Book extra

by Veronice

This is Book extra. It overlaps Book 9 and 10. It also overlaps the books of Valencio's story, now available with some re-writing, as original fiction. I was not intending to republish this book, but since every month, there are several readers of the first ten books, then maybe some will enjoy this as well.

38. Chapter 38

* Notes: Bellamy's daughters: Susan, married to Marcus Pickering, Lesley, married to Dallas Weasley, and Mary, the youngest. Bellamy's employees include: Kitty & Sidney, Luke, Ross & Ryan Bourne. Archie & Ursula, Peter & Gabriel, and Oliver Barnes. Khatabi-Richi: Zola, healer, Agneta & Jila, trainee healers. . **Non-verbal communications are in italics.**

Disclaimer: Harry Potter & his world belongs to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 38:

Two and a half weeks after his wedding, Bellamy wrapped an arm around Najia, and appeared in App. Zone 2, Loch Lomand. He made a second trip, returning with Zoe. He greeted Carol, and made the announcement that he was married, and that he just had to inform his family.

Carol hid her resentment, and politely congratulated the trio. That he'd married them both was not an oddity to her. She'd spent almost all her life where such marriages were normal. He asked her if the girls could eat here, to give him a chance to confess to his family. He'd come back for them after dinner.

Najia glanced at Carol, who was smiling politely. Zoe smiled at her husband and told him not to give them a thought. And she added, "Just let us know if you're not coming back tonight."

Bellamy said, surprised, "Of course I'll be back, probably straight after dinner."

Helene joined them, and when the news was shared, she asked, "Legal under Anirage law. Is it legal under medj law?"

Bellamy hesitated. It was bigamy under medj law. He repeated casually, "I'll be back after dinner," left the room, and disapparated from just outside the door.

Zoe and Najia were treated with a surface courtesy by Carol and Helene, also by most of the young ones. Others looked at them with veiled hostility, or simply avoided them. Najia said quietly to Zoe, "It's your doing that they're free. Don't they realise that?"

Zoe shrugged. It was not until Mariabella drifted over and asked about Hicham that they no longer appeared to be so much shunned. There were more questions then, about various individuals that the women had known. All male, of course. They'd never known the women.

When Bellamy reappeared, Zoe and Najia were still in the dining room with a couple of dozen of the medj, still being quizzed.

"Botan?"

"Dead," and there was a cheer.

"Ryuichi?"

"Married at the same time as we did. Two brides. Also Zhang, Thuli and Michiro, but only one bride each. The women are saying that the men are a lot more keen on marrying these days."

"Hung Tu?"

"A Fighter. I sometimes use him as a part of my guard."

A quiet voice asked, "Larbi?"

Zoe answered, suddenly grim. "Larbi... I executed him."

Bellamy looked at his wife with profound respect. To perform an execution! Zoe was a formidable woman...

Zoe and Najia were relieved when Bellamy's family greeted them with friendliness. They were all there, Susan and Lesley with their husbands, Marcus and Dallas, and the youngest daughter, Mary. Mary showed the same mischievous glint her father sometimes wore when she said would they would please attend the Pluravista the following night.

At the puzzled faces, Mary explained, "It's when just graduated Ani and Ania are introduced to adult society. A formal occasion. A significant occasion."

Bellamy remarked, "Numerous tedious speeches."

Mary smiled, and agreed, "But we'll stir something up this year."

Najia said, surprised, "You want your father to make a scandal?"

Mary answered casually, "He's made a scandal at the last two out of three Pluravistas. It's traditional. And besides, I have a boyfriend I want to shelve, and I suspect he'll drop me when he sees we're a touch unconventional sometimes."

Najia laughed and agreed, though Zoe had reservations. She wasn't sure she wanted their marriage to be used for trivial purposes. And anyway, there was nothing wrong with a man having two wives. Even on their own wedding day, they hadn't been the only ones.

There was a large downstairs room, which Bellamy said was best for their main bedroom. It was the work of seconds to minimise the normal size bed, and to conjure a very large one to replace it.

"Pat and I slept in a room upstairs," he said. "That can be redecorated, and you can choose one each, whichever you want."

Najia asked, "Which one was Pat's?"

He showed them a room with dark panelled walls, and a vividly coloured bedspread. He smoothed a hand over it, and said, "I bought it for her in Rome. She said she loved it, and then redecorated the room around it." He smiled ruefully, "Everyone says I have no taste, but I still like it."

Najia smiled at the room, where Pat had lived and loved with the man now happy again. "It's beautiful," she said, softly. "I think you should leave it as it is. There seems to be plenty of bedrooms. We don't need this one."

Bellamy said, "She was such a wise woman."

He squeezed the hand of Najia and said, "She'd be happy for me, now."

He meant it. Zoe could tell. There was no feeling of disloyalty, just a profound gratitude that he was no longer lonely.

Najia yawned, and said, "We'll choose tomorrow. Organise then. Not tonight."

Both Najia and Zoe slept late Saturday morning. There had been a large time difference from tropical beach to the North of England. By the time they rose, putting on their customary robes, Bellamy had found a pile of letters waiting for him, and was reading them in the loungeroom. He greeted them, smiling, and asked whether they'd prefer to eat in the dining room, or simply go to the kitchen for something since it was so late.

They were a bit taken aback. Go to the kitchen? Najia glanced at her cousin, and asked, "Can your servant bring us breakfast?"

"Her name's Kitty," Bellamy said. "There's Louise, too, but she only comes in for the day. "I'll go and see who's here."

Zoe glanced at Najia as he left, and said quietly, "It was a rebuke, I think. We met her last night. He doesn't regard them as servants. They're friends."

