Frost Arch (5 page)

I held my breath as I waited. Without a doubt, a tapping from inside the box could be heard, and it was the exact same rhythm I had just done. Grinning wildly to myself, I popped more chicken into the box. This animal was intelligent. It was thinking, hearing, and solving a problem to get food. But hadn’t Jefferson said that this animal was discovered by two Mages in the wild? Surely, if this kind of creature had never been seen before, it obviously wasn’t a trained pet …

My stomach flipped excitedly, a grin spreading across my face. I could save this amazing little creature, whatever it was. There was no way it was going to hurt me. Licking my dry lips I bent lower to the box and muttered to the creature inside. I could see its nose sniffing around the hole again, waiting to see if I was going to spoil him or her with more food.

“Okay, I’m going to let you out, whatever you are, but you have to promise me that you won’t attack me. Behave, and I’ll rescue you, and set you free in the wild.” I felt awfully silly talking to an animal, but I assumed that it had understood me when it gave an innocent sniff at the air hole again.

I sighed, “All right, when we get closer to Frost arch, I will burn the hole of the box so it’s big enough for you to climb out of. You’ll just have to wait silently, and perfectly still in my bag until we’re out of Jefferson’s sight, got it?”

There was an eager whine from the box, so I took that as a yes.

“Just don’t go absolutely crazy when I’m trying to make the hole bigger for you.”

The sun was setting by the time the twenty foot high walls surrounding Frost Arch came into view. My stomach gave an uneasy lurch as we drew closer. I peered out of the window and gasped.

It was autumn, yet hanging over Frost Arch was a dark black cloud that clearly had snowflakes falling from it. I gaped. Impossible. We were a mere hundred meters from the high stone walls, and it was perfectly sunny and warm here! I stared, trying to comprehend the scene before my eyes.

I wasn’t imagining it. Yes, a large snow cloud hung over the exact proximity of frost arch, only snowing within its boundaries. Not a flake of snow fell outside of its walls.

“Impossible.”

I gave myself a shake and concentrated on what I was supposed to be doing.

It was time for me to start burning away at the wooden crate.

I gave my fingers a click and held it to the box when a small flame flickered there. I prayed that I wasn’t going to get bitten.

“Don’t worry.” I reassured.

After a few minutes some of the wood had burnt and fallen away. I still couldn’t see what was inside the box, even with the fire at my fingertips lighting up the carriage. Once the hole was the size of my hand I heard the carriage come to a rumbling halt in front of the large wooden doors flanking the entrance to Frost Arch. I hurriedly opened my duffle bag and held it to the hole I had made in the box, covering it completely so I couldn’t the creature. To my surprise I hadn’t been imagining my little animal friend all along. Sure enough, I heard a scurrying, and a weight plonk into my bag, then hold very still after it had made itself comfortable on a pile of my clothes. By the weight of it this animal it seemed it would have fit into my arms nicely. I turned the small wooden box so the hole was facing against the back seat, and would only be noticeable when Jefferson went to retrieve it, long after I would be gone.

Outside the carriage, Jefferson was talking to a guard at the gate.

“Just another delivery to the marketplace.” I heard Jefferson’s muffled voice confirm.

“Your papers please.” The guard asked in a bored voice. I peered through the foggy glass window, and caught sight of a tall, burly man with a deep blue uniform. The uniform depicted a large coat of arms. The main feature of the coat of arms was a sparkling snowflake.

I watched as Jefferson handed a bundle of parchment to the guard, and I wondered what they were. Did you need special papers to come into Frost Arch? It seemed ridiculous.

The Guard of the Gate peered over the documents in his hands, and after a moment or two he seemed satisfied.

“Are you carrying any other passengers with you?” The guard drawled, handing back the documents.

“Uh … Oh!” Jefferson exclaimed only just remembering that I was indeed in his carriage, “I almost forgot! Yes. Little Avalon. She doesn’t have any papers yet though. I was gonna drop her at the Power Seer on my way to the Marketplace though, honest.”

The guard ignored Jefferson and walked around the carriage. He peered at me through the window. I looked at him closely now, and noticed that he was quite handsome. Maybe five years older than myself, with thick ringlets of dark hair curling around his ears. I gave an embarrassed smile.

The guard tapped the glass, “No papers?” His voice was muffled.

I shook my head abruptly. What did that mean? Was I going to be let in? What were these paper things that I needed anyway? Criminal records? Birth certificate?

The guard nodded and indicated that I should get out of the carriage. I was a little frightened. Grabbing my Rucksack I clambered from the carriage.

“What is the nature of your visit to Frost Arch ma’am?”

I paused, not quite sure how I was supposed to answer. My reasons for being here were rather private, but all in all I was coming to Frost Arch to live, and work. Anything to distract me from myself.

“Residency?” I chirped, unsure

The guard nodded flashing a smile at me, which changed his whole face. I looked anywhere else but his glinting white teeth.

“In that case you’ll need to get yourself some papers from the Power Seer. He’s just beyond these doors. I hope you don’t mind ma’am, but it’s my duty to take you to the Power Seer Headquarters for Power analysis. All residence of Frost Arch must undergo this procedure I’m afraid.”

He had totally lost me from the word “Power Seer”. I didn’t know what that was, but I didn’t like the sound of it either. Power analysis? It sounded as though there were going to document and record my ‘talent’. But what on earth for?

I followed the guard and made my way past the front of the carriage, where Jefferson held onto the reigns.

“Thank you for the lift.” I smiled at him, wondering how he would take the loss of his cargo. Would he try and find me?

“Ah, no problem, lass.” He grunted, “You just be careful, all right?”

