You can read the story so far from the beginning here
Hilary hurried into the Village Stores. “Is Lord Peregrine here?” she asked. “I’m trying to get final numbers for the Solstice Feast and I need to get hold of Cabus. And I was hoping that I can borrow some of the big trays and pans from the kitchen here.” She trailed off. “Alison, are you alright?”
Alison forced a wan smile as she cleared a café table. “My kids are off with my ex-husband’s parents for a few days,” she said. “It’s part of the deal to keep them away from my ex. They’ll be back on the 27th.”
Hilary took the tray from her hands. “I know that you’ll miss them,” she said. “But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”
Alison burst into tears.
Hilary guided her gently into the kitchen, away from the interested stares of the customers, and sat her down on a chair. “I’ll make you a nice cup of tea,” Hilary said. “And you can tell me all about it.”
Paul stuck his head into the kitchen. “Is everything alright?”
Alison shook her head. “I’m glad that the boys are off with their grandparents,” she said. “I’ve been so worried.” She looked up at Hilary. “They may have to stay with them.”
“What are you talking about?” Hilary asked. “You dote on those kids.”
Alison shook her head. “I think that I’ve been sleepwalking,” she whispered. “I go to bed and everything’s normal, but when I wake up, I’m still exhausted and there are muddy clothes everywhere.”
“You mean the kids’ clothes?” Hilary shook her head. “Kids are always getting muddy and somehow their clothes multiply.”
“No, it’s not their clothes, but mine,” Alison said. “I wake up and the clothes that were clean and in my wardrobe are now covered in dirt and on the floor.” She clutched Hilary’s hand. “I must have been outside in them – and my boys were alone in the house. What if there was a fire? What if something happened to me while I was wandering around out there and they were left alone?” She swallowed convulsively. “I even checked the garden and there’s no sign that I’ve been digging around there, so that means that I went further, right? What about my kids?”
“Oh Alison!” Hilary patted her hand. “Try not to worry. I’ll help you sort it out. I know that you’d never willingly risk your children.”
A flicker ran over Paul’s face. “You should come and stay with us,” he said. “There’s plenty of room, and we can keep an eye on the doors to the outside.” He patted her shoulder. “I’m sure that it’s nothing, but staying with Hilary can reassure you.”
“I couldn’t,” Alison said.
Hilary squeezed her hands. “I think that it’s a great idea,” she said. “It’s going to be a little crazy for the next few days, but then you can relax in the quiet without worrying.” She looked back at Paul. “That’s an excellent idea. Alison could do with a little care, not to mention some decent food.”
“I’m fine,” Alison said. “Well, apart from sleepwalking and exhaustion.” Her strained smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m eating properly.”
“No you’re not,” Hilary contradicted. “All your energy is going on those sons of yours and you make do with a sandwich when you have a moment. A few square meals will do you the world of good.”
“We’d be happy to have you,” Paul added. “And you’ll know whether or not something is going on. You’ll be in a place to make connections.”
Hilary nodded. “Alison, get your coat and go and pack up some things. I know that you’ll only be next door, but I want you to be able to save your energy so pack up plenty of clothes.” She patted her shoulder. “Then go straight to Rowan Cottage. I’ll make sure that Tom and Lord Peregrine don’t argue, and I’ll be ready at the cottage with a nice cup of tea and we can get you settled.” She looked hard into Alison’s eyes. “If you’re not thinking of yourself, think of your boys. You need to be in a state to look after them when they get home.”
Alison’s shoulders sagged. “They’ll be off kilter with the disruption,” she said. “I mean, his parents are okay, but…”
“Then you’ll need to be rested and ready for them,” Hilary said. “Go!”
The cottage was warm and welcoming when Tom and Paul finally got back to the cottage and the kitchen felt overflowing. Alison already had a little more colour in her cheeks and was sat at the kitchen table, peeling potatoes. Hilary was fussing around Cabus who was sipping black tea and reading through one of the notebooks, taking copious notes. Samgan was sitting quietly in a corner watching Bracken as she fussed over a tray of shortbread fresh from the oven.
“I see that they’ve put you to work, Alison,” Paul joked. “Are you staying for dinner?”
Hilary looked at him, baffled. “Of course she is. She’s staying here for at least a week. I’m not going to chase her out at mealtimes.”
“When was that decided?” Paul asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see you, but I thought that you’d be looking after your lads. Are they going to be here too?”
Hilary stood, focused and still. “Paul, it was your suggestion. Don’t you remember that?”
Paul was taking off his jacket, but he paused. “I don’t remember,” he said softly. “And it’s worrying. There have been a few gaps in my memory over the last few days, and that seems to be one of them.” He swallowed. “I think that I may have been sleepwalking, but perhaps less obviously, as I was waking up still tired.” He looked at Alison. “I felt drained and exhausted, even though I’d apparently had a full night’s sleep.”
Alison nodded. “That’s how I feel,” she said.
“My exhaustion disappeared when I added extra wards to my room,” Paul said. “But I was still getting gaps in my memory, especially while I was at work.”
A chill ran through the room. “I’ve not been affected,” Hilary said. “But I automatically warded my room when I moved in here, and I’ve done all of my work rooms. I just think it’s good practice for a witch.” She looked at Tom. “Before I knew you, I was a little nervous, so your room got extra wards as well. I needed to know that you’d be safe in all sorts of ways.”
“I has had no ill effects, and no gaps,” Bracken said. “But it may be that brownies are not charmed.”
“Our nature is not susceptible to charms or any types of possession,” Samgan said. “I wish that I could use possession as an excuse for my former egregious behaviour, but it was the imprisonment and twisted magical flow that affected me. I cannot exculpate myself further.”
“I don’t want to be alarmist,” Cabus said. “If things were different then I’d suggest getting a carbon monoxide alarm or perhaps a visit to a doctor. However, we have a malevolent spirit in the cellar.”
“We have carbon monoxide detectors all over the cottage,” Hilary said. “I did a full fire risk assessment as part of the regulations for opening this as a B&B. The carbon monoxide detectors were part of that.” She pulled a face. “Though they obviously missed the cellar in their assessment. And you all seem in good health to me, although some need to be taking more rest.” She looked pointedly at Samgan and Alison. “I don’t know about the spirit.” She shuddered. “It felt so… evil but there were protective symbols on the floor. Even though it stirred when I first went down there, whatever it is should have been trapped there.”
Samgan looked down at the floor. “I may have inadvertently contributed to this problem,” he said softly. “I found myself affected in the room.” His head hung lower. “I stumbled around as I fled from the bookshelves. I may have affected any wards by walking where I shouldn’t or knocking things over. All I could hold in my mind at the time was escape. Looking back…” He swallowed and hunched his shoulders. “I seem to remember knocking into shelves.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself,” Hilary said firmly. “You are a hero for bringing those notebooks up, especially as you were weakened.”
“And there can’t be too much damage to the wards down there or there would be more than just a few missing moments,” Cabus said. “However, I have to agree with Hilary. It’s not impossible that there are mundane explanations, but we must take precautions. I’ll contact Lord Peregrine. Action must be taken, and it should start tonight.”
