Angua gave Vimes a concerned look when he entered the watch house the next morning.
"Sir? Are you alright?"
"No, Angua, I am not. My son has somehow managed to go to the Ramtops and back without us noticing!" The werewolf stared.
"Are you sure, sir? It's a fair journey, unless you travel by magic." Vimes glared at her.
"I know. I don't know how they're doing it. It's that governess, I just know it is!"
"Governess?"
"His new governess. Friend of Sybil's recommended her. Ever since she arrived, the schoolroom's been silent, and he's been off finding fossils in the chalk, metal attracting stones in the Ramtops, and gods know what else!"
There was a pause, while Angua considered whether to run and fetch a glass of water for the Commander.
"Sir, this governess…"
"Yes? What about her?"
"Would she be called Susan? White hair? Well, mostly white."
"Yes! It moves, I'm sure it does! You know her?"
"Yes, sir. I see her in Biers sometimes." Vimes froze. "Oh, don't worry, sir. She's not a vampire, or a werewolf. She's not really an undead. She's…well, sir, Young Sam is safer with her than he is even with you."
"What makes you say that, Captain?"
"Well, sir…she's Death's granddaughter. It's…complicated."
"But he's a skeleton!"
"Yes, sir. Like I said. It's complicated."
"Right. Now, you are not to wander off, understood?"
"Yes Miss Susan."
"Good. Now, you remember to be polite to Nanny Ogg. She knows a lot about herbs."
"Is she really a witch?"
"Yes."
"Wow!"
Susan smiled. She rather liked her new student. He was very enthusiastic, and utterly unfazeable.
"Off we go, then."
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