Rosalie Oaks - The Golden Flute

The Golden Flute

In which carriage Travel is hazardous

L ord Beresfords crested carriage rumbled away from the London townhouse, the lamplight gleaming weakly through the window. Elinor arranged her skirts neatly and pulled the blinds down. For tonights little lesson in Musing they needed privacy.

Beresford was driving up front; they had decided that the coachman would think it odd to be directed to drive slowly and randomly through the streets of London. Beresford, becoming immune to his beloveds eccentricities, was happy to oblige. Besides, he was a very good driver, and they needed a steady hand for their experiment.

Elinor sat up straight and eager, glad that her mother had finally decided to share her knowledge of Musor magic rather than hide it. Of course, if the Avelys were to open a school for Musors, Mrs Avely would have to become accustomed to the role of teacher, and Elinor had to learn all she could.

Mrs Avely sat opposite Elinor, her hands primly clasped in her lap, already looking the part of teacher and instructor. Perry sat next to his mother, nibbling his lower lip. Aldreda, in bat form, hung from the roof, somehow conveying her scepticism by the angle of her wings.

Is this really necessary? asked Perry. Surely I wont have to Travel from a moving object very often.

One hopes not, agreed Mrs Avely. Yet it is best to be prepared for all eventualities, as we have seen.

Elinor nodded. And it will give me a chance to practise finding you, brother dear. After all, there was a good chance that Perry would get himself lost, with his newfound ability to Travel anywhere at the drop of a glove.

And I, too, said Mrs Avely. She unfolded a large map of London and spread it across her lap. Though finding lost items is not a branch of Discernment in which I excel.

You did it before, Elinor reminded her, though of course her mothers talent lay (unfortunately or otherwise) in Truth Discernment. Elinor peered at the map; it was difficult to see in the dim light of the carriage. Fortunately, map divination did not require one to see with the eyes, but with the mind.

Perry sighed. Very well. Can I go anywhere in London?

Not too far, warned his mother. You dont have a vampiri companion yet, and we dont want you too Bemused. And remember, it is better to wait at least ten minutes before you can Travel again, to ameliorate your Bemusement. Though I suppose if you find yourself in trouble you may vanish away again.

Ten minutes! said Perry. That is an age. He lurched to his feet as the carriage rumbled on, his back curved under the roof. Elinor was glad to see he was gaining more ease with his injured shoulder, for only a couple of weeks ago he had been knifed by a villain. Thankfully, a Healor had been on hand to help mend the wound, but it had been a deep injury. It had caused Elinor worry and guilt, for she was the reason Perry had Travelled into danger.

Be careful, she told him now.

Perry winked, then vanished.

Elinor rolled her eyes. She could guess where he had gone, even without a Discernment. Jaqs hotel was nearby and Perry would snatch at any chance to spend ten minutes in Jaqs company.

Her mother shifted the map so that it lay across both their laps. Are you ready, Elinor? We shall Discern together, though I imagine you will be more adept at it than I. Map divining is a subset of Discernment closer to jewel divining.

Obediently, Elinor closed her eyes and raised her hand. Trying to quieten her mind, she focused her attention on her fingers, gloved but cold, hovering above the map. Her breathing slowed and she reached with her other hand for the lapis lazuli pendant that hung on her bosom. She had not owned the Talisman Stone long (a thank-you gift from King George), but she had immediately found that the stone assisted her Discernment. She was already very fond of the deep-blue pendant with its slivers of gold.

Where is Perry? she asked, feeling with her inner senses.

An image came to her minds eye of her brother falling clumsily onto Jaq. She smiled, but wondered if her own ideas were intruding and waited for an unequivocal sense to guide her finger. She returned to the question, pushing away thoughts of Jaqs surprised face. Where is Perry?

There. Mrs Avely put her finger down before Elinor. However, her voice lacked its usual ring of authority.

Elinor squinted down and saw that her mother had landed on a corner of Hyde Park. Yet Mrs Avely withdrew her finger and bit her lip.

You are not certain, observed Elinor.

No, said Mrs Avely. Where would you suggest?

Elinor closed her eyes and stuck out her hand again. After a few moments, she dropped it, a finger pointing to Greniers Hotel. Jaqs quarters: a fashionable and extravagant residence that the Regent had recommended to him.

She sighed. Im not certain either.

Mrs Avely opened the shutter and told Beresford to drive to Greniers. Beresford laughed, Aldreda sniffed above them, and Elinor smiled in the darkness.

Mrs Avely turned to Elinor. What is so amusing?

Jaq is staying at Greniers.

Oh. Mrs Avely paused. Perry is very close to Jaq, isnt he?

Elinor did not want to inform her mother that Perry had captured the romantic interest of a selkie prince, as she was not sure how Mrs Avely would take the news. After all, such liaisons were harshly punished in England, and Perry and Jaq had to keep their courtship very discreet. Elinor was glad Perry was now a Travellor, for if he was ever discovered in a compromising situation, he could simply disappear into thin air.

Now she merely observed that Greniers Hotel was reasonably close and a wise choice, since Jaq was well accustomed to Perry appearing out of nowhere. It was a safe place to spend ten minutes in the privacy of a hotel room with extra delights such as holding hands with a gorgeous rascal, though Elinor did not mention that part.

Soon they reached the grand facade of Greniers, suitably elegant for a prince, though Elinor thought it was probably too far from the sea for a selkie who couldnt spend long out of water. She unlatched the window. It was time for Aldredas part: to fetch Perry.

Aldredas small black shape dropped from the roof and glided into the night. Elinor leaned out of the window, trying to follow her progress, but it was impossible in the darkness.

Beresford, keeping the horses reined in, turned his head to address her. My love, you ought to display a little more decorum, not stick your head out of the carriage like a hoyden. But his voice was warm. He smiled down at her, his thick chestnut hair crammed under a curly-brimmed beaver and his broad shoulders enclosed in a double-caped driving coat. Elinor stared at him with longing. She wished she could Travel into Beresfords room without anyone being the wiser. The wedding was still weeks away and he was being annoyingly protective of her virtue.