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Jannit Maarten, boatbuilder, was on her way to the Palace
Jannit, a lean, spare wotail, had never in her strangest drea up her rowboat at Snake Slipway and heading for the Palace Gates But, on a chilly gray spring day, here she was, doing just that - and feeling more than a little apprehensive
Soarde, the sub-Wizard on door duty at the Palace, looked up fronment titled "The Politics, Principles and Practice of Transfor over the wide plank bridge that spanned the ornamental moat and led to the Palace doors Happy to have a break, Hildegarde ju, Miss Maarten How may I help you?"
"You know arde did not tell Jannit that she made it her business to know everyone&039;s name Instead she said,
"Of course I do, Miss Maarten Your boatyard repaired my sister&039;s boat last year She was very pleased with the work"
Jannit had no idea who this sub-Wizard&039;s sister could possibly be, but she could not help wondering what boat it was Jannit remembered boats She smiled aardly and took off her battered sailor&039;s boater, which she had worn especially for her visit to the Palace - it was Jannit&039;s equivalent of a party frock and tiara
"Ladies are welcoarde
"Oh?" said Jannit, wondering what that had to do with her Jannit did not think of herself as a lady
"Is there soarde proue-tied visitors
Jannit twisted her boater around in her hands "Sarah Heap," she said "Please"
"I will send a er May I tell her what it is you wish to see her about?"
After a long pause Jannit replied "Nicko Heap," she said, staring at her hat
"Ah Please take a seat for a moht away"
Ten minutes later Sarah Heap, thinner than she had been but still in possession of the usual quota of Heap straw-colored curls, was at the sazed at Jannit orried green eyes
Jannit was perched on the edge of a large sofa Although Jannit felt ill at ease, this was not the reason she was on the edge of her seat It was because that was the only space left on the sofa - the rest was covered with the clutter that always see into her back and a teetering pile of towels settling cozily up against her, Jannit sat up very straight and then al came from a pile of clothes beside the fire To Jannit&039;s a a ed from the pile, waddled over and sat beside her feet
Sarah clicked her fingers "Coot up and went to Sarah, who picked it up and sat it on her lap "One of Jenna&039;s creatures," Sarah said with a smile
"She never was one for pets and suddenly she has two Strange I don&039;t knohere she got them froin telling Sarah what she had to say There was an aard silence and at last she said, "U place you have here"
"Oh, yes Very big," said Sarah
"Wonderful for a large fa she hadn&039;t
"If they want to live with you," said Sarah bitterly "But not if four of them have decided to live in the Forest with a coven of witches and they refuse to come home, even for a visit And then of course there&039;s Si, but he&039;s still my first baby Ihere It&039;s tie, whatever his father says There&039;s plenty of room for them all here - and children, too And then there&039;s my little Septimus We&039;ve been apart all these years and there he is, stuck at the top of that Wizard Toith Marcia Fusspot Overstrand, henever she seesso much of Septimus I suppose she thinks it&039;s some kind of joke, since I hardly ever see him now In fact ever since Nicko"
"Ah," said Jannit, seizing her chance "Nicko That&039;s what - well, I expect you can guess why I&039;m here"
"No," said Sarah, who could but didn&039;t want to even think about it
"Oh" Jannit looked down at her boater and then, very purposefully, put it on top of a pile of so behind her Sarah&039;s heart sank She kneas coan "As you know, Nicko has been gone for six months now and as far as I understand, no one knohere he is or when - indeed, if - he is ever co back In fact - and I am very sorry to say this - I have heard that he will never return"
Sarah caught her breath No one had dared to say this to her face before
"I am very sorry to have to come here like this, Madam Heap, but - "
"Oh, it&039;s Sarah Please, just call me Sarah"