Septimus Heap, Book Six_ Darke - Angie Sage [65]
The Palace doors were pushed open and the tippy-taps strode across the stone floor of the entrance hall. They halted below Sarah’s ladder.
“Sarah Heap,” Marcia announced.
Why, Sarah wondered crossly, did Marcia have to sound so officious? She turned around, hammer raised, the last two nails held between her lips.
“Mrgh?” said Sarah, finally deigning to look down at her visitors. “Ah, hrr Brrr n Hrrrr,” she said, actually pleased to see two of Marcia’s companions, Beetle and Hildegarde, although less pleased to see the young witch they had with them. She took the nails out of her mouth. “You’re early,” she said. “But I could do with some help. There’s always more to do than you think to get a party ready.”
“Mum,” said the young witch.
Sarah nearly dropped her hammer. “Goodness, Jenna. It’s you. I didn’t know this was going to be a fancy dress party.”
“Mum, it’s not, but—” Jenna began, wanting to explain before Marcia jumped in with both feet.
Sarah looked disapproving. “Well, I don’t know why you are walking around in that witch stuff,” she said. “You really shouldn’t. It’s not nice.”
“Sorry. It’s been a bit of a rush. But—”
“You’re telling me. We’re not nearly ready for the party, and now—”
“Mum, listen—”
“The party’s cancelled,” said Marcia.
Sarah dropped the hammer, narrowly missing Marcia’s right foot. “What?” she said angrily.
“Canceled. You and everyone inside the Palace have five minutes to leave.”
Sarah was down the ladder in a flash. “Marcia Overstrand, how dare you?”
“Mum,” said Jenna. “Please listen, it’s important, something has—”
“Thank you, Jenna, I’ll handle this,” said Marcia. “Sarah, it is my job to ensure the safety of the Palace. There’s a Cordon encircling the building and I am now putting it in Quarantine.”
Sarah looked exasperated. “Look here, Marcia, there is no need to go to such extremes. I don’t know what Septimus or Jenna have been telling you about the party, but you really mustn’t take any notice. Their father and I will be here and we have no intention of letting things get out of hand.”
“It seems they already have got out of hand, Sarah,” said Marcia. She put her hand up to stop Sarah’s protests. “Sarah, listen to me, I am not talking about the party. And may I say, the fact that you and Silas have been here appears to have been no safeguard against anything whatsoever. Indeed, I am surprised—and not a little disappointed—that Silas has allowed this to happen.”
“It’s only a little birthday party, Marcia,” Sarah said snappily. “Of course we’ve allowed it to happen.”
“Sarah, for goodness’ sake, listen to what I am saying. I am not talking about the birthday party,” Marcia replied, equally snappily. “And you can stop waving that hammer around too.”
Sarah looked at the hammer in her hand as though she was surprised to find it there. She shrugged and placed it on the stepladder.
“Thank you,” said Marcia.
“So what are you talking about?” Sarah demanded.
“I am talking about your lodger in the attic.”
“What lodger? We don’t have lodgers,” Sarah said indignantly. “Things may be a bit tough sometimes but we haven’t had to rent the Palace out as a guesthouse quite yet. And even if we did, I hardly think we need your permission, thank you very much.” Sarah folded up the stepladder with an angry bang and began to heave it into the Long Walk. Beetle stepped forward and took it from her.
“Thank you, Beetle,” said Sarah, “that’s very sweet of you. Excuse me, Marcia, I have things to do.” With that she began gathering up the remains of streamers that were scattered across the floor.
“Mum,” said Jenna, handing her some fallen streamers. “Mum, please. There’s something horrible here. We have to—”
But Sarah was not in a mood to listen. “And you can take that witch cloak off right now, Jenna. It smells awful—just like the real thing.”
Marcia raised her