Frost Arch (26 page)

“Yes, sir.” I nodded in understanding, “Thank you.”

I was relieved that I had been dismissed from my fire duties for the morning, but how long would my Power be on strike? I’d never heard of someone completely losing their Power after having been through a bit of a shocking ordeal. When I was younger my mother had gotten a very bad cold and her Power had been weak during that time, but not once had she ever lost use of it completely. Then again, I thought to myself, I’m not really sick at all, am I?

I decided to spend my time in the stables ‘helping’ Camryn with her various chores. I fed the Pegasi their meat scraps gladly, and had Hawthorne follow me around happily, though I suspected he just wanted more food. I also wanted to station myself here for I could look out of the windows easily and see Jack when he would return.

At last after an hour of pretending to work, Hawthorne gave a yelp to announce the return of Jack. I ran to the window, and indeed saw his dark figure lumbering across the grounds.

I stepped out into the cold to meet him halfway. When I was a few meters away Jack waved and smiled.

“What are you doing out here?” He asked. Jack was carrying a box in his arms, presumably a package for Charles or someone in the manor.

“Is that a package? I thought they were supposed to be delivered to the door?” I pointed to it as we fell in step and began walking together.

“Nah. Packages have to be picked up from the shop itself; they usually deliver letters to the door though.”

“Or window.” I said remembering when Ræven had swooped in to deliver my letter.

“Actually that was really unusual behaviour.” Jack frowned slightly, “I’ve never seen them deliver letters personally like that. I mean … how did she know what room you were in to begin with?”

I frowned too, “I hadn’t thought about that.” I admitted.

“Yeah well, who cares?” Jack muttered. I thought perhaps he was still bitter about Ræven’s lack of interest in him. The thought made me smile.

“I wanted to ask you something.” I began slowly.

“Go for it.”

“Well,” I pursed my lips, “I tried lighting the fires this morning … but … nothing happened.” I finished lamely.

Jack raised an eyebrow at me, “Let’s get this straight. You’re temperature is normal, which means that it isn’t normal … for you.”

“Strangely enough I understood that.”

“You’ve been feeling cold, and this morning you couldn’t use your power at all?” He asked.

“Correct. What’s the verdict?”

Jack shrugged, “Beats me. I’ve never heard of people losing their powers. Maybe you just need to give it a few days. Don’t worry about it too much. I’ll help you with the fires until its back to normal.”

“Would you believe that I have no idea how to light a fire manually?” I laughed nervously.

Jack chortled, “Typical.”

I folded my arms, “Well I’ve never had to know how up until now!” I said defensively.

“It’s okay.” Jack smirked as we reached the back entrance, “Everything will be fine in a few days.”

But everything was not fine within a few days. A week passed and I still could not produce any fire. I was feeling sick with worry and fretted that Charles might fire me at any moment. Though I had a plan if he did. I would simply grab my things and ride Hawthorne out of Frost Arch. Perhaps I would go home. My plan ended the moment I would be air borne with him.

Jack continued to help me with the fires seeing as it took twice as long to get them all lit with the two of us. I had gotten the hang of lighting them manually after Jack had showed me a few times, but it was a slow process. Not only that but I fully appreciated the cold nature of the manor for the first time. The halls were chilly, and I was constantly shivering. I felt bad for dumping a load of my chores onto Jack. I could see the extra responsibilities were not agreeing with his schedule, but he didn’t complain once, and I gave him my thanks every day.

By the time the second week had passed I was really starting to panic. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. What if it never came back?

There had been a time when I would have gladly given up my hazardous Power, in exchange for anything less destructive. But now that I had gotten my wish and it had vanished completely, I wondered how I had ever lived without it. I found it highly ironic that I was never really content with myself or my life. Perhaps I was selfish, and I deserved this.

I voiced my feelings and fears to Jack, but he assured me that I was just being paranoid, and low self esteem was just getting the better of me. Even after being reassured every day I couldn’t help but feel fear bubbling away inside me.

“Avalon, I’m afraid it’s time for a trip into the city for me and you.” Charles said to me on the third week of my Power’s strike.

“The city?” I repeated anxiously.

“Yes. We need to give Lester Elwood a visit regarding these Power issues. You seem fit as a fiddle to me, so we’ll get him to have a look at you.”

I nodded, swallowing hard, “Sir, can Jack come too?”

Charles stared at me for a moment before rolling his eyes and agreeing half heartedly. I didn’t want to go to the Power-Seer alone with Charles. The trip would be most uncomfortable. Perhaps Lester would be able to give me some answers though. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought to see him sooner; he was the expert on Power.

“When will we be going?”

“Tomorrow morning. Don’t worry about the fires. You and Jack will meet me in my office at seven.”

I heaved an internal sigh of relief. No manually lighting fires for me tomorrow morning.

The next morning Jack and I were arguing as we walked slowly to Charles’ office.

“I don’t want to say goodbye to him.” I huffed.

“We can’t keep him forever, Redding.”

“We can’t just let him loose, you know he won’t leave.”

“He can fly now; he can go where ever he wants.” Jack hissed under his breath.

“In case you don’t remember, Greenwood-” I snarled his last name, “He can’t fly anywhere without me.”

Jack muttered something under his breath, but fell silent. I was rather sure I had won this argument. After all, our plans on saying goodbye to Hawthorne once he could fly had been thrown out of the window seeing as he needed me riding with him in order to become air born.

I noticed that Jack had a bag slung over his shoulder, and it looked quite heavy.

“Anyway, what’s in the bag?” I wondered.

“Ah, just something I need to take care of once we’re finished at the Power Seer.”

