The Terrible Business with the Loch Ness monster

4. Hunted

"so, how do you attempt to kill the monster once you locate it?" Heather asked. They had been riding all day, and Alex, who were in charge of the map, said they were probably reaching Loch Ness during the next day or so. They weren't holding anywhere near as high tempo as Heather had done, mostly varying between trot and walk, to save the horses. All of them seemed to have a very personal relationship to their horse, and even refused to let anyone but themselves to care for them on the inns they stopped at.

"well, since we don't know much about it, I think decapitation is the way to go." Alex said. Heather's eyes widened.

"that was an awfully dramatic thing to say!" Heather said. She was starting to get used to the language the Guardians used by now, but like any human being in their right mind, the thought of decapitation startled her.

"decapitation kills most things." Angus explained. "it's not always sure that a stab in the chest will kill the creature, but few things survives without a head."

"so when in doubt, go for the head." Heather hadn't noticed that Victoria had sagged behind before she appeared on the other side of Angus. "those are indeed wise words to live yer' life by. But now, I have bad news."

"what?" Alex leaned forward in his saddle to see Victoria.

Over the few days that had past, Heather had come to realise that Alex had much the same personality as a foxhunting-dog, always eager, always smiling, and could never wait for anything to happen. If he coughed the scent of something happening, he had to be smack in the middle of it, whatever it was, and he carried out ever task he received with a relentless energy.

Angus was almost his opposite, clam and didn't say a whole lot unless he had a reason, but to think that he was dull was not wise. He was just as capable as the Valentines, and even though he had some genuine gentleness than none of the siblings possessed, he easily battled off even the worst of Victoria's glares with ease. He was a welcome compliment to the other two, for even if Alex wasn't rude like Victoria, his manners lacked a great deal, and Angus seemed at least to be aware of when he was starling her, and knew to apologise. She had quite forgiven him for the incident with the servant.

"I used a tracking spell on my father, just to be sure, and it would seem like he's not more than half a day's ride behind us, riding fast."

"do you think he mean to stop us?" Heather asked, and Victoria shoot her a glare.

"no, I think he means to pat us on the shoulder and tell us what a good job we're doing." She said sarcastically. "yes – he's going to put an end to our little mission if he catches us, and if I'm correct, he's bringing the Council with him."

"are you sure?" Angus asked, a troubled frown on his face.

"What is the Council?" Heather asked. She obviously knew what a council was, and she knew thought she knew the Guardians had one, but she had never understood what it really did.

"that is the group of Guardians who rules over the others, our leaders, if you will. They decide what we do and what we won't, they distribute the efforts of all missions, so we have enough people to manage our task, but don't waste out resources in vain. They also appoint all important positions, such as who will manage the different Headquarters or who be part of the Council." Angus explained, and Heather nodded. Victoria rolled her eyes.

"yes, that's what it is, and they also pay us for our duties, and that's what's really good about them." Victoria said and waved her hand dismissively, "what's also bad about them, apart from being dull as brickwalls, is that they personally like to make sure none of us goes rouge, like we're doing now. So yes, I'm pretty sure they're all there. The amount of time, half a day, consists with the time it would take mama and papa to gather the Council, and to convince them to join the pursuit. Also, papa would never ride out without at least half the Council with him. You heard him in the library! He thinks this is a trap."