Lucky Rabbit

Looking around at the three little faces staring at her so hopefully made Pandy both nervous and sad. At least she knew Isidor and Eleanor were almost certainly safe at Avington House, but she still missed them, as well as Lord Winston’s droopy jowls. Maybe not Tempest’s sharp beak, but even Pandy had to draw the line somewhere.

She had taken her cue from Lady Frances and had the trio run around the common area a few times. The children were now in various stages from invigoration to droop, but she could tell they all wished she had the same ability to magically produce beverages as their temporary teacher. Well, the joke was on them, because Pandy could definitely put some water and cups into her Inventory for tomorrow. At least, she would if she could find clean water and cups that would stack, but that was a problem for future Pandy.

“Okay,” she told them, pointing to three separate trees about fifteen feet apart. “Each of you pick a tree.”

The three glanced at each other, but did as they were told. Once they were in place, Pandy said, “Now, Thaniel, I want you to jump as high as you can and hit the side of the tree.” He began to do so, his palm slapping the rough bark with far too much enthusiasm.

“Geraldine, you create a flame next to the tree. Not on it. We don’t want to damage it,” Pandy told the girl. Geraldine grinned down at Miss Cupcakes, who once again made an appearance only after the exercise portion of class was over, and held out her hand. The fire that appeared in her hand was barely more than a flicker, but it was plenty.

The next bit was tricky. Technically, Pandy needed Ice, but what was Ice except for frozen water? Surely it would work. “Abbington, can you, um, make some really, really cold water?” He looked at her, blinked, then turned a questioning gaze on Brook. The capybara was sitting on her haunches, meditatively chewing, with a few blades of grass protruding from her mouth. At this, she huffed a sigh, letting the grass fall, and stood.

Taking that as a yes, Pandy said, “All right, when I say ‘Go!’ you need to do it in exactly that order: Thaniel, then Geraldine, then Abbington. And, Go!” Laughing, Thaniel smacked his tree, Geraldine didn’t quite set hers on fire, and Abbington poured a trickle of water that ran down the bark of his target trunk.

Pandy clapped her hands. “Perfect! Now we’re going to do it a few more times before we add the next step.”

Geraldine – or perhaps Miss Cupcakes – was the first to wear out. Pandy had moved them on from the initial smack-smite-smickle to taking the place of the person on their right and doing it again. As she prepared to add the next step, which was exchanging places with the person opposite them, Geraldine staggered. Her fires had been growing progressively smaller, and Miss Cupcakes had taken up a spot on a bench halfway between the first and second tree, where she seemed to be snoozing in the sunshine. Now though, Pandy finally realized that the girl was pale beneath her freckles and lingering tan, and clapped her hands again.

“That’s enough for today,” she told them, motioning toward the nearby benches. She watched worriedly as Geraldine made her way over to sit beside her elemental, but as soon as the girl’s rear impacted the seat, she sighed in relief and a bit of color returned to her face.

Abbington looked all right, but he let his hand rest on Brook’s back as he walked over to sit on the other bench. Even Thaniel looked a bit worn out, and he grimaced as he flexed his hand. Pandy sent him a Minor Heal, and the next time his fingers curled, his face lit up as he grinned. Coming over to Pandy, he slipped his fingers into hers and said, “Why were we doin’ that? It was fun, but-”

“I had the same question,” Augustus said, making Pandy jump as he stepped out from behind a tree. “Are you working on endurance?”

Pandy blew non-existent bangs up with a puff of exasperated breath. “I was just trying to make practice more fun.” That and get them ready for Squawkward Spire, but she couldn’t tell the kids that. Not yet, anyway.

“It worked, too!” Thaniel said loyally, tightening his hand on hers. She hadn’t had anything for him to do except jump up and smack defenseless trees, but she appreciated the support.

Smiling at the boy, she said, “That’s what matters then.” Looking back up at Augustus, she said, “And why are you-?” Which was when she noticed his aunts coming up the walk behind him.

With something that might have been a grimace of apology, Augustus raised his voice just enough that there was no doubt everyone nearby could hear him. “I just wanted to check in with our lovely new teacher,” he told her, his cheekbones turning ever so slightly red as he did so. “And let you know that Chancellor Lockhart has received your brother’s records from his previous tutor. He can begin at Kestrel tomorrow, if he’s ready.”

