Ruler of the Realm

One hundred and four

Pyrgus overrode the safeties as the flier reached Imperial Island. He sent out a single burst of code that would neutralise the palace security system, then pitched the nose of the craft towards the lawn outside the main entrance doors.

‘Straps,’ he ordered. Nymph and Woodfordi were immediately secured to their seats by body-netting. Woodfordi’s knuckles showed white where he gripped the arms. ‘Dive,’ Pyrgus muttered.

There was an elemental scream as the flier went into a steep descent with no loss of speed. Pyrgus kept his eyes firmly fixed on his target, a level area between two flowerbeds. The ground rushed towards him with indecent haste. He waited, heart thumping, until it seemed he could almost reach out and touch it, then commanded, ‘Land!’

The flier attempted to comply, but Pyrgus had left things far too late. The tulpa thought-forms built into its propulsion system read the situation in an instant, reinstated the safeties and hurled the craft back upwards. It banked, struck a tree branch and cracked open like an egg. Pyrgus fell out to drop in a heap on the ground. Nymph and Woodfordi dangled from their netting.

‘That was exciting,’ Nymph remarked. She pulled a knife from her boot and cut herself free, holding on to the seat with one hand. Then she clambered on to the branch and released Woodfordi.

‘Thanks, Miss,’ he murmured gratefully. ‘I thought I was a goner for sure.’

‘So did I,’ Nymph told him. She swung from the tree and dropped nimbly to the ground, leaving Woodfordi to his own devices. Pyrgus was already on his feet, limping towards a running guard contingent that had just emerged from the palace.

‘I’m all right!’ he called over his shoulder.

Nymph smiled a little to herself.

‘Escort us to Queen Blue!’ Pyrgus called grandly to the approaching guards. He suddenly noticed a tall figure on the palace steps. ‘Mr Fogarty, can you arrange to get Blue and the Generals together – and Madame Cardui. There’s news.’

To his surprise, Mr Fogarty ignored the urgency in his voice and came down the steps towards him. The guards fanned out and surrounded them both, then parted to allow Nymph and Woodfordi through.

Fogarty said, ‘Christ, it’s all happening tonight.’ He looked beyond Pyrgus at the wreckage in the tree. ‘Have you any idea what those bloody things cost?’ He looked back at Pyrgus. ‘Henry’s just gone off his head as well.’

Pyrgus gripped his arm and leaned across to whisper, ‘Beleth’s army is an illusion! The portals aren’t real either. There’s no demon invasion and Uncle Hairstreak’s marching all the Nighter forces into the desert.’

Fogarty stared at him blankly for a moment, then shook his head. ‘I’m getting too old for this,’ he said.