Being a true shifter isn’t the blessing it may seem. But through pain and darkness Perdita seeks to find her own life despite the ambition of others…
Chapter Six – Not Again
We were finally breaking our fast, with oatcakes and honey, when a messenger tapped at the door. He had toiled up from the village in the valley and was delighted with a stein of beer.
While he refreshed himself we read a communication from agency headquarters. It reminded me that I had agreed to perform a security review at one of the colleges in the city. And, a bit shortly, that I was now overdue on the job.
Mandrake was inclined towards anger but I shushed him.
“It is always this way. Some clerk at headquarters sees I have not begun an agreed job and fires off a stroppy message. They never bother to check the background.”
Moth made a poor mouth. “Is true. They send same when beloved was near death in the infirmary at Dragonheart.”
“Why do you put up with it, amata?”
“Because the work keeps us fed. It’s the price we pay for being us.”
“The price?” He growled low in his chest.
“There is always a price my darling one. Our beloved fae will tell you that.”
“Always.” Moth said sadly.
I beckoned the messenger in. “The return message is to say. I will be there as soon as it is practical for me.”
He grinned a gap-toothed grin and touched his brow. I gave him a hefty tip and he headed off.
Mandrake read the message again. “This is truly rude.”
I shrugged. “Most of the clerks dislike me. I’m not what they understand. So I ignore them and do things my way.”
“What way is that?”
“The way of a little deception, I think.”
“Say on.”
“First of all you cannot accompany me, loved dragon. Full males are not allowed inside a college where they prepare the daughters of the aristocracy for marriage.”
He looked mutinous and I soothed him with a kiss.
“It won’t be for long. It’s just a routine kick up the ass for a crowd of lazy guards. Three days tops.” Then I had another thought. “Actually it would be best for it to appear that I am alone at the college. As if we do not consider this to be a task of any significance.”
“Is not of any significance to us three.” Moth was sulky.
“Maybe, maybe not. But I have a worm of unease. So we move softly softly.”
“Speak on loved one,” Mandrake’s lazy drawl fooled nobody.
“If you will fly us down to the valley, my darling. I will go to the railway station at Riversmeet and ride the train to the college. You two beloveds can also take a train to the city centre, to be at The Two Truncheons where you will be within call.”
Moth folded her arms. “No. Mothwing comes with beloved. Our dragon cannot hide. Mothwing can.”
“No Moth. You can’t hide. Not at the college. They have fae household staff.”
She subsided, grumbling sulphurously.
“How will we keep in touch then?” Mandrake wasn’t sounding too happy.
“I will have to wear a wire.”
“And they won’t spot that?”
“No. They won’t.”
“Why am I thinking this could be dangerous?”
“I don’t know, but I’m thinking the same thing.”
Moth stamped her foot. “Not do then.”
“I’m sorry my darling, but something in my gut tells me I have to do it.”
She snarled and withdrew herself from the conversation, showing me a pettish shoulder, but at least Mandrake seemed to understand.
“Very well, but if you get yourself killed we will never forgive you.”
“Thank you.”
Moth came to my shoulder. “Mothwing helps,” she said simply and we were a three again.
We packed a few things, closed up the house and walked down the track to the village, where Moth and I went into the agency office and sent copies of the pictures on my eye camera to headquarters, before I went and got fitted with the most sophisticated microphone system that money could buy. I sincerely hoped it was enough.
I gave the receiver to Mandrake, who put it in the pocket next to his heart, which was where Moth would travel when he was in human form.
Out on the flatlands he kissed me tenderly and touched a gentle finger to Moth’s head before shimmering into his dragon form. We two climbed aboard and he leapt into the sky. The flight was too short, and when he alighted in a field behind a belt of trees and just a step from the station I felt stupidly lonely. Being made of strong stuff I didn’t let my sorrow show and I kissed both my lovers before slipping onto the station concourse and queuing politely for my ticket.
Nobody remarked a slight female figure in a grey hooded robe who carried a shabby carpet bag and walked with her head down.
At the correct stop I got off the train and walked up the slight slope to the gate of the college. A couple of hefty female guards lounged at their ease by the doors. They stopped me, a bit too casually I thought, but the sight of the Agency token I wore about my neck stiffened their spines and they bowed me inside. A silent housekeeper came forward and led me to a simple almost monastic cell. On the way through the place I remarked door guards lounging at their ease – some even had steins of beer in their hands or played at dice with their fellows. Security really was first cousin to nonexistent.
The housekeeper bowed from the waist and I reciprocated. Having washed my hands and face I put up my hood and left the little rock chamber. A hovering secretary came to my shoulder and guided me to the office of the principal. She was a perfect example of her type and not even slightly pleased to see me. I can be fairly forbidding when I so choose and she was bright enough to realise I couldn’t be browbeaten.
“I suppose I must let you do your ‘job’ then?”
“It’s either me or some female dragon with an agenda. The choice is yours.”
The spectre of an oversexed female dragon causing mayhem among her students did the trick and she so far unbent as to smile thinly.
“While you are here, there is something.”
I raised a polite eyebrow.
“The father of one of our senior pupils thinks she may be in some sort of danger. Although how she can be in danger inside these walls is beyond me.”
Having seen a little of the shambles that was masquerading as security it wasn’t beyond me.
“What sort of danger?”
“I don’t know. Her father did not say.”
I sighed. “Very well I will look into it. Who?”
“Amaranth FitzRoy.”
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