"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Jenny asked.
Once back in the Old City, she and Miranda had taken the bus out to Stoneridge House in the Windenburg hills. It wasn't as big as the Elderberry's sprawling estate on Crumbling Isle, but there was an air of antique majesty about the house. Jenny couldn't help feeling a little intimidated, especially now that she knew Baron Charm, on top of being a wealthy and powerful nobleman, was a witch.
"I mean, I've been thrown out of a few places before," Jenny continued. "Believe me, the bouncers always remember you."
"It's not a nightclub, Jenny, and he's a butler, not a bouncer," Miranda smiled easily. "Trust we, I can get us in. That's the easy part."
"Is my outfit OK?" Jenny asked, rocking to a halt. "I mean... I decided I wanted something that looked professional but also a little boob forward... but not too boob forward. It's too boob forward, isn't it? Or maybe it's not boob forward enough? Do you think we have time to go back to Genie's so I could try another outfit?"
"You look fine," Miranda said soothingly. "Just like your first two outfits looked fine. Baron Charm's not an ogre, Jenny. He's a witch, just like me. He's not going to eat you. So just take a breath, OK."
"Sorry, I know I don't usually freak out like this but... " Jenny sighed. "I've just never really dealt with, like, a lot of aristos or... what did you call him... old witches? The whole aristo old witches thing is kind freaking me."
"Witches of the Old Blood. Basically, yeah, aristo witches," Miranda replied. "You'll do fine. Just... if he offers you anything to eat or drink, accept graciously, but don't say 'thank you.'"
"Ummm, about that, you know I've had this thing with like booze and... you know... substances," Jenny said. Three years clean and sober, she reminded herself.
"Don't worry, I've got your back," Miranda said gently. "Also, don't make any promises or offer him anything."
"Right," Jenny nodded. It's like a role, she thought. These are just the director's notes. I've had weirder director's notes. "OK, so... what do you need doing? Am I being flirty? Distracting? Are my boobs OK?"
"Your boobs are fine," Miranda chuckled. "But really, I think curious would be better than flirty. You're mortal but you know about us. Witches, I mean. At the same time, you don't know a lot about our world. Ask questions and we'll see where his answers take us."
"Can I help you?" The same pale-skinned, red-haired, weird-looking butler as the last time answered the door with the same tone of voice. One which suggested the very last thing he wanted to do was to help anyone. His sharp green eyes narrowed in recognition at Jenny, but before he could open his mouth to say anything else, Miranda spoke up.
"I am Miranda, daughter of Cassandra, of House Silveroak," she said in a ringing voice. "I request an audience with Darrel, son of Augustus, of House Charm."
Jenny couldn't help grinning. She could hear the echoes of Miranda's community theater days in her voice.
Still, the butler seemed to buy it. His entire manner changed instantly, and he made a deeply respectful bow. "Lady Silveroak. Stoneridge House is greatly honored by the presence of a Guardian of Glimmerbrook Watch."
"I am Cole," the butler said smoothly. "If you and your... companion... would follow me."
"Of course," Miranda nodded politely.
Jenny could see her friend's suppressed grin and bit back a laugh as they followed Mr. Snooty Cole into an impressive looking room, complete with fancy bookshelves, stately portraits that reminded Jenny of the Elderberry's, and antique but comfortable-looking couches.
"I will inform Baron Charm of your arrival," Cole said. "Please wait here."
Miranda nodded her agreement, leaving Jenny wondering about the whole "don't say thank you" thing.
"OK, I have so many questions already," Jenny said as they took a seat on one of the couches, which she was pleased to see were even more comfortable than they looked.
Miranda grinned. "Go on then."
"OK, first, House Silveroak? Guardian? What's all that about?" Jenny said.
"Silveroak is Gwen's family," Miranda said. Even knowing she was a witch, Jenny always just thought of Miranda's other mother as someone who was nice and a little out of it, like most artists.
"In the mortal world, the Goth name is big, between mom's fame and the old family money," Miranda continued. "Among witches, those don't mean much, and it's Gwen's name that's a really big deal. House Silveroak is one of the Old Families and Gwen's uncle Simeon is on the Council. As for the whole Guardian thing, it's... complicated and also tied up with Gwen's family. It's usually just terrifying, honestly, but it's also a really big deal to people like the Charms."
"OK, second, what's with Snooty McSnootyPants's ears?" Jenny said. "He looks like an extra in the Lord of the Rings."
"He's alfar," Miranda said. At Jenny's blank look, she added, "He's... well yeah, kind of an elf. Elf-blooded anyway. The alfar... the elves... were the first witches. They had children with mortals and, after generations, you get witches like me, who are mostly mortal... but some witches, especially the older Glimmerbrook families, still have enough alfar blood for it to show."
"So, there are elves? Like real Lord of the Rings style elves?" Jenny blinked. Ghosts, witches, werewolves, vampires, aliens and now elves? No matter how much she pretended to be cool about it all, it was a lot to take in. What's next, she wondered, mermaids in Sulani?
"Not many," Miranda said, "and most of the alfar have at least some mortal blood. There are only a few of the High Alfar left who don't. Gwen is one. You're about to meet another."
A door in the opposite wall swung open, and Cole stepped through looking, if anything, even more snooty than before.
"Darrel, son of Augustus, Baron of House Charm, Lord of Stoneridge," the butler announced formally as he bowed once again.
The man who followed him into the sitting room was, Jenny thought, kind of cute. He was younger than she'd expected, until she remember that the other witches she knew - Miranda's moms Cassie and Gwen - both looked a lot younger than they actually were. His long, dark hair covered the tips of his ears, effectively hiding any supposed high elf heritage. He looked a little uncomfortable in his formal, old-fashioned suit, and Jenny found herself imagining him looking better in jeans and a hoodie.
