Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling. In this story, Harry Potter is very old, and is known as 'The Great Wizard.' His name is Bellamy.

Chapter 26:

Valencio's agent in Edinburgh looked closely at the summary of new films looking for actors, and wrote off for a more detailed description of one particular one. Laurie Klein felt that Vince McDonald could be a goldmine for him. Agents were paid on commission, but Vince was so choosy, not seeming to care in the slightest if he was passed over for an actor who didn't demand as much money for his work. He'd already turned down parts in two dramas made for television, as well as a series that most actors would give their eye-teeth for.

But Son of Satan - it was made for him! They wanted an unknown, they wanted a man of extreme good looks, and he would share star billing. The hero would be a well-known actor, almost certainly, and Laurie had heard that Jean-Pierre Dequienne was to be offered the job if he was available.

Laurie tapped his fingers on the desk, before making his decision. He selected a few photographs of Vince, made a note that he appeared a very accomplished actor, and sent it off. He didn't consult his client. Vince claimed to have no interest in movies, but Laurie thought that if only he read the script, he might be tempted.

Mid-August. There was interest, it appeared. Laurie rang the casting director, and spoke to her personally. That Vince appeared to have enormous talent, that he was half-hearted about an acting career, and would probably decline a part in a Hollywood movie. But he might be tempted. Laurie suggested that if Sylvie was interested in the man, maybe she could come to Edinburgh, and see him as he worked on an ad.

Sylvie was intrigued, as Laurie had hoped she would be, and when Valencio did his part to advertise a fashion store, she studied him. Where had she seen him before? Laurie said that all he'd done was a little work in advertising. But his casual competence indicated to her a greater experience than that stated. A thought struck her, and she stared. Could it be?

Valencio looked around at her, and frowned. Sylvie Staines, who'd worked with him on Summer in Rome. She'd been fourteen, and he'd been eleven. She wouldn't know him from that - he'd been just a child. Vince McDonald turned back to the one directing the scene, and when instructed, did his confident stroll down the set for the fifth time. The other actor satisfied the director that time, and the scene was done.

Valencio had to pose a few more times for some additional footage in case of need, and then he was finished and disappeared to change. Another job done, and he and Tasha could afford to visit London without imposing too much on Dean, who was offering to have them as his guests for three days.

Sylvie left a script with Laurie, who read it himself, and then sent it, but cunningly addressed it to Tasha and Vincent McDonald. He had a shrewd idea that Vince's wife might be very keen to go to Hollywood, even if Vince, himself, was not. He'd taken care to be very charming to her, the one time she'd been with Vince when he dropped in.

Sylvie, meantime, found some old pictures of the missing child actor, compared them with the recent ones of Vince McDonald, and decided that she was almost certainly right in her suspicions, even if birth dates didn't match. Naturally, he wouldn't want it known. From the start, it had been assumed that Valencio had been taken for sex, and probably murdered afterwards. She would not tell anyone, and he'd only been a child. It might never become known.

She spoke enthusiastically about Vince to the producer, who agreed that they would offer him expenses to audition in Hollywood, or, alternatively, would make a special trip themselves to see him audition in Edinburgh. Sylvie preferred the latter alternative. No point reminding him of the drawbacks of Hollywood life.

Meantime, Valencio, Tasha and Dean were in London, going on tours hosted by Dean, eating out, sometimes at Dean's expense, sometimes at their own. They did errands, such as leaving a list of books with Lesley Bellamy for urgent delivery, and visiting a fabric shop. Amreeta's designs had been accepted by a major fashion house, and she was currently designing a new range.

They found an exclusive boutique, and showed Dean the finished clothing as designed by Amreeta, with the result that he bought three gowns for his current girlfriend. When asked the size of the recipient, he said, "Skinny. All the young women in New York are skinny. A bit of a shame, really."

Valencio grinned at him, and suggested, "Maybe you should look for someone older than twenty!"

"Cynthia is nearly thirty," answered Dean. "She suits me fine." Dean was well into his sixties.

