Then we’ll all travel to the island together.’
