Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker Duology #1) - Charlie N. Holmberg Page 0,30
“Who is that?”
“I believe . . . yes, I think that’s Master Allen. He’s of the Physical Atheneum. Another aspector must be doing the projection for him.”
Master Allen’s ghost nodded to the vicar and sat in an invisible chair as the vicar approached the podium.
“If he lives in London,” Elsie went on, “then why does he need to be projected? And why here?” Though with how fuzzy his image was, he must be on the other side of the city. Close as she was, if Elsie were to project herself to the front of the room, it would be crisp enough for it to appear she had an identical twin.
Ogden shrugged. “I don’t know. Curious.”
Curious indeed. Elsie watched the master aspector for several moments after the sermon began, studying his faded features. A man present yet not. A man with nebulous motivations.
It made Elsie think of the Cowls.
They had not been in contact since the night she was caught. Part of her worried they would make no more use of her, either because she’d failed or perhaps because she’d identified Mr. Parker. And yet, spellbreakers were valuable. Maybe they needed her. She hoped they did.
Something else troubled her. Mr. Kelsey had been adamant the heat spell was merely a security measure. The cook Elsie had spoken to hadn’t seemed unhappy, although perhaps she’d been excited for an opportunity to win the favor of an overbearing employer.
Had Robin Hood ever made a mistake?
Quietly clearing her throat, Elsie forced herself to stare at the vicar and absorb his words, though his low voice quickly lulled her to drowsiness. Emmeline began to sway after a half hour, but Ogden was alert, his attention shifting back and forth between the man of God and the spiritual aspector who stood beside the podium. When the preaching concluded, the spiritual aspector waved his arms over the congregation. The slight tinkle of bells reached Elsie’s ears, and suddenly she felt very calm, as though an anvil had been lifted from her lap and a fur stole coiled around her shoulders. She might not have recognized the sensation as a spell had she not heard it first. A general blessing of peace was a novice-level spell, but to be able to cast it upon an entire congregation was actually a master-level spell. A spell that could be chained to pass from person to person, almost like a disease.
It tingled on the skin around her shoulders, and pretending she had an itch, Elsie swiftly removed it. She liked calmness, of course, but she’d rather feel it genuinely than have some wealthy stranger stick it to her like a briar.
She bowed her head with everyone else as a final prayer was offered. Elsie’s lips moved with one of her own—that the squire would keep Ogden thoroughly busy for the next week.
Hopefully the old church would magnify her heaven-directed plea.
“The new earl is selling his father’s collection to pay off debts, supposedly.” Rainer rubbed his hands together as he spoke. “It includes a master opus from his great-grandfather.”
Bacchus traced his beard with his thumb and forefinger. He stood in one of the balconied windows in the gallery, one that had a nice view of the duke’s gardens. The sun was behind him, making the shadowed alcove too cold for his liking. “It’s very unlikely the atheneum would allow the auction of such a valuable opus. You shouldn’t heed rumors.”
Rainer parted his hands as though offering an apology. “You’re right—the London Physical Atheneum wants it, but the earl took them to court, and the High Court of Justice itself ruled in his favor. Somewhat. He’s allowed to sell a copy, although whomever buys it will need to have their paperwork in order. They’ll probably also be asked to sign an agreement not to share the spells. Lord Bennett was a physical aspector. From what I could gather, it’s very likely he knew the spell you’re looking for.”
Bacchus straightened, hope spreading its wings. He’d asked both of his men to help him figure out a way around the assembly. Could it be this easy? He didn’t need the opus itself—a copy would give him exactly what he required. “Excellent, Rainer.” He grinned. “Get me a seat at that auction, and you can have the rest of the day to do whatever you please.”
Rainer shrugged. “There is little that interests me here.”
“How about a couple of pounds to spend at the tables?”