"Lady Miranda," Baron Charm said in a rich, cultured voice. "Welcome to Stoneridge House."
"Lord Charm, allow me to introduce my companion, Jenny Poole," Miranda said. "I hope you will forgive our intrusion. I only recently learned what happened to Shannon and..."
"It is no intrusion," Charm said easily as he took a seat opposite them. "I know Shannon considered you a friend. She would be pleased you came. Cole, bring something for our guests. Some of the Tartosan summer wine, perhaps."
Jenny flinched, remembering the crisp floral taste of summer wine. Three years, clean and sober, she thought, fighting the sudden longing.
"Actually, Lord Charm, do you have any fresh spring water," Miranda said smoothly. "I've been in the mortal world a long time and I miss it."
"Of course, from the headwaters of the Glimmer itself," Charm smiled. "Cole?"
"At once, my lord," the butler nodded.
"Shannon often said you inspired her," Lord Charm said a short while later.
Glimmerbrook spring water was amazing, Jenny thought. Almost enough to make her forget about summer wine.
"I... I can't imagine how," Miranda stammered in response. "We were friends at the Academy in Glimmerbrook, yes, but... inspired?"
"Your stories of the mortal world," Lord Charm replied. "Even the... unfortunate incident." A nice way to describe getting kidnapped, Jenny thought. "The way you were involved with the outside world. It was all inspiring to her."
"Was Shannon not involved in the real world? I mean our world, the... mortal... world?" Jenny asked.
"Not as a child," Lord Charm said. "My mother wouldn't allow it. She was determined that Shannon be raised in the strictest propriety, as a daughter of the Old Families. Perhaps she hoped everyone would forget the scandal."
"Scandal? I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry," Jenny added hastily.
"Emilia, my wife, was one of the Ascended," Lord Charm said.
"A mortal with enough magic in her blood that it could be awakened with the proper rituals," Miranda explained. "It's called Ascension. It's rare but it happens sometimes."
"Among the more... let us say more traditional... members of our community, it is frowned upon," Lord Charm said. "An Ascended witch is considered little more than a mortal who has gotten above her proper station. I was, at the time, the son and heir of one of the most respected of the Old Families... Well, dalliances with mortals are expected, even encouraged... but to marry one. Oh yes, it was a great scandal.
"But I loved Emilia and I would not be swayed," he continued, gesturing at the family portrait behind them. "So we married and we had a child, Shannon, but shortly before she was born, my father was taken from us. I was required to assume his duties as Baron. I offered to bring Emilia and Shannon here to Stoneridge House, but my mother insisted Shannon be raised among our own people. Sadly, in Glimmerbrook, Emilia could not escape the whispers and the snide looks. She was always so determined to prove herself. I believe that is what led her to the experiments and ultimately to the accident that took her from us. Shannon was only a child."
"I'm so sorry," Jenny said sincerely.
"Forgive me, Ms. Poole, but you can scarcely imagine it," Lord Charm sighed. "We are immortals. My father, whose portraits hang throughout this house, led our family from the Dark Ages through to the modern era, and should be leading it still. I myself have lived longer than this Republic has existed. I should have had centuries with my wife. Centuries to watch my daughter grow into the great woman I know she could have been.
"Instead, they have been taken from me," he sighed. "Emilia, lost to the arrogance of my own people. My father and Shannon, lost to the savagery of the Dark Court."
"You believe the Dark Court killed Shannon?" Miranda asked carefully.
"Can you, of all of us, doubt it?" Lord Charm said, suddenly fierce as a blazing fire. Jenny thought she could actually feel the heat of his anger rolling across the room. "When the Dark Court has twice in a mere quarter-century committed bloody slaughter against House Silveroak. When they have struck at you, personally, even more times than that! All while the Witches' Council stands idle, calling it a private feud between House Silveroak and House Straud. Cowardice!
"Now they have struck at my House again. They have dared to take my daughter from me!" His voice was like trumpets and a driving martial drumbeat. "It will not stand. My agents are already hunting for the proof of it, and when they find it, I will address the Council. And they... they will ignore it. They will make excuses. They will plead for peace... but they will not have it! House Charm will stand with House Silveroak. The minor Houses, the scions of Lost Families, the Ascended... all those the Council and the Old Families look down upon... will rally to our banners. We will have our vengeance on the Dark Court and their murderous agents."
Jenny quivered.
For a moment, she was ready to leap to her feet and follow him. She imagined herself marching into some glorious, epic battle alongside Baron Charm. In that instant, she would have done anything he asked and done it gladly. Her next breath shocked her back to clarity. When she'd come here, she'd been nervous to meet the magical Baron Charm of the Old Families. When she had actually met Darrel Charm, she thought he was cute, sweet and a little sad. Now, she was terrified... not just of what he wanted to do, but of the undeniable fact that Darrel, son of Augustus, Baron of House Charm, Witch of the Old Blood, might actually be able to do it.
"We're also looking for the truth of what happened to Shannon," Miranda said, her voice like the soft whisper of violins after Charm's drumbeat, soothing but somehow no less compelling. "I hope that with that truth, we can give Shannon the justice she deserves."
"I pray the Goddess brings good fortune to us both then," Lord Charm said, visibly calmed. "But, I must warn you... be careful who you trust in your search. For some years, I did not know the truth of how my father died, but I eventually learned the name of the Dark Court agent who murdered him.
"That name is Villareal."
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