Royal Institute of Magic: Elizabeth's Legacy Read Online Free Page A

dead
battery. A couple of times he glanced over and saw Charlie examining
his own box carefully. His friend was a one-man Scotland Yard and Ben
had faint hopes that Charlie might somehow spot something the police
had missed. But though Charlie was clearly fascinated, he remained
quiet.
    Ben couldn’t help feeling a
little disappointed when he neared the end of his box. He peered in
to survey the last few items.
    Something shiny stared back at
him, partially hidden underneath a binder.
    It was a small, wooden jewellery
box. Ben picked it up. The wood was beautifully crafted and inlaid
with fine gold carvings.
    Charlie put down a photograph he
had been examining and looked over with interest.
    Ben opened the box and stared at
the contents. There was a handful of small jewellery pieces inside,
but none of them looked particularly valuable. Ben wasn’t
surprised; his parents weren’t exactly dripping money.
    “Can I have a look?”
Charlie asked, and Ben handed him the box. Charlie held it to the
light, examining it from every angle with an intense expression.
    “I bet this jewellery box
is worth more than its contents,” Charlie said. “The
craftsmanship is amazing. Look at this engraving! Edward Clavell,
1548. This box is hundreds of years old.”
    Ben’s fascination did not
quite match Charlie’s. “I’m guessing you still
watch Antiques Roadshow every Sunday?”
    “My dad always has it on
and I’ve become hooked. I bet we could get this valued if we
went on there.” Charlie started tapping the base of the box and
his excitement grew. “Do you hear that? It sounds like it could
be hollow.”
    Ben listened carefully, but it
was difficult to tell and he had a feeling Charlie was getting a
little carried away.
    Charlie began probing the
delicate engravings. “Sometimes these things have a false
bottom – I saw it on the Roadshow once.”
    After several minutes of prodding
and probing, Charlie’s excitement dimmed and he finally handed
it back.
    Ben gave the jewellery box a
final inspection. There was something about the gold carvings that
caught his eye; they seemed to glow the more he stared at them. It
was almost hypnotic. He felt his eyes watering, unable to take them
away from the gold flecks of light. They appeared to dance and shine,
getting brighter by the second. Just as he thought he would be
blinded by the display, Ben imagined the lights spelling out a word.
    Greenwood.
    The jewellery box gave a soft
click and a tiny drawer just above the base slid open.
    The shock made Ben blink and the
trance was broken.
    “How did you do that?”
Charlie asked with a gasp. “What did you touch?”
    Ben rubbed his eyes. “I’m
not sure.”
    Inside the little drawer were a
couple of cards on top of a piece of paper. Ben went for the cards,
but the piece of paper below caught his attention.
    It was a letter. Ben picked it
up.
    It wasn’t your typical A4;
it was thick, yellow parchment with elegant handwriting that he could
barely decipher. At the top of the letter was a logo with the letters
R.I.M. embossed over an elaborate coat of arms. The logo looked
familiar somehow, but Ben couldn’t place it.
    “Dear Jane,
    “It
has been a week since you and Greg have been in. If you don’t
arrive tomorrow morning, I shall be forced to come knocking on your
door.
    “I do not believe the rumours, but there is no doubt they could put you
and your son in considerable danger. I know your views on keeping Ben
unaware of us, but the Institute is still the one place the enemy
cannot reach. I implore you and Greg to come see me.
    “Regards,
    “Wren Walker”
    The letter was dated the day
before his parents disappeared.
    Ben re-read it three times and
stared at it long after he was finished. His head was spinning and
his stomach was doing somersaults.
    “I think we have
something,” Charlie said softly, breaking Ben’s trance.
He had read the letter over Ben’s shoulder.
    There were so many questions, Ben
hardly knew