The Hunting of the Princes

  ‘I’m here to show the Queen and her entourage our pegasi,’ Lantic said. ‘They don’t have them in the First Realm.’

  ‘Sir, the stables have been closed for the night.’

  ‘And I would like to see Onrith for myself. Is he eating properly now?’

  ‘Oh, he does eat, sir, but not like he used to. The poor thing pines for your brother.’

  ‘We all do,’ Lantic said.

  ‘I’d really like to see the pegasi. I’ve heard they are such wonderful creatures,’ Taggie said, and got ready to cast the obedience enchantment again.

  ‘Well, maybe a few minutes,’ the guard said. ‘But the pegasi have settled for the night now. If you could try not to disturb them, please.’

  ‘Of course,’ Lantic said.

  Taggie knew her cheeks would be burning again. Some people were simply decent and helpful by nature. Only someone like Queen Judith thought to manipulate the whole world to get what she wanted.

  The guard stood aside, and everyone trooped into the stables. The stalls were wider than Taggie was used to seeing horses kept in. As her eyes grew accustomed to the gloomy light inside, she could make out the shapes of the pegasi. Although they had shorter legs, their bodies were very similar to horses, except their noses tapered down and curved into sharp beaks, and their tails were more like fat pythons with a double fin at the end. But it was the wings she couldn’t stop staring at. They sprouted from just behind the shoulders to fold down neatly along the flanks. She thought they’d be about twenty feet long when fully extended.

  Lantic stopped at a stall. ‘Hello, Onrith,’ he said affectionately. ‘How are you, boy?’

  The pegasi hung its head over the stall door and looked at him, letting out a mournful sigh. Lantic scratched between its ears. ‘I know. We all miss him.’

  ‘Which one is yours?’ Jemima asked.

  ‘Mine?’ Lantic said in surprise. ‘I don’t have a pegasi. Father didn’t give me a commission in any regiment, let alone the Air Cavalry. He said my asthma disqualified me from military service. I’m the first prince in three hundred years not to serve in defence of the Realm.’

  ‘So . . . do you know how to ride one?’ Felix asked.

  ‘Well, I have ridden one,’ Lantic said defensively. ‘Er, once.’

  Jemima drew a sharp breath, closing her eyes as her head turned to face the doors. ‘Someone’s coming,’ she said.

  Taggie looked at the doors, which remained closed. ‘Who?’

  ‘It’s Captain Feandez. Hurry.’

  ‘Let’s go,’ Taggie said. ‘Now!’

  Lantic slid back the bolt on Onrith’s door. The nervous pegasi stepped out. Sophie touched its face and emitted a long warble in the airsong language. All the other pegasi came to the front of their stalls; several of them warbled back at her. Onrith stomped impatiently.

  ‘Get on Onrith,’ Sophie instructed Taggie. ‘He’ll take you and Lantic.’ She warbled away again. Several pegasi joined in. ‘That one,’ she said, pointing. ‘Catlifrax. She will take Felix and Jemima.’

  ‘I’m not sure . . .’ Jemima said timidly.

  Taggie briefly considered giving Jem a jolt of courage, but couldn’t face the idea of an even bolder Jemima.

  Someone started shouting outside the stables. There was the sound of running boots. The guard’s voice rose, protesting.

  Sophie’s wings swept out. ‘Go. I’ll delay them.’

  Taggie didn’t need any more urging. She swung a leg over Onrith’s back and Lantic jumped up behind her.

  ‘Hold on tight,’ he said. ‘Please.’

  She gripped Onrith’s mane with both hands.

  The door at the end of the stalls burst open. ‘Hold!’ Captain Feandez demanded. He raised a sword whose runes glowed a vivid blue.

  Sophie moved her crossbow so fast it was a blur. The bolt was perfectly aimed, striking Feandez’s sword and smashing it from his grip. Then Sophie zoomed towards him, her red contrail sparkling in the air as the crossbow’s mechanism snicked another bolt into place. She warbled defiantly and the remaining pegasi were smashing down their stall doors, to follow her in a stampede towards Feandez and the horrified officers behind him. Panicked shouts filled the stable.

  Onrith was charging in the other direction. Taggie ducked down under the doorway as the pegasi galloped out into the courtyard at the centre of the stable block. His great wings stretched out, and as they rose up on either side Taggie saw they were a kind of silky white membrane. Long, lean muscles bunched along the pegasi’s body. Taggie drew in a gasp of apprehension. Onrith jumped into the air, and his wings swept down in a fast powerful motion. The air creaked in protest as the pegasi took flight.

