The carriage rocked to a halt. Al stole a quick look at the gentleman sat beside him. He knew nothing of him. He had just been sent away and told that the man was his new master. Al didn't trust the authorities would always have his best interest at heart, he was too wise for that but what choice did he have? If he turned out to be a bad master he could always run away. Taking comfort from the thought he swallowed the tears back. The man bellowed suddenly.
"Be quick man, there is a storm coming."
The gentleman was right. Al could feel it thickening the air, making his mind foggy. The carriage swayed as the wind buffeted round it. The gentleman sat back into his seat and lent his elbow on the window sill, propping his fist under his jaw. The light from the street lamp caught the sharp angle of his jaw and the tight line of his mouth. Feeling the cold indifference leaking from the man, Al fought back a new wave of desperation. What if he couldn't run away, escape back to the work house and his mother? A wave of desperate loneliness shivered through him.
"Coming sir," the drivers voice called above the whistling wind. Al watched the driver push hard against the huge iron gates. They swung smoothly open. Leaning into the wind and holding his heart tight against his head he jogged back to the carriage.
The carriage jolted and then began to rattle as it moved forward. Al fought not to be thrown against the gentleman but the seats were sprung and he bounced violently as they rolled over the cobbles.
In the darkness he could make out the low buildings of the stable block and then a large house to his right; shadowed and lifeless but for a faint light glowing from four tall arched windows. Al thought about the coloured glass he had seen in the church windows but this was all together much grander.
"They represent the four element," the gentleman said. "You do know of the elements don't you?" Al was silent and then the gentleman sighed. "Alas they fail to educate the poor." He tilted his jaw and glanced at the windows. Taking a long breath he began. "The four elements consist of: earth, air, water and fire. They are elemental , the basis of all things. Do you understand?"
Al nodded feeling his face flush in humiliation. The gentleman shook his head in disbelief. "You have a lot to learn but for now it is enough to know that we sell animals from all the four elements," he concluded with a slight flick of his wrist.
Al wanted to ask which animals came from the element of fire but the carriage had drawn to a halt and the gentleman had gone rigid beside him. Al stared at him as uncertainty prickled across his shoulders. Looking past the gentleman he could see six black horses tethered to a large carriage.
"Clarrissa," the gentleman hissed. He span to glare at Al. "You stay in the carriage. It's important that..."
"Lasenby, my darling."
A look of dark hatred passed over the gentleman's face and then he closed his eyes and fixed a smile of his face before turning to face the woman.
In one smooth movement he unfastened the door and sprang from the carriage, blocking the woman's view inside.
"Clarrissa," he said coldly, "and what do I owe this pleasure?"
The woman shifted so that Al could see her. Her face was almost covered by a dark hood but her eyes shone from the shadows, pretty, like a cats. She smiled and then the rain began. Great wet droplets falling on her, wetting her pale cheeks as she tilted her head so she could meet Lasenby square in the eyes.
"This weather," she laughed lightly, raising the palm of her hand so the rain could bounce down onto it. "have you ever heard of such thing?" Al watched her face become serious, her eyes challenging. Lasenby was like a statue. "I see how it is to be," she breathed. She glanced at the carriage, her eyes fixing on Als. "So Lasenby, what have we here," she took a step towards Al but Lasenby moved to block her.
"I'll ask you again Clarrissa, why are you here?"
She gave a sigh and placed a hand on Lasenby's arm. "Now, now, aren't you going to show me inside? It truly is an evil wind that blows this evening."
"What you have to say to me can be said here."
She withdrew her hand quickly. "So be it. I wish to appoint your services in the procurement of the golden sphinx."
Lasenby barked a laugh at her. "I might source exotic animals for the wealthy but a sphinx, they are...."
"Magical," she whispered gazing into the darkness and the rain.
"I was going to say mythical." The sharpness of his tone brought the ladies attention back to the present.
"Mythical, magical, it's all the same. You should know that. This is such an important discovery for the Order that...."
Lasenby held up his gloved hand. "You are wasting my time Clarrissa." He turned away from her.
The woman seemed to grow in height and authority. "Consider your position as a member of the Inner Circle. It is your responsibility to go."
"I have heard enough," Lasenby said sharply. Al started as he sensed the man's eyes on him. "Inside now, and be quick about it," he ordered.
Grabbing his bag from the seat , Al swung down through the open door onto the cobbles but his mind tightened and no matter how much he wanted to move he couldn't feel his legs.
"Ah yes," the woman purred. "It seems you have found Francesca's son. She wouldn't have seen such a treasure lost to the Order."
"Do not speak of her." Lasenby's voice was tight with threat and the woman shrank away.
"Your disregard for the Order would turn her cold." The woman whispered. Lasenby's eyes narrowed, glittering dangerously.
"Get away from me witch."
"Then I have no choice but to offer you that which you crave so dearly."
Ignoring her, Lasenby grabbed Al by the elbow and forced him towards the door.
"You can have nothing that I desire."
"You are many things Lasenby but you were never a liar."
Al felt the fingers on his arm tighten and bite into his muscle. Lasenby stopped and turned back to the woman.
"Then give me what I desire."
There was a long silence. Al looked from Lasenby's cold impassive face to the woman's glittering eyes of triumph and then back again. The rain washed over them. The wind howled. Finally the woman inclined her head.
"Perhaps we should go inside," she smiled.
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