Author: Erica Drayton Writes

EPISODE 4 of 12 – Sleight of Hand

While visiting a magician hall to visit an old rival of Felix’s for help to get them closer to finding a murderer, Charisma, Felix, and Flossie meet the Great Davoren. He manages to shed some more light on Felix before the king’s guardsmen arrive.

TOLD FROM THE POV OF CHARISMA

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“I can’t believe we’re riding together in the same carriage with…with…” Flossie fumed so much she could hardly finish her sentence.

“Yes, alright. So what if he’s the once and former Carnelian? That shame is not our shame. He’s chosen to deal with it the only way he knows how. Granted, it’s been by hiding,” she said, with a nod in Felix’s direction. He simply folded his arms and gave a short but no less curt grunt. “We’re on our way to Ember Hall. A ride which he’s graciously paying for. What we hope to learn there is less a concern to me, as we still have no way of actually gaining entry.”

“Your sweet words could charm the morning dew off a withered away tree branch, Ms. Price. Were I not well beyond my years I might take offense. But, all that is in the past and I intend to keep it there.” He stared daggers at Flossie who returned them. 

She wasn’t about to let what he’d done to the entire magician community go unscathed by her tongue. True, they needed him for now but when the time was right she would let him know exactly how she felt and hope she never had to lay eyes on him again. “As I said before, I’m acquainted with Ember Hall. It wasn’t my former place to use but I had a friend who practices there.”

Flossie sucked her teeth at his claim. “I doubt you had friends back then or now. You really think someone there will recognize you and just let us walk right in? You’re daft as well as old.”

The transition from upper Wondermere to lower was a rocky one as the roads became less dirt and more cobblestone. It was easier to clean but no less bumpier for the convenience. As the carriage bounce and rocked slightly their conversation ceased.

Ember Hall was located just inside of lower Wondermere, as most magician halls are required to be. Their purpose is to provide a space where magicians can practice  their acts prior to a performance in a theater or the colosseum. Ember Hall is only the second oldest hall in existence and has a reputation for dealing in magic most unusual. It’s no secret that secrets can be hard to come by when it comes to magicians so they take care not to let outsiders enter their hall without prior permission. It’s the sole reason why there can be just as many halls as there are magician acts. No one is willing to share the space.

But it’s a lucrative business, usually managed by the king who provides the space for nothing, so long as they perform their act, when called upon, at the colosseum. Also for nothing. It’s an exchange that some magicians have found unfair. Especially, under current times when halls are opening without the king’s supervision, providing their own security, and therefore no need to promise anything to a king or ruling family who needs magicians to remain relevant.

Ember Hall is one of the few places not owned by the king and therefore considered dangerous for many reasons. Chief among them is harboring fugitives who are hiding from the law for any number of reasons. For the right price anyone can seek shelter at Ember Hall. So why not this very much dead stranger.

The carriage slowed to a trot and then stopped outside of Ember Hall. It was the middle of the night but halls seldom, if ever, close. Some magicians have been known to sleep at their hall just in case someone tried to break in to steal their act or uncover their secrets.

It was a fairly busy street that ended just before a large community park where visitors have been known to picnic in the daylight and shady interactions happen at dusk. Wedged between a sweet shop on its left, closed for the night, and a pub that only opened when the sun set, Ember Hall didn’t exactly fit in so much as it stood out. A three story building with a blue colored flame over the door. A color no one understood considering the name of Ember Hall.

Felix got out of the carriage first and helped Charisma and Flossie out. The former thanked him, while the latter mumbled something about not needing his help.

The carriage pulled away, leaving them in front of Ember Hall. Before they could huddle together to come up with a plan someone shouted down to them from the top floor.

“Felix?” All three of them turned and looked up at a woman hanging out of a window. She wore an oversized black hat that was in danger of blowing away in the wind and she held it down with a white gloved hand. Her arms were the most covered as the gloves went past her elbows which was more than could be said for her dress. There was concern on Charisma’s face that this woman might tumble right out of her dress as it barely covered her bosoms that bounced the further she tried to look out the window. “It is you. Felix! Yoo-hoo!” She waved down at them with her free hand then quickly disappeared from the window.

“Friend of yours?” Flossie asked sarcastically.

“I’ve never met that woman before in my life,” he retorted.

“Well, she seems to know you,” Charisma said just as the front door to Ember Hall flung open and the mystery woman stood in the doorway. Light from within cast her in darkness as her shadow stretched across the front steps. 

Her dress managed to cover even less of her below the waist than it did above as she bent her knees and pretended to pull down her dress that was so skin tight it would never provide adequate coverage.

“Come inside, all of you. It’s freezing out there and the boss will kill me if he knew I was exposing this tiny number for all the world to see before show time.”

Before she changed her mind about the invitation they all bounded up the four steps and into Ember Hall.

