She’s currently swinging merrily from my arm, chattering about a multitude of people I’ve never heard of.
‘… andthenhe found out that she wasalready married. Can you believe it?’
Spinner is, as always, unfailingly cheerful, her face cycling through its repertoire of expressions, which under usual circumstances would cause the tattoos on her cheeks to twist into all manner of different shapes. But since she was forced to accept that most Fidra don’t, in fact, have swirling golden whorls inked into their skin, I helped her paint over them with a dark shade of panstick – the kind used by actors in theatre troupes.
‘So, I asked him what he was going to do –’
‘And what did he say?’ I ask mildly. I’m only half paying attention to the story but I like listening to her talk. Spinner is so sweet, so lively, so animated. So unlike Sheen.
He adjusts the satchel on his shoulder. I don’t think I’ve heard him speak today. I barely know anything about him other than that he’s an Eye and my chaperone and chronically unpleasant. But wait – that’s not all. I do know something else about him, something he never intended for me to find out.
‘Isn’t it only the most gifted Ventalla who’re able flit?’ I direct the question at Sheen’s back, interrupting Spinner’s steady stream of chatter.
Sheen doesn’t even turn round as he says, ‘Correct.’
‘So what does that make you, then?’
‘Play nice,’ warns Spinner.
I hold up my hands in surrender. ‘It’s just a question. Questions start conversations, Spinner dearest. I figure that if I’m going to be spending the next however many weekswith my darling chaperone, the very least we could do is get to know one another.’
Spinner rolls her eyes. Sheen says nothing.
‘Well?’ Antagonizing him in this way is perhaps as unnecessary as it is unprovoked, but in my defence – I’m bored. And I’m bored of Sheen’s morose silence. Maybe I’ll never break through that steadfast wall of composure, but I take considerable pleasure in chipping away at the brickwork. Anything to pass the time.
‘I suppose that would make me exceptionally gifted,’ says Sheen eventually.
‘Someone’s a little full of themselves.’
Spinner elbows me in the ribs in Blaze-like fashion.
‘I have another question,’ I say, wincing.
Sheen sighs. ‘Then by all means, ask away.’
‘What other tricks can you do, besides flitting?’
‘I’m not a performing monkey, Harglade.’
‘Oh, come on,’ I wheedle. ‘Give us a show, why don’t you?’
I watch Sheen’s shoulders rise and fall as he marches across the heather, his white-blonde hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.
‘Not a fan of that question? All right, here’s another. Aside from Spinner and me, who else knows you’re Ventalla?’
Sheen glances to the side, but doesn’t turn round. ‘Keep your voice down.’
I raise an eyebrow. ‘Why? We’re in the middle of nowhere.’
‘Yes, I’m aware of that. I just don’t want to listen to it.’
Now it’s my turn to feel irritated.
Spinner loops her arm through mine again. ‘A word to the wise, Flint, my love. Don’t bother trying to take on Sheen. He’ll eat you alive.’
‘Sounds intimate,’ I tell her.
After several more endless hours of hiking, my feet are beginning to hurt.