The three days passed, and Tasha and Valencio took a train to Edinburgh, stayed a night at the Loch Lomand Edinburgh Motel, and arrived back, with barely any more money than before Valencio had done the advertisement. The next time Carol said that they should take a larger portion of their wages for their work at Loch Lomand, Tasha firmly agreed. They had full-time jobs, and needed to be paid a little more than they'd previously accepted.

When the package arrived for Tasha and Valencio, Valencio was off somewhere, and just as Laurie had hoped, Tasha opened it. She read the covering letter very closely. The studio would arrange an apartment in Hollywood for them if Valencio was chosen, and they decided to accept. Tasha didn't know whether or not that was unusual. They'd come and see him audition in Edinburgh. She was sure that had to be unusual. The part that Valencio was to be considered for, was to be the Son of Satan, name of character Essan Pandragon.

Tasha didn't worry about leaving her current job of housekeeper and host. Kaede, Kwai-Jeeha, Mary or Connie could all do it perfectly easily. She gave careful consideration to the best way to tempt Valencio into accepting the part. That director named. His most recent, she thought, must be Pie in the Sky, which was a very big, very expensive, and very successful film. Filming expected to take about six months, expected pay - and Tasha shook her head. Of course Valencio should be an actor. He had the talent, he loved it, and they could be very rich.

She took herself to a quiet reading room, recently comfortably furnished, high up in a scarcely used part of the castle. She settled down to read, at first distracted by the acting notes, but soon became totally involved, and was late for dinner.

Valencio came in late as well, after a day helping Joe with his shearing, and simultaneously entertaining two of the visitors. They enjoyed the novelty, though they were currently being soundly rebuked by their wives, and sent to change out of clothing that smelled distinctly of sheep. Carol smiled on him, and said that he did a wonderful job.

"Lucas and Heinrich, you mean? They liked it, even when Heinrich skidded on wet grass and fell in a pile of dung."

Gloria remarked, "The children are a pain in the neck. I don't think we should encourage children."

Connie contradicted her. "Nonsense. It's so lovely to see them enjoying themselves."

"They won't keep out of Bluey's paddock, and that imp of Satan, Kane, he'll get himself kicked one of these days."

Connie suggested, "I wonder if Dot could put child-repelling crio-magic on the fences."

"Good idea," said Gloria, tersely, and started to talk about the gymkhana she planned to go to on Saturday. She and Margaret were the only ones who still bothered, aside from the girls.

"Do you want me this time?" asked Valencio.

"I'd appreciate it. You're useful."

"What about guests?"

Gloria shrugged, "Any adults I don't mind. The ones with kids, as long as they keep away from us, just watch from ringside. That'll be alright."

"I'll mention it at breakfast."

He enjoyed the company he attracted. Several times, women had indicated their availability, but they were never pushy. He'd simply let a reference to his wife enter the conversation, and that had been sufficient. Just once, a young man had made a cautious and subtle advance. But again, all that was needed was a reference to his wife. Valencio thought he was no longer 'a babe in the woods.' Ordinary people were easy to get on with, not like wizards.

Tasha was very quiet, and went off again afterwards. She wasn't finished, and thought she might read it again the following day. All she did was ask Valencio to keep Wednesday free, as she wanted him to do something for her. Valencio looked at her surprised, but Tasha said nothing further, and after a brief hesitation, he agreed that he would keep Wednesday free.

"You won't need the yellow vest that day," Tasha added.

After a pause, Valencio said, "There's another half day's shearing at Joe's place tomorrow, and he said he wouldn't mind if there were children, as long as they were not small children."

Gloria said, "So you think you can get Kane out of my hair?"

"Maybe. He's kept clear of me so far."

The following morning, Valencio mentioned casually, that kids older then eight could come and help with some shearing if they wanted, but they needed their parents' permission. Kane looked hopefully at his mother, who nodded. Kane was nine.

"You'll have to do exactly what Vince says, of course," his mother said.

"Of course," Kane answered, looking the picture of innocence.

Valencio grinned to himself. Of course. He asked, "Anyone else?"

The others glanced at the freckle faced boy, and declined. Valencio looked back at Kane, and asked, "Ride there, or drive there?"

