Characters on location: London observed through the eyes of Yannia, created by Laura Laakso

15th December 2018

#CharactersOnLocation

Author Laura Laakso has chosen to observe London, the setting for her urban fantasy novel Fallible Justice, through the eyes of her character Yannia…..

Yannia Wilde is one of the Wild Folk; an elusive paranormal race known for their ability to channel nature’s power. She has left behind the secluded conclave where she grew up to find out what kind of her life she can build for herself in Old London. Making use of the sensory abilities of all of nature, she runs a PI business called Wilde Investigations, which specialises in cases with an element of magic.

Yannia’s Old London

I pause outside Blackfriars Station. To my left, across the river, is New London; the domain of humans. To my right, Old London. Here, the magical races gather, finding safety in numbers and comfort in shared traditions. The power draws us to gather here, acting as a lure even to those unaware of their magical blood.

Across the road, on the edge of the invisible border between two Londons, stand the gleaming marble buildings of the Brotherhood of Justice. There the Paladins of Justice serve the people of Old London in their capacity as peacekeepers and guardians of infallible judgements. The dome of the circular courtroom, where the Paladins summon otherworldly Heralds of Justice to impart judgement, is just visible past the wrought iron fence and the barracks. Two Paladins on horseback exit through the gates and head towards me. Were I to call upon my power, I might catch a hint of the tell-tale scents of the Paladins: true silver, steel and oiled leather. Instead, I turn my back to the Brotherhood and follow the shallow curve of the Thames.

The north bank is dominated by residential buildings with large windows to make the most of the river view. Rich Mages and the celebrities of Old London live here, or so Karrion tells me. I have little interest in society gossip, unless it relates to a case.

I turn away from the river and jog up the shallow steps to St Paul’s Cathedral. Next to it is One Magic Change, a shopping centre of glass and steel. Old Londoners go there to purchase spell ingredients, magical items and rituals, and to find a sense of community. Tourists from New London and beyond flock to watch the gas lamps with flames shaped like dragons and gryphons, breathe in the aromas of potions and purchase trinkets imbued with minor prestidigitations. They hope for a ring or a salve to make them feel special, not understanding that the power is in the blood.

Today I have no time to pause to watch the street illusionist and I continue north towards the Guildhall. The High Council of Mages meets there and the names of everyone who has ever had a seat in the Council are displayed on the walls of the meeting room. Unlike the Mages, the Elders of the Circle of Shamans hold their meetings outside in the courtyard laid out in geometric patterns. At the centre is an irregular circle of black stones and the Elders raise them with the force of their willpower until they sit high above the ground. Anyone strong enough to wrench a pillar out of the ground is welcomed into the Circle, and the Elders must prove their worth at every meeting.

A woman dressed in a grey trench coat and a black fedora is standing by the Guildhall Art Gallery, looking around. Our eyes meet and she takes a hesitant step forward. I resist the urge to sigh at her outfit and offer her a smile instead. When I get close enough, I borrow the nose of a nearby dog. The scents of ripening wheat, morning dew and limes identify her as a West Mage. With a furtive glance around, she pulls an envelope from her pocket and hands it to me. Stuck to the top is a post-it note with the words “Leadenhall Market” written in flowing cursive. She leaves without a word, and I glance up, expecting a clap of thunder to complete the cliché.

I join the flow of traffic on Gresham Street and head southeast past Bank Station and the Royal Exchange, which houses the largest collection of magical texts in the country. The press of people increases as I turn to Gracechurch Street and jog across the road to my destination. The red and gold decorations welcome me to the covered market. Where narrow corridors meet, statues of silver dragons puff out purple flames. Their gleaming eyes house spells designed to keep peace at the market. I turn a full circle, forgetting briefly why I am there, as I take in the glass ceilings, the shopfronts and the smells of food, potions and spell ingredients. My nose lifts of its own accord as I risk a little magic to identify saffron, lamb, thyme, heart copper, Indian ink and mandrake root.

A hand on my shoulder jolts me back to the present, and I turn, recognising the man behind me. My fingers find the envelope as I smile.

Thank you to Laura for writing about London through the eyes of Yannia.

You can follow Laura on Twitter, Facebook and connect via her website; and of course you can buy her novel through TripFiction

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