Mike Shevdon - Sixty-One Nails

"So the Six Courts have humans and the Seventh doesn't. So what?"

"The Six Courts knew any barrier made by them could eventually be undermined by the Seventh. A barrier made with Fey magic could be broken with Fey magic."

"So they got their humans to do it?"

"Perhaps initially, yes. They made the barrier, symbolised by hazel and iron and sealed it in an annual rite so it would be continually reinforced. Then they got humanity to carry out the ritual for them, so none of the Courts could break it."

"That works for the Feyre, but why would humanity take on such a duty? From their point of view, one lot of Feyre are as bad as another. Why would they take sides? Better to let them all kill each other."

"Hmm, you're right. What's in it for them? Still, if the barrier fails then we're all in trouble. You heard Raffmir's sister. Once the barrier comes down she and her friends intend to feed and I'm guessing it won't just be other Feyre they're preying on."

"Well, for the moment we have the advantage that we know what they're up to."

"That's just it, though. We don't, do we? All we know is that Raffmir said there is a worm at the heart of the ritual and the barrier will fail because of it. If the ritual is the Quit Rents Ceremony then what's wrong with it? You said they're still doing it, even after all this time. So where's the worm?"

"We have to speak to the Queen's Remembrancer. Maybe he will know what's wrong with it?" I glanced at my watch. "It's gone two o'clock. We could go back and talk to the nice receptionist. She was going to check the dates of the ceremony, so maybe we can turn that into an introduction?"

I shook the remaining water from my hands and Blackbird and I wound our way back through the alleys and courtyards to the Strand and the Royal Courts of Justice.

I was more confident about approaching the security station this time, now that I had managed to maintain my glamour for a while. Blackbird was right, after a time you got used to it and didn't give it a thought. I emptied my pockets into the trays for the scanner and went through the metal detectors.

"Let me handle this," I suggested to Blackbird.

She gave me a sceptical look, but conceded. I moved up to the reception desk where the same lady was typing at her computer. She looked up as I approached the desk.

"Hi, honey, did you want me to find out those dates for you now?"

"Actually, I was wondering whether it would be possible to have a chat with the Queen's Remembrancer."

"You want to make an appointment?" She reached for the telephone.

"Well, we were really just hoping for a quick word, if he or she is available."

"He's usually quite booked up, I'm afraid. The Remembrancer is only a ceremonial role and his other duties take up most of his time. Would you like me to talk to his clerk and see if he can slot you in later in the week?"

"Hmmm. Not really. It's kind of urgent, in a historical way. Is there any possibility you could have a word with his clerk and see if we could have five or ten minutes now? I would really appreciate it."

She peered at me over her glasses. "This is highly irregular, but I suppose there's no harm in asking. Who shall I say wants to see him?"

I realised I was going to have to give my name and we were still only ten feet from the security station where the guards were scanning the belongings of people returning from lunch. "It's Niall… Niall Dobson." I borrowed my ex-wife's surname in a moment of inspiration, "and this is my friend…" I ran out of steam as I realised the only name I had for my companion wouldn't do for this occasion either.

"Veronica." Blackbird stepped forwards. "Doctor Veronica Delemere. I'm with the University of London at Birkbeck."

I glanced sideways at Blackbird and then back to the receptionist, who gave me a look that said she wasn't impressed by University types. Nevertheless she picked up the phone and dialled a rapid sequence of digits.

"Claire? Claire, it's Marcie. I have a couple of visitors who would like to speak with the Queen's Remembrancer about his duties. One of them is from Birkbeck and the other is from…?" She looked up at me.

"I'm just an interested amateur," I demurred.

"He says he's an amateur, but he's very charming." She smiled at me in a conspiratorial way. "Yes, I know he's busy, but they only want fifteen minutes and they say it's urgent."

She paused to listen.

"I know, I know, but they just wondered if he would meet them. They claim it's about something historically interesting. Ten minutes would do? You know how he is about his history." There was a pause. "Sure, I'll wait."

She whispered to me. "She's just checking."

"We really are very grateful for your help."

"Oh, that's OK. He loves historical things, especially if there's a mystery. There is a mystery, isn't there?"

"Oh yes," I nodded. "It's a mystery all right." I glanced at Blackbird.

Marcie's attention was drawn back to the phone.

"That's great. I'll send them up." She put the phone back on the cradle. "She says you can go on up now. Just don't try and sell him something or you'll get me in a world of trouble. You see that balcony there and the archway below it? Go up the stairway and turn to your right at the top. Go down the corridor and Claire will be waiting for you. Don't get lost."

"We won't, and thanks."

"No trouble, honey. Turn to your right, remember. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"I hope so too."

I turned to follow her directions, Blackbird at my side.

"Charming, huh? It looks like you have a fan there," she suggested.

"Doctor Veronica Delemere of the University, eh?" I countered.

"Well I can hardly be called Doctor Blackbird at the University, can I?"

We went to the archway and found a stone stairway leading upwards. There were lots of signs directing you to one court or another, but we ignored these. The stone stairway had white stripes painted on the edge of each step and a dark wooden handrail. They were quite steep. We turned right, as instructed, walking down the corridor past the courtrooms.

Waiting there was a petite brunette with short straight hair. She didn't see us until we were quite close and I wondered whether she was seriously shortsighted. Her jacket and skirt were dark and sober and she looked all business. She thrust out her hand at me, rather aggressively.

"Claire Radisson. Pleased to meet you."

"Hello, I'm Niall Dobson and this is Veronica Delemere."

Claire shook our hands in short tight gestures.

"Perhaps you'd like to come through?"

She turned on her kitten heels and marched off down the corridor, plainly expecting to be followed. We hurried along behind.

"There are so many people who want His Lordship's time and only so many hours in the day. It would only be possible to give you a few moments, I am sure you understand." She implied that there was no room for compromise. There was something else here, though. Deception rang in her tone.

"Of course, we will be brief," Blackbird reassured her, glancing at me with a raised eyebrow.

She walked down the corridor and then turned off to the left, stepping past a doorway and ushering us into a neat anteoffice with a desk and bookshelves. Small touches like a floral tissue box and the handbag placed on the cupboard behind the desk led me to believe that this was her space. There was a further set of double doors that remained closed. I figured that in order to gain access to the inner sanctum we would need to satisfy her that our business was worthy of his lordship's time.

"Perhaps you'd like to tell me what this is all about?" She moved around the desk, putting it between her and us.

"It's concerning the duties of the Queen's Remembrancer and the Quit Rents Ceremony. We would like to ask His Lordship a few questions, if that's possible."