If anything were needed to stiffen Trelawney’s resolve, it was this.
‘I don’t think it’s about that anymore. I mean … I’d have my own highly specialised department, with challenges I’d never have imagined. It’s not about scaling the heights anymore. Maybe it hasn’t been … for a while.’ He nodded resolutely. ‘So be it. I’m in.’
The sun came up with weak March effort as Trelawney took to the A3 motorway, and Amanda slept on. After many miles, she felt the change in the soothing purr of the engine, as the car slowed. Opening her eyes, she looked around in a daze.
‘Hello,’ smiled Trelawney. ‘I thought you might like some breakfast, stretch your legs and get some fresh air.’
‘Thank you. Yes. Where are we?’
‘Yeovil,’ replied Trelawney parking. ‘Give yourself time to come round. I’ll go and get the pay-and-display ticket.’
By the time he returned, both his passengers were alert and ready for breakfast. They feasted on full English at the Gifl Café in Fork Street.
‘You know, Inspector, I did call Mr Keast and left a message to say I’d be arriving today and left my phone number and email address. If they even have email. Would they have that sort of technology, do you think?’
‘Oo arr, Mestres,’ replied Trelawney unexpectedly, in a broad Cornish accent. ‘We do ‘ave all mod cons in Cornwall. ‘Orseless carriages and even a spinnin’ Jenny!’
Amanda laughed. ‘Oh my word! You’re very good. But you are perfectly well aware that I was talking about solicitors – of the old school – not Cornwall!’
Trelawney chuckled. ‘Too good an opportunity to miss,’ he replied.
Back on the road, Amanda remembered the ball.
‘Will you be there?’
‘I shall do my very best.’
‘We’ll be back in plenty of time for it, won’t we?’ she asked.
‘We have five days before Saturday. I’m sure it won’t take that long to do whatever Mr Keast needs.’
As they neared the border, Amanda became more and more thoughtful. Suddenly she said,
‘I know that scent … It’s moorland … We’re nearly there, aren’t we?’
‘Yes. Dartmoor isn’t far now.’
A few minutes later, Amanda wound down the window.
‘The sea! I can smell the sea.’
Something was churning within her. Her skin was tingling, her vision seemed clearer, all of her senses heightened. She was a mixture of butterflies and certainty, anxious anticipation and serenity. Tempest was awake, head up, eyes alight.
‘We’ll be at the crossing soon,’ said Trelawney.
‘I know,’ said the witch.
Amanda, in the wing mirror, saw Senara and Perran, quietly sitting either side of Tempest, on guard, radar on full, just as they had promised.
Ahead was the sign: Welcome to Cornwall - Kernow a’gas dynergh.
The car sped over the Tamar Bridge, spanning the river, the ancient border between Cornwall and England. A ripple of magical force jolted out through the ether. In a remote room, a head turned restlessly on a pillow. Elsewhere a voice muttered in late morning sleep, ‘She’s come. She’s come.’ In an isolated copse far off, someone sat up with widened eyes and crept more deeply into their shelter. Others, even those without their wits or consciousness, somehow knew: Amanda Cadabra had returned to Kernow.
Chapter 51
Parhayle
‘I thought I’d drive through the town in case any of it’s recognisable,’ Trelawney explained to Amanda. ‘Although rather a lot has changed since you were last here.’
‘I was very little when I left, so I’m not sure what I’d remember.’
On the western edge of the town, the coast road became a lane. At the end, three modest bungalows nestled behind a hedgerow. Trelawney parked in front of the last one.
‘This is it. You should be comfortable here. It’s one of the newest ones, just five years old. Contemporary seaside charm. Indoor plumbing and all!’
Amanda chuckled. ‘I’m sure it will be perfect. You must let me know how much I owe you for its hire.’
‘Not at all, Miss Cadabra. It’s one of my father’s holiday cottages. You are here as our guest, and he would be most offended if you offered payment to either of us.’
‘But this is most kind! He’s never even met me.’
‘Perhaps at some point that can be remedied if you truly wish to thank him in person. But I promise you there is no need.’
Trelawney took Amanda’s luggage to the front door and applied the key. Amanda carried Tempest, who made it clear that he expected to be borne in in splendour.
‘Honestly,’ she protested to him. ‘You weigh a ton. I don’t see why you can’t walk.’
The interior was clean, comfortable and light. The glass wall along the back faced the sea.
‘Oh, this is beautiful! Gracious … I can hardly believe I’m here.’
‘Glad you like it. My father will be pleased. There are two bedrooms if you’d like me to stay over with you, but my flat is only a short distance away.’
‘Thank you, but I’ll be fine. I have my bodyguard.’
‘This one here that you had to carry in with you?’ he asked conversationally with a hint of satire.
‘Just so,’ she said, depositing her armful on the sofa facing the window.
Her phone rang.
‘Oh, I think this … Hello?’
Trelawney tactfully withdrew to the kitchen and set about making tea. Kytto Trelawney had ensured a supply of gingernuts and a fridge full of Cornish treats. Thomas busied himself until Amanda hung up and came to join him.
‘That was the solicitor. A Mr Keast, the one who wrote the letter. He said he can see me this afternoon. At three o’clock.’
‘Don’t you want to rest overnight first?’ enquired the inspector.
‘Yes, but I really want to know what he wants as soon as possible.’
‘That’s fine. Let’s have tea, and then maybe you’d like to have lunch somewhere?’
‘I’m not sure I could eat.’ Amanda put a hand to her solar plexus. ‘I’ve got butterflies … You know, he sounded awfully young.’
‘You sound awfully young,’ returned Trelawney.
‘That’s true, I suppose, and it
