‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ Caroline said. Aubrey could hear the tension in her voice, the strain that was always there when the subject of Dr Tremaine surfaced. ‘Can you tell us what happened?’
‘My father was working on enhancing the action of catalysts in chemical processes.’ Kiefer massaged his forehead with both hands. ‘It is an area that I have also dedicated myself to. I aim to finish his work.’
‘It’s useful magic,’ Aubrey said. ‘Your father would have been an important man.’
‘He was. He made great advances with osmium and platinum and the like. But Tremaine wanted more and more, faster and faster. He forced my father to experiment on other materials.’ Kiefer paused and swallowed. ‘Then, without telling my father, Tremaine removed the protective spells in the reaction chamber. Under pressure, it exploded.’
For a moment, the room was silent as they each contemplated the horror. ‘I’m sorry,’ Aubrey said again. He knew it was inadequate, but it was all he had.
‘Thank you.’ Kiefer cleared his throat, looked away for a moment, then he fixed Aubrey with a direct gaze. ‘I know about you and Dr Tremaine, Fitzwilliam. In fact, I know many things.’
‘You do?’
‘He saved you, old man,’ George said. ‘After the depth charge thing. We thought you were in extremis, if you know what I mean.’ He raised an eyebrow significantly.
Kiefer nodded. ‘I brought that device with me all the way from Holmland. It is what saved you.’
‘Device?’
‘On your chest. I knew you would need it.’
Aubrey looked down, awkwardly, past his chin, but found it difficult to make out the object nestled on his chest. He sat up in the bed and took hold of it, to find that it was hanging from a fine metal chain around his neck. He stared at it dumbly.
It was a tiny wire cage in the shape of a sphere, perfectly round, wrought of silver or some other shiny metal, about the size of a small egg. Inside it was a solid metal ball, silver again. When Aubrey tilted it the ball rolled freely around inside the cage.
‘And what is it?’
‘It is a Beccaria Cage,’ Kiefer said. ‘A protective device that will keep your body and soul together.’ He beamed. ‘It is the cure for your condition.’
‘My condition? What do you know about my condition?’
‘We didn’t say a word,’ George said in response to Aubrey’s accusatory look. ‘He seemed to know all about it. After we carried you to your room, he produced this gadget from his pocket and it did the trick.’
‘You were crying out,’ Caroline said. ‘In pain.’
‘I don’t remember,’ Aubrey said softly, but he had a dim impression of what he had endured. Somewhere, deep inside, part of him did remember, would never forget. Struggling, he remembered struggling, and an awful sense of separation.
‘My uncle Maurice told me all about you,’ Kiefer said, interrupting Aubrey’s thoughts.
Aubrey frowned. ‘I’m afraid I don’t know anyone called Maurice.’
‘He said he met you last year. At the Faculty of Magic. At the University of Lutetia?’
Aubrey couldn’t have been more surprised if Kiefer had turned into a pig. In their recent escapade in Lutetia, they had spent some time in the decrepit Faculty of Magic. ‘He was a caretaker.’
‘He had been a caretaker there for a long time. He saw much.’
‘I suppose he did.’ Aubrey chewed on his lip. ‘He knew about my condition?’
‘He did. Two months ago, he wrote a letter and told me about it. He knew I was coming to Albion to continue my studies. He asked me to find this device at Fisherberg Academy, and bring it to you.’
Aubrey flicked the Beccaria Cage with a fingernail. ‘So you stole this thing for him.’
Kiefer looked horrified. ‘Stole it? No! It was in a basement, in a box with my name on it, just as Uncle Maurice said it would be.’
‘And how did Maurice organise this, then?’ George asked.
‘He has many friends. He corresponds with people all over the world.’
‘And he thought it could do me some good?’ Aubrey said.
‘He wasn’t sure. He said he wanted to do you a good turn, for what you did for the Faculty of Magic.’
Aubrey hadn’t done much, apart from levitating the central tower and sending it across the city of Lutetia. He supposed that the faculty may have achieved some prominence because of it. Of course he’d heard about the renewed interest in magical studies at the University of Lutetia and how the department was undergoing a reinvigoration, but he wasn’t sure that he could take all the credit. The study of magic was booming all over the world in these exciting and turbulent times.
‘But he wasn’t sure?’
‘No. But I was curious. I undertook some research, which confirmed it. The device is powerful, emitting a soul-stabilising field of immense puissance.’
‘I say,’ George said, ‘you wouldn’t be studying magic, would you?’
‘I began my studies in history, but I am studying industrial magic at the moment. I am taking some special classes here before resuming my studies at the Fisherberg Academy. Pressure containment and catalysts, mostly. I will be successful, you know.’
‘A fine institution,’ Aubrey said. The Magic Department at the Fisherberg Academy had produced many excellent magicians, especially those who worked with physical magic, hard-edged spell casters greatly prized by industry. Aubrey had no prejudice against industrial magicians, unlike many of his contemporaries. He admired their work and the way they improved many processes that were vital for the health and happiness of the entire community.
‘You would have been lost,’ Kiefer said, ‘if not for my assistance. The device has restored your balance. Your body and soul are united as they should be.’
Aubrey couldn’t argue. He felt as whole as he’d ever felt after the disastrous experiment at Stonelea School. He went to slip the chain from his neck so he could examine the Beccaria Cage more closely.
Kiefer’s eyes flew open wide. ‘Do not remove it! The cage is all that is stopping you from falling apart.’
The device was heavy in Aubrey’s hand. He stared at Kiefer. ‘I think you need to tell me more. Much more.’
Kiefer rubbed his palms on his trouser legs. With some effort, he untangled himself and stood. He took a deep breath and did his best to look dignified. ‘I have come to seek your assistance, Mr Fitzwilliam.’
‘I’m happy to give it.’ Aubrey touched the Beccaria Cage. ‘You’ve done a great thing for me.’
‘Excellent.’ Another deep breath. ‘Now I want you to help me destroy Dr Mordecai Tremaine.’
An uncomfortable silence was a sudden visitor in the room. Aubrey pursed his lips, considering his options. ‘Destroy Dr Tremaine?’ he finally ventured. ‘What makes you think we could help you achieve such a thing?’
Before Kiefer could answer, Caroline spoke up. ‘Let’s not dismiss such a request lightly.’ Her voice was even, but Aubrey could see the effort this took. ‘Dr Tremaine is a threat to the entire world.’
‘He’s the most dangerous man there is,’ George said gloomily. ‘And it’s not exactly joyful to know that he has designs on people you care for.’
‘I think we all agree on the peril that Dr Tremaine represents,’ Aubrey said. ‘He may be a madman, after all. But he is also a genius.’
‘Of that I am aware,’ Kiefer said brightly. ‘He is a most dangerous enemy.’ He sighed. ‘I risked much to bring that device to you. You must help me.’
Almost without his realising it, Aubrey’s hand crept to cover the Beccaria Cage. ‘This is sounding awfully like blackmail, Kiefer.’
For a moment, Kiefer looked old. He gestured – a jerky, ungraceful movement. ‘It is as you Albionites say: a means to an end.’ Before anyone could protest he climbed to his feet and went to the door. ‘Rest, Fitzwilliam. Let the Beccaria Cage work on you. We will discuss mutual assistance tomorrow.’