112. Nanny's Pet

We flew back to the field where the kidnapping had occurred and there Gregoria began to cure the wound that had wandered from the top of my sister’s forhead to the crown of her head and ended up somewhere between. She had a huge lump and had bled some too, because head wounds are very scandalous. But fortunately fairy blood is white when one is little and only grows a purplish green or red when one gets older, so it looked as if Baby was soaked in water. 

“Heal, heal, no crying nor sorrow,” Gregoria recited a healing spell. “if you don’t heal today, you will heal tomorrow.”

“I did well in confiscating the bag of leftover snacks and candy from those guys’ party. We deserve some compensation,” said Alpin as he ate up what he had filched. “To have dealings with mortals has certainly proved to be a mistake. We’ve established that fact far beyond reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, I must say to their credit that they have rather good candy. Almost as good as anyone else’s, I dare say.”

“I don’t know how you can have the stomach to eat after all we’ve been through. I have a knot in my throat that won’t let me swallow even air. What trouble I’ve caused taking the baby for an outing! I´m especially sorry for the genuine buskers and other entertainers in the area. I’m sure we are being searched for and those poor people will be questioned over and over.”

“Not to worry, Arley,” said Gregoria. “Buskers are used to being mistrusted. And nothing really serious happened to those two cochons who hurt your sister.”

She explained that the fire she had spat on them was only illusive fire. It made you feel you were burning though you weren’t.The thugs hair had fallen off from the shock. But yes, it would be a while before it grew back. She was happy because the bullies had lost a lot of face bawling and yowling like babies in front of their schoolmates.

It was then that Alpin noticed that my sister kept sniffing Gregoria. He wondered why she was doing that. Gregoria’s French lavender perfume was not that peculiar.There were flowers in the field that had a more potent odour.

“Ah, my little princess,” said Gregoria. “You are so cute I could eat you with kisses. With kids  like you it’s a privilege to be a nanny. And you are so brave. You didn’t make a sound while I dressed your wound. They say you haven’t got a name? I will give you one.Valentine.Yes, indeed! You are so lustrous and robust and healthy. And you are valiant!”

And to everyone’s surprise my baby sister spoke.

“Oui, Gregoria. Je m’appelle Valentine!”

Alpin was first to react.

“Hey!” he cried, “the autistic kid has spoken. And in that devilisih language yet. Hey, kid, this nanny is mine!”

I couldn’t believe what I had heard or was seeing. Valentine had told Gregoria her name instead of telling anyone from our family.

“Je cherche mon Ibys, Gregoria,” said Valentine, sniffing Gregoria again.

“Ibys? Oh, my precious!” Gregoria laughed. “Yes, I’ve been with Ibys!”

“So that’s what she said. Ibys! Not Ibex or Ivy! But who is Ibys?” I cried.