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‘When did she go away?’ I asked immediately.
‘A week ago,’ he said. ‘Why? Does it matter?’
‘Yes it does.’ I glanced at Killian and Aidan. ‘It can’t have been her then.’
‘Who can’t have been her?’ Emrick demanded.
Briefly, I explained what the woman on the restaurant steps had told us about the old woman who may, or may not, have been following Zephyr. Everyone listened with keen interest, and there were several, “Oohs,” and gasps as I related her story.
‘But if not Sister Agnes,’ Jethro said, ‘who was she?’
Emrick shrugged. ‘Probably just a tourist, or maybe a resident of Whitby. I expect this woman you were talking to just got carried away with everything and decided it made a good addition to her story. I certainly don’t recognise the description anyway.’
Frey wound his way through my legs and nudged me with his nose.
He’s lying.
I peered down at my silvery Norwegian Forest cat in surprise.
Emrick is?
Absolutely. Ask him who the Daughters are.
I stared at Emrick suspiciously. Why would he lie to us, after everything we’d been through? I had no reason not to believe Frey, though. Our familiars had never steered us wrong before.
I was about to speak when Harley suddenly burst out, ‘Sid says you’re lying, and who are the Daughters?’
Keely glared at Emrick. ‘Runa’s just told me the same,’ she said. She looked at me. ‘Frey?’
I nodded grimly.
‘And Belle,’ Sky added accusingly.
‘Oh dear,’ Emrick said. ‘It seems the familiars have ganged up on me.’
‘If it’s any consolation,’ Celeste said with a sigh, ‘Belasko’s just told me he thinks the rest of them are a disgrace, and I should have patience and faith in you.’
Emrick smiled. ‘Tell Belasko I appreciate his kind words. However, it seems I’m rumbled, and since we’re obviously outnumbered, perhaps it’s time I explained some things to you.’
‘That would be very kind of you,’ I said, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
He gave me a pleading look. ‘I’m doing the best I can, Lowen. Please believe me. You have no idea what a trickly balancing act this all is.’
‘I’m sure Emrick has his reasons for behaving the way he does,’ Iliana said firmly. ‘After all, surely none of you can doubt that he’s on our side? I think you should be a bit more understanding.’
‘Thank you, Iliana.’
‘Having said that, I’m dying to know what you have to tell us, so perhaps you’d get on with it?’
Emrick’s mouth twitched in amusement. ‘I suppose that delicious cheese and onion quiche can wait a little longer.’
He gave it a longing look but pushed his plate away, settled his elbows on the table and looked round at us all. ‘Very well. Let me begin.’
***
‘The Daughters,’ Emrick said, ‘as I expect you’ve guessed, are based in Whitby. Their story goes back to the fifth century, when Merlin arrived in Streaneshalch, as it was then known.’
I almost groaned but managed to stop myself in time. No one else seemed at all surprised by the mention of the legendary wizard of Arthurian legend, and given I’d just that day learned of the existence of reapers and vampires, why should Merlin’s existence faze me?
