The Perilous Sea (The Elemental Trilogy #2)

Mrs. Hancock exhaled slowly. “That was the last time I saw or spoke to him. He returned to the Commander’s Palace three days later and by the next spring he was dead. His death aroused no suspicions—everybody had always assumed he wouldn’t live long; those powers seemed simply too miraculous to go on existing.

“I requested a transfer to the Department of Overseas Administration. In time I was sent to reconnoiter Eton. Mrs. Dawlish had just started her own residence house for the boys. I applied for a position. She took someone else first, but the woman turned out to be unsuitable. I managed to get in a few weeks before His Highness came to the house.

“Now it was just a matter of waiting. The comet came last year. The nonmages were just as excited about it as the mages. Their newspaper reported sightings until February of this year. I thought I was ready but still, when Fairfax came that April, the first evening I was so nervous I could scarcely say grace before dinner.”

Iolanthe was taken aback. “You thought I was the Bane?”

“I thought perhaps you were a scout. Then, this afternoon, West came.”

Titus sent Iolanthe a what-did-I-tell-you look.

“I have seen the Bane quite a few times in my life. When West walked into my office to sign the visitor registry, I thought my knees—and my heart, too—would give out. It was exactly as Icarus had said, When the great comet will have come and gone, the Bane will walk into Mrs. Dawlish’s house at Eton College.

“I watched him at cricket practice—to make sure I hadn’t let some mistaken initial impression overwhelm my judgment. The more I stared at him, the more I was certain it had to be him. I decided that there was no point in waiting longer. I would proceed immediately.

“Imagine my surprise and dismay when I reached his house and found out that he had left only minutes ago—his father had sent for him because his mother was feeling poorly, according to the master of his house. I vaulted to all three of the nearest railway stations. He did not turn up anywhere. Not knowing what else to do, I stole into his room and searched through his possessions. The next thing I knew, Kashkari was in the room with me, a wand in his hand.”

“If the prince told you what I told him,” Kashkari said to Iolanthe, “then you already know that I came to Eton because of what someone said about Wintervale in one of my dreams. But I did not learn, until very recently, that the person who spoke was Mrs. Hancock.

“The prince was convinced that Mrs. Hancock was a loyal agent of Atlantis. I hoped it would be otherwise, but I had no evidence. Then today, Mrs. Hancock came to watch cricket practice, which I thought was odd, since she almost never left the house—”

“I didn’t want to not be here when the Bane walked in,” said Mrs. Hancock.

“Then I saw her from my window, leaving again. I followed her, which led me to West’s residence house. When she went inside West’s room, I decided that I might as well confront her right there.”

“Kashkari said, ‘I am an enemy of the Bane. If you are too, say so now.’ After I recovered from both my shock and fright, I demanded a truth pact.15 With the truth pact in place, we proceeded rather swiftly. And when we dissolved the pact a quarter of an hour later, I recommended that we check school offices for West’s record.

“His father is an Oxford University professor. Neither of us had been to Oxford so we couldn’t vault. Kashkari volunteered his flying carpet. We gave some excuses, skipped supper, and flew to Oxford.

“The family was just sitting down to supper. We hid ourselves in the next room, but it was quite obvious Mrs. West was not in any kind of ill health. Then a girl asked whether her brother would be home for her birthday. And Professor West replied that he had received a letter from West today stating that indeed he would be home Saturday after next.

“Nothing made sense anymore. Why did West disappear? Did someone abduct him on false premises? And if he isn’t the Bane, then what had Icarus meant, exactly, when he said the Bane would walk into Mrs. Dawlish’s house?”

“I felt we ought to speak to you, prince,” said Kashkari. “Mrs. Hancock agreed, because she had heard that your late mother was a seer. If Her Highness left any visions that can be of help to us, please let us know.”

Iolanthe could have predicted to a word what Titus would say and he did not deviate from form.

“Before I help you, I will need a blood oath from the two of you that you are speaking the truth and do not seek to harm Fairfax or me in any sense, now or ever.”

Kashkari nodded. Mrs. Hancock swallowed before she gave a jerky nod. Titus called forth the green flame of veracity and administered the oath. “We will disperse for now and meet back here fifteen minutes after lights-out.”