The Serpent in the Glass (The Tale of Thomas Farrell) (21 page)

‘The Old Blood?’ Jessica asked.

Trevelyan swirled the liquid around in his goblet. ‘Yes, there are some in your world who still have the blood of Avallach in their veins. As I told you before, our worlds weren’t always separate. Even after they became so, many Way Gates allowed those from one world to cross into the other. People met, got married, had children. Their descendants are what we call the Halfkin, although true Halfkin haven’t been known for centuries now.’

Merideah tapped her chin. ‘Are you saying that the Family History Club are Halfkin?’

‘I think all the Manor students are,’ Thomas said.

Everyone looked at him, including Mr Trevelyan who seemed to have a twinkle in his eye. ‘Yes, Thomas, though we must except Miss Westhrop, here.’ He turned to Jessica. ‘Though, of course, we’re very honoured to have a representative of your world among us.’

Jessica smiled and showed her braces.

Trevelyan put down his lemon-and-gooseberry drink. ‘We try to make sure all the students we take on are strong-blooded Halfkin, but most reject this heritage and pass from the Manor unaware of who they really are. The blood of Men, and that world, is stronger in them.’

Treice seemed a little shocked. ‘You mean we’re not ... I’m not ... fully human?’

Trevelyan grinned. ‘It makes little difference whether you are or not, if you choose not to believe it. But time will tell. He often does.’

The idea that the blood of a people who once dwelt in Avallach flowed through his veins didn’t faze Thomas, but from the look of their expressions, the others in the room seemed to share Treice’s concern. Thomas had always felt a little different to everyone else. This gave him a reason for those feelings. Indeed, he felt the idea more settling than disturbing, as if an unanswered and long-standing question had finally been answered in his life.

Trevelyan continued. ‘Most of the club members return to Avallach once their education at the Manor is complete. Some never return to your world — those few without family usually. Hence the apparent disappearances.’

Jessica nodded. ‘Gallowglas said he’d injured someone.’

Trevelyan clasped his hands together. ‘Master Gallowglas is a combat trainer. A very good one. Sometimes there are accidents.’

‘Combat training?’ Merideah cocked her head as if she’d not heard correctly.

Trevelyan nodded. ‘Yes, the Academy isn’t just classrooms and books. We teach a lot of physical skills too, and combat training’s the central part of life here at the Academy.’

Merideah seemed to relax a little on hearing this. ‘Does that include archery?’

The High Cap picked up his goblet. ‘Indeed it does, though I must say I’m a terrible shot myself.’

Penders’ eyed another biscuit and picked it up, but before he put it to his mouth he looked at Mr Trevelyan. ‘Sir, the disappearing walls, this food and drink, the web windows —’

‘Web glass,’ Trevelyan corrected.

‘Yeah, web glass. Sorry. Well, I mean how does it all work? Is it magic?’

‘Magic,’ Trevelyan said with a curious light in his eyes as Penders stuffed the biscuit in his mouth. ‘Well, that’s a very human way of looking at it. Let us for now just say there are certain things that exist here that don’t exist in the world of Men, certain things that work one way here and another way in your world. We call it the Old Power.’

Thomas certainly thought there was some truth to that. After all, Mr Trevelyan could make chocolate biscuits appear from nowhere, but Penders could make them disappear almost as quickly, and he didn’t even need a magic bell.

Trevelyan folded his arms, reconsidered, and then put his arms on the desk, hands together. ‘Now, I’ve some good news for you all, or at least I hope you’ll think it good news. I’ve spoken with my colleagues and we’d like to extend the offer to all five of you, from the Feast of Fires onward, to attend the Academy every week.’

Jessica almost bounced off her seat. ‘Oh, that would be wonderful!’ The rest of the children agreed enthusiastically.

‘When exactly is this Feast of Fires?’ Merideah inquired, the only one remaining cool-headed enough to ask.

Mr Trevelyan raised his eyebrows. ‘Ah, yes. I forgot! You call it Hallowe’en in your world.’

‘Hallowe’en? That’s just a couple of weeks away!’ said Penders.

‘Yes, indeed,’ the High Cap began. ‘However, the offer would be restricted to just one lesson per week, so as not to deprive you of your normal schooling or valuable homework time.’

The children nodded, though Penders looked a bit disappointed.

‘Well, from the look on your faces I assume you all accept this offer?’ Trevelyan asked.

Everyone, including Penders, said they did.

‘That’s splendid. However, there are some very strict rules for your safety here. I must ask that you especially not stray outside the grounds of the Academy. That’s the Hall, the two wings, the towers and the gardens. Is that clear?’

