The Purple Emperor

CHAPTER NINETY THREE

It was hideously dangerous, but they crowded into the suspensor shaft. (Henry spotted the entrance to that one as well: Henry was getting very good at spotting things.) Standard suspensor spells were set to lift a maximum of three people with a ten per cent margin of error, besides which there was the probability of meeting Hairstreak's guards either in the shaft itself or when they stepped out.

But after the single scream no one hesitated. For an instant the spell strained, lifted, trembled, then shot them upwards abruptly. Comma squeaked in alarm, but only seconds later they reached a floating platform that fanned out a network of walkways. One led to an empty observation chamber. Another wound towards an open archway, through which appeared a horrifying scene.

Blue's father lay naked on an operating table, his abdomen open and bloody. A strange, squat Nighter was bent over him, splattered with the Emperor's blood. Beside them, a second man was strapped to another table. With a start Blue recognised him as Jasper Chalkhill, her old nemesis, who was supposed to be in jail. Behind them was an old man in shabby wizard robes, an expression of bewilderment on his face. Watching it all was the familiar slim figure of Lord Hairstreak himself.

There were no guards! There were no guards at all!

'Get Hairstreak!' Pyrgus shouted. 'I'll look after Father!'

A murderous rage descended on Blue like a scarlet mist as she launched herself at Hairstreak.

Nymph drew her bow and calmly shot the man bending over the Purple Emperor. The arrow caught him in the throat and he collapsed with a strangled gurgle, tearing at the shaft. She put two further arrows in his back, but by the time the second hit he was already dead.

Nymph turned to kill Lord Hairstreak, but Princess Blue was in the way.

Henry stood on the edge of the action, his emotions churning. He had no weapon he could actually use! Why had no one given him something sensible like an Ouzi? Why did he have to stand like a wimp while the others got stuck in?

Pyrgus threw himself across the room. He had almost reached his father when, to his astonishment, the elderly wizard in the tatty robe hurled a massive firebolt in his direction.

Pyrgus flung himself to the floor. The flaming mass singed his hair, then struck Palaemon squarely in the chest.

Palaemon fell backwards, his body a smoking crater. He trembled twice on the floor, then lay still, his dead eyes open, staring at the cavern ceiling high above.

The old wizard looked down at Pyrgus on the floor and grinned. 'I won't miss this time,' he cackled.

Nymph put an arrow in his chest and he died with the grin still on his face.

Hairstreak ran.

Blue hared after him, her short sword at the ready. She was going to kill him, once and for all, and hang the political consequences. The man was a slug, a smear of slime on the face of the Realm.

Henry hesitated for no more than half a heartbeat, then ran after Blue. Nymph switched her bow for a vicious-looking knife and ran to join them both.

Hairstreak raced from the operating theatre on to the walkway that led to the observation chamber. He was moving quickly, but Nymph was already ahead of the others and gaining on him.

'Leave him to me!' Blue hissed angrily and increased her pace. But they had him. There was no other walkway from the observation chamber. There was nowhere he could go. Then she saw the suspensor shaft. Unlike the one that had carried them up, this shaft descended direct from the observation chamber. 'Suspensor shaft!' Blue screamed.

'I see it!' Nymph called. She seemed to be running flat out, but somehow increased her pace and reached the observation chamber no more than a pace or two behind Hairstreak. She hurled herself forward and managed, miraculously, to get between Hairstreak and the shaft.

Hairstreak made a sweeping movement with one hand and Nymph staggered backwards, clutching her arm. Blood oozed between her fingers. Hairstreak jumped. Nymph grabbed for him and missed.

Blue and Henry raced into the room. 'Where is he?' Blue gasped, looking around wildly. 'Where's the shaft?'

Nymph turned. 'It's -' Then stopped, bewildered.

'He's cloaked it!' Blue howled.

'Where is he?' Henry asked.

'He's cloaked the shaft!' Blue shouted in frustration. 'He's cloaked the shaft! There must have been an automatic trigger. We can't use it. We can't even see it.'

Henry looked over the edge of the observation raft. Far below, the slim figure of Lord Hairstreak was racing for the cut-stone steps. Nymph must have spotted him as well, for she said quietly, 'Lord Hairstreak will raise an alarm. We must return to Prince Pyrgus.'

'Yes,' Blue agreed.

Yes, Henry thought. And then we'd better find some way to get out of here.

They entered the operating theatre at a run. Pyrgus was standing over his father, a stricken look on his face. Blue stopped dead. 'What's wrong? Pyrgus, what's wrong?'

Pyrgus licked dry lips but said nothing. The room was a scene of carnage. Comma was crouched in one corner, curled into a trembling ball.

'Pyrgus!' Blue's cry was almost a scream.

'It's -' Pyrgus swallowed and started again. 'Blue, he's… he's

…' There were tears welling in his eyes. 'I -we – it's too late,' Pyrgus said. 'Daddy's dead.'

Blue started forward like someone sleepwalking.

Pyrgus moved at once to meet her. 'You mustn't look, Blue. He's – it's not -' He reached out for her arm.

Blue shook off the restraining hand and pushed past him, her face set. She looked down at her father stretched out and strapped on the operating table. Blue whispered, 'His head has been cut off.'

Pyrgus said, 'I know, Blue. Come away.'

But Blue would not come away. 'He can never be resurrected again.' She looked at Pyrgus, then, helplessly, at Henry and repeated, 'He can never be resurrected again.'

'Excuse me,' Chalkhill said, 'but would somebody like to release these straps and give me back my clothes?'