do
that!’ Phantasm immediately hissed. ‘You have no idea what I had to
do to get that!’
‘I do
actually.’ Mistral sniffed into her sleeve. ‘And you’re right, it
was unpleasant.’
The crowd
around the pyre began to dissipate, moving instinctively towards the welcoming
warmth of The Cloak and Dagger. Mistral gazed longingly after her
brothers; laughing with their arms slung around each other’s shoulders in
companionable closeness while they made their way towards the tavern.
Phantasm
followed her longing gaze, ‘That time has gone Mistral. You have other
commitments now.’
‘I know,’ she
sighed. ‘But I wish it were different.’
‘Wishes are a
waste of time. You must accept the hand that you have been dealt.’
‘Ah, but
Xerxes has banned me from cards, or didn’t you know?’
‘Don’t be so
flippant Mistral!’
‘Phantom,
Phantasm. A word please.’
Leo’s glacial
tones cut across their whispered conversation.
‘Of course
Master Sphinx.’ Phantasm’s tone was instantly cool and professional, his
gaze betraying none of the petty bickering he and Mistral had been indulging in
only seconds before.
‘Here!’
Phantom pressed something cold and hard into her hand. ‘We wanted to give
you this with a bit more ceremony, but needs must when Master Sphinx
calls! See you in a bit!’
Mistral nodded
automatically and watched the twins hurry after Leo before looking down to see
a key with a scarlet bow tied around the handle laid in her open palm, ‘Oh!’
‘I’m not sure
I like other men giving you a key to their house.’ Fabian muttered
tensely in her ear.
‘Never mind
that,’ she hissed back. ‘We’ve got the key to an empty house and they’ll
be gone for ages!’
Fabian stared
at her for the briefest of moments before almost dragging her across the
square, ignoring the polite greetings of the various delegates and officials
that he swept past, towing Mistral in his wake.
The twins
returned to their house later to find a picture of cosy warmth. Mistral
was curled against Fabian on the sofa, Prospero spread before the lit fire like
a huge fur rug.
‘Good
meeting?’ Mistral enquired, smiling at their grumpy expressions.
‘Riveting.’
Phantom responded irritably. ‘Mage Grapple gave Master Sphinx a
schedule of Council meetings that he wants us to attend. It’s as long as
my arm!’
‘I wouldn’t
look so smug if I were you Mistral.’ Phantasm glanced meaningfully at her
comfortable position on the sofa. ‘He wants to see you … now.’
‘He can
whistle.’ Mistral snuggled more deeply into Fabian’s arms.
‘I’m sure he
can, but he still wants to see you. So come on, we had better get you
into your dress for the Tribute Banquet.’
‘Another
one?’ Mistral looked dismayed.
‘Yes, it’s
terribly passé to be seen in the same dress for a daytime and evening event.’
‘Is it
really.’ Mistral muttered, still not moving. ‘Consider me passé
then.’
‘Absolutely
not. What you wear is a direct reflection on Mage De Winter, never mind
my brother and I. So, if you have no objections Mage De Winter, I would
like to ensure that your wife is suitably attired for the banquet.’
Fabian smiled
and released Mistral from his arms. She shot him a reproachful look as
she was yanked upright by Phantasm and dragged up the stairs, back to the
daunting array of dresses.
‘Black or dark
red?’ he mused, running a practised eye along the selection.
‘Neither.’
Mistral muttered sullenly. ‘I’m fine as I am, or would be, if I
were in trousers.’
‘Don’t be
ridiculous!’ Phantasm snapped and pulled out a blood red dress.
‘Right, I’ll unfasten the buttons then you can put this one on.’
Mistral let
out a deep sigh and sat heavily on the stool while Phantasm walked around
behind her to begin unfastening the long row of pearl buttons.
Phantasm let
out an angry noise,
that!’ Phantasm immediately hissed. ‘You have no idea what I had to
do to get that!’
‘I do
actually.’ Mistral sniffed into her sleeve. ‘And you’re right, it
was unpleasant.’
The crowd
around the pyre began to dissipate, moving instinctively towards the welcoming
warmth of The Cloak and Dagger. Mistral gazed longingly after her
brothers; laughing with their arms slung around each other’s shoulders in
companionable closeness while they made their way towards the tavern.
Phantasm
followed her longing gaze, ‘That time has gone Mistral. You have other
commitments now.’
‘I know,’ she
sighed. ‘But I wish it were different.’
‘Wishes are a
waste of time. You must accept the hand that you have been dealt.’
‘Ah, but
Xerxes has banned me from cards, or didn’t you know?’
‘Don’t be so
flippant Mistral!’
‘Phantom,
Phantasm. A word please.’
Leo’s glacial
tones cut across their whispered conversation.
‘Of course
Master Sphinx.’ Phantasm’s tone was instantly cool and professional, his
gaze betraying none of the petty bickering he and Mistral had been indulging in
only seconds before.
‘Here!’
Phantom pressed something cold and hard into her hand. ‘We wanted to give
you this with a bit more ceremony, but needs must when Master Sphinx
calls! See you in a bit!’
Mistral nodded
automatically and watched the twins hurry after Leo before looking down to see
a key with a scarlet bow tied around the handle laid in her open palm, ‘Oh!’
‘I’m not sure
I like other men giving you a key to their house.’ Fabian muttered
tensely in her ear.
‘Never mind
that,’ she hissed back. ‘We’ve got the key to an empty house and they’ll
be gone for ages!’
Fabian stared
at her for the briefest of moments before almost dragging her across the
square, ignoring the polite greetings of the various delegates and officials
that he swept past, towing Mistral in his wake.
The twins
returned to their house later to find a picture of cosy warmth. Mistral
was curled against Fabian on the sofa, Prospero spread before the lit fire like
a huge fur rug.
‘Good
meeting?’ Mistral enquired, smiling at their grumpy expressions.
‘Riveting.’
Phantom responded irritably. ‘Mage Grapple gave Master Sphinx a
schedule of Council meetings that he wants us to attend. It’s as long as
my arm!’
‘I wouldn’t
look so smug if I were you Mistral.’ Phantasm glanced meaningfully at her
comfortable position on the sofa. ‘He wants to see you … now.’
‘He can
whistle.’ Mistral snuggled more deeply into Fabian’s arms.
‘I’m sure he
can, but he still wants to see you. So come on, we had better get you
into your dress for the Tribute Banquet.’
‘Another
one?’ Mistral looked dismayed.
‘Yes, it’s
terribly passé to be seen in the same dress for a daytime and evening event.’
‘Is it
really.’ Mistral muttered, still not moving. ‘Consider me passé
then.’
‘Absolutely
not. What you wear is a direct reflection on Mage De Winter, never mind
my brother and I. So, if you have no objections Mage De Winter, I would
like to ensure that your wife is suitably attired for the banquet.’
Fabian smiled
and released Mistral from his arms. She shot him a reproachful look as
she was yanked upright by Phantasm and dragged up the stairs, back to the
daunting array of dresses.
‘Black or dark
red?’ he mused, running a practised eye along the selection.
‘Neither.’
Mistral muttered sullenly. ‘I’m fine as I am, or would be, if I
were in trousers.’
‘Don’t be
ridiculous!’ Phantasm snapped and pulled out a blood red dress.
‘Right, I’ll unfasten the buttons then you can put this one on.’
Mistral let
out a deep sigh and sat heavily on the stool while Phantasm walked around
behind her to begin unfastening the long row of pearl buttons.
Phantasm let
out an angry noise,
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