"I should have remembered from Pat's letters."

They tried to remember, and Kitty didn't notice any hint of condescension, but referred to the marriage instead. "Two wives, Boss?"

Bellamy grinned at her. "Perfectly legal. We were married in Morocco, and it's legal there, so it's legal here."

Kitty said, smiling, "Glad to hear it."

"We'll join everyone in the staffroom for lunch, so you can get to know each other."

Zoe thought that he should have asked her first, and then shook her head slightly. This was his home, and he was the boss, not her. It was going to take some getting used to.

Both Najia and Zoe took care to be friendly, made the effort to remember names and roles. Their reception was courteous, apparently friendly, but there were undercurrents of hostility. Ursula Barnes for instance, who kept remembering the boss in terrible pain, sometimes fitting, sometimes confused. Because of Khatabis.

They chose a bedroom each, not the one that he'd shared with Pat. Bellamy showed them the storeroom, and invited them to choose what they wanted for their rooms. They were surprised when he was reluctant to authorise expenditure for new things, and he explained that money was very tight.

Zoe hesitated, and finally asked, "Why?"

Bellamy was feeling a little awkward, but after all, it wasn't his fault. He answered, "I'm trying to support eighty-two former slaves of your family. There have been donations, but it's a big expense."

Zoe flushed, silenced.

Najia said, "I found a desk that will suit me, and I just want a table and chair, and the room already has a bed."

"There's more furniture in the next room, I think, minimised for storage."

Najia chose what she wanted, and firmly said that it would be ideal. Zoe followed suit. She only needed functional - she didn't need luxurious.

Mary helped, trying to make them feel welcome. She knew as well as anyone just how miserably lonely her father had been since her mother died. She would do her best not to put any blight on his happiness now.

It was to be the Pluravista that evening. Zoe concealed all signs of nerves. They were to be introduced to John's world, and she was worried how they'd be received.

For a change, Najia was less worried. Najia was beautiful and charming. She seldom encountered rudeness, and it didn't occur to her to expect it.

Mary was dressed in a brilliant red, solid-coloured cape, explaining that the graduates had a choice of four bright colours, but the precise shade was specified. "So when we're all together, the colour is almost blinding."

She was all smiles, full of mischievous glee. Paul was quite bright in most ways, but very conventional, never knowing whether to be thrilled that he was going out with a Daughter of the Great Wizard, or appalled at her father's actions. Mary couldn't wait to see his face when he was introduced to her father's wife - and then a second wife. "First!" she emphasised again. "I'll bring him over straight away, and I'll make the introductions."

Najia frankly giggled, and then Zoe smiled as well. Mary was friendly, and the mischief minor.

It went to plan, and even better. Bellamy was met by his bodyguards, Kupec and Jeremy, and there were several other aurors scattered through the crowd. It was known that his last daughter was graduating, and it was expected that he would be there, which could be a danger. Pierre had seen him with Zoe, in Denmark, and now came over, greeted her, and was introduced to Najia, Zoe's cousin.

Piers Finch-Fletchley bustled over, followed by his wife, Desiree. He was the 'honoured guest,' to which the graduates would be introduced.

Mary said clearly, "Father, I want you to meet my friend, Paul Drysdale."

Bellamy turned to the unwanted boyfriend, smiled genially, and shook his hand.

Mary continued, "Paul, please meet Najia Khatabi-Vrie, Father's new wife."

There was a surprised silence, as Paul spoke courteously to Najia.

"And Paul, this is Zoe Khatabi-Vrie, his other new wife."

Paul froze. Zoe extended her hand with dignity, and said, "Pleased to meet you, Paul."

After too long a delay, Paul managed to unfreeze, and shook her hand.

Pierre started laughing, and both Kupec and Jeremy were trying not to be too distracted. They had to be alert.

"Congratulations," finally said Pierre. "I wondered what you were up to this past fortnight."

Bellamy pulled both his girls to his sides and spoke happily. "Honeymooning." Even those feeling shocked, seized the excuse to approach in order to congratulate the happy trio.

Piers and Desiree maintained a disapproving silence, until Bellamy, Zoe and Najia moved away.

But Zoe was curious and used her telepathic ability to listen to the indignation behind them. The Dachier was being addressed, "You'll have to stop it. It's against the law, and what a terrible example for our youngsters."

But Pierre laughed. "It's our great wizard. If he chooses to have two wives, then I guess we'll just have to change the law for him."

Unperturbed by the whispers and occasional audible outrage, Bellamy and his wives went to the seats indicated by an usher, put to the side a little, where the bodyguards could stand behind, just in front of a wall. A protected place. The function was always held in the open, as many wizard functions were. Magic could make it warmer, if required, and it was no trouble to conjure a roof that would last long enough for the purpose. His two older daughters, and their husbands, took seats close.

Zoe still looked around, extending her mind, overhearing the thoughts of those who put on polite, smiling faces. Some were upset, indignant at the apparent flouting of custom and law, but there were others who smiled at the great wizard, pleased to see him looking happy. And there was a young woman who was thinking that she'd be perfectly willing to be Number 3 wife if she had the chance.

The speech dragged on. Pompous Piers Finch-Fletchley spoke about the importance of wizard law, the importance of respect to the DMT, who acted for the good of them all, the importance of respect to each other, the utmost importance of respectability.

Zoe glanced at her husband, who wasn't listening to a word, even though it was perfectly obviously aimed directly at him. She smiled. John would never be a political animal. Her eyes ranged over the gathering. John's acquaintances, John's friends, John's world. They were to stay at his place a month, then she wanted to show him the Kichi Compound and see if Abensur needed help.

