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‘At this time?’ I said worriedly. ‘It doesn’t add up.’
Killian leaned forward. ‘I can smell smoke.’
‘That’ll be the fireworks,’ Harley said, but he shook his head.
‘This is more than smoke from fireworks,’ he said firmly. ‘Look, can’t you see it? Those wisps of smoke in the air?’ He sniffed. ‘More than one fire, I reckon.’
‘You can smell smoke from here?’ I asked, impressed.
‘Something’s not right,’ he said. ‘I think we should investigate.’ He hesitated, then said. ‘Well, not you, Wulfram, obviously.’
‘I’ll go with you,’ Keely said immediately, and Harley reluctantly agreed she would join them.
‘I can go with you,’ I said. ‘Come on. It’s only across the water. It couldn’t be any closer, could it?’
‘And that’s why you most definitely can’t go,’ said a voice behind us.
We spun round to see Emrick standing there, already dressed in jeans and a thick jumper.
‘You’re going across?’ Killian asked.
Emrick nodded. ‘Something’s not adding up about this. I need to check it out. Wulfram, you must stay here. You understand?’
I scowled. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Perfectly serious. Until we know what we’re dealing with you remain here, protected.’
‘It’s probably just some drunken kids,’ I protested.
‘And if it is,’ Keely said, giving my arm a squeeze, ‘we’ll put the fires out and come straight back.’
By the time we headed onto the landing Romy, Blaise, Sirius, Trinity and Ewella were tumbling out of their rooms.
There was a lot of arguing about who should and shouldn’t be going across to Gerrenporth to see what was happening.
‘The three Pendragon children stay here,’ Emrick said. He raised a hand as Romy, predictably, opened her mouth to protest. ‘It’s not up for discussion. Blaise, Ewella, will you make sure they do as they’re told please? The rest of you come with me. Let’s see what’s going on across there, shall we?’
‘Are we going by boat?’ Sirius asked. ‘I’m not emotionally attached to Gerrenporth. Is anyone else?’
Killian shrugged. ‘No need. I can zap Keely and Harley over there. Emrick, you take Sirius.’ He dropped a kiss on Harley’s cheek. ‘You’re sure about this, darlin’?’
‘Of course I’m sure,’ she said indignantly. ‘You’re not leaving me behind.’
She and Keely linked arms with Killian, and Keely blew a kiss to me before they all vanished, followed moments later by Emrick and Sirius.
‘Hang on,’ I said, as the thought occurred to me. ‘How come Emrick can zap over there?’
‘Oh, he’s emotionally attached to the place,’ Ewella said airily. ‘He’s lived in this area a long time, after all.’
We all looked at each other, feeling useless.
‘I suppose it’s probably just drunks,’ Trinity said cautiously. ‘We’re probably worrying about nothing.’
‘I expect you’re right,’ Ewella assured her. ‘They’ll put the fires out in no time and be back before we know it. I think we should make some hot chocolate for when they get back. I know I could do with a mug of it right now. Anyone else?’
We all agreed that we may as well, since there was nothing else we could do. I felt sick with frustration that I was being kept away from something as simple as rowdy revellers letting off fireworks, and wondered if I was ever going to be let out of my protective cage.
‘I know how you’re feeling,’ Blaise murmured to me as we headed downstairs. ‘Try not to let it get to you. It won’t be long before you’re on every callout, and you’ll be heartily sick of the whole thing and wishing they’d give you a day off.’