Pandy’s cheeks burned, then went pale. Tomorrow? Isidor wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready! He didn’t have a proper uniform, or books, or-

“Like here, the seamster at Kestrel has old uniforms left behind by students who outgrew them. I’m certain he can find something that will work until you can have one tailored to him. There are copies of the books he’ll need in the library, and Professor Beeswick assures me there are enough for your brother to use while you source your own copies,” Augustus went on as his aunts came up beside him.

“Well, that’s one less thing for you to worry about,” Frances said, nodding. Lady Arabelle wasn’t using her cane today, instead depending on a hand tucked through her wife’s elbow for support. Pandy sent Arabelle a Minor Heal as well, feeling her own shoulders relax as the lines around the older woman’s mouth eased a bit.

Lowering her voice, Pandy said, “How will he get there?” She meant the question for Augustus, but it was Agatha who answered.

“How have you been getting here?” she asked, brows flying into her perfectly coiffed hairline.

That was a problem, because of course Pandy had been flying back to Falconet under cover of darkness, then staying in Thaniel’s room until morning. Since Eurydice didn’t have other classes, Pandy doubted anyone would even notice how rarely she appeared, at least so long as she never missed lunch duty or Small Group.

Arabelle squeezed Lady Frances’s arm lightly. “I believe she’s been hiring a carriage,” she told the other woman, her voice actually at a reasonable decibel level.

Lady Frances clucked her tongue. “Nonsense.” Turning to Pandy, she said, “We don’t live far from you. We’ll be by to pick you and your brother up in the mornings, at least until you can find a carriage and hire a coachman. After it drops us off here, our carriage can take him on to Kestrel. He’ll miss breakfast, but he can eat before he leaves home.”

Pandy grimaced. Could he, though? So far as she knew, the residents of Avington House were still living off of old bread and butter, as well as whatever Hazel had used to make her ‘cookies’. Maybe today Pandy could stop by the kitchen and pick up some food before she left school. A dozen eggs, some milk, and some kind of fruit or vegetable would be a good start, and they should stack in her Inventory. Thanks to her meeting with Beeswick and Augustus that morning, she hadn’t managed to go shopping, but she still had more than two hours on Shifting Faces, which should be enough to get something, somewhere.

“I just haven’t had time-” she tried, bit her lip, and said, “The carriage house isn’t in very good shape yet, so-” Besides, even if it could be used, and even if there was an old, abandoned carriage in there that they could refurbish, Pandy had no idea where to get a horse to pull it, or how to take care of that horse. Horses ate grass, didn’t they? Could she just let it loose in the yard to fight back the encroaching wilderness? Why did everything have to be so complicated?

“Can I help you pick a horse?” Geraldine asked, eyes bright. While Thaniel was back to seeing horses as a necessary evil after falling behind the other students while he was unconscious, Geraldine really liked them, often packing moist and well-oxidized fruit chunks in her pockets, which resulted in her smelling a bit like a fruit cup past its best-by date.

“Me too!” Thaniel said, and even Abbington looked shyly interested.

Augustus chuckled. “This Small Group hasn’t yet had an excursion,” he said, pretending to look thoughtful. “Perhaps we should all go shopping together on Friday. After all, Ms. Haupe is both new to Knightmere and a new teacher. It’s probably best that her first outing with students is supervised.”

Giggles came from all around them, and Pandy realized the other students and teachers who had Small Group in the pleasant common area had all edged close enough to hear, even though Augustus was no longer raising his voice. Two older girls were practically clutching each other in excitement, cheeks bright pink, while their teacher – a pretty blonde woman about Augustus’s age – looked distinctly less pleased.

“That sounds perfect,” Lady Frances said decisively, patting Lady Arabelle’s hand. “Our carriage is more than large enough for all of you, and we have no Small Group, so we’ll be available at that time.”

Now it was Augustus’s turn to look a bit sour, and Pandy realized he’d hoped to spend the time with her, not his aunts. She felt a laugh of her own bubble up in her throat even as her cheeks grew a little hotter. “Thank you, Lady Frances,” Pandy said politely. “But we couldn’t possibly ask you to stay out so late. Lady Arabelle needs her rest.” At this reminder, Lady Frances flicked a glance at her wife, who smiled wanly back at her.

