Blaze of Glory

'Just tea, please.' He turned his attention back to Caroline. How much could he tell her? How much did he want to tell her? 'I have a condition,' he said, finally.

She rolled her eyes. 'Well, that doesn't tell me much. What sort of condition?'

He shrugged. 'It's unusual.'

'You're evading now, not babbling, and I'm still not getting an answer.'

Aubrey chewed his lip and studied her. Her eyes were green and probably the most arresting he'd seen.

He wavered. Perhaps he should tell her. It would be good to have another confidante, someone he could share his plight with. He was sure he'd benefit from her wit and intelligence. But another part of him was reluctant to show her how stupid he'd been. At least, to show her any more stupidity than she'd already seen.

He wanted her to be impressed by him, not to pity him.

Aubrey was relieved when, at that moment, the round-faced woman marched up to the table with a tray. 'Tea.

Some bread and butter, too. You didn't ask for it but I guessed you'd be wanting it. There's milk and sugar, just in case you need it.'

Caroline opened her mouth, but Aubrey was blessed with another timely interruption.

Craddock opened the swinging doors. He wore a travelling cape and broad-brimmed black hat. Aubrey's escort, still by the doorway, stiffened and stood at attention, but Craddock didn't acknowledge her. 'Fitzwilliam. Miss Hepworth.' He didn't raise his voice, but it came clearly across the mess hall. A neat trick, Aubrey decided. 'I'd like you to come with me.'

George appeared in the doorway, yawning, in fresh, clean clothes. 'Not without me.' He waved to Aubrey and Caroline. 'No chance of food, is there?'

CRADDOCK LED THEM THROUGH THE WARREN OF DARNLEIGH House. After going down six flights of stairs, Aubrey began to wonder at the extent of the place. It seemed as if much more was underground than above street level.

They walked along corridor after corridor of closed doors. Aubrey decided that if he was ever taken by a foreign power and asked for the secrets of Darnleigh House, all he could tell them was that the Magisterium kept thousands of door-makers in work.

Strange noises and smells came from several rooms – mechanical chattering, organic whining, the smell of the sea. Aubrey's curiosity was jumping and his magical awareness constantly prickled, but he didn't think it wise to stop and ask.

At the end of one long corridor – ceiling, walls and floor completely tiled in green – Craddock opened a door. He stood back and motioned. 'Inside.'

Aubrey entered first and stepped into a hospital ward.

It had sunny yellow walls, and two rows of beds, with severe hospital chairs between the beds. Only one bed had an occupant. 'Father,' Aubrey said.

Sir Darius looked up, smiled and extended his hand. 'Aubrey. Can you get me out of this place? I've spoken to your mother and she insists I come home. There's much to be done.'

Aubrey smiled at his father's impatience. 'I'll try.'

'Good man.' Sir Darius saw Aubrey's companions. 'George, you've been keeping Aubrey out of trouble, I hope?'

'Impossible, sir. I'm doing my best just to make sure he doesn't bring about the end of civilisation.'

'True, George, and we thank you for it,' Sir Darius said. 'I don't think the Magisterium and the Special Services combined could keep Aubrey out of trouble.'

'Sir.'

'Miss Hepworth.' He turned and glared at his son. Aubrey didn't mind. 'I hope my son hasn't been imposing himself on you any more?'

'No, sir. He's been helpful.'

'Good, good.' Sir Darius looked unconvinced. 'I'm sure there's a story behind all this. I'd like to hear it soon, Aubrey.'

'Yes, sir.'

Craddock came to the bed. Sir Darius nodded at him. 'Craddock.'

'Sir Darius, I'm glad to see you're well.'

'I'm fully recovered.'

'I'm sure you are. We'll just have to wait for the doctor to confirm that.'

Sir Darius nodded. 'Craddock, thank you for your help in all this. You're doing a fine job.'

'It's what I aim for. Now, you should rest.'

Aubrey watched this exchange with interest. Had he detected an easing of tension between the two men? Years of distrust weren't broken down in an instant, but were there the beginnings here?

Sir Darius harrumphed. 'I have an election to win.' He eyed Craddock. 'No sign of Tremaine?'

'No. He's disappeared entirely.'

'I see,' Sir Darius said.

'You may not have been in any condition to hear last night, but the Special Services has rounded up the Army of New Albion.'

Aubrey let out a long, relieved breath.

Sir Darius glanced at his son then stroked his moustache.' Why?'

'They were going to blow up the King and the PM during the King's birthday procession.'

'A week before the election?' Sir Darius looked thoughtful.' That would have thrown a cat among the pigeons.'

'After the conspirators were all arrested,' Craddock continued, 'Tallis's people found the explosives they'd fitted under the Old Bridge, near Parliament House.'

'They were serious,' Sir Darius muttered. 'The King and the PM at once.'

'Yes,' Craddock said. 'Amateurs in some ways, but deadly serious. If they hadn't been unmasked, the King would have died.' He looked at Sir Darius. 'And the Prime Minister.'

Sir Darius glanced at Aubrey. 'Before Tremaine fled, his hold on me weakened somewhat. I managed to hear about his being behind the Army of New Albion. And his plans for the Ritual of the Way.'

'Indeed,' Craddock said. 'We have a formidable foe out there.'

Aubrey's curiosity got the better of him. 'But why did he kidnap you?' he asked his father. 'How did that help his plans?'

Sir Darius grimaced and looked uncomfortable. 'I may have forced his hand a little there. A New Albion hanger-on contacted me about supporting them. I made a few enquiries and what I heard made me very nervous, even though a plot to kill the King was never mentioned. I was on my way to see you, Craddock, to put all this on the table, when Tremaine abducted me.'

'He couldn't just kill you, of course,' Craddock noted, 'because he wanted you to lead the next government. The government which would oppose Holmland aggression most strongly.'

'Quite. Although if he thinks I'm as straightforward as that, he's underestimating me,' Sir Darius said. He raised an eyebrow. 'And what about the Holmlanders? I know they were mixed up with the Army of New Albion.'

'Von Stralick,' Craddock agreed. 'We're still determining his full level of involvement, but we're sure he was the one who lured the Army of New Albion into our trap at the Greythorn Society for Non-magical Fitness.'

George waved his hand, interrupting. 'That's right. Von Stralick told us he thought it was a good chance to get rid of them.'

'Indeed. Well, we thought we were about to capture von Stralick's spy ring, but he managed to out-manoeuvre us.'