Finally, even Piers decided he'd talked long enough, and started calling the graduates to receive their certificates.

How long's the schooling?

Bellamy answered Zoe's mental thought. Seven years, starting at age eleven.

Zoe felt a pang of regret that she would never have a child graduate like this, but then she whispered, "We're exploring the possibility of starting a school in Egypt - lure them with talk of training to be Khatabi Fighters, and then teach them ethics instead."

There was to be yet another speech after the brightly caped graduates accepted their certificates. But Pierre knew the audience was already restless, and limited his speech to five minutes, a time that he'd heard Bellamy say once, was the most any audience should be expected to endure.

A few windup words from the organisers, and coffee and snacks were laid out. A little socialising, and the function would be over.

Paul had been pushing for Mary to be his partner at his brother's wedding in a few days. He looked away from her. Mary smiled, and started talking to the older brother of one of the graduates. Bill Davenport was already in training to be a healer.

**x**

Sunday morning, Bellamy was off riding with Victor, while Zoe and Najia strolled around the estate. They'd met all of the live-in staff, but Zoe felt an acute enmity from the security guard on duty. They were Khatabis, and Khatabis had killed one of his friends, an English auror lured to America by the promise of action. They'd hurt the boss too, dreadfully.

She said nothing to Najia. They explored a walled garden. Najia said, "Look at this stone." She touched it, and said, "Pat was buried here." There was another stone, as well - Luna.

"Luna was his second wife," said Najia. And then she looked at her cousin. "They don't like us much, do they?"

Zoe shook her head. "Not much."

"They should know. We're not like Grandmother Riza. We try not to hurt."

Zoe said slowly, "I think I might be a lot like Grandmother Riza. I think if things had been different, I might have accepted the life, except not the ordered matings. If it wasn't for that... And even then, if I'd been a man..."

They wandered further, exploring the gardens. A woman came to join them, smiling. "I'm Gabby, if you've forgotten. Peter's wife, Oliver's mother."

Najia said, "Of course, we haven't forgotten. John says you're primarily responsible for the beauty of the gardens."

Gabby was pleased, but said, "I do do other things, as well."

"He said that, too, that every single one of his staff was an effective security guard, as well as doing dozens of other things."

Gabby smiled, satisfied. "I was cutting grass hay yesterday. We've cut much more than usual this year, so we were all helping."

Zoe said, confused, "Grass hay?"

"Feed for the horses during the winter months. Peter said there's currently a hundred and thirteen old horses, plus an extra four to be retired by the RDA, plus three ponies picked up by the RSPCA a few days ago, that had been neglected. And they all have to be fed."

"Old horses," said Zoe, cautiously.

Gabby smiled proudly. "No-one looks after their old horses like the boss does."

Najia said, "The foals are sweet."

Zoe said, "He showed us Bess. He said she was the dearest, sweetest mare there ever was."

"Is he going to teach you to ride?"

Zoe shook her head. "We'll only be here a month or so. Then we're going to Japan for a while."

Gabby stopped smiling. Was the boss not going to live here any more?

Najia said, "We'll be here sometimes..."

Gabby was a touch distant. "Must check the vegetable garden," and she turned away.

Najia said sadly, "She was nice."

A half hour later, they were leaning against the fence of the paddock that contained the riding horses. A young man lounged towards them. "They're all about twenty!" he said. "We used to have good horses to ride, but now we get old nags! It's because of what Khatabis did to innocent medj, and now there's not enough money!"

Zoe said coldly. "Ross Bourne, I believe. You still go to school, don't you?"

Ross looked at her resentfully and walked off.

Zoe said, "Arrogant young man. He's just a servant. A whipping would soon teach him his place!"

Najia was shocked. "Zoe!"

Zoe shrugged. She was beginning to be angry. With this place where sun shone gently, grass grew thickly, and the animals and people seemed to have no fear. Because the people were good people who didn't like them, some because they were Khatabi, others because they thought they'd take their boss away. His daughters had been sincerely friendly, but not many others had.

"We could send Loch Lomand money, can't we?" Najia said. "That would be something to make up."

Zoe said, "That's just eighty people. It's not going to be easy to make Morocco a better place to live. Our wealth is our most vital weapon. John's doing all right with Loch Lomand, even if that young punk does complain. We won't interfere."

"What if he asks?"

"He won't ask."

**x**

Loch Lomand. A Committee meeting. Carol said, "The DMT wants to send their maintenance people back here, probably for about a fortnight, to check over the castle very thoroughly, and make sure it's safe for the long term. They hope we can feed and accommodate them."

"How many?"

"Twelve, but including a married couple. Ten single rooms, one double."

Mariabella said, "There's Tiffany's room now, plus six guest rooms, not including John's, also the good-sized suite that Dot and Michael had, with little Robin."

"Any others we can organise?"

"There's one spare unit. If the rest agree to share, there's enough."

"We'll have to check if everyone's willing to have so many strangers about, and wizards, too."

Bernice said, "Feeding an extra twelve will be no problem, though it's an extra cost, of course."

Carol nodded. "The budget will just have to stretch, I think."

Bernice said slowly, "It's a nice place we have here."

They nodded. It was a nice place.

"What if we take in paying guests, like a holiday place? Charge a fair amount, Gloria can take them on rides, we can take them places in the bus, show them the lookout, for instance, even work out a tour."

They were beginning to be excited.

Gloria sounded a note of caution. "What about people like Mary and Connie and Thierry? How will they cope?"

