‘You helped a good friend of mine out last year. Zeke Simpson?’
Mallory instantly remembered the affable troll who’d come to her because he wanted to find out more about a business rival. She had supplied him with a detailed report that included various underhand dealings. Last she’d heard, the rival had been serving time at the pleasure of the Magical Enforcement Team. On all fronts, it had been a job well done.
‘I remember Zeke well,’ she said warmly.
Liam Ferguson’s eyes crinkled. ‘He still speaks very highly of you.’
Mallory dipped a curtsey, which was the most that the tightly bound ward allowed. ‘It was a pleasure to help him.’
‘Perhaps I can return the favour and help you now,’ he murmured.
Over his shoulder, Mallory spotted Alison Cole heading her way. ‘Thank you, but I’ve got it covered.’
‘As you wish. Have a good day, Ms Nash.’
‘Call me Mallory.’
‘And I’m Liam.’ He smiled then stepped away, leaving her free to speak to Alison in peace.
The store manager didn’t apologise for Mallory’s predicament though she did click her tongue. ‘I’m sure I told you after last time that you should warn me before you decide to drop by.’
Mallory shrugged. ‘It slipped my mind.’
‘Another twenty minutes and I’d have clocked off for the day. We’ve been having a lot of trouble with over-enthusiastic tourists, and with a high staff turnover it’s not easy to keep track of people like you.’
‘Pathetic squibs with no magic to speak of?’ Mallory enquired lightly.
Alison shot her a wary glance then relaxed when she realised that Mallory wasn’t particularly offended. ‘You’re far from pathetic. As we both know.’
‘You’re too kind.’
Alison snorted. ‘Hardly.’ She reached for a broom and, with the appropriate words to undo the magical ward, swept away the ring of salt. ‘This is one of the good ones,’ she called out to anyone who might be listening. ‘She’s allowed in here whenever she wants.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Don’t you get tired of being treated like a second-class citizen?’
‘I might not be pathetic,’ Mallory told her. ‘But Iama squib. There are less than a hundred of us in Coldstream. Unfairtreatment is par for the course and the situation usually resolves itself fairly quickly. It used to happen several times a day, but after ten years I’m better known. I only have to deal with situations like this a few times a week.’
‘It sounds horrendous.’
‘If I got annoyed about everything I couldn’t change about the world, I’d spend all my days in a state of rage,’ Mallory said. ‘To some Coldstream citizens, I’ll always be a suspicious stranger because I can’t shapeshift or wield a magic spell. I can deal with minor inconveniences if it means I get what I want in the end.’ Most of the time, anyway.
‘Uh-huh.’ Alison regarded her carefully. ‘And what do you want this time?’
Mallory smiled. ‘The best preservation spell you can provide.’
‘Not a problem. We’ve got plenty in stock.’
‘And,’ Mallory crossed her fingers, ‘a bellarmine jug with a useable seal.’
The store manager grimaced. ‘Seriously? A real bellarmine jug?’
‘Yep.’
‘It’s been more than a year since we’ve had any of those. They are not easy to come by.’
‘Can I order one?’
She shrugged. ‘You can try but it could be months before we find one.’
Mallory doubted that Chester Longchamps would be willing to wait that long, especially since the Clouded Map had to be returned to Nicola Sturgess by the end of August. ‘I’ll see if anywhere else sells them.’
