When she came back, Farran was still standing where she’d left him. The aunts had been apparently conversing with him about his general background, his family, and one of his previous visits to Vivian’s family estate.
Aunt Mera picked up as if there had been no interruption. “Now. Where was the artefact, in detail?”
Beside her, Farran cleared his throat. “May I speak, Kyria?” Aunt Mera nodded once.
“First, may Vega have a seat? It has been an exceedingly long day for her. She came straight from her performance last night, without any pause or rest.” Vega had at least managed food and a restorative potion, but she was indeed tired and her feet were complaining. Someone behind her brought over a chair, one ofthe reasonably comfortable wooden ones, and Vega thankfully sat down. Farran took up a spot still behind her to the right. Now, though, he stood with his hand resting on the wood back by her shoulder. She could just feel his fingers.
Once that was sorted, he began speaking, carefully. “Anyone familiar with London’s long history understands that there are many spaces below the modern streets. There are buried rivers, entire sets of tunnels that safeguard silver and gems, archaeological discoveries. Near to where we were, they discovered forty-some skulls in the 1830s, not near any bodies, all tumbled by the bank of the Walbrook, buried for centuries now.” He gestured with his other hand. “We used a combination of techniques to see if we could find an item that held the characteristics that Vega had been told.”
That was her part to tell. “In the end, I think Grandmother Alcyone showed us the way. There were certain signs, constellations. It was in something that might have been a temple.” Vega wasn’t entirely sure how to describe the space still. “The sort of thing that someone of the line would know unerringly, and someone outside it would not.” She gestured at Aunt Helia’s lap. “I have done as I hoped to do. May I leave it in your care?”
“You may.” Aunt Mera glanced at the torc, then back up. “What of Mister Vandermeer?”
Behind her, Farran spoke, “I am wondering if the methods he is using are entirely, shall we say, aboveboard in Albion. Vivian Porter has contacts within a number of places, and could likely consult appropriately.”
“We’re aware of the range of Vivian’s contacts.” Aunt Mera’s voice now had a dry amusement to it, which certainly suggested they’d discussed it and recently. “But she might, yes, act even more swiftly at your request than ours. She’s always had a clearly defined sense of precedence in certain matters.”
Vega couldn’t help smiling at that. Aunt Mera glanced over at her. “And you, Vega?”
“I’d like to follow up with Vivian, beyond the note I just sent. I’ve two days free— well, tomorrow— before I need to be back at the club. I admit I’d rather Mister Vandermeer not be able to appear to be a bother.”
“There is that.” Aunt Helia nodded. “We shall let you do that, then. We would appreciate a proper report— for provenance reasons, young man— with whatever you feel should be known about the process. The location it was found, properly described. Within the fortnight, if possible, though if you need more time, we will grant you more.”
Farran shifted a little behind her, then he nodded. “Thank you, kyria. Vega, may I escort you home? Or...” He hesitated. “Vivian’s likely at Thebes still. I can check.”
“Thebes, if she’s there, please,” Vega said. She’d been wanting to see the house for ages. “Let me go pack up a few things, just in case I end up somewhere other than my flat tonight.”
That, of course, brought a murmur of amusement from her aunts and uncles, and she didn’t care. Aunt Mera waved a hand. “Off with you. We’ll discuss and let you know if we have further questions.”
Vega took the opportunity and stood, reaching for Farran’s hand. They made quick work of retrieving a package of his clothes. And she packed a case with another change and her overnight things for herself, and a book to read. Not that Thebes wouldn’t have books, Farran had been very clear about that.
Chapter 38
MONDAY AFTERNOON, AT THEBES
Farran let out a deep breath as soon as he came out of the portal. He’d written ahead, and he could see Uncle Cadmus there with the pony cart as he moved to the side, to let Vega join him. He hadn’t been sure if they’d need to walk, and honestly, he was also exhausted and his feet were definitely tender. A moment later, Vega had her hand on his. “Your uncle?”
“Yes. Here, let me introduce you.” He took Vega’s case in his other hand and walked the twenty feet to the cart. “Uncle Cadmus? This is Vega Beaumont. I’m sure Vivian’s told you a certain amount. Vega, this is my Uncle Cadmus Michaels. The pony is Rex.” Rex was a sturdy cob, well suited to the back and forth on mostly level ground.
Vega raised an eyebrow at that, but she didn’t dwell on the name, more suited for a dog than a pony, honestly. “Magister Michaels, a pleasure to meet you. Farran has spoken so warmly about you.” She added, glancing at Farran, “Also, his Greek is excellent and made a fine impression on my aunts and uncles.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t expect anything less on that count. A pleasure to meet you as well, after hearing about you. Glad to bring the cart out, I gather you’ve had a day of it. It’s about twomiles.” Farran reached a hand to help Vega climb into the back, and then followed, and Uncle Cadmus set off at a comfortable trot. “Have you had lunch yet? Or rather, if you have, do you have enough room to avoid disappointing Lena?”
“Not lunch.” Farran hadn’t been sure about that part. Vega had, fairly obviously, wanted to leave her family to talk over things without her. And they’d had food before the meeting. He wasn’t starving. “How, erm, extensive are Lena’s plans?”
“Well, she’s pulled out the jar of the best of last summer’s jam she hasn’t been letting us touch. And she was going to set up the small dining room. Soup and quiche, I believe, and something for pudding that involved the jam. Though she might be planning a trifle for supper instead, that takes more warning than you gave us for luncheon.” He glanced over “If that’s not a problem. We weren’t sure if there’s anything you don’t eat.”
It was a gently put way to ask. Vega laughed. “Oh, not so much on my part. And I’m eager to try her cooking, please. A lot of what I eat is takeaway or at the club, and it’s well cooked but not homey.” She glanced over at Farran, and then added, “I have a change of clothes. We weren’t sure about our plans.”
Farran immediately said, “Uncle, would it be a bother if we stayed tonight? For multiple reasons.”
Uncle Cadmus chuckled. “Never a bother, and I was hoping you’d say you could, both of you.” He drove on, pointing out a few places of local interest before turning up the drive to the house. Farran was waiting for Vega’s reaction as the front came into view. She was delightful, as Farran had hoped she’d be.
Of course, now he’d seen Astralis, Thebes wasn’t terribly impressive. Astralis had quite a lot more in the way of buildings, and also had been decidedly larger, even if he hadn’t seen most of it. But Thebes was showing rather well right now, even if it were too early in the spring for much in the way of blooming flowers just yet.
Vega leaned against him, peering as the drive twisted and turned up to the doors. Uncle Cadmus let them out at the front. “If you’re staying, why don’t you go sort out where to leave your things? You know where everything is, Farran.” Farran did, of course, and he was amused that Uncle Cadmus was not making a point of inquiring where Vega stayed.
Farran offered her a hand out of the cart. As Uncle Cadmus drove off to stable the pony, he said, “You’re welcome to stay in my room, or there’s a guest room free in my hall. The residents are in the other wing, so it’s just me and Uncle Cadmus and Vivian there.”