“Madam, I thank you for inviting us inside, but I’m afraid you must have me mistaken for another Felix—”

“Nonsense! You’re the Great Carnelian!” She shouted and shoved him in the shoulder. “Gosh, it must be twenty years or more since I last saw you. Different times then. The Lyford family,” she said, her voice trailing off into a whisper before she realized they were all staring at her. “What brings you out here to these parts? And your friends?”

“How rude of me. Yes, this is Charisma and Flossie. My neighbors, actually,” Felix said, introducing them.

“Now wait a bleeding minute!” She shouted pushing Felix out of her way so she could get a closer look at Charisma. “I know who you are. You’re uhm…you’re that wand makers daughter, ain’tcha?” Charisma nodded and gave a half smile. She hated whenever someone mentioned the reputation of her father as if her existence began and ended with his fame in wand making. “Well I’ll be. Wait till the Great Davoren finds out you’re here. He might even forgive me for letting strangers in ‘ere. See, he credits your dad with his current run of success. Says it’s all down to his wand. I told him it has more to do with my hem line than his wand but you know men, they think it’s all about them, don’t they.” She slammed her hand on Charisma’s shoulder and the force of it nearly knocked her backwards. Luckily, Flossie was there to steady her.

“We were wondering if any other strangers have been round here tonight?” Flossie asked. She was tired of the small talk. In truth, she was tired in general and as much as she wanted to solve this mystery she knew her ability to help would be hindered by her lack of sleep.

The woman looked Flossie over up and down before taking a step back from all of them. Her demeanor instantly changed from friendly to guarded. “What are you asking that question for? What have you heard?” She took another step back. 

They were standing just inside the entrance of Ember Hall which didn’t feel so small until she started to back away from them. She was headed for double doors that were just behind her. When she bumped into one of the doors and it opened slightly they could hear shouting and loud noise just inside. Charisma craned her head to get a look through the crack in the door but could only see darkness and a spotlight moving around the room.

“Where the devil is that woman?” A man’s voice amplified louder than the rest and the noise from inside. The woman recognized it and her body suddenly tensed. Her cherry face and smile changed to pale white. The door behind her pulled open and she stumbled backwards against it until she was face to face with a striking man.

His slick black hair was so shiny the light in the entryway bounced off of it. He had a mustache that was just as black and met his thick beard that was about two inches long and perfectly shaped to his long face.

He wore spectacles that were riding the edge of his nose as he looked down and through them at the woman who was suddenly at a loss for words when she was so talkative not a moment ago.

“Where have you been? Did you not hear me calling you?”

“Sorry, sir. I just saw Felix out the window and I lost my head,” she said, bowing down to him, her cleavage barely grazing his chest he stood so close to her.

“That’s not all you’ll lose if you don’t get back to the stage this instant,” he shouted at her. She ran away without a word of goodbye to the three people she had just welcomed into Ember Hall.

The Great Davoren turned to look at who was standing there and his eyes widened when he saw Felix.

“Hello, David. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” Felix said, holding his hand out for a handshake.

“How dare you come here unannounced and uninvited? Have you simply decided to forgo all the rules now that you’re a washed up magician?”

“We—” Felix started then stopped and squared his shoulders, “I came looking for you because we have a problem and I think you know what it is. He was here tonight.”

The Great Davoren wore a black tie and tales. All that was missing were the white gloves, top hat, and wand to complete his look. 

“We can’t discuss that here where anyone can be listening. You might as well come to my office,” he said. When Charisma and Flossie moved to follow he stopped short. “Just you, Felix.”

Felix shook his head. “Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of them. They have just as much invested in why that man was here as any of us, more even.”

“They are not magicians, nor are they affiliated with any act I’m aware of. They could be spies—”

“My father is Chester Price,” Charisma said, volunteering this information on her own. She hated admitting how many doors it has opened for her in the past but it’s yet to fail.

The Great Davoren looked at Felix for confirmation of what she had just said and he nodded. 

“And who are you, the king’s daughter?” The Great Davoren said, looking at Flossie.

“For your information I am Flossie Finnegan. I’m sure you haven’t heard of me—”

“Well, well, well, Felix. We are slumming it ain’t we. With friends like the Foul Finnegan’s it’s no wonder you’ve been hiding.”

Flossie balled her fists and prepared to land a punch aimed right at Davoren’s jaw but Charisma grabbed her forearm and held her back firmly. 

Charisma was surprised to hear Flossie say her last name. It wasn’t something she often spoke to anyone outside of one and only friend and Charisma knew why. It was true that her family were not well liked in Wondermere, but not through any fault of their own. Circumstance forced their criminal behavior and Flossie, for all the good she’s managed to do in the world, still carries the burden of silently making amends for what her family has done and continue to do.

“I would appreciate it if we didn’t bring up past family indiscretions and stick to the matter at hand,” Felix said, stepping in to defend Flossie whom he only just realized had more in common with him than he realized. “Trust me, David, you’ll want to hear what we have to say. It involves the Codex.”