"Mary seems to be coping with Gary's interest all right."

Kaede said, "It could be the ideal solution. A home for those of us who need it long-term, and we won't be costing John as much."

Carol asked "Mariabella?" Mariabella was in charge of housekeeping.

Mariabella answered warmly, "I think it's a wonderful idea."

Bernice smiled smugly. She thought it was a wonderful idea, too.

At dinner that night, Carol announced, "Full meeting in the ballroom tonight. I want everyone, please."

Inge hesitated, and then decided to phone Ricky and put him off. It must be important.

Some were hesitant at the idea. Treen said doubtfully, "Those of us in the castle. The bathrooms are shared, and I don't want to bump into strangers in the night."

Clarence suggested, "How about we only use the outside units for the guests? Fix up a couple more of the workers' cottages for ourselves, and maybe some in the units can move into the castle?"

There was reluctance. The units were comfortable, and those in them were settled.

Treen said, "We could do with the money, couldn't we?"

Carol nodded. "It would help a lot. I know John said there would be enough, and we were not to worry, but it would be nice to be helping ourselves."

"If we concentrated the guest bedrooms along one corridor, instead of having them scattered, that would be all right, I think."

Brigitta said, "I don't really need a bedroom in the castle. I was just being selfish. I'll move in with Jimmy properly, and that will free up a bedroom."

Jimmy beamed, and Carol said, "You and Jimmy can have one of the cottages then, if you want, once they're ready for occupation."

Suddenly there was enthusiasm, and a contingent moved off to see how the bedrooms could be rearranged to separate guests from occupants. Back in the ballroom, Clarence, Valencio and Jimmy were in conference. "Garages," said Jimmy. "Guests will demand a place to garage their cars, especially in the winter."

Gloria was speaking eagerly to Eva. "We can plan rides. Not the Pamela Track, but maybe we can make just an ordinary track a bit like it, but incorporating the waterfall, the Deep Hole, and the Deer Forest."

"And gallop home along the Ridge Road."

"There's the Perimeter Track, too." They smiled at each other, gleeful.

For an hour they talked, the talk becoming louder and ranging wide, brimming with plans. At last, Carol stood, and waited. People nudged each other, and it became quiet.

Carol spoke seriously. "This is all very well. But John got us this place primarily so we could recover. If any one of us is frightened of having strangers here, they're to come to me, privately if they like, and tell me. If just one of us doesn't want it, we won't do it. Meantime, we'll rearrange the bedrooms because that's a good idea in any case. The men can fix up the workers' cottages as soon as they finish getting in the hay, and I think we really do have to put up with the maintenance men."

Treen nodded. She just didn't want to be too close.

Carol had her fingers crossed. She didn't want to leave, and there were the older ones who needed to be in their sheltered group. Mareeta, Mildred, Mary. And both Kaede and Kwai-Jeeha were over sixty. This could be the ideal solution. Emma and Thierry were both worried by strangers. Yet Thierry had done so well in the horse show, and Emma had competed as well, the second time. Mary was still seeing Gary. Maybe they were getting better.

Belinda drifted across and started playing the piano. Another damaged one, and Carol wondered if she'd even taken in what they were talking about. Belinda needed someone to look after her. Carol wanted to look after her, to look after all of them, as long as needed.

**x**

Japan:

There was a baby due to be born in Japan. Jila had no experience and the original healer had left. So Zola made the trip and took charge. It was not a Khatabi baby of course, but the baby of Koizumi and Yang Din Ibariki. The servants were no longer only Khatabi these days, especially in Japan.

The birth went smoothly. Zola was an expert, but Jila was concerned. She needed far more experience delivering babies than she would get in the Khatabi Compounds. Zola agreed. "The next step in your training would have been to collect some expectant mothers and keep them in Enclosure 3 until after the births. But then of course, everything changed, and we can't do that."

Jila asked tentatively, "Would they have been killed afterwards?"

"They'd be taken back to their families, memories changed, but complete with babies. They'd be given money, and Haru would make some protective Crio-magic so they wouldn't be molested. The medj are barbaric sometimes, especially to women."

"Is that what they did last time? Could you have been lied to?"

"I have no reason to think I was lied to. And it was excellent training. Most only stayed a few weeks. The first lot, my teacher, Riochi, said we'd just let a half dozen give birth without any real help. I was appalled. Medj mothers, without healers… They go through agony! But after that, she started teaching me the spells, and no-one else was hurt until a couple in the third intake. And you can't say we hurt the first ones, as it was only what would have happened anyway, just in dirtier surroundings."

"What was the third intake?"

"No longer straightforward births. It included very young mothers, very old mothers, two Sudanese who'd had genitals mutilated, even a dwarf."

"It must have been hard getting the selection."

"Not very. We chose the women and girls, organised to have them made pregnant, and just picked them up when they were a month from giving birth. A few came in earlier - a couple of the young girls who were thrown out of their homes because they were pregnant, and the dwarf, so we could keep a very close watch on her."

"Did she die?"

"It took all of Riochi's skills, but she was taken home with a live baby. We sterilised her afterwards, though, as there's no way she could have delivered a live baby without expert help."

"Anyone else die?"

"One of the very young ones. Riochi said I should see what happened if we didn't help." Zola shook her head. "I never want to see anything like that again."

Jila said, "I was talking to Birrin. She wants Fahada to look for a second wife. A widow who's pregnant, like Zhang managed for himself. They're talking about children now that things are changed."

Zola frowned thoughtfully. "There will be babies then. And even if there's only a few, you should have experience. Theory is not enough. Agneta, too."

"What do healers do in other countries?"

