Frost Arch (17 page)

Noah always greeted me with a friendly smile whenever I entered the study, and I was almost always helpful in one way or another. Not to mention the rise in my pay was quite significant. I now had a nice little amount saved up. When I was confident I had enough money to spare, I decided a trip into the city during my free time was in order.

I was in the study with Noah once again, and found myself with nothing to do. Taking my chances I approached the desk where he was working. He did not look up to me as I approached but kept reading.

“Sir,” I started, unsure, “I was wondering if I could spend the rest of my time here writing a letter … to home.” I rocked on the balls of my feet nervously. Not taking his eyes from the book Noah slid some parchment across the desk towards me and nudged his ink bottle.

I grinned, “Thank you, sir.” I said as I collected the parchment, a quill, and the ink and placed myself at another working desk also littered with books.

I sat there for almost five minutes wondering what I was supposed to write to my family. A family I had left in the dead of the night. I wondered if they had gone looking for me. Surely they would have come to Frost Arch? But even if they had, I knew that they would not know where to find me. Frost Arch was large and frigid. They’d have a hard time locating me. Not to mention I didn’t leave the manor very often. Perhaps they hadn’t bothered to look for me, and stayed at home with Helena. After all they wouldn’t leave her at home alone, and she couldn’t travel with them in case she was seen. Half an hour later I had managed to write a short letter with many crossing outs and mistakes.

I wasn’t quite sure how to end it. Of course they would know who it was from.

I jumped violently in my seat as I felt a warm breath cascade down my neck.

“I’d send them my love, if I were you.” Noah’s husky voice sounded right next to my ear, alarmingly close.

I held very still. I had been so absorbed in my writing I hadn’t even noticed him cross the room and stand behind my chair.

He had read my letter over my shoulder and was now leaning down to whisper to me. His mouth was inches from my ear, and goose bumps erupted all over my body. I should have been mad that he had read my letter, but at that moment my mind was blank. I couldn’t even remember my own name anymore. I felt weak as usual when he was near, and dizzy. He smelled wonderful. His cologne drowned out all my other senses and I wasn’t even aware that my eyes had fluttered closed as he had spoken.

Noah was oblivious to my sudden incoherency but he placed his hand over mine as I held onto the quill slackly. Guiding my hand he helped me write the end to my letter, his warm breath tickling the skin on my neck. After a few seconds I opened my eyes to see what had been written upon the parchment

I swallowed hard, electricity pulsating through my body. I was surprised Noah couldn’t feel the heat radiating from me. Surely he could hear my heart pounding at a ridiculous speed. It sounded like a humming bird.

Noah straightened himself up and I broke from my trance unwillingly. It had been quite an interesting few moments.

I kept my eyes down on the parchment, but my mouth was open slightly. Noah stepped away from me and scoured the book shelves once again. I licked my lips and folded my letter quietly, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Did he realize the stunned stupor he had left me in? It wasn’t fair.

“You may leave when you wish.” Noah said in a low voice.

I nodded and got up shakily tucking the letter into my pocket. I began walking towards the door but I chanced a peek at Noah. He was standing very still next to the bookshelf, deep in thought, his hands in his pockets and his brow furrowed.

“Sir?” my voice was small and shaky as I turned to face him.

He blinked and looked at me, “Yes?”

I took a deep, steadying breath, “Goodnight.” I had changed my mind at the last second. My face like a beetroot, I hurried from the room and almost ran all the way to the first floor.

The next day I walked into the city alone, intent on sending my letter. I would have invited Jack but I knew he would ask questions about it. Every time I thought about the letter my mind wandered off to Noah unintentionally. I entered the Messenger Service shop, the bell clanging loudly. Once again it was empty so I waited by the counter nervously. I heard footsteps coming. Probably lovely old Gretchen. I highly doubted that she would give me cheaper delivery if I flirted with her too. The thought made me shudder. However the body that entered through the adjoining room was not the plump frame of old Gretchen, but the amazingly beautiful form of Ræven, the girl who could morph into the elegant black bird.

I felt intimidated by her beauty but put my insecurities aside and fumbled for my letter, placing it upon the counter.

“Um, hello. I, uh, have a rather long-distance letter I need to have delivered, uh, please.” I found that I couldn’t string a coherent sentence. Ræven did not speak but just looked at me intently. I remembered that Jack had told me that he had never heard her utter a word before.

I cleared my throat and continued, “Um. I need it to be taken to the little town of Mortlock, just north from here. I’d like it to be delivered … rather fast … if that’s okay. The address is on the letter.” I added.

Ræven nodded curtly, took my letter and tucked it safely under her arm. I remembered how much it had cost for Jack to get a message delivered within Frost Arch, but I had no idea how much a letter to Mortlock would cost.

I was about to ask, however, when Ræven pointed to a large map pinned to the wall on my right. I looked at it closely. A little tag marked ‘YOU ARE HERE’ in the centre of the map. A closer look told me that all the neighbouring towns were also labelled on this map which seemed to show the whole of England. I found Mortlock easily on the map, and next to it was a little tag that read;

The prices seemed to go higher the further away they were from Frost Arch. I nodded. This price was perfectly reasonable now that I had my new and improved wages. I dug in my pockets from my little money pouch and extracted the correct amount of coins. Ræven held out her petite hand into which I dropped the money. She gave me a swift nod and left the room again. I swallowed and left the shop. I wasn’t quite sure if Ræven was capable of smiling. And why was she so silent? Was she mute? Not much use having someone who can’t talk running a shop, I thought.