The next thing any of them know, the Great Davoren is pulling them into the inner sanctum of Ember Hall. They head straight for the stairs, Flossie trying to look at what’s happening on the stage set-up on the first floor. But Charisma kept her tight grip on Flossie, just in case, and managed to pull her to catch up with the others as they made their way to the top floor. 

A large room with just a round table and a dozen empty wooden chairs.

“Why mention the codex? And in front of them? What exactly is going on, Felix?”

“The man. He was here, wasn’t he? Why? What did he want?” Felix asked.

The Great Carnelian sat at the head of the table and leaned back in the wooden chair, it creaked slightly under his weight as he put one foot up on the table. “No. I don’t think so. You tell me what’s going on right now or I inform the king’s guard that I’ve got some people here inquiring after the man they’re looking for.”

Felix was a decade, at least, older than the great Davoren, and although he was sure he could take him on a good day, tonight he was far too tired to argue. So, he sat down across from his former friend and motioned for Charisma and Flossie to do the same.

“I’ll level with you. He showed up on my doorstep and dropped dead. From the looks of him, I’d say he’d been through one fight too many. So, go ahead and call them. It was the king’s guard who told us he was last sighted here.”

Davoren sat up after hearing this new information. “You’re here because of something they told you?” He looked at Charisma and Flossie who nodded in unison. “You fools. You led them right to my doorstep.”

“What are you on about?”

“The king has no jurisdiction here. He can only enter a hall with just cause. And you’re showing up here after what they told you, gives them just that. Damn you, Felix. I knew you’d bring me nothing but grief.” He got up from his seat and left them in the room, shouting for his crew to hide things and prepare for a visit from the king’s guardsmen.

“Did you know this would happen?” Charisma asked Felix.

He couldn’t face her when he answered, “maybe.”

“What game are you playing at?” Flossie asked. We needed answers. He’ll never tell us why that man was here now.”

“He was never going to answer our questions. I knew that even before we got here. But now that they’re all scrambling we can have a look around. Maybe see something or find something that will tell us more about his visit here than the great Davoren was ever going to tell us.”

And Felix was right. Once Davoren left them alone they did not see him again. Instead, they found Ember Hall nearly abandoned, with the crew having locked up and taken away anything that could be stolen from them as part of their act. They even went through the trouble of turning on every light, leaving no corners shrouded in darkness.

Charisma, Flossie, and Felix decided to split up. They needed to move quickly, especially as it was possible the king’s guardsmen were on their way to Ember Hall.

Charisma stayed on the top floor with Davoren’s office and a few bedrooms whenever he wished to stay the night. Felix took the middle floor that contained the props room as well as everyone’s lockers. Leaving the main floor for Flossie. She wanted that floor so she could take a peek around the stage in the hopes of finding something they left behind.

Davoren’s office seemed like it was just the table and chairs but pretty soon Charisma discovered there was more to it. Thick red and black drapes hung from the ceiling along three walls of the room. The peeked behind one to find windows that overlooked the front of Ember Hall down to the street. Walking at a steady pace from a fair distance away she could just make out bouncing lights. Lanterns carried by half a dozen men. Their leader was Sir Gareth Ravenswood. She let the curtain close and made haste to search behind the rest of the curtains.

The left side had several portraits hanging on the wall. She stepped back and pulled the curtains which slid easily on a rod to reveal them all. She recognized the Great Davoren straight away. His was the largest painting and in the center, surrounded by other magicians who must’ve resided at Ember Hall at one time or another in the past. 

Charisma gasped when she saw his face among the others on the wall. It was the stranger. His countenance was one she would not soon forget, though his expression in the painting was far different than the one he wore now. He was smiling mischievously as his gaze looked upward and to his left. She wanted to examine the picture further but knew there was little time for that. So she pulled it down off the wall to take with her. 

Something told her to look at the painting that the stranger seemed to be looking at from the vantage of his portrait. It was of a man standing behind a rectangular box, the size of a coffin. Laying in the box with her head sticking out one end and her feet out the other was his assistant. She looked skyward, as did the magician, who held up a long saw over his head. 

Upon the saw were the following letters G-A-R-R-I-G-I-L. Was it a person? A place? She couldn’t be sure but she had a feeling it was important. Perhaps more important than the portrait of the stranger. She grabbed it as well just as someone burst through the door behind her.

“Charisma, let’s go. They’re here,” Flossie said in a low whisper. They could hear loud banging and crashing on the main floor as the king’s guardsmen made a mess of the place, in search of the stranger who must be hiding out there.

“Where’s Felix?” Charisma asked.

“I’m here. I’m here,” he said, out of breath. “They’re moving swiftly. Follow me. I know a way out where we won’t be found. What’s that you have there?” Felix asked, pointing to the paintings Charisma clutched to her chest.

“Never mind that. Lead the way old man,” Flossie said. He glared at her comment but ignored it long enough to lead them to a secret tunnel on the upper floor that could only be found by someone who knew it was there.

As they crept down the tunnel which was a set of stone steps that spiraled downwards, they could hear the echoes of men shouting at each other as they tore apart Ember Hall only to find it completely empty.