"I'll make enquiries." She glanced at Jila. "I bet Madam Zhor doesn't realise it was only because of the practice I had using medj prisoners that she survived her own baby's birth. She was far too small."

Jila was speaking again to Birrin later that day. Birrin said, "If there was another wife, and babies, it would be like having my own. I always wanted children, but just wasn't quite brave enough to leave home in time to avoid the sterilisation. And there was always the hope that I might be Khatabi."

"Fahada?"

"He'd love it. He's so big, but he's very gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly."

Jila laughed, "He's supposed to be a Fighter!"

Birrin replied with dignity, "And he's a great Fighter. Just that, aside from duty, he's a sweet man."

**x**

Monday morning, Zoe, Najia and Bellamy played in the swimming pool. After a while, the girls got out and just watched as Bellamy tirelessly lapped the pool. Trey yawned and got up to leave, followed by Shaz. They'd been ecstatic to have him back, but Archie liked them around too, and he was outside.

Zoe said, "He says he needs the exercise. Gets very fidgety if he doesn't do something like this every day."

"I was watching him in the gym yesterday. He's got just such a lovely back. Makes me go dreamy just thinking about it."

Zoe smiled at her cousin. "Happy?"

"Very. And you?"

Zoe smiled. It was like he said. She might drown, but she always floated to the surface.

Najia said, "Gabby asked if we wanted to go to town with her this afternoon. I don't want to refuse."

Zoe sighed. "They're polite, but still not very friendly. Archie was looking at me yesterday. He was remembering John when he first came home, starving and nearly dead of cold. He was thinking Khatabi witch!"

"Kitty's all right. She likes seeing him happier, I think."

"Have we made him happy?"

Zoe laughed. "Can you doubt it?"

"What about this afternoon?"

"I think I'll delegate. You win over Bellamy's friends, and I'll look at Khatabi business."

In the afternoon, Najia wandered some medj shops with Gabby.

"We might be Ania, but we need ordinary clothing, as well," Gabby said as she pulled out a green dress to look at more closely.

Najia touched a trim on another dress. "It's John's favourite colour," she commented. "He wore it when we married."

Gabby shuddered, "It's terribly bright!"

Najia laughed. "Just a bit of trim, the main colour was tan." She smiled. "Zoe planned what we'd wear a year ago, and still wasn't sure she'd accept him when she went to Loch Lomand. I knew she would, though."

"It would have been nice to be at his wedding."

"We couldn't do it here. It wouldn't be legal."

Gabby said hesitantly, "It is legal, isn't it?"

Najia chuckled. "Zoe and Grandmother Bouchra fixed that. They had the AOCWN accept a motion that a marriage accepted as legal in any member country should be accepted in any other member country. And I doubt if a single other country realised what they were agreeing to."

Meantime, her husband was at Loch Lomand, stripped to the waist and bringing in hay. He was assured that there were no strangers on the property, and as a dozen maintenance workers were already casually using magic on the castle, there was nothing to stop him using his magic to convey large loads to the newly built hayshed. Clarence and Jimmy watched in pleasure. He was saving them weeks of work, and they could start on the cottages.

Valencio had left them to it. Instead, he and Carol were showing the cottages to the head of the maintenance gang. Any chance? "We can clean and furnish, of course, but some of them look quite definitely unsafe."

Tuesday, Najia and Zoe turned up to help. After morning tea, Zoe wandered off for a few minutes, in the direction of the start of the Pamela Track. Connie and Mary happened to be walking close, little Dandy following them, loaded up with easels and paints. The women looked at Zhor Khatabi resentfully, and turned away. Zoe ignored them, but Gloria was watching, too. Zoe stopped, looking at where an ill defined track started from behind a tree.

Gloria came up from behind and said abruptly, "That track is not for a Khatabi!"

Zoe turned slowly, looking Gloria up and down, in a way that made Gloria even more angry. She clenched her fists, itching to hit the tiny woman, who wore such an air of arrogance. This woman had practised magic on her once, a Vidi-Curse, the Crocodile Spell, and then been unable to undo it. Haru had difficulty, too, as Gloria became more and more worried. Zoe may have been the one truly responsible for freeing them, but she was not being given the credit.

Now Gloria stared challengingly at Zhor, fully expecting that the Khatabi witch would punish her for her insolence. But Zoe held onto her temper, and only inclined her head, and stated that neither she nor Najia would visit again.

Gloria took a threatening step toward the small woman, and snapped, "And take that bloody App. Box away. We don't want it here!"

Zoe said with dignity, "I will consider."

At last, Gloria spun on her heel, and stalked off. Zoe sighed. For a moment, she'd been afraid she'd need her magic to defend herself. She'd seen things in Gloria's mind... Had the men really been so bad?

She collected Najia, and they returned to Bellamy's home. It was called Emohruo, which he explained was 'Our home' spelt backward. He always said that no-one would expect the great wizard to live at a place with such a corny name. It was home for him, but the Khatabi women felt like barely tolerated visitors. Mary smiled at them, though, and asked if they'd explored London's Aniragia. Najia was grateful for the gesture of friendship, and said rather that they were interested in having a look at Mortdale.

Not long later, they strolled around Mortdale, the secondary Aniragia of Britain. Mary pointed at a function centre. "Dad paid for that. It was for Louise's wedding, though he said it was just something for everyone."

Louise, who helped with the housekeeping and cooking. One of the 'servants,' in the terminology of Khatabis.

Zoe asked, "Is he really short of money now?"

