After many thanks to Jack’s dearest Gretchen we emerged from the little mail delivery shop and onto the snow-covered street. Jack shivered and pulled his coat tightly around himself; I smiled, perfectly content.
“You are very mean.” I noted as we continued down the road, I assumed to Jack’s next errand.
Jack grinned, “It’s a tough life.”
“She’s probably in there hyperventilating now.” I smirked.
Jack shrugged, “Well, these things need to be done, kiddo. Not to mention I gained a shiny gold coin as a result of my flirting.”
My mouth opened with a little pop, “You were given enough for an express delivery!”
Jack simply smirked, flipped a gold coin in his hand then pocketed it, quite smug. “Why shouldn’t I keep the difference?” He waved it aside as though he did it all the time, which, I reminded myself, he probably did.
I scowled, and Jack laughed. He knew I wouldn’t tell anyone of course, and he didn’t bother asking me not to mention it.
Jack led me towards the marketplace in the heart of Frost Arch.
“So what was that letter?” I asked.
“Who knows?” Jack mumbled, “The Forsythe Manor keeps in contact with Elvira Frost regularly. It’s best to stay in her good books though.”
“Humph. Does she live far?”
Jack pointed to a mountain in the distance, though it was still within Frost Arch’s vast walls.
A large intimidating mountain rose above everything else in this city, its top disappearing into the heavy clouds. I could only assume that Elvira Frost resided at the top of the mountain, probably in a Manor ten times larger than the Forsythe’s. It was oddly familiar.
“How do people get up there?” I wondered aloud, “Or down?”
Jack frowned, “The Creeley twins. Xander and Benjamin. They have the Power of teleportation. One stands guard at the bottom of the mountain while the other stands at the top. They can also communicate with each other using their minds. It’s complicated. It’s like they can teleport their thoughts to one another. Efficient for old Frosty up there.”
“So they teleport visitors to the top, communicate and pass messages for her?”
“Pretty much.” Jack looked uncomfortable, and I wondered if he held some kind of grudge against the Creeley twins, “So you can only get up there if they let you, or if you can fly, like R?ven back there.”
“She’s allowed to go straight up?”
“Yeah, she’s a recognised mail carrier, so no one really pays much attention to her. Quiet thing she is. I’ve never heard her speak a word.” He trailed off in thought.
I suddenly remembered something from my very first day in Frost Arch. I remembered leaving the Power-Seer headquarters and hearing an explosion come from that mountain. An explosion that made the very ground shake.
I told Jack about this, and asked whether it had anything to do with Elvira Frost seeing as she lived there.
Jack nodded, “Yes, I remember that too. I was in the marketplace. Then I met you just a few minutes later. No doubt it was Frosty.”
“That noise was her fault?”
“That noise was probably her throwing a tantrum.”
I looked at Jack with a frown, “A tantrum?”
Jack sighed, “It’s not really a good topic.” He said uncomfortably.
“Why?”
Jack rolled his eyes, “She’s a bit Power-crazy.” He admitted, “She doesn’t like it when things don’t go her way.”
“Formidable?” I assumed.
“Very.”
I bit my lip. I sure didn’t want to cross this lady. Ever. Yet I wondered what she had been so mad about that it had caused an earthquake.
I thought it best to change the subject, “So where are we going now?”
“Shopping.” He said simply.
I asked Jack about the other things in the city that I hadn’t gotten a chance to see yet.
“Well there’s a cosy little tea shop beyond the marketplace.”
I smiled, “Is that where you take the ladies?”
Jack made a face, “Well … it’s nice … for women.” He shrugged it off, “Anyway, we have a theatre that holds plays every so often. Regular horse and cart services pretty much everywhere, as well as plenty of dirty, disgusting taverns filled with an assortment of unwashed men … though the barmaids are quite-” Jack cleared his throat and continued, “Of course there are lots of business that revolve directly around people’s Powers.”
“Like what?” I pressed.
Jack huffed, “Well … the Messenger Service shop, for example, only hires people who are swift moving, or have the ability to get places quickly and efficiently.” He explained, “Just like Madame Feather of the Arch Theatre.” Jack’s expression slipped into a dream like fashion.
“Madame Feather?” I suppressed a laugh.
“Yes, well, it’s obvious why the entertainment industry hires her.” Jack seemed to be momentarily dumbfounded by the memory. He shook his head suddenly and composed himself by clearing his throat.
“Ah. Madame Feather is … well … it’s an odd Power she has.” Jack mused, “She sings, but it’s so pretty, you forget who you are. It affects everyone differently. Sometimes people cry, pass out, or become spontaneously aroused.”