Modern Magick

Toil and Trouble: 18

One brow went up. 'Bill?'

'The book. We call him Bill.'

He inclined his head, as though this declaration made perfect sense. 'Bill will have the best care, naturally. I've hopes that our bookbinders can patch him up a bit, and he'll be safe from your friends at Ancestria Magicka.'

I shrugged at that, and set down my empty cup. 'I doubt they will care about him much longer. They've had time enough to study all his workings, and will probably produce replicas soon enough.'

'And will the Society, also?'

'I have reason to believe that Milady cleared Orlando's agenda entirely in favour of the project.'

He nodded, studying my face. 'You're sad about something.'

'I am sorry for the loss of Bill. He's the most charming book I ever met.' My leave-taking from Bill the night before had been a little painful; he had not been delighted to be separated from me either, though his vanity could not but be pleased at the prospect of becoming a prized treasure of the Troll Court. I'd heard unpromising reports of the puppy, too; Miranda could only confirm that she was still breathing, and wouldn't hazard more.

'The most charming troll you've ever met is still waiting to take you out,' said the Baron, and gave me a hopeful smile.

I couldn't help perking up a bit at that. 'How obliging of him.'

'Just say the word.' He got up, and made me a graceful bow. 'I'd love to stay, but I need to get the book back to the Court. I have an escort and everything.'

'Six ruthless bodyguards?' I peeked behind him, as though there might be a team of dreamily muscle-bound trolls waiting by the door.

'Something like that.' He winked, and gave me a tiny salute. 'Call me.'

I promised.

On his way out, he passed Jay and Indira just coming in. I was intrigued to note that none of them seemed a bit surprised to see one another. 'Good timing,' said Alban with a smile, and then he was gone.

I raised my brows at Jay, but he ignored my silent question and flopped into a chair without speaking.

I looked at Indira, who was taking a seat with more care and more grace, keeping her injured arm well away from the table. 'What was that about?' I asked.

Indira looked guiltily at Jay, and said nothing.

Jay smiled at her. 'Well, go on.'

She glanced at me, and looked quickly away again. Carefully, she bent to retrieve a soft cloth bag from the floor by her feet; I hadn't noticed her carrying it when she came in. She placed this on the table before me, and sat back.

I waited for some explanation, but nothing came. 'I'm to open the bag?'

Indira nodded.

Mystified, I peeped inside. A book lay at the bottom. It was of an ancient style (thick leather covers, vellum pages, heavy silver hinges) but it looked pristine and new. Extracting it with care, I discovered that the covers were tinted dark purple, and the front was embossed with a twelve-pointed star. It weighed less than it looked like it should.

'A book!' I said, not at all enlightened.

'Open it,' said Jay.

I obeyed.

'Madam,' said the book. 'You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.'

'Perfect,' whispered Jay, and the book gave a rather smug rustle of its pages.

'Bill?' I choked. 'But— but the Baron just took him!'

'Bill the Second,' said Jay. 'Indira's been working on it ever since we left.'

'Well, Orlando has,' said Indira, hastily disclaiming. 'I've just been, um, helping.'

Jay shook his head slightly. 'More than that. You can't deny this is mostly your own work.'

Indira looked like she wanted very much to deny it, but couldn't truthfully do so.

'That's extremely clever of you,' I said, with total sincerity. I couldn't imagine the depth of skill required to produce such a grimoire; my talents definitely don't lie in that direction. I stroked Bill the Second's covers with faint regret (all right, more than faint), and handed him back to Indira.

She did not take him. Instead, she gave me a stricken look. 'Um, don't you want him?'

'Wha... he's for me?'

Indira nodded furiously.

'Am I... am I allowed?'

Indira nodded again. 'This is a, um, prototype. Orlando's working on the finished design and, well, this one's spare. Milady said it was all right.'

Jay's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he said nothing.

I was only too glad to gather Bill Two back into my arms and give him a tight hug. 'Thank you,' I said, beaming. 'It will be my honour to work with him.'

Indira smiled back, visibly relieved. 'I'm glad you like him,' she said, already getting out of her chair.

'Won't you have some tea?' I offered, but she was in full retreat by then, and only shook her head as she vanished out the door.

I looked at Jay, and waited.

'She made him especially for you,' he said. 'Stayed up most of the night to finish him, too.'

'Um,' I said. 'Why?'

He shrugged. 'Might be that she's savvy enough to cultivate connections amongst those who are popular at Home. Or... maybe she just likes you.'

'Likes me,' I repeated numbly. 'Right.' Indira was always polite, but she still gave me the impression that she was petrified of me.

I decided that the Patels in general were a hard-to-read bunch.

Before Jay could decide upon a reply, there came the sound of tiny claws clicking against the hard floor, and the yellow dappledok puppy came creeping around the door. Her ears were down, her tail drooped and she trudged wearily in my direction as though the distance between us were almost insurmountable.

But she was alive!

'Puppy!' I blurted, overjoyed. 'Come here!'

The moment she came within reach of the table, Jay bent to scoop her up, and handed her to me. I put her in my lap, whereupon she crawled, shivering, inside my cardigan and disappeared.

I tucked the folds of my clothes around her and sat, smiling like an idiot, until Miranda inevitably appeared. 'Ves!' she said, slightly out of breath. 'Don't hate me, but I think I've lost the puppy.'

I merely pulled aside my cardigan, displaying the ball of yellow fur. 'Winnie the Unipup is fine.'

Miranda sagged against the doorframe in relief, though she looked annoyed, too. 'Look, she shouldn't be taken out of care just now at all, but at the very least you need to tell me.'

'I didn't take her! She showed up at the door about four minutes ago.'

Miranda blinked. 'She found her way up here?'

'I swear. Jay, back me up.'

'Every word of Ves's is the truth,' he dutifully declared.

Miranda sighed. 'Fine. Bring her back down once an hour for milk, okay?'

I tucked my cardigan back over my unipup once more, and beamed at Miranda. 'Got it, boss.'

P9