Mary answered, "There's other charities besides Loch Lomand, things he wouldn't want to give up. A school in Australia, for instance, he helps support, specially tailored riding clothes for Riding for the Disabled clients, because so many of them would never fit into clothing off the shelf. Then he bought Lesley's premises, which cost a fortune, and then he bought Loch Lomand, which cost another fortune. And he says now that his medj need several more cars. They're going out so much more, and there's no bus service convenient."

She added, "Alison says he'll be out of the woods by Christmas. The Riddell Regimen's selling well again, and the Farfalla's also going very well." Mary smiled. "Alison says I'm not to tell him what price they put on it, as it's three times as expensive than the price he suggested."

Najia said, "I imagine it won't stop anyone buying."

"In Diagon Alley, nine tenths of the shoppers already carry one. And at school, on the trip home, someone was talking about the school trunks, and by the time we were in London, every single student was declaring it an utmost necessity."

Najia said, "So we don't need to subsidize Loch Lomand from the Khatabi money?"

Mary said distantly, "Khatabis, of course, are the ones really responsible. They should be carrying the whole weight, not my father, who never abused medj in his life."

Zoe gave a glance of annoyance at her cousin. She should never have raised that subject.

Mary was a little sorry, and asked, "Do you want to visit the museum now?"

In the museum, Mary pointed to a skeleton of an enormous snake. "The museum was built around it. She was called Nagini, and belonged to the evil wizard responsible for the scar on Dad's forehead. He was just a boy when he was promised as a snack for the snake, but of course, it never happened."

Najia looked at the explanatory text, and said, "Look at the year! So hard to believe he's that old."

Mary said, "I can't believe it myself. Usually, I just don't think about it, as he always seems so young." She smiled, "Younger than me, sometimes."

Mary was out that evening, with her new boyfriend, and it was only Zoe, Najia and Bellamy in the private dining room, served by Kitty.

Bellamy was talking enthusiastically about Paul's new colt he'd bought for breeding. "He's called Raffael, he'll start stud duties next year, but Paul says he's trained to take a rider, and I can borrow him for the next few weeks."

Najia smiled at him. "You're missing Madigan."

Bellamy shrugged. "Scarcely worthwhile bringing him all the way back for just a few weeks. And he gets on surprisingly well with Gloria."

Zoe said slowly, "About Loch Lomand. Najia and I have decided to stay away. They don't like us there."

Bellamy looked up. "Has there been unpleasantness?"

"Nothing like that. Just that half of them hide whenever they see us, especially me." She shook her head. "I don't blame them. It was only a couple of months when I was thirteen, but I did practise spells on them."

Bellamy said, "You're probably right," and Zoe felt his relief. It hurt her a little, but she understood he was very protective about his medj. Didn't he realise that she cared about them, too? Medj should not be abused by Anirage, and she was even doing her best to ensure that medj were less abused by more powerful medj.

She said, "I need the App. Box though, and I'd like you to move it here, so that my guard can join me when I need them."

Bellamy said, "Sorry, no."

Zoe was astounded. "Why not?"

"These are my people. I want you to keep your Khatabi Fighters well away from them."

Zoe's temper rose, and she snapped, "You accepted us as your wives. You have to accept what goes with us!"

Bellamy ate some more of the dinner Kitty had prepared, and said, very calmly, "I love you and will always love you. But Kitty and Gabby and Ross - all of them, they are my friends. I do not wish to expose them to someone like Zhang, who murdered ten innocent girls in New York and scarcely gave it a thought, except maybe of mild regret. Or Patek, who did something to me he fully expected would be worse than death, just on orders." He concluded, "I may be able to work with them, but I will not tolerate them here, at my home."

Zoe glared at him, stunned and furious, then stalked off. Najia glanced after her, back at her husband, regretful, and followed her out.

Najia found Zoe close to the App. Zone. Luke patrolled not far away. Just one on duty, when the Morocco Compound was surrounded with unclimbable walls, and was always heavily guarded. She said, "I'm sure I remember Ryuichi telling me that we own land in England. It might be best if we use that. Maybe if we're nice to him, he'll make two more App. Boxes. One Japan to England, one Japan to Morocco."

Zoe said ruefully, "I was silly, wasn't I? We married the great wizard, and just because we sleep with him every night doesn't turn him into a slave."

Najia said, "He admires you tremendously, but you're right. He'll never be a slave."

Zoe sighed. "I'll go apologise."

Najia giggled, "If you fight for a little while longer, we can make up in bed..."

In the morning, Zoe and Najia watched as five horses cantered into the entry drive, and then swung to the right, along the perimeter track. The horses formed a rough line, and Najia said, "It must be for a race!"

The horses leapt into full gallop, covered the distance surprisingly fast, and went flat out until they pulled up quite close to the girls, after passing under a high red and white archway.

"The finishing line, I guess," commented Zoe. The horses were sweating and prancing.

Zoe nodded to Ross, "Beautiful horse," and Ross gave her a wide smile and told her the breeding of the new horse his father had bought for him, right back to its great, great grandsire. It seemed his animosity was not very deep-rooted.

Bellamy slipped off Raffael, and introduced Zoe and Najia to Paul Pickering, his friend and neighbour.

Mary strolled across to the group, nodding at the horse, saying casually, "Pretty horse."

Paul was indignant. Pretty! The colt was magnificent, and would be more so when he filled out a bit more. Still just a three-year-old.

But Mary was oblivious that her praise was not couched in acceptable terms, and only said that there was a morning tea laid out in the garden, for all the riders, plus Edward Lockwood who'd dropped in. "Medj," she cautioned the girls. "A neighbour, though he knows we're not quite normal here."