  Taggie couldn’t help herself: she yelled in jubilation. It was one of the most extraordinary, exhilarating experiences she’d ever known. She loved it – despite the circumstances.

  Onrith’s wings flapped in a smooth regular motion now as he climbed steeply. Taggie risked a look back over her shoulder. Sure enough, Catlifrax was beating her way through the air not far behind them, with Felix and Jemima hanging on tight. She could just see a confusion of rampaging pegasi down in the stables; they spilt out on to the pyramid’s roof, wings half flapping.

  Then Onrith flew out over the edge of the roof, and the desert floor was a giddy distance below. Gusts of night wind thrown off by the walls of the massive pyramid buffeted them, and Taggie clung on. Hard.

  Sophie soared up beside her, red hair churning as she smiled wildly. ‘Nightflying is just fabulous, isn’t it?’

  ‘Get them to fly close together,’ Taggie shouted. ‘We’ll be followed in a minute.’

  Sophie nodded, and warbled at the two pegasi. Onrith banked gently, and Catlifrax rose up beside them. Taggie’s charmsward bands spun. ‘Jem,’ she called across the gap. ‘Cast a wardveil. Now!’ She saw her little sister nod, though she didn’t slack the rigid two-arm grasp she had round Catlifrax’s neck.

  ‘Tolstemal,’ Taggie chanted – the spell for a shadecast. The air around her quietly went pop. Both pegasi and Sophie were now flying inside a long bubble of ghostly ripples which should have shielded them from questing eyes, just as Jemima’s spell should have protected them from seers.

  Sophie altered direction slightly, and the pegasi followed. Far beneath them, Taggie could see the meandering thread of the river Zhila glimmering in the light of the moons, which they began to follow out towards the sea.

  EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN PLAN

  Captain Feandez had served his King loyally for his entire adult life. As an officer in the elite Blue Feather regiment he was completely familiar with life in the palace, encountering the royal family on a daily basis. But tonight, when Lady Jessicara DiStantona summoned him to the King’s private office behind the throne room, he barely recognized King Manokol. His sovereign had changed; grown somehow.

  For the past week King Manokol had seemed a tired shadow of himself in the wake of Prince Rogreth’s murder. But now, after the anointment ceremony, here stood the War Emperor himself: a vital fellow with fierce bright eyes and a beard that seemed to crackle with energy. His dark purple cloak, fastened at the neck with a gold brooch, flowed about his shoulders as if it was a living wing. The crown of laurel leaves on his head were the most vibrant green Feandez had ever seen.

  Captain Feandez went down on one knee. ‘Sire.’

  ‘At ease, Captain,’ the War Emperor said.

  Captain Feandez smiled to himself. The War Emperor’s voice had sympathy and understanding, but it was also threaded with steel. The voice of a man used to exercising complete command over his subjects; the voice of a leader. Captain Feandez was very pleased to hear that again: the period of mourning for the murdered prince was clearly over. ‘Sire.’ Captain Feandez got to his feet. He was only mildly disconcerted by the sight of Queen Judith standing just behind the War Emperor.

  ‘What happened on the roof, Captain?’ the War Emperor asked.

  ‘Sire, it was my fault. The
Queen of Dreams escaped.’

  ‘Come, come, Captain, the Queen of Dreams was my guest. You couldn’t possibly foresee her taking the pegasi.’

  ‘Thank you, sire, but I should have been more vigilant. She took Onrith.’

  The War Emperor nodded solemnly. ‘Indeed. And my son was with her?’

  ‘Yes, sire.’

  ‘Do you have any idea what in the blessed Heavens they think they’re doing?’

  ‘No, sir, I’m afraid not. But we assumed the Queen of Dreams would fly straight to Harrolas and back to her own Realm.’

  ‘Youthful rebellion, my dear,’ Queen Judith said in a kindly tone. ‘The Queen of Dreams was opposed to the war right from the start. Such is the way of young romantics. And she is very young indeed. She doesn’t understand the real duties a head of state must undertake. Why, even her own parents haven’t allowed her to take the throne fully yet, despite all she did last year.’

