Ruler of the Realm

Sixty-six

The approach to the suspensor shaft involved a series of heavily guarded checkpoints. Fogarty, Madame Cardui and Pyrgus were all known by sight, so formalities were minimal, but it still meant their conversation went in fits and starts.

‘The thing is,’ Fogarty was saying to Madame Cardui, ‘with the Forest Faeries’ spell technology, we could get into the Ogyris Estate undetected. I think they can travel direct from tree to tree. Are there any trees near your crystal flowers?’ he asked Pyrgus.

‘It makes sense for me to lead the raid,’ Pyrgus said. ‘I know the estate. I’ve been there. And I know where the flowers are. They’re very difficult to find, you know.’

‘And even if they can’t,’ Fogarty said stonily, ‘we know they can pass through solid surfaces far better than we can. More men, less danger.’

‘It certainly makes sense, deeah,’ Madame Cardui said uncertainly. ‘It’s just that Cleo may not agree.’

‘And I’m the only one who’s actually touched a time flower,’ Pyrgus said. Apart from Henry, who wasn’t here and anyway was the cause of half the trouble in the first place.

‘She’ll agree all right,’ said Fogarty with utter certainty. He lowered his voice as they passed through yet another checkpoint.

‘And I’m the only one who knows how to destroy them,’ Pyrgus said, wondering if they would fall for it.

‘What are you going to do?’ Madame Cardui asked Fogarty suspiciously.

‘Charm her,’ Fogarty said shortly.

They emerged from the checkpoint corridor into the vast basement suite that abutted it. Madame Cardui gave him an endearing smile.

‘Well, you could certainly do that to any woman, dahling, but apart from charm…?’

Fogarty said, ‘I thought of pointing out it’s hardly in her interests if they win – which they will if we don’t find Blue and destroy the time flowers. Hairstreak has already brought demons to the forest once. He could easily do it again, once he gets the upper hand. The Hell portals won’t stay closed for ever, you can be sure of that.’ He sighed. ‘I could also promise to leave them in peace if we win – that seems to be the one thing that really interests them. We could offer a treaty that guarantees it, both from us and the Faeries of the Night.’

‘Do you think the Nighters would agree?’

‘They will if we win – what’s left of them.’

‘You see,’ said Pyrgus, ‘you can’t just smash them up. I mean, I only crushed one flower and that stopped time for -’ he didn’t actually know how long it had stopped time for, but pressed on anyway, ‘- hours. If you smash up hundreds of them, there’s no way of telling how long time would stop for. You might stop it for ever. You might interfere with the very fabric of our univer-’

Men in black appeared by the far entrance of the huge chamber. They assumed an arrow pattern and took up a fighting stance.

‘What are those yo-yos up to?’ Fogarty asked.

Madame Cardui peered at them a little shortsightedly. ‘They look like Assassins’ Guild, deeah. I expect they’ve come to kill you and Pyrgus.’

A large group of swordsmen appeared and hurled themselves on the intruders.

‘Think so?’ asked Fogarty.

‘Oh, I would imagine so, deeah. One tried to kill me yesterday.’

‘Really?’ said Fogarty, concerned. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Madame Cardui. ‘I had Lanceline with me.’

The clash at the far side of the room was turning into something of a Battle Royal. Pyrgus noticed the swordsmen were concentrating on capturing the assassins rather than killing them – not altogether successfully, since the assassins themselves fought with suicidal intensity.

‘Who hired them?’

‘Lord Hairstreak’s man, the Duke of Burgundy, according to the one who attacked me.’

Fogarty frowned slightly. ‘I thought you said Lanceline killed him.’

‘I interrogated the corpse.’

Fogarty tore his eyes away from the fight. ‘I didn’t know you could interrogate a corpse.’

‘You can if it’s fresh.’

‘Oh,’ said Fogarty. He frowned again. ‘You should have told me you were attacked.’

‘I didn’t want to worry you, deeah. Besides, what more could you do? I ordered an immediate alert throughout the entire Espionage Service. We knew the Guild’s plans for you and Pyrgus and the Generals. As you can see.’ She waved her hand vaguely towards the mass of struggling men.

The fight was almost over, its result a foregone conclusion. Madame Cardui’s men far outnumbered the assassins and were, in their own way, just as skilled. One or two bodies were dragged out. The remaining men in black were overpowered and led away.

‘You can see the logic of my position on this raid,’ Pyrgus said. He took a deep breath. ‘And besides which I outrank you, Gatekeeper.’

‘Do you indeed?’ muttered Fogarty.

They had reached the bottom of the broad stone stairway that led to the upper levels of the palace.

‘You know I do,’ Pyrgus said impatiently. ‘I’m still Crown Prince. Sort of.’

‘And I’m still Acting Emperor. Sort of,’ growled Fogarty. His voice softened. ‘But you’re right. You found those damn flowers and you know where they are and you know more about them than anybody else, so it makes sense for you to take part in the raid.’

‘Lead the raid,’ Pyrgus said quickly.

‘All right – lead the raid,’ Fogarty said irritably. He glanced across at Madame Cardui. ‘We can send some of your people to keep him safe, can’t we? If they can sort out assassins, they shouldn’t have much trouble with Ogyris’s guards. I’ll try to get the Forest Faerie involved. Queen Cleopatra won’t begrudge us a small contingent. Might even send -’ He stopped.

Madame Cardui was looking at Pyrgus. ‘What is it, deeah?’ she asked. ‘What’s the matter?’

Pyrgus was looking up the stairs, his jaw slack with astonishment.