All of the embarrassment from a few mornings ago flooded back. The boy’s success in magic. Her humiliating vacation of the table. Why did Rupert, of all people, have to see her shame?
‘I have some things I need from the market,’ said Theodora, holding up a list. ‘And the two of you—’ she glanced between Dot and Rupert ‘—are going to retrieve them for me.’
That afternoon, Theodora, Dot and Rupert stepped out of the portal and onto the busy thoroughfare for which the Market District was known.
‘I’ll walk you in,’ said the witch. ‘But once we’re there, I have some business and you’ll have to go on without me.’
‘We’ll manage,’ said Dot, and Rupert nodded.
But when Theodora stepped in front of them to avoid a gaggle of school children, Rupert shot Dot a look of utter despondence.
‘Excuse me!’ came a voice.
The three of them turned to see a greying police officer chasing after them. Before the officer even had time to explain that she had seen the portal, that it was her job to validate their right to use magic, that she meant no offence, Theodora produced three official licences of magic.
‘Ah,’ said the officer. She checked each for the King’s seal and then nodded. ‘Very good. On your way, then.’
‘What was my name this time?’ whispered Rupert, as they made their way through the crowd.
‘Elmer Allan James.’
‘And me?’ asked Dot.
‘Gladys Merrilies,’ said Theodora. ‘Really, I should be selling licences instead of packet spells. How many other people have access to the King’s seal? Imagine the money.’
‘How much money does a single person need?’ asked Dot jovially. ‘Surely between your work for the King and all the packet spell sales, you couldn’t possibly require more.’
Rupert rolled his eyes at her. Theodora smiled tightly, and Dot, confused by what small offence she had caused this time, fell silent, her chattiness extinguished once again by the sense that she had never in her life said a single thing right.
They trotted across the pavement and down a street of cream-coloured buildings that had lanterns strung between them like drying clothes. At last, they came to a red brick building with square turrets and a sign above the door that read:Alliaster Central Market.They entered and found themselves in a throng of spirits and shoppers – babbling, chatting, juggling produce and shoutingover one another. They passed a large spirit with a mottled face selling mushrooms. They passed a butcher who had climbed up on a step stool and was spruiking his smallgoods by yelling into a loudhailer. Dot stumbled into a throng of Ghistian grandmothers and Theodora took her arm and tugged her out of the way.
‘Mind your feet,’ said Theodora. ‘Now, I’m off to find Casimir. We’ll meet back by the entrance in about an hour.’
‘Casimir?’ asked Dot.
‘A friend,’ said the witch.
Rupert snorted.
‘Mind your business, you,’ said Theodora, ruffling his hair.
‘Will do,’ said Rupert. He took the shopping list from her. Theodora disappeared into the crowd, her dark hair bobbling along until it was lost to the ocean of shoppers.
‘Shall we get the fish first?’ asked Dot.
‘And have it go off?’ asked Rupert, appalled. ‘You should always buy the fish and chicken last.’
‘Not in Seafarthing,’ said Dot. ‘The vegetables you buy depend on the fish.’
‘Well, we’re not in your little village now, are we?’
Rupert took off toward the mushroom seller and she had little choice but to follow. They worked mostly in silence, the boy of not yet seventeen taking her to the cheesemonger, the flour miller, the egg purveyor, the greengrocer and the spice seller. She paid for each item from Theodora’s borrowed purse and soon the small, black trolley Rupert wheeled behind himself was full of wrapped parcels. Once or twice, Rupert had tried to begin conversation in an almost conciliatory way, as if he felt bad, but Dot ignored him.
‘Just the fishmonger’s left,’ said Rupert at last. She simply shrugged and followed on until they made their way toOscarde’s Fine Imported Fish.
‘Good to see you, Master Armstrong!’
The grocer was a tall man with a wide belly. He glanced warmly at Dot and then back to Rupert. ‘What can I assist you with today?’
