The Purple Emperor

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

'Gone?' roared Lord Hairstreak. He was dressed head to toe in black velvet and looked like an apoplectic imp. Comma had insisted on their meeting in the throne room, apparently because he wanted to sit on the throne.

'Into exile,' Comma said, emphasising the second word slightly, as if to stress its importance, or possibly just to show he knew what it meant. He had changed into State robes, several sizes too large for him, in imperial purple. From his high vantage point on the Peacock Throne he chose to study the backs of his hands casually.

'I told you to have them imprisoned,' Hairstreak snapped. 'Actually I told you to have them executed!'

'I decided to send them into exile instead,' Comma said, then added petulantly, 'Nobody tells the Purple Emperor what to do.'

The child was a nightmare and always had been, just like his mother. Hairstreak said bluntly, 'You're not Purple Emperor yet. And until you are, you'll do well to remember that your Regent holds the reins.'

Comma glared at him sulkily. 'Well, it's done now.'

'Where have you sent them?'

For a second Comma looked as if he wasn't going to tell, then he muttered, 'Haleklind.'

Hairstreak swore under his breath. It was one of the few countries that had resisted infiltration by his agents. Particularly galling in such an ignorant backwater. Most of the inhabitants were scarcely down from the trees. But their wizards were something else. Would it be possible to mount a raid? The price was bound to be enormous – Halek magic was weapons magic and the wizards could decimate an army if they dug in… one reason why their country had been left so long alone. Better to try to stop Pyrgus and his sister before they reached the border. Or arrange an assassination if that didn't work.

'When did they leave?' he asked sharply.

'A little while before you came,' Comma told him vaguely.

'How are they travelling?'

'By ouklo. By imperial ouklo – they're still members of the royal family, you know,' Comma said.

It could have been worse. Ouklos were not exactly fast and it was probably a day's, two days' journey to Haleklind under the best conditions. There was still time to do something. 'Which route did they take?'

'I'm sure I don't know,' Comma said airily. 'I leave those sort of arrangements to my minions.''

Hairstreak fought hard to replace his fury with an icy calm. It would be simple enough to find out what route had been taken. Even Comma wasn't stupid enough to send them off without an escort. Once he knew the road, he could dispatch a party of his best men. The guards would not be expecting an attack – why should they? Pyrgus would be dead before they had time to react. So would anybody else travelling with him. Hairstreak narrowed his eyes. 'It is foolish for your future to allow your half-brother and half-sister to live,' he said firmly. 'But you may safely leave that to me. Meanwhile, Comma, let me tell you this. If you ever, ever, countermand an order of mine again, I shall see that you regret it deeply. You seem to forget I have the full authority of your sainted father.'

The change in Comma was astonishing, but not the change Hairstreak had expected. The boy swung round, eyes blazing. 'That thing you call my father is an empty shell that only walks because of your black magic! You think I'm a fool? Better think again, dear uncle!

Hairstreak turned and stamped out of the throne room. There was no time to lose in mounting the pursuit of Pyrgus and Blue.

He could deal with Comma later.