Ruler of the Realm

One hundred and nine

There was blood on her dress, blood on her hands, blood splattered along her bare arms. There was blood smeared on her face. Henry was a pace or two behind her. There was blood oozing through his clothes.

‘Get Henry to the infirmary,’ Blue said.

‘You’re hurt, deeah!’

Blue shook her head. ‘This isn’t my blood.’ Pyrgus ran to throw his arms around her. She began to shake violently. Tears cut through the bloodstains on her face.

‘What the hell happened to you?’ Fogarty demanded.

Blue clung to Pyrgus and her tears turned to a ghastly, gurgling giggle. ‘I’m Queen of Hael now, Mr Fogarty,’ she said; and fainted.

She awoke in the infirmary, feeling hugely better despite the pain in her head. She raised a cautious hand to touch the bandaging.

‘It’s out,’ said a familiar voice.

Blue turned slowly. ‘Where’s Henry, Mr Fogarty?’

‘He’s fine. Had to have stitches, but he’s fine.’ He held a small metallic cylinder between his finger and thumb. ‘They planted this inside your brain. Interesting, eh? Henry got off easier. His was just lodged in his sinus cavity. Beleth must have wanted them to do two different things.’

‘Yes,’ Blue agreed.

Fogarty said, ‘There are an awful lot of demons in one of the palace cellars.’

‘They won’t give you any trouble,’ Blue said.

‘I noticed that,’ said Fogarty. He cocked his head to one side and looked at her. ‘Can you remember?’

‘Yes. Everything.’

‘Henry lost his memory when we took out his implant.’

‘It must be different with faeries.’

‘So what happened?’

Blue looked past him through the picture window into the morning sunlight. She had clearly been unconscious for hours. ‘Beleth wanted me to marry him. That way he could control the Realm. The deep brain implant meant he could manipulate my thoughts and emotions.’

‘That’s what Henry told me,’ Mr Fogarty said. ‘The business in the desert was a diversion.’

‘More like a distraction,’ Blue said. ‘He wanted to keep everyone so worried you wouldn’t suspect what was really happening. It was a very complicated plan.’

‘What went wrong with it?’ Fogarty asked.

‘I’m not sure,’ Blue said honestly. She pushed herself up in the bed and gave a small, bleak smile. ‘When they put that thing in my brain, I actually felt attracted to Beleth. But it was more than that. I thought the marriage would be good for the Realm. It felt as if it was my duty.’

‘When did you stop feeling that?’

Blue said, ‘When Beleth attacked Henry.’

Fogarty rolled the cylinder in his fingers. ‘Know what’s interesting? I had a look at this thing when they took it out. The insides are burned out.’

‘Are they?’ Blue asked mildly.

‘It takes a lot to burn out one of those implants – almost impossible, in fact. You must love him very much,’ Fogarty said quietly.

‘Yes,’ Blue said. ‘Yes, I do.’

After a moment Fogarty said, ‘Henry says you cut Beleth’s throat.’

Blue’s eyes glazed slightly as she nodded.

‘Weren’t you afraid?’

‘Very.’

‘You must have thought the demons would tear you limb from limb – you and Henry.’

‘Yes.’

‘Why didn’t they?’ Fogarty asked curiously.

‘It’s their custom to accept any new leader strong enough to kill the old one. Beleth ate his father to accede to the throne.’

‘Strange creatures,’ Fogarty said. ‘Are you going to leave the portal open?’

‘It’s not a portal,’ Blue said. ‘It’s old magic from the time before the faerie. I don’t know how Beleth got hold of it. But no, I’m not going to leave it open, not if I can find out how to close it down.’

Fogarty pushed himself out of his chair. ‘Feel strong enough to get up yet?’

‘I think so. Why?’

‘The others are waiting. We need you to talk to the Generals.’

‘Hand me that dressing gown, Mr Fogarty,’ Blue said.