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‘Be patient?’ Sirius shook his head. ‘I think we’ve been patient for long enough. You can’t seriously expect us to ignore this?’
‘Have the High Council been informed?’ Emrick asked Iliana, who nodded and drained her second glass of brandy.
‘Of course. I put a protection spell around the body to prevent anyone else accidentally stumbling upon it, then I zapped straight home and dear Castor kindly went to rouse Kendrew. He, Amlodd and Aveta arrived at Castle Lodge about half an hour ago.’
She sighed. ‘They must be wondering who’ll be next. It’s like that Agatha Christie film, isn’t it?And Then There Were None. It’s funny, because I remember we were worried about the same thing when we were all marooned on this island, do you remember? But I think this is much more serious. Then all we had to worry about was Star running out of cake. Now people are actually being murdered.’ She shuddered. ‘You know, I’m rarely truly scared, but now I am. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t see a way out of this situation that won’t result in war.’
‘I’m going to go over to Castle Lodge and see what’s what,’ Emrick told her, taking the glass from her hand. ‘I need a word with the High Council anyway. Don’t worry,’ he said as we all began to protest, ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can, and I suspect I won’t be alone. We’ll fill you in on everything we know. Just be patient. And look after your mother,’ he added to Sirius who, as I’d suspected, was clearly furious that he was, once again, being asked to do nothing. ‘She needs you.’
Since he couldn’t deny the truth of that statement, Sirius had no choice but to do as Emrick asked. Immediately, Emrick left for Castle Clair, and the rest of us could only wait and wonder. What did the Pendragons have in store for us next?
***
Peloryon House was a scene of chaos. Everyone from Castle Clair had turned up, including Aurora, Raiden and Aither. Even Mrs Greenwood was there, busy handing out sausage rolls and bacon sandwiches, and generally trying to keep people’s spirits up with endless cups of tea.
Emrick and the members of the High Council still hadn’t returned, but that didn’t stop the theories from flying about. Everyone seemed to have a different idea about why Bob had been targeted, but to be honest, none of them made sense. He was an affable sort of man, devoted to his wife, and their life together in a little hotel on the outskirts of Tintagel. He wasn’t pushy or go-getting. He hadn’t tried to cause trouble with anyone. The only people he’d ever got irate with were the St Clairs, apparently, but there were some rueful mutterings among the family now that confessed he’d had good reason to be.
‘Bob was so protective of Zephyr,’ Sky said, wiping tears from her face. ‘And really, given the stress we put him under, one can hardly blame him for that.’
‘It’s such an awful way to go,’ Star said bitterly. ‘Aged to death. How unutterably cruel is that?’
I had to admit, my attention kept wandering. I couldn’t help it. For some reason I found myself staring at Aither, Aurora and Raiden’s little boy. Was I imagining it or was he—
‘Don’t worry,’ Hector murmured to me. ‘You’re not going mad.’
I spun round. ‘It’s like he’s illuminated!’
He laughed and patted my shoulder. ‘I know.’ He leaned towards me and whispered, ‘Aither is a Guardian.’
I reeled back, stunned. ‘You’re kidding!’
He shook his head. ‘No. And what you’re sensing is that power within him, calling to the power within you. He’s my charge. That’s why I was able to let the St Clairs keep their memories of who I am.’
‘Do they all know?’
‘Oh yes. Well, the immediate family do. Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to tell Zephyr. Members of the High Council must never know who the Guardians are. It’s something Aurora’s struggling with—the fact that her father never knew his grandson was a Guardian. He’d have been thrilled.’
‘So how come I don’t see the same thing in you?’
‘As Guardians grow they become adept at controlling the power within them. At Aither’s age they’re not able to do that, and it swirls around them, unchecked. Luckily, only other Guardians can detect it.’
At that moment, Emrick arrived back with Aveta, Kendrew, and Amlodd, the much-depleted High Council of Witches.
‘You’ve been ages,’ Castor grumbled. ‘What’s to do? I hope you’ve got a plan this time, cos I’m telling you now, no one’s going to let this be brushed under the carpet.’
‘And nor should it be,’ Aurora added. ‘No one’s paid for what they did to my father. We need to do something. He deserves justice, as does poor Bob.’
‘Will you just be patient with us a little while longer?’ Emrick pleaded. He turned to Killian. ‘Do you think you could fetch your brother please?’
‘Aidan?’ Killian shrugged. ‘Sure. What’s the problem?’
‘If you’ll just bring him here I’ll explain everything,’ Emrick assured him. ‘I’d prefer to have two of you here, just to be certain.’
Killian’s eyes narrowed but he said nothing more and vanished.
Amlodd mopped his forehead with a handkerchief. ‘This has been one hell of a day, and it’s only nine o’clock,’ he moaned.
‘Sit down,’ Mrs Greenwood said kindly. ‘Bacon sandwich?’