"Ride? And then when we're finished, we can gallop home."

Valencio nodded, and said to his mother, "We'll probably be finished by lunch, but if we're not back by then, it's just that Anne has asked us to eat there."

Kane's mother said cautiously, "Gallop home?"

"A slow canter, maybe," and he chose Honey for himself, rather than Caesar, checked Gloria's list of available horses, and gave Kane a choice.

Kane was full of questions on the way over, fell in love with the black mare he'd chosen, 'Sparks,' and happily swept shearing boards, hunted sheep, helped tidy fleeces, and chattered to Valencio all morning. He was well behaved, and declared that he wanted to be a farmer when he grew up.

They ate at the Corbetts, and Joe pleased Kane immensely by mentioning that he'd been useful. Kane turned to Valencio then, and asked, "What are you doing this afternoon, Vince? Can I help?"

"You can help if you want, and your mother agrees, but it's pretty boring. Mildred has asked me to dig up a garden for her and spread manure."

Kane grinned and said that he liked manure.

Joe laughed. Just like Vince, in fact, who still seemed happiest when he was filthy.

In the afternoon, Kane used his overflowing energy by learning to dig, economically and effectively, chattered nonstop, about everything under the sun, and declared he was having a wonderful holiday. His tired mother swam, lounged in the weak sunshine, and read a book. She was beginning to have a wonderful holiday as well.

Afterwards, Valencio looked at the boy's clothing, and suggested he could take an outside shower. Emma was close, and he asked her to find Kay Stevenson, and ask for a change of clothing for Kane, and a towel. Kay brought them out herself, slightly worried that Kane was in trouble, or maybe Vince might do something inappropriate. But Kane only said a brief thank you, and disappeared into the external shower, as Valencio leaned against the wall outside, and offered to wash out his clothing if she wanted. "He's filthy, and he's a great little worker. He's helped a lot today."

Kay smiled, "He's a great kid, just that he has so much energy, and we live in a flat."

The child came out, scrubbed, and beamed at Valencio. He was a 'great little worker,' Vince said so. He asked happily, "What are you doing tomorrow, Vince? Can I help?"

"My wife says I have to help her tomorrow, but she didn't tell me what she wanted."

Kane asked, "Do you always do what a woman tells you?"

"Mostly, especially if it's my wife. It's much the best policy in life, I reckon."

Kane was silent. His father, whom he visited once a month, didn't think that a woman's request even counted. He asked, "The day after?"

"I don't know yet, but will you still be here Saturday?"

Kane nodded.

Valencio said, "Well, there's a gymkhana on, and if you want to, you can come to that. But you'll have to keep clear of any of the horses I say. Madigan, for instance, the big black one, doesn't like some people."

"Gloria yelled at me when I was patting Madigan."

Valencio nodded. "Bluey's paddock contains three yearlings as well, and young horses are not always docile. Like young people."

Kane said, "And the black and white one bites. I know that."

"So keep out of Bluey's paddock, and maybe we can go riding again Thursday or Friday." Kane beamed.

The following morning, he looked for Vince at breakfast, and asked Kaede where he was. Kaede answered, "He's not available today. But he told me you were easily a good enough rider to go on a ride with Connie, or a faster ride with Margaret, if you want."

His older sister said importantly, "I'm riding in the gymkhana. Brigitta and Inge are helping."

Kane said sceptically, "You can't ride!"

Carrie answered, "I'm going in the Joanna Greene Class, and someone's going to lead me. And I'm having Annie Oakley for that, and I'm going to ride one of the black ponies in the Pairs Class, with Brigitta on another. She says we don't really have much chance of taking a ribbon, but it's good anyway."

Kane said, "Mum, can I ride as well?"

His mother hesitated, and Kaede said, "The Joanna Greene Class if he wants, and you agree, but any others, he'd need to talk to Gloria."

Kane's sister said condescendingly, "I'll be practising with Brigitta, but you can watch if you want."

Kane slipped from the table, "I'll ask Vince."

He didn't find Valencio, pausing when he came to the section of the castle marked Permanent Residents only, and reluctantly turning away.

