Into Thin Air by Cindy Miles

Ellie's In-Betwinxt. That's different!"
    Gawan laughed. "Aye, so it is." Striding over to the hearth, he laid the two volumes atop a short, wide mahogany table perched before a leather settee and matching chair. Both the settee and the chair had plenty of stuffing, with the hide softer than any saddle he'd ever straddled, and both were passing comfortable. He'd thumb through the book Ellie had ordered after he looked up all the cottages for let in the area. Hopefully, he'd find the one Ellie had procured.
    "Did you find out anything, then, Sir Gawan?" Davy perched cross-legged atop the table, next to the books. "Her name, mayhap? Although I quite fancy the name Ellie."
    Crossing his arms over his chest, Gawan studied the young spirit. Although not his charge, Gawan had indeed tried but never solved the mystery of Davy's death. The boy, of course, had no memory of it, and there'd been no clues leading to the boy's family, home, or the events which had caused his unfortunate end. All Gawan, or anyone else, knew of the incident was that young Davy Crispin's nine-year-old body had washed up lifeless at the rocky base of Castle Grimm. His little spirit had never left.
    "Sir Gawan!" Davy said, with the force of a nine-year-old's impatience.
    "Nay, boy, I did not find out her true name. You may continue to call her Ellie, then."
    Davy's face screwed up. "Blimey. We've just got to find out more." He glanced at the volumes on the table. "What are those?"
    Before Gawan could answer, Nicklesby pushed through the larder door and hurried across the great hall to stand before him.
    "Well, sir," Nicklesby said, "anything at all?" He glanced around. "Where's the young lady?"
    "She sifted through the bloomin' door, Nicklesby! I seen her!" Davy shuddered. "Grinnin' one second, she was. Then wide-eyed and scary the next, just as she vanished." He scratched his brow.
    "Didn't fancy that a bit, I s'pose."
    "I'm sure you didn't, lad," Nicklesby said.
    Gawan ran his fingers through his still-damp hair. "Aye, and I can assure you that Ellie didn't fancy it, as well." He clapped a hand on Nicklesby's bony shoulder.
    "Mrs. MacGillery had dealings with her, though. Ellie stopped in and ordered a book and told Mrs.
    MacGillery she was lodging in the area—letting a cottage with a fierce sea wind."
    Nicklesby nodded. "Passing interesting. Did it spark the lady's memory at all?"
    Gawan recalled Ellie's museum memory and struggled to keep a grin off his face. "Nay, nothing useful. Although she did find an ear bauble on the beach, beneath a rock she recalls her head hitting.
    She had a match to the bauble in her trousers."
    "Her memory is sure to come back, then!" Davy cried. "I'm off to tell the others!"

    With that, he jumped up from the table and disappeared through the wall.
    Gawan rubbed his eyes and his chin, which he found beard-stubbled. Then he shoved his hands into his pockets and faced his gangly steward. "You were once a Guardian, Nicklesby. I vow, I've tried not to grow close to her." He sighed. "I cannot help myself. I can't keep my bloody mind off her."
    He looked at Nicklesby. "Do you understand? I hate knowing she'll forget me, and I'll forget her."
    With hands clasped behind his back, Nicklesby nodded. "Aye, lad. I do. Far better than you know, although I can honestly say I never had the unique experience of having an In-Betwinxt as a charge." He grinned. "Nor one quite as fetching." He patted Gawan on the shoulder. "Yet you know as well as I the fickleness of the Higher-Ups. For a certainty, though, They do have a purpose for all They do." He gave Gawan a smile. "Have you ever fancied that thought, my boy?" He grasped Gawan's elbow and steered him toward the library. "Take me, for instance. I'd have never given a second thought to being pulled from my Guardianship to serve in a higher court. But 'tis what happened, and yet, now I'm here." He cocked his head. " 'Tis a glorious gift indeed, to be bestowed a pair of wings such as yours.