We knocked upon Charles’ office door and it was wrenched open immediately. Charles stood before us, quite rugged up in several layers of clothes.

“Uh.” I frowned and looked the squat man up and down once before decided that I had best keep my mouth shut.

Jack smirked when Charles’ wasn’t looking and we followed him from the manor and onto the grounds. It appeared that Charles hated the cold more than I did. I found this very strange indeed. His teeth chattered, and he shook violently, complaining all the way across the lawns about the weather.

“Sir,” I began, “If you hate the snow and cold so much, why did you move to a place where it’s cold all year round?”

Charles frowned and I noticed Jack give me a warning look, “I didn’t move here, I’ve lived here all my life.”

I deliberated for a moment, “No, but you told me you used to live … where was it again?” I couldn’t recall, “On my first day here, when you showed me you’re Power, you told me how you used to have beautiful gardens. Surely that wasn’t here.”

Charles grumbled something but I didn’t quite catch it. Jack however was giving me secret signals to shut up. Finally, I remembered the name Charles had told me.

“Phoenix Arch.” I recalled, “That’s where you told me you were from.”

Jack rolled his eyes in defeat and gave up.

“I did indeed say that.” Charles nodded, “I’m surprised you remembered.”

“I tend to remember unimportant little things.”

“It’s best you forget about it.” He waved it aside.

“Why?” I pressed.

“It’s not important.”

“Where’s Phoenix Arch?” I asked.

“It’s, um. Well, that is to say-”

“They have a map of England in the Messenger Service shop.” I recalled as we stepped onto the main street.

“Ah, I’m sure it won’t show it.” Charles sounded annoyed now.

“Why not?”

“Avalon.” Jack hissed and elbowed me in the rib.

I winced, “All right. I was just curious.” I grumbled and followed them in silence the rest of the way.

As we walked through the city streets towards the Power-Seer I spotted Ræven the messenger girl dressed in a large black cloak with the hood pulled up for protection against the wind and cold. She looked different somehow, and I came to the conclusion that she had several layers of makeup on. Her lips were blood red, and her skin seemed to glitter. I stared at her as I walk past, and her eyes slid to me. She stared. Usually when you get caught staring at someone, it is polite to look away and pretend to look at something else in your embarrassment. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes from her. She watched me in silent curiosity until we passed her completely and the only way I could continue staring was if I turned around and watched her walk down the street.

Jack seemed to have noticed for he muttered into my ear when Charles wasn’t paying attention, “Do you think what Camryn said about her is true?”

I racked my brain but remembered a lot of things that had been said about Ræven and her unusual attitude.

“You mean the fact that she isn’t interested in you?” I whispered back, a small smile playing my lips.

Jack glared at my amusement, “How do you know she’s not?” He demanded, “She never speaks to anyone.”

“Usually when a girl likes a boy, they find ways of showing it.” I tried to suppress my grin. It was quite funny how proud Jack could be. He had quite an ego when it came to girls.

“She must swing your way then.” Jack concluded, stuffing his hands in his pockets, his tone dripping with implications.

“Jack.” I hissed, “You can’t assume that a woman harbours same sex tendencies, just because she isn’t interested in you.”

“Then why does she always stare at you?” Jack scoffed.

I sighed. Males, I thought irritably.

“Anyway,” I tried to change the subject, “Wouldn’t she be a little young for you anyway?”

Jack shrugged, “Only four years difference.” He muttered.

I nudged him playfully, “Don’t worry. Plenty of fish in the sea, eh?”

Jack smiled, “Oh, I’m not worried about that.”

“Then what are you worried about?”

“Well it wouldn’t be fair would it?” He waved a hand behind us, indicating the way Ræven had disappeared.

“What wouldn’t?”

“If the two best looking girls I knew ended up, well, you know.” He insinuated.

“Who are we talking about again?”

“You and Ræven.” He said incredulously.

I felt myself turn pink, “You think I’m good looking?” I was genuinely shocked.

Jack rolled his eyes and picked up the pace. I hadn’t noticed that we were falling behind Charles.

Skipping to his side again I repeated my earlier question.

“You’ve got to be the most modest person I’ve ever met.” Jack shook his head.

I grinned sheepishly the whole way to the Power Seer, rather pleased with myself.

Once we were inside the Power Seer headquarters I looked around at the familiar entrance hall. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I had been here. The figure of Edmund the butler led us into the entrance hall. He was very polite and asked how we all were. When he asked me, however I thought back to why I was here, and what had caused this visit. Noah and my Power. Shock seemed to flit across Edmunds face, and I recalled his mind-reading abilities. However, I answered his question with a generic ‘fine thank you’ and bowed my head. It was quite clear that Edmund already knew everything from my thoughts.

I was sure to keep my mind upon innocent things as we crossed the threshold towards Lester Elwood’s office. I smiled nervously at Edmund as we entered through the door and left him in the Entrance hall.

“Mister Elwood.” Charles stepped towards Lester who was behind his desk. The same as last time, countless candles sat upon long tables. The candles were so burned down that there was a thick layer of wax upon the surfaces of the tables.

“Is that you Charles?” Lester said in his wizened voice.

“Ah, you’re hearing is as good as ever.” Charles shook Lester’s hand as Jack and I approached his desk also.

“Who have you brought with you?” Lester asked, hearing our footsteps.

“Jack Greenwood and Avalon Redding.”

“Oh, yes. The Healer and the Fire Starter.” Lester recalled, “How are you finding Frost Arch, Miss Redding?” Lester directed at me. Although he was blind, it seemed he was looking at the exact spot I was standing.

“Oh, fine. Thank you.”