After Opening

Photo by Brenna Huff on Unsplash

You can read the story so far from the beginning here

Lord Peregrine looked around the Village Stores. The floor was covered in mud, the shelves were a mess and full of gaps, the café area was overflowing with dirty crockery and empty food trays, and the till was surrounded with loose paper bags and discarded receipts. “The opening day has been a success,” he announced. “We deserve pizza!”

Tom sagged against the counter. “We’ve taken a fortune,” he said. “I mean, a real fortune. And as half of the customers haven’t heard of debit cards, we have a serious bank deposit to make.”

Paul dropped into a café chair. “I thought it would all be small purchases, you know, people would call in and see what it was like and then maybe pick up a small tin of beans or something. Instead, they were buying bags full of stuff, like, enough for a week.”

“Jed called in and said that he’d had more customers than usual,” Tom said wearily. “He said that he didn’t expect it, but people were buying all the meat and chilled stuff up as they had called in here and didn’t need to bother with the supermarket if they got their fresh stuff at the Farm Shop.”

Alison came in from the kitchen and started loading up another trayful of dirty cups. “It’s been a little…” She shook her head. “We’ve loaded up the dishwasher again and Bracken is doing the rest of the crockery by hand, Hilary has more or less got the kitchen in order and she’s making lists of the cooking that she’s going to have to take on with Bracken.” She looked around. “Once I’ve got the tables cleared, do you want me to start bringing out stock?”

Paul’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t want to do anything,” he said. “I want to go home and have a hot shower.” He looked around the devastated stores. “But I don’t want to come into this in the morning.” He pushed himself to his feet and looked over to Tom. “I’ll start straightening the shelves. Why don’t you ring in a new bread order and then bring out the new stock.” He looked pensively at the shelves. “I didn’t realise that we’d sell so many pickles.”

“The shelves with the cleaning supplies are almost empty,” Tom said. “I’ll start there, after I’ve rung in a new bread order.” He looked at the space that had been filled with bread. “Do you think Hilary or Bracken could put some bread together for tomorrow first thing, because the van only gets here mid-morning and people will almost certainly be calling in early.”

“It surely won’t be this busy?” Alison said. “Because if it is, you may need me full time.”

Tom puffed out his cheeks. “It can’t keep on this busy,” he said. “We’re a bit of a novelty, and it always gets crazy in the run up to Christmas. I mean, we’re new and people want the gossip, and it’s horrible shopping in the supermarkets at this time of year.” A thought struck him. “Unless this isn’t natural.” He turned to Lord Peregrine. “Did you cast any sort of spell to get people here?”

“I didn’t think of that,” Lord Peregrine said thoughtfully. “Do you think that I should?”

“Don’t you dare!” Hilary snapped, coming out of the kitchen with a list. “We’re out of everything except the oregano scones, and we all know that they were a failure.”

“But you baked a multitude of biscuits and cakes,” Lord Peregrine said.

“And there was enough demand that Tom sold some over the counter by the half-dozen,” Hilary said. “I’m going to need to get some ingredients from your stores.”

“You thought that I was over-buying, didn’t you?” Lord Peregrine said. “But even the gloves are selling.”

“I’ll need to go to the wholesaler for this,” Tom said, glancing down the list. “We’re running low on a lot of it.”

Paul put his hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Ring in the bread order, ask Hilary nicely about making bread, put in the order for the wholesaler delivery, then have a cup of tea before sorting out the shelves.”

“Before you do any of that, order that pizza,” Hilary said. “Bracken and I already have a long evening ahead of us, getting ahead of these orders, and now you want to add bread to it! You could at least send out for food that we haven’t made.”

Lord Peregrine frowned. “That is an excellent idea,” he said. “I shall send for Samgan, we shall have pizza, and we shall plan the solstice feast.” He smiled happily at Hilary. “Then we shall proceed with preparing the Village Stores for tomorrow.”

“I can’t stay,” Alison said. “I’ve got to get back to my kids.”

Hilary took in Alison’s pale face, her drooping shoulders and the tense lines around her eyes. “You’re dead on your feet. Put the tray down, get your coat and bag and go.” She glared at Lord Peregrine. “Alison should have left here nearly an hour ago.”

Lord Peregrine looked confused. “But there is so much to do.”

Hilary shook her head. “I forgot that I was dealing with the fae,” she grumbled. “Alison is getting paid for a certain amount of time, not for a certain amount of work. She has done more than that time, and not only is she exhausted but she has young children that are waiting for her and it’s Yvette looking after them, being paid for time, and now that’s out of joint.”

Lord Peregrine winced. “I am in your debt,” he said.

“Don’t discuss it now!” Hilary told Alison. “You don’t want to be bothering with Fae and favours.” She took the tray from Alison’s hands. “Go!”

 

Hilary and Bracken cleared the café as Alison left, then Hilary turned to Lord Peregrine. “I can’t possibly manage a solstice feast for you, not with all the baking that Bracken and I have done today.”

“Of course you can,” Lord Peregrine said breezily. “And it shouldn’t be too bad tomorrow. This was everyone coming to see what the Village Stores was like. I’m sure that the place will be practically empty tomorrow.”

“I don’t know,” Tom said. “I know a few people were coming here for bread tomorrow, and after we sold out of biscuits, well, I took some orders.” He pulled a scrap of paper and handed it warily to Hilary, who growled.

Bracken stared at Hilary, then took the list. “Oh! I see why Miss Hilary growled.” She glared at Tom. “If I was able to growl, I would also do that. This is a hard task.”

