Page 21 of Tattered Huntress
‘She will need that money later,’ Otis said. ‘It’s wise to hold it back until it’s absolutely necessary. In fact if you invest the money, Daisy, this time next year you’ll be in a much more stable position. You’ve already spent more than you should have on those nasty illegal drugs.’
I pinched off a headache. The pair of them had made themselves scarce while I was with my parents, sensing that their presence would be a bridge too far for my unmagical mum and dad. Since then, however, they’d barely left my side – and theynever seemed to shut up. It didn’t help that almost everything they said was an unsolicited opinion about how I should live my life.
I hefted my backpack onto my shoulders. It hadn’t seemed too heavy when I’d packed it yesterday but I was already thinking that I ought to take out half the items to lighten the load. I was also wishing that I’d brought along my bike. I’d decided it would be too cumbersome, especially since I didn’t know where this treasure hunt would take me or what distances I’d have to cover. Now, with a five-mile hike to Sir Nigel’s mansion, I was already regretting that decision.
‘Give me an hour or two’s peace, guys. Please!’ I begged the brownies.
Hester muttered in my ear and even Otis seemed slightly put out but at least they both lapsed into blessed silence.
I turned left and headed for the road out of town. Of course it started to rain less than ten minutes after I’d left the train station. It wasn’t exactly an auspicious start to my new career. I pulled up my jacket hood, glad that at least it was waterproof, and reminded myself that I’d have to get used to being out in bad weather. As a delivery driver, the worst I’d usually experienced was a mad dash from my van to a doorway. As a treasure hunter, I’d be spending a lot more time outdoors.
I tilted my head up to the sky, briefly enjoying the sensation of cool raindrops on my skin. It wasn’t so bad – though it was incessant in the way that British drizzle always manages to be. By the time I finally arrived at the grand gates of Sir Nigel’s Northumberland estate, I was feeling much less refreshed and much more bedraggled.
I was buzzed in without too much bother then trudged up the long driveway towards the massive house. The more time I spent hanging around grand palatial homes like this one and Neidpath Castle, the more baffled I was about the lifestylesthey offered. Their heating bills had to be enormous and the cleaning would be never ending. I wondered if Sir Nigel spent so much time at places like the Royal Elvish Institute and the British Museum because knocking around his own home was too lonely. Maybe that was also the reason why Hugo Pemberville was such an arse.
‘Tiny violins,’ I muttered aloud. ‘Tiny violins playing sad songs for the poor millionaires, Daisy.’
I wandered through the main doors of the mansion and found myself in a lobby that my entire flat would have fit in three times over. It wasn’t its size that surprised me, however, it was the number of people milling around. They all looked like they meant business. For a good long minute I stood and gawked.
There were four large human men gathered around a marble statue of a naked nymph. I didn’t think it was the statue that had drawn their attention because none of them were looking at it; instead, their attention was focused on the shiny tablets in their hands. They were dressed in tight black clothes, had earpieces, walkie-talkies and mobile phones. If this were a competition for who had the most communication devices, they’d win hands down.
To the right of the men were two elvish women, both with silver cuffs in their ears and identical features. Twins, then. Their perfectly straight glossy hair and immaculate make-up made them look out of place; when I examined them more closely, however, and noted their toned bodies and alert expressions, I understood. These two were serious competitors but they wanted to appear otherwise, to be underestimated. I vowed to watch myself around them.
Humphrey and Eleanor were deep in conversation on the opposite side of the room. I tried to catch their eyes but neither of them noticed me. Another couple were near them, obviouslyeavesdropping. From the faint green tinge to their lips, I was certain they were witches. I watched, amused, as they sidled closer to Humphrey. If they were trying to be subtle, they weren’t doing a very good job of it.
I swung my gaze further around and squinted at a camouflaged trio – shapeshifters of some description, judging by their loose clothing. I mouthed a silent greeting to a tall, bearded man who appeared to be on his own. He nodded without smiling, but there was a friendly look in his eyes. Deciding he might be a good person to talk to, I shifted my weight and prepared to walk over to him.
I was halted in my tracks by a voice murmuring in my ear. ‘Sizing up the competition?’ Hugo Pemberville asked. ‘I hope you’re finally starting to realise that you don’t have a hope of succeeding.’
Arsehole. I turned towards him, irrationally irritated that he remained so good looking. If there were any justice in the world, surely he could have broken out in acne or hives or, at the very least, contracted flesh-eating leprosy.
‘Quite the opposite,’ I assured him smoothly. ‘In fact, I suspect it’s you who’s concerned otherwise you wouldn’t be trying so hard to psych out the competition.’ I waved an airy hand. ‘But go ahead, keep trying to intimidate me. It says far more about you than it does about me.’
He laughed. ‘I don’t have to intimidate you. As soon as you’re stuck up a mountain, your drugs have run out and the withdrawal symptoms are kicking in, you’ll be running home in even more of a quivering soggy mess than you are now.’ He glanced down at the grubby puddle that had formed around my feet and smirked, then he strolled away with his hands in his pockets to join his Primes.
I glared at his departing back. Then my eyes drifted down to his tight arse.
‘Go on,’ Hester whispered. ‘Kick it.’
‘She’s taking the higher ground,’ Otis said.
I grimaced. ‘I thought you two were going to leave me in peace.’
‘We did,’ Hester said. ‘Now we’re back to give you the moral support you need.’ Her wings buzzed as she gazed after Hugo. ‘He is kind of sexy though, isn’t he?’
I rolled my eyes. ‘No.’
‘Liar.’
I stuck my tongue out at her. But I didn’t argue.
Chapter
Nine
You could have heard a pin drop as Sir Nigel walked to the front of the room to address us – but then I shifted in my seat. My wet jeans made a squeaky, squelchy sound; it not only sounded as if I’d had a little accident but also made half the room turn around and glare at me.
At least Sir Nigel had the good grace not to react. ‘Welcome, one and all. I am honoured to have so many esteemed and experienced treasure hunters here.’
