'He's a Faerie of the Night!'
'He's a noble Faerie of the Night. He has considerable political connections and even greater political ambitions. He's already the major spokesperson for that whole unruly breed.'
'How is Comma, by the way?' Pyrgus asked. He grinned. 'Speaking of unruly.'
'Please don't try to divert me,' Tithonus said coldly. 'And especially not so crudely. Comma is Comma. Your stepbrother has no terminal illness so far as I am aware and beyond that I care very little. We were discussing Hairstreak. You should not have taken his bird. He is in the process of making mischief for you.'
'I can handle myself,' Pyrgus said confidently.
'Doubtless you will tell that to his Imperial Majesty.' Tithonus sighed. 'Pyrgus, I think the time may have come for you to realise who you are. You are not a young soldier of fortune. You are not some merchant's son or artisan, however much you like to disguise yourself. You are His Highness the Crown Prince. That carries certain responsibilities even if you no longer live at the palace.'
'It's serious, isn't it?'
Tithonus nodded. 'This business between you and Lord Hairstreak has disrupted some very delicate political negotiations. Most people may not recognise the Crown Prince without his finery, but Hairstreak's men had no problem at all. He had a full report inside the hour. He may not treat his phoenix very well, but he knows its value. He is making demands that will be hard to meet. Meanwhile, he has men searching for you. In the circumstances he is quite entitled to seize you if he finds you – seize and hold you. Can you imagine the scandal that would cause? The Crown Prince in the custody of a Faerie of the Night? It doesn't bear thinking about. Your father is very, very angry.'
Pyrgus felt his heart sink as it often did when his father was the subject of discussion. 'What's he going to do with me?' he asked.
'I prefer he tell you that himself,' Tithonus said. 'Indeed, I have explicit instructions to that effect. But I can give you one piece of advice. Don't lose your temper with your father. Whatever happens.'
Pyrgus lost his temper with his father. 'I didn't flounce out of my home!' he shouted furiously. 'I didn't walk away from my responsibilities! I didn't abandon my sister, not that she needs me to look after her. You forced me to leave! I can't believe you still hunt animals. I can't believe you keep a zoo. I can't believe you still cling to medieval – '
'You seem to care far more about animals than you do about people,' his father said coldly. 'But this isn't about animals, Pyrgus, however much you'd like to think it is. This is about the future of the Empire.'
'Oh, don't be so melodramatic,' Pyrgus sniffed in just the tone of voice he knew would infuriate his father most.
They were together in the conservatory behind the throne room, breathing in the heady scent of orchids. The Purple Emperor was not a tall man, but he was broad: Pyrgus seemed to be taking after him in that respect. His head was shaved in the papal tonsure – as Emperor he also led the worldwide Church of Light -and he was wearing an open shirt that showed off his official butterfly tattoos. They seemed almost to flutter as he fought to control his temper.
For once he succeeded rather better than Pyrgus. His voice was almost calm as he said, 'This is no melodrama, Pyrgus. This is real life – your life as well as mine. I expect Tithonus reminded you of who you are.'
'I expect you told him to.'
'Yes, I did. I'm aware you're far more likely to listen to him than you are to me. I had hoped he might get you in a reasonable mood before we talked, but I can see now that was far too much to hope for. Pyrgus – '
'Did you know there's a factory in Seething Lane that makes glue from live kittens?' Pyrgus asked him furiously. 'Did you know there are Faeries of the Night who call up major demons? Did you know one of them almost killed me? Did you know Black Hairstreak goes into his phoenix cages three times a week and – '
'We all know Faeries of the Night leave a lot to be desired when it comes to their behaviour, but – '
'A lot to be desired?' echoed Pyrgus. 'A lot to be desired? Father, you're negotiating with these people! You're treating them as equals!''
'I'm treating them as subjects of the Empire, which they are. Whether you like it or not. They're difficult, it's true – '
'Difficult?' Pyrgus exploded. 'They're trying to overthrow everything we stand for!'
'Yes, they are,' his father agreed. 'Indeed they are. And that is exactly why they need careful handling. I have been in negotiation with Night leaders – including Lord Hairstreak – for several months. Those negotiations have reached a critical stage. The last thing I need is my idiot son blundering in where he isn't wanted and handing them new leverage on a plate!'
'My mother would never have agreed with what you're doing!' Pyrgus hissed.
His father swung round furiously. 'You leave your mother out of this! You've no idea what she would or wouldn't have agreed with. You don't even know what's going on! I've tried to make you take an interest in politics, but all you ever think of is your damned animals and yourself! Oh, you're so sensitive, Pyrgus, so sensitive to birds and little creatures. But if we don't reach an accommodation, it won't just be birds and little creatures they'll be killing – it will be people!'
'The Nighters are killing people anyway,' Pyrgus said, deliberately using the insulting term.
His father looked briefly apoplectic, then managed at last to get his temper under control. 'Enough,' he said. 'I've had enough of this. I didn't get you here to discuss politics or explain my decisions. I am Emperor and that must be enough. When you take the throne, you can set up sanctuaries for every stray cat and dog in the kingdom, but until – '
'I don't want to – '
'Be quiet!' his father thundered. 'Just listen for once! This is your future I'm about to talk about – yours! Now, will you do me the courtesy of listening?'
Pyrgus glowered at him sullenly, but said nothing.
His father stared down at his hands which had somehow shredded a precious orchid. He dropped the remnants on the floor and looked up again at Pyrgus. 'You are in peril,' he said softly.
'Blue doesn't know what – '
'You're supposed to be listening,' his father said quietly.
'Sorry,' Pyrgus said.
'This isn't Blue's information. Oh, she told me about your escapade with Hairstreak, but this comes straight from the Espionage Service. Double-checked and copper-fastened. Apparently you've been a target ever since you left the palace.' He held up a hand to stop Pyrgus interrupting. 'I know you've been keeping your identity a secret. I know you've been living like…' he gave Pyrgus's clothes a look of sheer disgust '… some sort of ballad singer. I appreciate your face isn't particularly well known. But we're not the only ones with spies. It would be naive to imagine our friends on the Nightside didn't know all about our… differences. Even more so to imagine they didn't know you'd left. Our information is they've been systematically hunting for you. The plan was – the plan is – to kidnap you and hold you to ransom. Not for money, of course, but to make sure I agree to their political demands. Your little raid on Hairstreak's phoenix – '
'Father – ' Pyrgus began, distraught for the first time in their conversation.
His father's voice remained soft. Tm not really blaming you,' he sighed. 'The man is a reptile. He treats everyone abominably, servants, animals, followers – it doesn't matter. I expect at your age I'd have done exactly what you did. But the fact is, you've rather handed them your head on a plate. They don't have to kidnap you now -Hairstreak can hold you legally. And if you think he treated his golden phoenix badly…' The Emperor paused briefly, then continued, 'He knows I know this. He will use it to try to wring concessions.'