“Did you take deposits for the orders?” Hilary asked, then growled again as Tom nodded. “I’m never going to sleep!”

“I’ll get the pizza ordered, then we can work out what we need to do next,” Tom said. He held up placating hands. “I’ll make you a nice cup of tea.”

Paul sank back down into his chair and a flicker passed over his face. “What’s this about the solstice feast?” he asked.

Lord Peregrine smiled happily. “The solstice feast is being held at Mistress Hilary’s home. It will be glorious.” He tilted his head. “Don’t you remember the discussion?”

“Tell me more,” Paul said.

“My home is not under your rule!” Hilary said. “I want this nipped in the bud right now.”

“But everyone in your household is invited to the feast,” Lord Peregrine argued. “And the alternative is going to Lord Magnus, who has a smaller home, Cabus, who has a much smaller lair, or my hall which is cold, damp and has bad cooking.”

“I shall tell Auntie Olive and Auntie Ivy that you said that,” Bracken said.

Lord Peregrine waved it away. “I will be generous financially,” he said.

“I’m going to be making a fortune as it is if I’m cooking for the shop,” Hilary said. “I’ll be making fourteen dozen biscuits just for the orders, plus trying to stock the café.”

“The kitchen here is very nice for baking in quantity,” Lord Peregrine said. “Tom is putting in orders as we speak…”

“I’m putting in the pizza order,” Tom said.

Lord Peregrine ignored the interjection. “And, besides, I know that your son is visiting over Christmas, but the solstice feast will be early so your dear child need not be involved.”

“You mean that I’ll have less time to prepare?” Hilary snapped.

“My plan is to remove the stones before the Solstice,” Lord Peregrine said. “I want to get them moved before the tides of the power reach their full height. If there is anything nefarious planned by whatever is in that cellar, I don’t want them to be able to power it during the surge of the longest night.” There was a long pause, broken by a knock on the door before Samgan let himself into the shop. Lord Peregrine waved him over. “Please, Samgan, take a seat.

“I am very glad to be here,” Samgan said, quietly taking a seat. “I can tell that today has been a successful day.”

“Either that or it was raided by Vikings,” Tom said. He caught Bracken’s eye. “I’m making a joke. It was a very successful day and the till is absolutely crammed. I’m going to have to make a trip to the bank to deposit the cash.”

“I shall take it to my chamber,” Lord Peregrine said.

“You’ll still have to pay tax on it,” Tom said.

Lord Peregrine ignored him. “Samgan, you are in time for pizza,” he said. “And we need to discuss the solstice feast.”

Samgan smiled at Hilary. “I believe that you must yield to the inevitable. Lord Peregrine will not consider an alternative. But you should charge fairly, and Lord Peregrine should be responsible for logs for the fire and candles.”

“That seems extremely reasonable,” Lord Peregrine said. “I’ve seen your dining room and I’m sure that you can fit everyone in.”

Hilary started counting on her fingers. “How many will be coming?”

Paul’s face flickered again. “What do you mean, moving the stones?”

“Cabus will be studying the notebooks, with some help from Paul and Mistress Hilary,” Lord Peregrine said. “Now that we know that they’re the problem, we need to get them out of the ground. I want that done before the peak at the Solstice. It will need to be done carefully, and it will be tricky work, but it must be possible.”

“It’s not possible,” Paul said flatly.

“Of course it is,” Lord Peregrine said. “I propose that we start at first light, then work methodically. I’ll summon my entire court, and I hope that I can count on you and Hilary. Then, after it is all finished, we can celebrate with the feast.”

Hilary sighed and sat down next to Paul. “I’ll make the feast, and I daresay that I’ll end up making it next year as well, but I’m not making feasts for all the festivals,” she added, waving a finger at Lord Peregrine. “I’m not a member of your court.” Lord Peregrine said nothing but looked smug.

Paul’s head sagged. “I’m sorry, I think that I zoned out there for a moment,” he said. “We were getting pizza.”

“The pizza should be here imminently,” Samgan said. He peered at Paul. “You look tired. Perhaps I should cover your work tonight.”

“Not at all!” Paul said. “You’re supposed to be resting after being a hero and going into the cellar.” He accepted a mug of tea from Bracken with a smile of thanks. “But I admit to feeling a little drained. I think that I’ll put some extra wards around the room, just to keep my energy in.”

“That is no doubt a wise precaution,” Samgan said. “And the pizza arrives!”

 

***

 

The clock was striking midnight when Alison’s eyes snapped open. She sat up and threw the covers back before slipping silently out of bed and quickly dressing. She walked past her sons’ rooms without pausing, down the stairs and, catching up an oversized hoodie, she stepped outside, closing the door carefully behind her.

With the hood pulled up and down over her face, and the zip pulled high over her chin, it was almost impossible to see Alison’s face, but she was still cautious as she picked her way down her drive, along the road and carefully into the woods down the hill from Rowan Cottage. It was away from any street lights, and there was no moon, but Alison didn’t hesitate despite the darkness. She headed unerringly to a stone set a little way back from the rest, a pivot point for the energy. She glanced around quickly, then started gathering the dried grasses and sticks around the clearing, carefully heaping the debris around the stone until it was completely covered. It took time, and she was wet and muddy by the time she stepped back, but she seemed indifferent as she walked back to her home with the same purposeful and unemotional pace. The clock was chiming two when she locked the door, walking without hesitation past her sons’ rooms and then mechanically got ready for bed. Sliding in, she was tense for a moment, then her eyes closed and she curled onto her side as her breathing evened out and she slept.