She looked down at the children crowding in close around her, and realized that they really did look excited. Even Geraldine had lost that shadowed look that had seemed to linger around her ever since she heard she wouldn’t be able to go home.

With a triumphant smile, Augustus said, “Since it’s a school outing, we can use one of the school’s carriages. And Miss Haupe,” he met Pandy’s eyes, “I believe we’ll be able to accommodate your other request the week after that.”

Wait, did that mean what she thought it meant? Pandy was going to get to go to Squawkward Spire! She grinned, Augustus twinkled, the children cheered, even though they had no way of knowing what he was talking about, and for just a moment everything felt right in the world.

Then Lady Frances said, “Now, about that dinner. Our house was built shortly after the founding, and of course Arabelle has made certain to restore it to as close to its original appearance as possible. I’m certain you’d like to see it, so you have some ideas about what you need to do with Avington House. We’re available Sunday evening, and our cook makes a delicious Curried Rabbit.” Pandy felt a deep shudder run down her back, and beside her, Thaniel squeaked.

“Maybe… not rabbit, Aunt,” Augustus said, lips twitching. “Eurydice is, ah, allergic.”

“Oh?” Lady Frances said, raising her brows. “I’ve never heard of someone being allergic to meat before, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. Perhaps a Beef Aloes?”

“That sounds delicious,” Augustus said, shifting so he was standing a bit closer than just ‘next to’ Pandy. “What time?”

“We’re old ladies now,” Frances said, looking anything but, with her perfect posture and elegant dress. “We eat at six. That still leaves those younger than us plenty of time to go out later. Speaking of which,” she leaned in, “Eurydice tells me you have taken on some wards. They are invited as well, of course. How many will there be, so I can tell Chef how many portions to prepare?”

Augustus shook his head, eyes closing briefly in resignation. “Do you imagine I’ve adopted an entire orphanage, Aunt Frances?”

“No,” she said, “but you’ve spent the last fifteen years declaring your intention to remain unmarried and unburdened with offspring, and now we find you with not only one child, but a plurality of them, not to mention…” Her gaze flicked to Pandy, whose face had just begun to return to its usual temperature. The amused calculation in those brown eyes sent Pandy’s cheeks into overdrive again, but it was absolutely worth it to see the same thing happen to the usually calm and collected Augustus.

“I said that because everyone in the family kept hounding me about my relationship status every time I saw them,” Augustus said, and Pandy was almost certain he was speaking through gritted teeth. He was watching her, his eyes looking… worried? Did he think she’d assume he was, what, dallying with her? Honestly, Pandy was pretty sure dalliance was the last thing on his mind. Well, maybe not the last, but definitely not first, either.

“I’m a ward!” Thaniel piped up, shifting so he was standing between Pandy and Augustus. He didn’t quite dare take the chancellor’s hand, but he did pinch the hem of Augustus’s coat between thumb and forefinger.

Arabelle looked down at him, eyes and mouth curving in amusement. “Are you? And you’re Thaniel, am I right? I’m supposed to see you tomorrow during chore time.”

Thaniel shrank back, bright curiosity shutting down as he realized this was the person he was meant to talk to about his literally nightmarish experience. “I guess so,” he mumbled, and Arabelle gripped Lady Frances’s arm hard as she managed to crouch down to his level.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with you,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I brought some games we can play together. Or we could draw?”

Cautiously, Thaniel nodded. “My Mama and Papa… were good artists. I used to paint pictures while Mama worked.” This was news to Pandy. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him pick up a brush or pencil except to write a letter to Lian or do his homework at the very last possible moment.

As Arabelle straightened, Pandy sent her another Minor Heal, which only restored three health points, but significantly improved the ease with which the woman stood. Lady Arabelle sighed in relief, then smiled at Thaniel and asked, “Who else is a ward, then?” It almost sounded sweet, coming from her, but when she glanced at her nephew-in-law, there was definitely a light in her eyes that said he was in for more future teasing.

“My brother,” Thaniel-the-innocent replied promptly. “I don’t think there’s any more. Are there, Mr. Blackwood?”

Augustus rubbed his temples. “No, Thaniel, that’s quite enough, thank you.”

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