Page 12 of The Salted Sceptre
I triedto engage the taxi driver in conversation several times during the journey but he was determined not to play ball. Istrongly suspected that Athair had instructed him not to talk to me – and he certainly wasn’t allowed to tell me where we were going.
I was still nervous that we’d turn into the grounds of Culcreuch Castle and Athair would blow all our plans out of the water by welcoming me with a sly wink, but we drove past the narrow side road that led to it and continued towards Bridge of Allan, a village on the outskirts of Stirling.
I tried not to look relieved as Culcreuch receded in the distance and surreptitiously checked the rear-view mirror. I couldn’t see any sign of Slim and Miriam behind us; that was good because if I couldn’t see them, neither could anyone else.
Eventually we pulled into the car park of a well-lit restaurant. It was peak time and there were a lot of other vehicles nearby. I could hear chatter and inoffensive pop music drifting out from the restaurant’s open windows. My eyes narrowed.
Out of habit I reached for my wallet, but the driver grunted and indicated with his hand that the fare had already been taken care of. Then he cleared his throat and shocked me by delivering not one but two full sentences in a thick Glaswegian accent. ‘I am under orders to tell you that I will wait here until your meal is finished. Then I shall drive you back.’
Clearly this was Athair’s way of telling me that I would be able to leave the restaurant safely once the meal was over. It wasn’tmysafety that I was worried about, but I smiled and thanked the driver anyway. None of this was his fault.
I climbed out of the taxi and walked slowly towards the restaurant’s front door. ‘Is it just me,’ Hester asked, ‘or is this rather disappointing?’
Otis frowned. ‘What do you mean, Hes?’
‘Athair is the most powerful fiend in the country, he’s been around for centuries and the only thing greater than his wealthis his magic.’ She pointed. ‘Andthisis where he brings his only daughter for their first meal together?’
‘First and last meal together,’ I corrected grimly.
Otis squinted at the restaurant. ‘What’s wrong with it?’
‘What’s wrong withyou?’ Hester demanded. ‘This place isn’t special, Otis. I don’t need to look at the menu to know there won’t be an extensive wine list or an exquisite tasting menu. This is the sort of place that does shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and chicken in a basket.’ She shuddered as if those were the things of nightmares.
Actually this restaurant was exactly where I would have chosen to eat, and that worried me more than almost anything else. ‘It’s a typical family place,’ I said aloud and nodded towards the other cars. ‘Normal families come here to eat normal food. Athair is trying to pretend that’s what we are – normal. And it’s a busy night with plenty of customers, so he’s also making sure I won’t ruin the evening by stabbing him over the prawn-cocktail starter. Everything Athair does is by design.’ My voice hardened. ‘Everything.’
‘Cumbubbling bollocks,’ Otis whispered.
Indeed.
The atmosphere inside was exactly as I’d expected: warm, inviting and friendly. My spirits sank further while my skin itched from head to toe. I managed a smile at the waiter who greeted us and gave him my name. He pointed at a table where an older man was waiting. As we walked over, I reminded Hester and Otis to stay quiet and out of the way. They nodded solemnly.
The man stood up and spoke to me in Athair’s voice. ‘Good evening, Daisy.’ He dipped his head towards the brownies but didn’t remark on their presence then gestured to the free chair. I sat down stiffly and Athair returned to his seat opposite me.
I sighed. This was going to be a long night.
‘I apologise for my appearance.’ He pointed to his face which was as human as the waiter’s. ‘I’m sure you understand that I couldn’t appear in my natural form as it is now. This body seemed acceptable for tonight.’
I supposed I should have been grateful that he’d not taken on Hugo’s body as he had the first time we’d met. It wasn’t lost on me that the face Athair was wearing had generous features and kindly laughter lines; it was yet another part of his game.
I shrugged as if I didn’t care what he looked like. ‘Who does this face belong to?’
‘Does it matter?’
I guessed not. I folded my arms to make it very clear that I was here under duress and waited. There was only so much polite conversation I could make and that one question had already used up my quota for the evening.
Athair watched me for a long moment. ‘Your antagonism is palpable,’ he said eventually.
Hester snorted loudly. When his gaze flicked to her, she immediately squeaked and zipped behind me for cover. Athair didn’t bother to hide his amusement.
‘I know you’ve been told that all fiends are hateful creatures wholly imbued with evil,’ he said, ‘but you shouldn’t believe everything that you hear. And you should remember that people always hate and fear what they do not understand.’
He leaned forward. ‘Why do you think my existence is kept hidden from most of the population? Places like the Royal Elvish Institute are determined to hide the truth, namely that great power and wisdom can be gained from allowing yourself to become a fiend. They want to keep all the power for themselves.’ There was a nugget of truth in Athair’s words – but only a nugget.
Otis glared at him. ‘What have you ever done that’s not been evil?’
Athair didn’t take his gaze from me. ‘I didn’t continue searching for your mother to kill her for keeping you from me. I am capable of restraint, Daisy.’
I was supposed to applaud him for not killing Rose? Unbelievable. ‘How many peoplehaveyou killed?’ I asked coolly.
