“Steal food, yes.” Jack confirmed, “You’re coming too. There’s no way I’m letting you wander the grounds alone, Redding.”
I sighed and stood up reluctantly, giving Hawthorne one last pet before I left. From the corner of my eye I saw him trot back towards his stall. For a creature so large he certainly was lithe.
“Maybe we can go for a fly tonight, Hawthorne.” I called back into the stables as Jack grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away.
As we walked back towards the manor I scanned the nearby forest for any movement or dark shadows hiding. I couldn’t see anything at all and assumed that perhaps Camryn had frightened Swaggart off. I shuddered and Jack noticed, mistaking it for cold. He slung his arm over my shoulder once again like he had done this morning. It made me feel quite comfortable. It was an action of friendship, something that I wasn’t used to really, but it felt right. I wrapped my arm around his waist in response.
“Jack,” I began, “Sometimes I get the feeling Camryn doesn’t like me.”
Jack thought for a moment, “It’s hard to tell with Cam. She’s always so irritable. Sometimes I wonder if she likes me too.”
“You two argue a lot.” I pointed out.
“It wasn’t always like that.” Jack recalled, “We used to get along fine.”
“What happened?”
Jack laughed nervously, “Puberty, I guess.” I smiled and watched my feet as we strolled through the snow, “Girls get frightening when they get older.”
I laughed, “Sometimes.”
“We were best friends as kids. We’re still close, but we get on each other’s nerves easily. Or rather, I get on her nerves these days.”
“You are rather annoying.” I agreed.
Jack gave me a kidney jab with his free hand and I scowled, rubbing my side.
“We just grew apart as we got older.” Jack finished.
“Girls do mature faster than boys.” I reasoned.
“I guess. Maybe I’ll catch up in a few years then.”
However my train of thought was on a completely different track. After all, I was a girl and I knew how most females should think.
“Jack, you don’t suppose … perhaps Camryn bickers with you all the time because she fancies you?”
“She what?” Jack laughed, “Not blood likely.”
I shrugged, “Just a theory.”
We fell silent then and lapsed into thought. I could see the clockwork going in Jack’s head as he thought the idea over. I didn’t quite believe it myself, but girls were tricky things and had different ways of showing feelings. Jack was often thinking about girls. Perhaps Camryn was bitter because he had never asked her out before. Jack would probably think it was weird, dating a childhood friend. Or had they dated in their adolescence? Perhaps it hadn’t worked out. They were two very different people. I thought they would make an awful couple, quite frankly.
“Will you come with me tomorrow?” Jack interrupted my thoughts.
“Where?” I inquired.
Jack smirked, “To ask R?ven Blacklock on a date.”
I groaned, “Why do I have to be there?”
“Moral support.” Jack shrugged, “You can wait outside while I sweep her of her feet, then we can trot along to other business.”
I grumbled, “Fine.”
Jack gave me a squeeze and we entered through the kitchens, Jack instantly plotting to seal some food.
The following morning when I was doing my rounds and lighting the fires manually, Charles caught up with me and we had a highly expected conversation. I had been waiting for this.
“Miss Redding, I’m afraid to say that this can’t go on much longer.”
I sighed and dusted my charcoal hands against my uniform, which was quite black with soot, “I know sir, and I’m trying.”
Charles nodding in understanding, “Master Forsythe doesn’t know about your little problem yet, so hopefully you will have it sorted out before he does.”
I nodded, “I’ll try my best to get my Power working soon.”
Charles pursed his lips, “If the Master finds out, well, I’m afraid to say that he won’t hesitate to remove you from the staff.”
I kept silent but nodded, my heart pounding hard. I didn’t want to lose my job. It would be so very damaging for my ego, which was fragile enough.
Naturally I told Jack what Charles has said about me losing my job. Worried lines formed on Jack’s forehead, and I knew he would be devastated if I left.
“Don’t worry.” He promised me, “We’ll figure something out.”
“I hope so.” I said moodily as we walked into the city together.
I had never seen all of Frost Arch. It was far too vast to walk from one side to the other in a day, and I wasn’t very fit. The only places I had seen were the marketplace and its surrounding shops. In the distance stood the terrifying mountain of Elvira Frost; much too far to walk from the marketplace, so I assumed people got around all day by horse and cart.