Zoe and Najia glanced at each other. For over a year, except for occasional contacts when shopping, they hadn't even spoken to a medj. Khatabis didn't. Neither Arabic nor Asian Anirage did. And now here was one just dropping in? Pat, Zoe reminded herself. Pat had been medj. Bellamy's children were actually half-breeds. She had to change her attitudes. She'd been doing a better job of that while still in Italy, as Zoe Kasey. Back in the environment she'd grown up in, old attitudes had returned. But still, John didn't really think medj were equals... How could he?

Zoe and Najia were introduced to Edward as 'friends.' To Edward, it would have been bigamy. The conversation, after a while, went to horses, and Zoe became thoroughly bored, though Najia listened. It seemed there was a certain horse sired by a colt called God Wot?.

Zoe queried, "What did you say it was called."

Her husband grinned. "God Wot, with a question mark. White on one side, and chestnut on the other. Beautiful horse. Got into mischief, and got four of Lockwood's mares in foal."

Edward said, "The skewbald, remember? He's now winning point-to-points all over the district."

"Races," clarified Bellamy.

Zoe smiled politely, and said, "That's good."

She had no interest in talking about horses, and had taken a dislike to the medj, who seemed to think himself someone important, and instead, decided to talk to Ross and Ryan a little more. Ross answered her interested question about a future, "One more year at school, because Mum insists, but we can't make up our minds after that."

"We wanted to be aurors, but we've never managed to get good enough marks."

Ross looked at Zoe, hopefully, "We could join your Khatabi Fighters, maybe. We're good at fighting."

Zoe glanced at her husband, and said calmly, that unfortunately, she had as many as she could cope with, and again, she felt his relief.

By the time the gathering dispersed, it was nearly lunchtime. Bellamy was to go to Loch Lomand again, Najia said that Luke had promised to help her learn to ride, and Zoe said she needed to see Ryuichi. She'd go in the App. Box, but not join them for lunch.

"No need for them even to see me," she said calmly. "App Zone 1, then the App. Box, and I'll be back for dinner."

It was beginning to be the normal distribution of labour - Zoe on Khatabi business, Najia was winning over her husband's staff, and Bellamy still worked at Loch Lomand.

That day, at Loch Lomand, the foreman of the maintenance men, Brett Blainey, joined Bellamy after lunch, where he stood with Carol and a few others. "It won't take long to finish what we planned, but there's a whole wing that's unsafe, that we just blocked off before. But Pierre says take as long as we need, so we can open it up, if you like."

Bellamy said, "Well, Carol's in charge."

Brett said, "Carol? The South Wing?"

Carol was thrilled, and said, "I can't wait to have a look."

Brett cautioned, "It's a little risky, but if we get into trouble, Pauline's done some nursing, and we've all done first aid."

Carol said, "Mariabella? Do you want to come."

Gloria asked, "Me, too?"

"Not too many now, but Mariabella's in charge of housekeeping, so she can come, then Brett, John and I."

Brett said, "I'll need Merv."

Narrow passage ways, low ceilings, and small rooms full of dust, and with floors that now and then creaked in sinister fashion. Carol's excitement vanished, and depression took over. How could they do anything with this? It was ruins! And here was yet another sagging place in a floor. She exclaimed, "It's hopeless!"

Merv looked at her in surprise. "It was nearly all like this to begin with, and now we're not in such a hurry. All we have to do is renew each floor, open the rooms into much bigger ones, and make the ceilings higher. A fair bit of planning, but no great problem."

No problem? Really? Carol was incredulous, suddenly hopeful again. After all, the part of the castle they lived in, was fine, and Michael had opened a lot of extra areas for them, bit by bit.

Brett said, "If you're going to take in paying guests, you'll need larger bedrooms, each with bathroom and toilet."

Bellamy said in surprise, "Paying guests?"

Carol said, "We've thought of it, but I want to make quite sure that no-one has any objection before we go ahead."She still had her fingers crossed, though no-one had come to her yet... "If we do it right, and if no-one's too frightened, we could become self-supporting by Christmas, or at least, not long after."

Bellamy looked at her, troubled. "You shouldn't have to worry about money..."

Carol assured him, "It's better for us to feel independent, and some of us are a bit old to start new careers, like Mary and Connie, for instance. There are others still very timid." She smiled at Brett and Merv. "Having Brett's gang here has helped, especially as not a one has approached any of the women who are nervous of them."

Brett grinned, "Pierre told us not to dress like wizards, as he nearly got stoned one day when he came here in robes."

Carol laughed. "We weren't that bad."

Merv said soberly, "No-one would blame you if you were. It was appalling!"

Mariabella was slightly reddened. "How much do people know?"

"That you were held prisoner, punished if disobedient, and used ruthlessly for whatever the Khatabis wanted."

Mariabella said, "No wonder, if everyone knows. Gloria was interested in marrying a wizard, but now she says she'll have nothing to do with them."

Brett nodded. "Jeremy's my little brother. He said she was wonderful, but the party was a bad mistake."

Mariabella started walking across to a large window hung with rags. There was an ominous creak and the floor started to sag. Merv waved a wand, and said calmly, "The floor will hold now, just walk back carefully." Mariabella walked back very carefully.

Plans to prepare. A large function room, a second dining room, thirty bedrooms, each with toilet and bathroom. Sitting rooms, with a kitchenette, for coffees and snacks, maybe one for each four bedrooms. Electricity. Heating. Plumbing. Carol was filled with enthusiasm, and had every intention of having a big say in whatever was done.

"About a month," Brett guessed.

"More like six weeks," guessed Merv.