The children nodded as one.

‘Does this mean we get to join the Family History Club? You know, as a sort of cover?’ Penders asked.

Trevelyan nodded and then smiled. ‘It’s a rather good subject for a cover, isn’t it? No one has ever asked to join the Club, so we can always control who has membership!’ The High Cap suddenly looked a little more serious. ‘However, it’s not entirely a ruse, you know. You saw what was in 2B I assume? Well, genealogy helps us find those in your world who have the blood of Avallach in them. But, as to your question, yes, Mr Penderghast, you’ll be junior members of the club. We’ll speak of the details at the Feast.’

Trevelyan stood up and cast a wary eye at a large grandfather clock set against one of the walls. ‘Oh dear, I’ve taken too long. I’m sorry.’

‘Sorry for — ’ Jessica’s words were cut off as the hands of the clock swung to one o’clock and an almighty bong sounded so loudly that the glass in the room reverberated and everyone — Trevelyan included — put their hands to their ears.

‘I must get that sorted,’ Trevelyan said once the after-tremors had died away. ‘I never come in here between five and twelve for obvious reasons. Anyway, we best get you back to the Manor or you’ll miss lunch, and I’m sure you wouldn’t like that would you, Mr Penderghast?’

Penders shook his head. ‘Certainly not, Headmaster — I mean High Cap, but I’m concerned that we won’t be back in time for us to have seconds.’

Merideah and Jessica gave Penders a shocked look. They never took seconds.

Trevelyan chuckled. ‘Well, ‘blige me! We can’t have that. We shall have to take a more direct method in our return. Thomas, could you move a little closer.’

Thomas did as he was told and moved himself a couple of feet nearer to the desk.

‘Good, you should be clear of any danger now,’ the High Cap said, as he stood up. ‘Lift to High Cap’s Study!’

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a lift ‘landed’ in the corner of the room behind Thomas. It stood entirely free of the walls, where any normal lift would’ve been located, and appeared to have no cables, pulleys or other attachments that one would expect to see fixed to a lift. The ceiling above it remained quite intact, as did the floor below it — though several unlucky books stuck out from the edges, dented and squashed by the impact. The lift’s wooden doors parted silently.

Mr Trevelyan walked calmly into the strange box. ‘Well, get in!’

‘What
is
this?’ Merideah asked, as they all crowded into the contraption.

‘An idea of mine based on some inspiration from your own world after visiting a department store. I call it the Anywhere Lift. It will take you anywhere within the Academy,’ Mr Trevelyan explained as the doors closed. ‘Though cadets may only use it with the approval and in the company of an adult.’

‘Cadets?’ Merideah asked.

Trevelyan looked about as if to ensure everyone was present. ‘Yes, it’s what we call students here.’

Thomas studied the inside of the lift. There were no buttons on the wall, only a sign that read:
PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY.
Underneath those words, a list of what looked like places appeared on the sign. Thomas saw
High Cap’s Study
listed as well as
The Library, Hall of Arghadmon, The Greensward
— whatever that was — and even
Stables
, but he didn’t have time to read the rest of the list before Trevelyan spoke again.

‘OK, hold tight everyone. Lift to gardens!’

Suddenly Thomas felt as if they’d been catapulted into the air, but it didn’t last long. After about three seconds the lift came to a sudden stop with a brutal lurch, causing Penders to hit his head on the wooden wall, and Treice to fall against Merideah; a fall from which he recovered with amazing speed. Merideah, uncharacteristically, remained quite silent about the matter.

Trevelyan’s face looked a little flushed. ‘My apologies, I haven’t been able to track down the reason why it does that yet. To be honest, I don’t like to use it too often, and never after a meal.’

The doors opened and the children found themselves back in the Gardens of Arghadmon again. Thomas noticed they were next to the fountain, and that the lift occupied the area of ground with the painted yellow square he’d seen earlier.

The thin-faced Stanwell Clear waited for them in the driver’s seat of the Darkledun carriage, apparently unconcerned that a lift had just landed outside, in a garden, and only a few yards away from him. The black mares that pulled the carriage seemed only mildly interested at the sudden appearance of the lift and children.

‘I need to attend to some things here.’ Trevelyan stopped as he reached the doors. ‘Mr Clear will take you back. Don’t forget to keep what you’ve learned to yourselves! Oh, and remember never to stand in landing zones!’

And with a wave he stepped back into the Anywhere Lift, the doors closed and it shot up into the air so fast that it was gone in a blink.