  ‘Yes,’ the War Emperor said grudgingly. ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘And Lantic is no doubt under her thrall. Boys of that kind are so easily flattered if anyone shows them the slightest attention.’

  The War Emperor snorted in derision. ‘About time he started paying attention to what goes on outside his room. But this . . . it’s a bad business.’

  ‘I’m sure the captain here can help,’ Queen Judith said pointedly.

  ‘Ah. Yes,’ the War Emperor said, returning his gaze to Captain Feandez. ‘I have an assignment for you, Captain. A delicate one.’

  ‘Anything, sire,’ Captain Feandez said.

  ‘You are to find these young royals before they cause any trouble. I don’t want anyone mistakenly believing the Realms are anything but united on the war which is to come.’

  ‘I understand, sire.’

  ‘Bring them back here by whatever means necessary. You will be given my warrant to operate as you see fit within any Realm to fulfil these instructions. It is humiliating that my first official act as War Emperor is to arrest my own son before he spreads any sedition!’

  ‘Necessary, my dear friend,’ Queen Judith murmured reassuringly.

  ‘It certainly is,’ the War Emperor said. ‘And let us be clear, Captain, both the Queen of Dreams and her sister are to be brought back as well.’

  ‘The Blossom Princess, sire?’ Captain Feandez asked in surprise.

  ‘She has a Third Realm heritage,’ Queen Judith murmured. ‘Even if it is not apparent yet. We cannot risk her being at large.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ the War Emperor agreed. ‘The squirrel and the skymaid I don’t care about, but those three must be stopped at all cost.’

  ‘Yes, sire,’ Captain Feandez said earnestly.

  ‘But discreetly,’ Queen Judith said. ‘Nobody wants a martyr.’

  ‘You have the authority to take whoever you want with you on this mission,’ the War Emperor said. ‘And the Royal Armoury is completely open to you, whatever implements you need.’

  ‘Thank you, sire. I will return the miscreants to you, I swear.’ Captain Feandez saluted, and withdrew from the study.

  Outside, in the broad cloister with its high lightstones, he let out a long, relieved breath. His worry that he would be disciplined over the shambles in the stables had proved false. This new mission was a sign of the War Emperor’s confidence in him. He smiled grimly and adjusted his tunic, ready to gather his most reliable fellows for the mission.

  ‘Captain Feandez?’

  Captain Feandez bowed deeply. ‘Ma’am.’ He hadn’t seen Queen Danise standing behind the study door.

  ‘I understand my husband has asked you to bring back our son?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am. The War Emperor has honoured me with that task.’

  ‘My husband is having a difficult time, he has been given a great responsibility when he should be grieving properly.’

  ‘We all miss Prince Rogreth, ma’am,’ Captain Feandez said, because he couldn’t think what else to say.

  ‘Good, because I do not intend to grieve for my other son. I’m sure poor Lantic thinks he has something to prove to us all, for he has never been given the attention and respect Rogreth had. That is my fault as much as anyone’s. But that tragic mistake ends now. You will make sure that he is brought back alive. Do you understand me, Captain? Alive.’

  He’d never seen the Queen with such a fierce light in her eyes. In some ways she was more imposing than the War Emperor. ‘Yes, ma’am,’ he gulped. ‘I understand.’

  ‘Good. Then may you have the blessing of every star in the Heavens on your quest, Captain. I suspect you’re going to need them.’

  While Captain Feandez hurried down to the storage chambers below the palace, Lieutenant Bromani was in his quarters on the amphitheatre side of the palace, getting changed into his full dress uniform. He was rather flattered by the invitation he’d received, but not entirely surprised. After all, officers of the palace guard were hugely popular among the daughters of the nobility. Along with his fellows, he was always receiving invitations to the various parties and grand balls that were thrown almost nightly in Shatha’hal. What had startled him was the messenger. He’d been on duty outside the Hall of Council during King Manokol’s anointment as the War Emperor, when he turned to find an old woman standing right behind him. She was wearing a black dress that somehow made him think of crow’s feathers, and seemed very stooped. A veil hung over her face, obscuring her features.

  ‘My Queen’s daughter, Katrabeth, invites your attendance in her mansion after the anointment is over,’ she said in a croaky voice.

  ‘She does?’ Bromani said. He and his fellow officers had spent the past few days observing all the foreign princesses at the formal welcoming parties and dances thrown by Shatha’hal’s aristocracy. Some of them were remarkably pretty. But none, they all agreed, were quite as beautiful as the daughter of Queen Judith. ‘She wants to see me?’

