Mike Shevdon - The Eighth Court

“The treaty applies to all of the Feyre,” said Yonna.

“But they’re not fey, are they?” said Teoth. “How many have you sworn to your court so far, Blackbird?”

“We have pledges from a number of individuals,” said Blackbird.

“Pledges? They’re not even blood-sworn!” said Teoth. “They could do anything, bring ruin on all of us!”

“Going over this again is getting us nowhere,” said Barthia. “Perhaps our efforts would be better focused on finding the original knives. We need to find Raffmir and recover the safe.”

“And how do you propose to do that?” asked Kimlesh.

“It could be at the bottom of the Thames by now,” said Blackbird. “Or on a container ship out of the London docks, headed for the Far East.”

Mellion stood and made a complicated gesture, mimicking the turning of a key in a lock.

“Mellion’s right,” said Kimlesh. “We should deploy what resources we have and focus on finding Raffmir. If he knows where the safe is, then he holds the key.”

“Finding a wraithkin?” said Yonna. “Would you have us turn back time as well? Or move the stars, perhaps? He’s probably gone back to their world by now.”

“What? And miss the opportunity to gloat?” said Blackbird. “No, Raffmir is here somewhere. We just have to find him.”

Kimlesh spoke into the shadows beyond the circle of light around the chairs. “Fionh, would you ask Garvin to step in, please?”

The door opened, spilling light into the room momentarily, and she slipped out silently. Blackbird noticed Niall waiting outside, trying to catch her attention.

“We have time,” said Barthia. “It is months until the ceremony must be performed again. The barrier holds for now. Teoth has a point, we stand united or not at all. His concerns, and those of Lord Krane, must be addressed. We will meet again tomorrow.” She rose, as did Kimlesh, and Yonna. Krane and Teoth exchanged glances and rose, then walked out, heads together in low conversation. Blackbird waited until Mellion and Barthia had also left and then joined Kimlesh and Yonna. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” she said.

“It is worse than you think,” said Yonna. “The barrier has been maintained for centuries. This is not the first time that the Seventh Court has tried to bring it down. Always before, though, we have responded together, as one voice. Six against one, Altair knew he couldn’t win.”

“More than that,” said Kimlesh. “Altair knows there is division. That’s why he’s doing this now. He knew Teoth would block any move to re-forge the knives.”

“Which means that Altair is conspiring with Teoth and Krane,” said Yonna. They were interrupted by Fionh returning with Garvin. Kimlesh explained the situation and Garvin listened until she’d finished.

“I’ll take the Warders,” he said, “and walk through the Royal Courts of Justice with Niall. Maybe we can pick up on the trail or find some clue as to who was helping Raffmir. If we can find the van, maybe we can find the safe, or at least discover what they’ve done with it.”

“Thank you Garvin,” said Kimlesh.

He held his fist over his heart and backed away. Blackbird made her excuses and followed. When she reached the doorway, Niall was trailing along after Garvin down the corridor. He pointed meaningfully at the ceiling.

“Now, Dogstar!” Garvin’s voice carried down the corridor and Niall turned and trotted after him. Blackbird followed after him, the heavy skirts of the dress rustling with her step as she made her way back to the rooms they shared. It was getting late and she was tired, not least of arguing with Krane and Teoth. She was beginning to wonder whether this was all worthwhile.

When she reached the rooms, Angela was there, with Alex.

“Hello,” said Blackbird. “I thought you were staying at your mum’s.”

“I am,” said Alex. “Where’s Dad?”

Blackbird unhooked the dress and shrugged it from her shoulders, placing it on the waiting hanger. “He had to go out. Warder business.”

“He was supposed to fetch you,” she said.

“I told you. Garvin took him out. He’ll be back in a while.”

Alex stood. “This can’t wait.”

“What can’t?” Blackbird changed into comfortable clothes. “I need to check on the baby. I’ve hardly seen him all day.”

“You need to come with me,” said Alex, moving towards the door.

“Look,” said Blackbird. “I’ve had a long day, and I’m just about ready to drop. I still have things to do, so I don’t need a mystery. Just tell me what the matter is and I’ll try and help, OK.”

Alex shook her head. “It’s you who doesn’t understand, and anyway, I promised.”

“Promised who?”

Alex looked meaningfully at the mirror on the wall and then went to the desk and found a scrap of paper. She scribbled something on it and handed it to Blackbird. On the piece of paper was a name: Claire Radisson.

“Are you there?”

The voice whispered from the dark. “Of course.”

“They know about the safe. He was there. He nearly caught them doing it.”

“He didn’t.”

“What was he doing there?”

“It doesn’t matter. We have them now. There will be no more ceremony,” said the whisperer.

“They are talking about re-making the knives.”

“What does Teoth say?”

“He’s playing hard to get, making them work for it.”

“Good,” said the voice.

“Do you want me to say anything to him?”

There was no reply, only darkness.

“Fine.” After a moment, the shadow slipped away again.

“Very good,” said the whisperer, after the shadow had gone.

Alex led the journey down the Way. She wouldn’t even tell Blackbird where they were going, though it soon became obvious. The walk to Katherine’s house was mostly conducted in silence. When they reached the front door, Katherine opened it and hurried them inside. Claire Radisson was in Katherine’s lounge. There were cups of tea that had been made and left to go cold, and newspapers left open and discarded. Her impatience was written across her face.

“Veronica! Thank goodness you’re here.” Katherine looked taken aback at the use of the name Veronica, but let it go.

Blackbird took the seat opposite Claire, sinking too far into the upholstery for her liking. “I’m not sure how long I have,” she said. “Tell me what happened.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve kept you from something more important,” said Claire, taking offence.

“You’re not sorry, and I don’t have time for games,” said Blackbird. “So tell me.”

Claire cleared her throat, looking to Katherine for support. Katherine was seeing a side of Blackbird that she hadn’t seen before. “It started last week,” said Claire. “Jerry, the Remembrancer, you remember from the hospital?” Blackbird gave the slightest of nods. “Jerry has retired — Elizabeth insisted. They have a son, in Australia. Elizabeth said they would go on an extended visit, take Deborah too.”

“And get as far away from here as possible?” asked Blackbird.

“Something like that,” said Claire.

“Smart move. Go on.”

“It’s not as simple as that. Jerry is… was a senior member of the Queen’s Bench Division and there are arrangements to be made. He had lists and dates. All of that had to be rescheduled and-”

“Can we get to the meat of it?” asked Blackbird.

Claire clasped her hands together. “Last week his office was disturbed. There was nothing taken but things had been moved. I’ve worked with him for, oh, more years than I care to recall, and he has his ways. Things were out of place.”

“A potential successor, perhaps, having a look around?” asked Blackbird.