By the time he started searching for Valencio again, Gloria had agreed that he could ride Sparks in the Pairs, with Inge on Wentworth, who was of lesser quality, but similar size and colour. He found Valencio in the end, in a small room, furnished with little more than a bookshelf, a table, and a couple of chairs. Kane slipped quietly into the other chair, and after a while, picked up a battered paperback, and started reading as well.

Valencio was very deeply absorbed, seeing the story as he read. Seeing how he would play it. Maybe not quite as the notes indicated. He was a better actor than that, and could convey a great deal without any need for words. He was Satan's Son, it was perfectly obvious from the description of characters at the front, though Tasha hadn't shown him the covering letter, just given him the dog-eared collection of papers, and asked him to please read it. Kane watched him surreptitiously, pretending to read the book he'd picked up.

Vince lay the script down on the table, put his elbows beside it, stared up into the distance, and muttered lines. That would be the most difficult part, acting as if learning to speak, and yet not as a toddler learns to speak. Probably the director would have ideas. He looked down again, and turned the page, again saying a few lines out loud. He was very excited. He could do this. He couldn't wait to do this.

He took a deep breath, put the script back in his lap, and stretched out long legs, putting feet on the coffee table in a manner that had Kane opening his mouth. His mother would never have permitted that! Vince became absorbed again, and Kane wondered if he'd even been noticed. Vince wasn't wearing the yellow vest, and Kane knew that it meant he was off duty, and should preferably not be approached.

He sat quietly, patiently, as young Kane was so seldom quiet and patient. After a long time, he said, very quietly, "You're going to miss lunch."

He didn't repeat it, and at first thought that Vince hadn't even heard. But the words slowly penetrated, and Valencio raised his head, frowned at Kane, "What did you say?"

Kane said timidly, "It's after twelve. You're going to miss lunch."

Valencio smiled at him, "I would have forgotten."

"What are you reading?"

"It's a script for a film. I might try for a part, maybe." He explained a bit more then, and decided to eat in the guests' dining room. He wasn't finished reading, and wanted to keep Tasha guessing a while longer. If she chose to manipulate, at least he could keep her in suspense for a bit. He asked Kane, "Can you not tell anyone that I was reading a script?"

"Is it a secret?"

"Sort of. Though it won't be if I get the part. But right now, I really want it quiet."

"I won't tell anyone."

Valencio asked, "What have you been doing today?"

Kane chattered, Valencio appeared to be listening, but his mind was on Essan Pandragon. There was the other main part, the hero. It would need a very good actor to convey the concerned psychologist, put in a terrible dilemma.

Kane asked hopefully, as Valencio ate his lunch, "Can you take me for a ride this afternoon, Vince?"

"Tomorrow. I need a gallop by myself to clear my mind, and then I'll be reading again today. How about tomorrow, and we'll ride the Heidi Track?"

Kane agreed eagerly.

Valencio said, "Nine in the morning then, and anyone else of course, if they like."

Carrie said, "I rode it yesterday, with Mary, and I'll be practising again in the morning."

"Just you and me for the moment, Kane, and if anyone else wants, they only need to be there in the morning."

But then he finished eating quickly, routinely scraped his plate, left it on the tray, and vanished. Kane did exactly the same with his plate, to his mother's surprise. Maybe it was suddenly cool, just because Vince did it.

Tasha caught a glimpse of her husband on Caesar, but didn't see him again until dinner, and then he was talking about the gymkhana. Gloria had had approaches from two of the adult visitors, and now there were more horses needed, more practising needed. "There are others wanting to join in, as well, but few can ride very well, and we're running out of volunteers to ride in the pairs with them."

Carol asked, "Is there a Fancy Dress class?"

Gloria said, "I hadn't thought of that," and pulled a schedule from her pocket. "Adults' Fancy Dress, and a Children's Fancy Dress."

"Will we go and ask if any want to be in the Fancy Dress then? There's time to make a few simple costumes, and we'll keep those for others in the future."

Gloria said unwillingly, "We're going to a lot of trouble for them."