‘Striking!’ was all Treice could say. The rest stood there with open mouths.

‘Ey!’ came Stanwell’s familiar voice. ‘Do you be standin’ there gapin’ while your dinner’s soon for servin’?’

That broke Penders out of his awe, and he headed toward the carriage followed somewhat more slowly by Thomas and the others.

The Caretaker adjusted his three-cornered hat. ‘Two of you can sit up ’ere with ol’ Stanwell if you like, but you do be needin’ to ’old tight, or else you do be goin’ straight under the wheels and that’d be a right shame!’

The two girls didn’t even entertain the idea and went straight into the first coach. Thomas and Penders looked at each other excitedly before climbing up to sit next to Stanwell. Treice paused for a moment, looking toward Thomas and Penders, and then back to the coach as if struggling with some major decision in his life. Finally, he ducked into the second coach and thus avoided both the fate of Stanwell’s wheels and that of being alone with the girls.

‘Hello Mr Farrell and Mr Plundervast, glad you could join me and the ‘orses! Now ‘old tight!’ Stanwell said.

‘It’s Penderghast,’ Penders corrected.

‘Oh, right you be, yes!’ Stanwell said, sounding not at all convinced, as he flicked the reins and goaded the six horses forward out of the gardens. It wasn’t long before they passed the turning that led to the buildings Thomas had seen from atop the East Tower.

‘Stanwell?’ Thomas asked as they flew by a small copse of trees on their right.

‘Yes, Thomas?’ Stanwell didn’t turn.

‘What are those buildings by the lake?’

Stanwell smiled. ‘Ah, that be Darkledun Village. They do be sellin’ some fine potatoes in there little ol’ market.’

Thomas nodded. ‘And the name of the lake?’

‘That’s Darkledun Lake,’ Stanwell replied.

‘Makes sense,’ Penders muttered.

‘And the river?’ Thomas asked as they crossed the stone bridge.

‘The Darkledun River?’ Penders offered.

‘Oh no, Mr Fenderblast, that do be the Darkledithy. Runs all the way from the lake to the north road, and then into — into the wood.’ Stanwell nodded his head toward the large forest Thomas had seen on the way in.

Penders ignored Stanwell getting his name wrong yet again. He’d obviously given up trying to correct him.

‘It’s very big!’ Thomas said, as the carriage thundered past the wooded mass. The forest, by Thomas’s reckoning, covered about a quarter of the entire Grange, though it was hard to judge with the walls being invisible.

Stanwell lowered his voice. ‘Yes, that be Muddlestump Wood.’

‘It’s beautiful to look at,’ Jessica said. Thomas looked back and saw Jessica and Merideah’s head sticking through the hole in the top of the first coach.

‘Yes, Miss Westhrop,’ Stanwell said. ‘But I wouldn’t be doing any more than lookin’.’

‘Why?’ Merideah asked.

‘Anyone who goes into Muddlestump Wood never comes out again. That’s why it’s avoided. No one comes near ‘ere, except the carriage and the Suits that is,’ explained Stanwell.

‘Suits?’ Penders asked.

Stanwell nodded. ‘Aye, it do be what the cadets call the Darkledun Guards. Though we ‘ave lost a few to Muddlestump o’er the years. They get a bit confused sometimes and wander off the road.’ The Caretaker’s voice was still low, but Thomas couldn’t think why. There was no one to overhear them out here.

‘And they never came out again?’ Penders gulped.

‘That’s right,’ Stanwell confirmed. ‘The do never come out!’

‘Are there wild beasts in it, like wolves and bears?’ Jessica asked.

Stanwell frowned. ‘I daresay there might be. Some say it’s the lair of many strange creatures. I’ve not been in it, no one’s been in it, else they wouldn’t be out of it, if you do be seein’ what I mean.’

‘Well,’ Merideah began, ‘if that’s the case, no one can really know anything about what’s in it then.’

Stanwell’s eyes narrowed in thought. ‘Hmm — I guess that do be makin’ sense. But I’ll tell you this much, there were more things in the Grange when I was first ’ere than do now be found; and many reckon those things wandered into Muddlestump Wood. Good job too!’

Suddenly the Inner Gate blurred into focus up ahead, though the wall remained stubbornly unseen. Thomas briefly thought that maybe the wall had some sort of projection or screen on its inner surface that made it look like an unending landscape, but he couldn’t see how that was possible. Perhaps it
was
magic. As they drew closer several Darkledun Guards with the Roman numeral
V
on their flat helms had appeared, apparently guarding the Gate.