  ‘Indeed,’ the old woman said, as if she herself didn’t understand why. ‘It is unwise to disappoint her,’ she added sourly.

  ‘I will do no such thing,’ Bromani said. He turned to see if any of his fellows were nearby so he might brag to them. Sadly, none were within earshot. When he turned back, the old woman had vanished. A cold gust of air brushed past him, making him shiver.

  Bromani and his squire spent a long time adjusting his elaborate dress uniform until it looked absolutely perfect. He was desperate to impress the gorgeous young sorceress. When he arrived at the mansion on Shatha’hal’s upper level he did indeed look tremendous, with his bright scarlet tunic sporting a wide and elaborate strip of gold braid down the front, his sharply creased trousers of a deep blue, and the knee-high black boots polished so they appeared almost silver. A curving ceremonial silver sword hung from his waist.

  The old woman led him to a drawing room on the first floor, hobbling stiffly up the grand curving stairs. Katrabeth was waiting for him, smiling lightly as she took in his uniform. She rested a hand delicately on the base of her neck. ‘My, my, Lieutenant, how marvellous you look.’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ Bromani couldn’t take his gaze away from her intense brown eyes. They seemed capable of looking straight into his very thoughts. For the first time, Bromani wondered if he might just be falling in love. ‘How may I help you?’

  Her laugh was a delight, so sweet and light. ‘Oh dear, didn’t Nursy tell you?’

  The woman wrapped in her black dress bobbed awkwardly. ‘No. Sorry.’

  Katrabeth sat on a settee, and patted the cushion next to her. Not quite believing his good fortune, Bromani hurried over to sit beside her.

  ‘I’d like you to tell me things about this wonderful city of yours,’ she said.

  ‘It will be my pleasure, dear lady.’

  ‘Oh, goodie!’ Katrabeth giggled. She leaned forward, and before Bromani realized what was happening, her exquisite lips brushed teasingly against his own. Bromani wanted to run his finger along his collar to let out some of the heat his inexplicably hot skin was produc
ing.

  ‘She’s a funny old thing, my Nursy, wouldn’t you agree?’

  Bromani gave a cautious smile. He didn’t want to seem discourteous to the old woman, even though her continued presence in the drawing room was slightly unnerving.

  ‘You know, she’s looked after me since the day I was born,’ Katrabeth continued. ‘Of course, Nursy punished me when I was little. She said I was a naughty girl. She punished me a lot. Then one day I learned how to punish her back. Mummy was so proud of me.’

  Bromani’s smile was forced now. He couldn’t take his eyes off the old nurse’s gauzy veil, wondering just what it covered up, and why. ‘Perhaps you could tell me what you wish to know of Shatha’hal,’ he said, attempting to change the subject to something more agreeable. That was when he tried to stand up. He found his legs didn’t work any more.

  ‘I . . . I can’t move,’ he said, in rising panic. When he lifted his arm, it seemed to be made of lead.

  ‘Yes, I know,’ Katrabeth said lightly. ‘My kiss has that effect on people. Your chest is tightening up as well, isn’t it?’

  Bromani gasped, which made him realize how hard it had become for him to breathe. Each breath was more difficult than the last. The numbness was slowly spreading across his whole body.

  ‘Now then, my dear Bromani,’ Katrabeth said pleasantly. ‘Before you become completely unable to breathe at all, I’d like you to tell me exactly – and I do mean exactly – what my lovely cousin the Queen of Dreams talked about with Lady Dirikal. And don’t you be a naughty boy and leave anything out.’

  NO GOING BACK

  Dawn shone a warm glow across the sea as the pegasi flew into the fjord where Harrolas’s waterfall thundered down the cliff face. Taggie looked round, but she couldn’t see anyone in pursuit. Certainly not a flock of Air Cavalry pegasi.

  ‘I am the Queen of Dreams, and I wish to return to the First Realm,’ she said into the rushing air. Onrith descended below the top of the cliffs, lining up above the waterfall. Sophie flew alongside, while Catlifrax brought up the rear.

  The huge waterfall began to part in the middle, revealing the dark nothingness behind. Its roaring was ferocious as they passed through. A heavy squall of rain drenched them. There was a momentary flash of blackness, then they were out into the welcome gold sunlight of the First Realm.