Carol replied firmly, "The better time they have, the more they'll recommend us, and we save money on advertising."

"I'll need extra help then, especially as I'm riding myself."

Mary said, "I'll help, and I'll take Ruby, and enter myself. She's almost a dressage horse now."

Gloria said, not laughing, "I've rarely seen a better trained pony, and you deserve prizes with her."

Mary smiled, "I know she's not a Thoroughbred or an Andalusian or even an Arab, but she's jealous if I ride a different horse."

Connie also offered to help.

"Horse boxes?"

"We can hire Tom's if necessary," said Carol. "There's a bit of money in the kitty now."

Amreeta asked, "Do you want me to design something for them?"

"If they're interested, but I know you're busy, and someone else will sew."

Tasha was looking at Valencio, feeling frustrated that she didn't have a chance to talk to him alone, and when he rose and left with Carol and Gloria, she sat back in her chair, fuming. He must know she was dying of impatience!

Valencio leaned back against the wall as Carol and Gloria asked just how many wanted to ride in the Glen Kay gymkhana, and spoke about the Fancy Dress, where contestants only had to walk their horses in a circle.

Amreeta looked at the gathering assessingly, and said, "I know. We could have all the men on the black ponies and they could be the murderous Mongol hordes."

Carol grinned, and agreed that it was a great idea. "Impractical though. We only have a few days, and we'd have to make fake weapons, as well as work out the costumes."

A tall man called Ennis asked, "That tall, skinny horse. Can he be ridden?"

"He's quiet to ride, just a bit old."

"Well, I could be Don Quixote, and we'll pad the wife a bit, and she can be Pablo, on one of the ponies."

Valencio wasn't listening, enjoying the thought of Tasha still in suspense. How long before she just grabbed him, and asked?

By the time the four visitors who wanted to be in the Fancy Dress were asked to be at the Sewing Room the following morning, he was staring into the distance again, seeing the opening scene. The large, soft egg, that split open, to reveal the back of a naked man. It should not be obvious at the start what it was, not until he started to rise to his feet. He laughed suddenly, out loud. He wouldn't even get to wear clothes for the first half dozen scenes. And then he frowned. It would need a very good director. He wouldn't do it if it was some amateur who'd make a hash of it. Forgetting that he meant to keep Tasha in suspense a while longer, he strode out the room, leaving the others staring after him in surprise.

Carol said, "Don't worry about Vince. Tasha's given him something to think about." Kane hugged his secret to himself. He knew what Vince was thinking about, and no-one else did.

Valencio found Tasha in the Ballroom, looking over the letter. Without preliminaries, he asked, "Do you know who's to direct?"

Tasha said, "Probably Hermann Schuster, Laurie said." She handed him the letter, and he studied it.

Tasha said, "So you're going to do it then?"

Valencio grinned at her, "When do I audition?"

Tasha hugged him, thrilled. A few others gathered around, hearing Tasha's excitement.

Valencio looked down at the letter. "They must want me. They're coming to Edinburgh for me to audition, that's unusual, and offering to organise an apartment - unless things have changed enormously, that's unheard of." He was looking at the letter again, and suddenly swore. "Sylvie Staines. She's casting director. She knows who I am. She must do."

Tasha said, "Surely that's unlikely."

"I would have thought so, but we were in Summer in Rome together, and I don't think a total unknown would have them go to this much trouble."

Tasha said hesitantly, "Maybe she won't say anything."

"Maybe not. She was a nice girl." He smiled at Tasha. "Even at eleven, I was wishing I was just a couple of years older, so we could have been more than friendly."

"At thirteen?"

"Hollywood's like that. Children grow up fast. I didn't like it much, though I loved the acting."

Emma asked, "Will you be leaving then, Vince?"

Valencio looked at her doubtfully. Emma reassured. "I'm grown up, and I can look after myself. I don't need you."

"Films mostly take several months to make, and it's a major part. But this is home. Unless Carol needs the cottage for someone else, we'll come back afterwards."

Tasha cautioned, "It's only an audition."

Valencio grinned at her, "If they give anyone else my part, I might just get out my bits of glass again."