I nodded fervently, gave Jefferson a small wave and continued after the guard who was now opening the large wooden doors into the city. Once they were open, Jefferson trundled onto the cobbled stone street of the city without a backwards glance. He soon rounded a corner and was out of sight.

The first thought that flew through my head while I looked at the city was Christmas. Everything was stone, and white. A thick blanket of snow covered everything in sight. But still, the way that dark cloud loomed over the city was very eerie and unnatural.

“I’m Stone.” The curly haired guard said pointing to his chest with his thumb, “Toby Stone. Official Guard of Frost Arch, Ma’am.”

“Hello.” I mumbled.

“So, what brings you here, eh?” The guard said as he waved to one of his co-workers who took over the position of minding the front gate for him. He re-sealed the gate, closing us within the city, his professional manner dropping. I wondered if he really did need to escort me to the Power Seer Headquarters as part of his responsibility.

“Um … work is hard to come by in Mortlock.” I gave a small embarrassed shrug, not meeting the man’s gaze as he took me ten meters down the street. We turned into a smaller street.

“Ah. Small town girl.” He nodded, “This might seem a bit odd to you then, eh?”

“I’m not quite sure I understand what’s going on exactly.”

“Ah, you’ll understand in a minute. Just a safety precaution really. There are some dangerous people out there, you know. Can’t be too careful. It’s law here to have all newcomers recorded and registered, just in case. Permanent residents are already recorded. Kids are recorded often as they grow up, because their Powers change so often, ya see?”

I nodded, not really seeing at all.

“What’s your name?” Stone asked a little too casually.

“Avalon Redding.” I mumbled. Toby Stone smiled at me and led me another few meters down the street where we came to a halt in front of a grand building. Large iron wrought doors towered above me, with enormous steel lion heads holding the knockers in place on the door. Two more guards stood either side of this door, but took no notice of us and stayed positively still.

Stone gave one of the knockers two thunderous raps before rolling back on the balls of his feet and shoving his hands into his pockets.

It seemed like only a fraction of a second later that the doors were being pulled open. A greying man in very smart clothes bowed to the Guard.

“New comer. Residency. Needs Papers.” Stone nodded in my direction.

“Thank you, Toby.” The elderly man said in a polite voice, “I trust your day is going well?”

“Ah, all right Edmund.” He shrugged, “It’s looking better now, though.” He nodded in my direction again, “Not every day you get a looker at the gate.”

I dropped my head once again, and decided my feet were much more interesting than this embarrassing conversation.

Edmund heaved a sigh and Stone chuckled, “Well, anyway, better get back to the gate.” Stone turned on his heel before flashing me a grin and disappearing down the street. I gulped and looked up at Edmund.

“Welcome to Frost Arch, Miss Redding.”

“How did you know my name?” I said in a rather high pitched voice.

“Miss Redding, if you wouldn’t mind following me please?” He ushered me in through the large iron doors, ignoring my question. It was very pretty inside. Besides the cold atmosphere the room was rather charming. A deep crimson walkway flowed through the centre of the room, and long drapes of the same colour hung from the windows that went from floor to ceiling in great arches. Tapestries hung on the walls, and stone columns lined either side of the long room. At the opposite end was another door, this one wooden.

I followed Edmund, who I assumed was a butler, to the other side of the room and he showed me in through the large wooden door. My throat was very dry, and I was quite nervous about what to expect with this Power Analysis procedure. Would it hurt? I wondered.

“No, it won’t hurt.” Edmund answered my unspoken question.

I stared at the old man. Had he just … no … it was impossible.

“Not quite.” He said again.

My mouth opened with a little pop, “What are you doing?” I breathed.

“Apologies Miss.” Edmund began, colour toning his pale, aged cheeks, “With my terrible sight, sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between thoughts and speech.”

Edmund could hear my thoughts. I huffed. That was hardly fair. I had all sorts of embarrassing things running amok in my brain. I didn’t want a complete stranger to think I was an absolute nutter before he even got to know me.

“Apologies again.” He bowed me through the door before closing me into the room, quite alone.

I turned to face the room I had been left in. It was just as pretty as the room before it, though this one was lined with hundreds of burnt down candles, and a thick layer of dust upon everything. Before I had time to completely observe my surroundings, I realised that I was not alone.

The distinct sound of a male clearing their throat reached my ears, startling me.

“Oh!” I exclaimed. At the opposite end of the room, another elderly man waited behind a polished wooden desk. Waiting for me to approach him and get the damned analysis out of the way.

I hurried forwards, stoping a meter from the table. I stood rather quietly, licking my lips nervously, “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

“Nor I, you. Though I knew you were here.” The old man smiled, not looking at me. I observed him closely, and saw that his eyes seemed to have a white film covering the pupils. It was another second before I realised that this man was completely blind. I shifted the weight on my feet nervously.

“So you wish to make residency here in Frost Arch, do you?” The blind man continued.

“Yes Sir.”

“Please. Call me Lester. Lester Elwood. Official Power Seer for the city of Frost Arch.”

I nodded, before I realised that he couldn’t actually see the notion. “Oh … I’m Avalon, Mister Elwood. Residency here was the plan, though I’m not exactly sure what a Power Seer is, and what they’re meant to do.”

“You don’t know what a Power Seer is?”

“No sir.”

“Ah. It is my gift, Miss Avalon. I have the Power to know, and understand a Mage’s Power, simply by touching them. Not only that, but I also know what level that Power is on. This is why Frost Arch needs a Power Seer. There are some Mages who’s Powers are not welcome here, and some Mages whose Power level is too great for them to control.”

“What do you do if someone has a really strong Power?”

“Ah. We do not allow threats to our city make residency here.”

I nodded again, forgetting that Lester Elwood wouldn’t see it.

“Are you familiar with our laws, Miss Avalon?” Lester Elwood continued.