Bellamy asked, "Do you need approval from Pierre?"

"He's given approval in advance. Whatever's wanted, and solid enough for an indefinite future."

Merv grinned. "Rocky was moaning. She wanted a rearrangement in Medj Affairs, but she'll have to wait."

"Medj Affairs?" asked Mariabella.

Bellamy explained, "They do things like organise your identity papers, and ensure that the local council accepts that everything's done to their regulations." He grinned. "I doubt if she can get my marriage recognised as legal, though, not under medj laws."

Brett asked, "Is it legal?"

"I was married in Morocco. Under wizard law, it's legal."

Bellamy wandered outside again, and admired Mary's painting in progress. She was painting the foals, but she had some work to do on getting the proportions right. Connie looked at it critically, and said, "If you just do trees, it doesn't matter if a limb's too long or too short."

Kaede looked at it as well, and said, "Is it better to attempt something easy and have a good result, or something difficult and have a result not perfect?"

Connie said, "John?"

Bellamy shrugged. "There's something to be said for both approaches. But if you're talking about your pictures, each of them has its charm."

Mary looked at her own picture critically, and smiled. It was a long way from perfect, but she'd only been practising painting for a bit over a year. She'd only been practising freedom for that long, too, but was getting better at it. She was going with Gary to visit the Campbell castle the following day, and this time, it was just the two of them.

She told John. John might not say anything, but he'd know she was so much braver now.

**x**

Dinner that evening, Zoe showed the others a list of places, with apparation coordinates. "These are Khatabi owned properties in England, within apparation range of London, also two places in France. Tomorrow, we can have a look at them, if we like." Najia smiled in anticipation.

Zoe added, "Ryuichi tells me most of them will be quite unsuitable for placement of App. Boxes of course, like, for instance, a shop in London called Harrods, which Ryuichi says is always far too busy for the purpose. But some places are only rundown tenements, and he said one was a farm, but empty at the moment."

Mary was gaping. "The Khatabis own Harrods?"

Zoe confirmed, "Harrods is one of the names on the list. It would be just the property, not the business. He said that the Family never actually gets involved in running businesses, just collects rent."

Mary shook her head. "The wealth must be astronomical."

"We've never paid taxes, and I don't plan to start. On the other hand, I have every intention of imposing ethics and law on every wizard in Arabia." She smiled at her husband, who'd been a bit subdued. "We'll make up for it, I promise."

Najia looked at Bellamy reproachfully when he returned from his customary morning ride the following day. "You were longer than you said."

"Sorry, small accident, and we had to come home slowly."

"What?"

"Ryan took a tumble and broke an arm. We had to come home slowly because it was still a little sore."

Zoe nodded imperiously, and decreed, "An acceptable excuse."

He kissed her, "So I'm forgiven?"

"Only if you shower and change double-quick time."

Ten minutes later, they stood in the App. room, as Zoe read out some coordinates. The coordinates were woven into their magic, and they appeared close together in what appeared to be a temporary toolshed on a block being redeveloped. "This one's a collection of warehouses near Plymouth docks," said Zoe.

After some explorations, she made some notes, and then announced the next coordinates. Najia asked, "You will make App. Boxes for us, won't you, John?"

Bellamy nodded, "But I'm making them so only you two or Bouchra can work them, just in case there's a change in power and a reversion to barbarity."

Zoe looked at her husband, very annoyed, and said curtly, "I have no intention of losing power or allowing a reversion to barbarity!"

Bellamy shrugged. "I had no intention of allowing a Khatabi to hit me with the Cha Keeyo. Didn't stop it happening." He added, "The DMT App. Boxes are kept under constant and heavy guard, if even only one of them is at the other end. They're a convenience, but a security hazard."

Zoe considered, and nodded. "Could be a security hazard from the other end, as well. Very well. I'll allow you to do as you say."

Najia looked at her doubtfully, but Bellamy grinned and Zoe grinned back. She knew she was apt to get too bossy, and her husband was not a slave.

Two hours later, they inspected a small farm. Zoe consulted her notes. "Currently unoccupied, a hundred and fifty acres, small house, various sheds."

Bellamy was staring at a shed. "How long's it been unoccupied?"

"Six weeks, according to the notes."

Bellamy went to the shed and opened the door, dropping to his knees beside a dead cat, six newborn kittens beside her. There was some dry cat food, but no water left. There was a very faint cry from one of the kittens. Gently, he stroked them one by one, feeling, then vanishing tiny bodies. Only one alive. He took it in his hand, and vanished the mother cat, dead probably a day or so.

"Best just kill it," said Zoe. "Surely impossible to keep such a tiny kitten alive."

"The cat that lives in the walled garden, Sherbet, has just had kittens. She'll probably be happy to adopt one extra."

He stood. "I might be about fifteen minutes. I'll just find you then."

Zoe shook her head as he vanished. Najia smiled tenderly and glanced at her cousin. "Just because he wants to save the life of a newborn kitten doesn't mean he can't help you achieve your grand plans."

They continued exploring. "Closer to London would have been better," concluded Zoe. "Otherwise it's ideal."

"No other dead or dying animals, luckily."

Najia sighed. "So are you happy then? I'm tired."

Multiple apparations were very tiring, the reason why long trips were almost never done that way.

"Three more names on the list, but we'll do those tomorrow." She smiled at Najia. "We can finish at Harrods if you like, and we'll buy Bellamy's medj half a dozen cars."

"Do Harrods sell cars?"

Bellamy appeared beside them, smiling. "Sherbet only had two kittens. She was tickled pink to have a third."

***chapter end***