Alistar bemoaning the fact he wasn’t going to cook breakfast for students, had motivated him to organise a solution. When Elvie and Rilla awoke, they ventured to the kitchen in the vain hope of scrounging something together.

A hive of activity greeted them as they pushed the door open.

The smell hit first – fresh bread – and drew them into the kitchen as the aroma attacked their nostrils with teasing delight. Next came the warmth flowing from the kitchen as a roaring wood-fuelled oven created a welcoming environment. Then, finally, came the man responsible for all this, an irrepressible smile upon his face.

‘Why, good morning, Ma’ams.’

‘Hello,’ Elvie and Rilla said in unison.

The man smiled brightly again. He wasn’t overly tall, with brown hair that thinned in the corners. His constant smile emphasised the width of his mouth, which competed for attention in a face that held weathered skin and a too-big nose. But none of this drew Elvie’s eyes so much as his two defining features; the man had a deep scar running from his eyebrow to hairline, and only one arm.

‘I’m Goodwin. It’s nice to meet you both. Master Alistar told me two young ladies might make their way down here for breakfast, so I took the liberty of planning ahead. So please, find a seat, and I’ll bring you some warm bread, butter and jam to get your day started.’

For Elvie, it was a different experience to have someone within Elder House who invited conversation and seemed genuinely engaging.

‘I’m Elvie,’ she pointed to herself. ‘And this is Rilla.’ Rilla didn’t say anything, but glanced at his missing arm and blushed.

Pulling out some chairs at the table, Goodwin saw it and laughed good-naturedly. ‘Oh, don’t be embarrassed. Many a person has gawked, and many more have said horrible things. But I made my peace with my deformities a long time ago. And if I do say so myself, I’m a hard worker despite the Good Lord’s limitations. Now, give me a moment…’

He returned to the kitchen and came back with a large tray, which he set before them.

Elvie nodded and popped some bread in her mouth. It was soft, buttery, and delicious. ‘This is fantastic,’ she complimented.

‘I’d like to think I’ve mastered the recipe after all these years practising.’

‘Where were you a chef at?’ Rilla mumbled around a mouthful. She usually didn’t ask questions of new people. Did she feel guilty for staring?

‘Well, Ma’am. For the army mostly. Here and there. Been moved around. you see. That’s where I picked up my injuries while fighting for His Majesty and country in the Great War. I was a part of the British Expeditionary Force. Didn’t fight the Germans for long, though, as I was injured within a month. Place called Marne, though I’m hoping you don’t know too much about that. Afterwards, I figured I still had one useful hand, so I helped out in the barracks with the cooking.’

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He’d fought in the same war as Eldridge, but as to where Eldridge had returned without injury – at least physically – this man had suffered horrors.

‘Will you be staying long?’ Elvie asked, the delight in her mouth making her think selfishly.

‘It will be my new home here. I’m going to be doing all the cooking, and work on cleaning up this place. More people might be coming, I hear?’

So Alistar must have finally changed his mind. Elvie smiled at the thought. Elder House could become an open house like the others, with more students than dusty rooms.

Elvie didn’t have any classes that day, so she lounged in the kitchen while Rilla looked for Callum to see if he would drive her to class. She picked at her food until she was stuffed. Then, just as she pushed the plate aside, a presence appeared as if summoned by magic.

Alistar’s hair was especially wild today.

‘You wouldn’t believe what happened yesterday… Well, wait, you might believe it, seeing as you had something to do with it after all. You see, a lovely gentleman, known as Callum, spoke of you wanting to learn magic from me specifically? Naturally, I told him I didn’t know any magic – you know what I mean? But he was most persistent, saying you’d never get anywhere unless Elder House opened its arms to you.’ Alistar opened his arms wide. ‘Do you now feel somewhere?’

Elvie had no clue how to respond. ‘I just want to learn…’

‘And learn you shall. Seeing as you don’t know any Elder House spells – and I also don’t know any Elder House spells – I’ve decided we will work together on not knowing any Elder House spells. Sounds like a brilliant opportunity, right?’

He didn’t sell it well. ‘Can I ask questions?’

‘Questions – yes, of course! All questions are welcome at any time – we are, after all, a house of inquiries.’ He waved a finger mockingly in front of his face.

He sat down across the table from her, his eyes looking longingly towards the kitchen before snapping back to Elvie. Then, in a calmer tone, he said: ‘Before we begin, I wanted to let you and your friend know you’ll be under the attentive care of Ms Elisabeth Williams from Oak house. She’s been kind enough to abdicate her rooms on the farm to come to our beautiful home.’

‘We don’t need carers,’ Elvie protested.

But Alistar waved her away. ‘She’ll look after all the day to day stuff I desperately want no knowledge of. Clothes, beds, making sure you wear your hat correctly in case you’re ever in a strong wind. I know nothing of these topics, and while Callum has an excellent knowledge of headwear – well, actually, no, he doesn’t. I once saw him in a bowler hat. Can you imagine that? But I digress. It is done – don’t argue. Ms Williams will be here today. You’ll also find Mrs Pickle staying so she can do some cleaning – you’ll mind both of them, won’t you?’

Elvie nodded.

‘Now, shall we get to lessons?’

‘What, here?’

‘You don’t like it here?’ Alistar looked around, confused. ‘But it smells so lovely.’

Elvie borrowed a leaf from Callum’s book and shrugged her reply before getting onto the issues she wanted now about so desperately. ‘Okay. Can I start with a question? Why are there so few Elder spells? I’ve asked around and nobody knows, or they don’t want to tell me. I’ve asked Callum, and he didn’t give me much information either. If every other Great House has so many spells, why does Elder have two?’

Alistar winced. ‘Well, fancy that. I do have an answer after all. I was worried you were going to ask a question I’d have to lie to.’ He poked his forehead like he could draw the answer forth, eyes crossed and rolling backwards to expose whites. ‘I’ll give you two answers. First, my personal favourite; we don’t know the right spells or words. Hmmm, we don’t even know the right feelings to cast the spells.’

How do you use feelings to cast a spell? ‘And the second?’

‘That one is much easier to understand, if not as easy to swallow. Anyone who knew the spells previously is dead, deceased, in the afterlife with whatever deity they follow. The worst part of it all, no doubt apart from the dying, is that those secrets have most certainly gone to the grave with them.’