As I stepped out onto the street I heard my name being called from a distance. Looking towards the heart of the city I saw a lanky figure waving its arms and jogging towards me. Jack was pink in the cheeks, but he seemed cheerful. He was grinning broadly as he swaggered to a halt in front of me.

“Hello.” I said, mildly surprised, “I-I didn’t know you were in the city.”

Jack shrugged, “I’m always wandering around where ever I’m needed. Besides, it’s for a special occasion. What are you doing here so early anyway?”

I tried to deflect the question, “A special occasion?” I faked interest.

Jack grinned sheepishly, “A present. For you.”

“For me?” I said rather shocked, and much more interested now.

From his breast pocket Jack pulled out two thin, slightly transparent slips of paper with fine lettering printed upon them. They flapped merrily in the wind as he handed me one of them. Written upon the fine paper was the words; MADAM FEATHER in an elegant script along with times, dates and other inconsequential information.

I looked up at Jack who was still grinning at me.

“You’re taking me to see Madam Feather?” I asked with raised eyebrows.

“Like I promised.” He added.

It was true, he had insisted upon taking me to see a performance by her, but I hadn’t actually expected him to go through with it.

“Jack, how much did these passes cost?” I frowned.

“It doesn’t matter. You have to see her, it’s amazing.” A dreamy look appeared in his eyes.

“Jack.” I frowned handing the pass back to him.

Jack rolled his eyes and took the pass from me, “It’s for tonight, at ten o’clock, so there’s no turning back now. Non-refundable.”

“You shouldn’t have.” I rolled my eyes.

“You’ll be done with work by then, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” He smiled, rather pleased with himself.

“I’ll give you the gold for my pass.” I said rummaging around in my coin sack.

Jack frowned, lines forming on his forehead, “It’s a gift.”

“Which I did not earn.” I said matter-of-factly, jingling the coin sack at him.

Jack shook his head and pressed the gold back into my chest, “I’m treating a lady friend. Now be quiet and take it with grace.” He smirked.

I scowled and stuffed my gold back into my pocket, but cracked a sincere smile when I saw how pleased he was with himself.

“Thank you.” I muttered

“You’re welcome. See? Wasn’t that much easier?”

I sighed, “Come on.”

Turning on my heel I prepared to walk back to the manor.

“I’ll see you later tonight.” Jack called after me.

I turned, “You’re not coming?”

“Things to do.” He shrugged, stepping backwards, towards the heart of the city.

I shrugged back and waved before walking away from Jack.

On my way home (it was strange that I now thought of the manor as my home) I marched across the grounds, heading for the stables, and what the night would hold upon my mind. When I was within a hundred meters a fiery haired girl came bolting through its doors and pelted towards me. I faltered mid-step. Why was Camryn running so fast towards me? Her hair whipped out behind her as she ran at full speed.

“Avalon!” She huffed as she came to a halt in front of me.

“What, you couldn’t wait two minutes for me to walk to the stables?” I raised an eyebrow as she doubled over, panting.

“You’ve got to come and see. Quick.” She said straightening up. Something about her expression made me worry.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Hawthorne.” She said in a strained voice.

My face dropped. Hawthorne. I needed no more motivation than that simple word. Before I had realised it, I was sprinting to the stables, barely aware of my legs protesting as I dashed to its doors. I hadn’t gotten a chance to see Hawthorne for three days; I had been too busy and tired. Was he ill? Missing? Hurt? Discovered? I was vaguely aware of Camryn struggling to keep up with me. I don’t think I had ever run so fast in my entire life.

I barrelled through the stable doors and skidded to a halt looking around feverishly.

“Hawthorne?” I said looking around. His stall was currently taken up by a large white Pegasus. My eyes scanned the scene. Where was he? He was gone.

Camryn caught up with me, panting and holding a stitch in her side.

“I went looking for you earlier, but Jack said you went into the city so I had to wait for you to get back.” She sighed, “Hawthorne’s been whining after you for a day. He was getting quite scary by the end.”

What was she talking about? Hawthorne clearly wasn’t here. I let myself scan the site more carefully now. My eyes fell back to the large white animal currently occupying Hawthorne’s stall. I could see it properly now that I wasn’t panicking. What I saw made my knees tremble and threaten to buckle.

“No!”

There he was, the size of a horse. He was bigger than I could ever have imagined. He would have been quite terrifying if it weren’t for the fact that he had a childish gleam of excitement in his shocking blue eyes.

I approached him slowly, carefully pacing my steps. Hawthorne whined impatiently. I stood in front of his stall now, his eyes level with mine. My hands shook as I reached out and gently stroked his soft, furry face.

“How have you grown so big, Hawthorne?” I whispered.

He simply answered by giving my face a big, sloppy lick from chin to hair-line. I wiped away the saliva with the sleeve of my uniform then smacked him playfully on the chest. I opened the stall door to get a better look at his body. His legs were long and muscular looking, and his paws had long sharp claws.

I sighed, “What are we going to do with you now? If anyone peeks in they’ll see you for sure!”

I put my face in my hands and groaned. Camryn came and stood next to me and gently patted my shoulder.

“Avalon, maybe we should think about letting him go.” She said softly.

I felt as though my heart would be wrenched from my chest at the very thought of losing Hawthorne, “No, no, no.” I moaned. I didn’t want him to leave.