Gloria arrived in the ballroom with names on a piece of paper. She'd need to work out horses. There were enough good ones these days, as well as enough quiet ones, It was merely a matter of matching up, and making sure the visitors were happy.

Carol said, "I'll hire the extra horse box, and we need people to sew tomorrow, and preferably another rider to match up in a pair with Isobel."

Tasha said, "I can sew, and also be a pair."

There were other volunteers, other arrangements. Valencio was in the clouds again, optimistically deciding that Sylvie was far too much of a lady to mention his shady past, and no-one else would know him. He'd been just a child, after all!

A week later, Narzu-Han studied the monthly report. Valencio was popular with the visitors, and there was a nine-year-old boy who worshipped him, and followed him around everywhere. He appeared to be in an odd mood, sometimes abstracted, sometimes in almost hilariously good spirits. There were some photographs again, and he studied them. Saddling a big horse, and the note said, 'Vince and Gloria.' With a freckle-faced boy, 'Kane.' He was still helping wherever required, the report said, and spoke about a fashion parade, which he'd helped set up, but didn't attend, that he'd helped move several women to Edinburgh, and that he'd been active in setting up for a wedding. A resident called Kaede is a civil celebrant, though I heard it was the first outside wedding she's done.

Narzu-Han looked back at the photograph of Vince and Kane, and suddenly remembered seeing a naked boy slave look at Adil with just that same look of adoration. He couldn't remember the boy's name, might never have known it. No. 54. He remembered that.

Narzu-Han put the photograph down. Valencio, who'd been taught to desire that which he'd hated. Was he now teaching another boy to want it? To look for it? It had hurt Valencio. He'd nearly died once, Narzu-Han knew, just losing the desire to live, and not eating. And that was besides the two occasions when he'd sliced through his own carotid artery. It was a miracle that each time there had been a wizard close enough to save his life.

He called Feena back to question her further. Was he ever alone with this boy, Kane?

Feena answered that he'd been just returning from a long ride with him, alone, when she arrived.

"How did they look?"

"I didn't go close of course, but I heard later that the boy had fallen off and hurt himself. Not badly, though."

"And afterwards? Did he still hang around Vince?"

"Not as much for a few days, but he was practising for a gymkhana, and afterwards, for the rest of his stay, he was always with him?"

Narzu-Han put aside discretion, and asked, "Could he have been using the boy for sex?"

Feena was surprised, "I didn't see any indications of anything like that. And his mother appeared quite happy to trust him!"

"So there were more times than once when they were alone together?"

"Probably. Kane was seldom with his mother or sister."

Narzu-Han dismissed Feena, and thought. Bellamy's pendreiya was still effective, though Narzu-Han had found ways around it. He must not hurt any person or animal, and he must not help anyone else hurt any person or animal. Maybe leaving Valencio to molest the boy, Kane, was helping him hurt someone else. Maybe it was his duty to take him back. Valencio would come with him, Narzu-Han was sure. He'd just have to appear, and his boy couldn't help himself, but would leave Tasha, leave his life, and come with him, Narzu-Han. It wouldn't be rape. Valencio wanted it from him, loved it from him.

He sighed. Narzu-Han knew that he was allowing his own desires to influence him.

A few days later, Kane was approached by Feena, who took him away from his companions, raised a wand, questioned him thoroughly, and told him to forget. As instructed, Kane forgot the questioning. Narzu-Han received the report, and tried not to be disappointed. He'd only been looking for an excuse. Valencio would never damage a boy, as he'd been damaged. Hadn't Yiko put a ban on any new boys being taken, for fear of Valencio going berserk?

The report he sent on to Abensur didn't mention Kane, just stated that he was well and happy, that Brigitta was starting her final year of school, and was doing well, as were the other two.

For the first time, Abensur learned that the girl he'd loved, was involved with a young man called Jimmy Rawlings. Jimmy Rawlings? Abensur creased his brow, and tried to remember. There had been a Jimmy in Enclosure 3, but he couldn't remember his surname. They'd never bothered with surnames.

xchapter endsx