Eight Kings (The King's Watch Book 6)

by Mark Hayden

  Aisling. The name of Lord Mowbray’s second wife, who died in mysterious circumstances. I wonder what the next Mrs Mowbray thought of having a suite of rooms named after her sainted predecessor. Then again, how would Aisling’s child, Kenver, feel if his father erased the Aisling suite and called it the Kerenza Room?

  ‘This way,’ said Lena. A grand door led to a room that was intimate without being small. There was no bare slate here. A huge carpet in blue and yellow covered the floor, and light wallpaper brightened the room further.

  There were pieces of furniture around the wall, all exquisite. My father would be salivating if he were here, and my mother would be saying, ‘They look naked.’ They did. All ornaments and photographs had been taken away and there was even a pair of shadows on the wall where pictures had been removed.

  The purpose of the room was obvious from the circular table in the middle surrounded by five chairs, three on the south side and two on the north. Set back from the table, each side also had a small desk and chair. Lena frowned in concentration and spoke slowly.

  ‘The Mowbrays and the Daughters have one observer who cannot speak. They are Eseld and Síona. In the talking, Cador and Brook will lead. They are the lawyers, ja?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Saffron had read the brief as thoroughly as you’d expect. ‘Why isn’t Lord Mowbray coming? Or the Eldest Daughter?’

  Lena shrugged. Today’s dirndl was a light green with white flowers. The apron was the same. I supplied the answer.

  ‘In case things go badly. The principals only turn up at the end for tea and a photo opportunity after they’ve done the signing ceremony. Or sealing in this case. Ethan and Alys will be in constant contact with Mowbray and Hedda. If it all goes to plan, we’ll be off to fetch them tomorrow.’

  Lena nodded. ‘Ja. That is right. Today, Ethan is in charge.’

  Mina raised her eyebrows. She’d got the message: this is not Cador or Eseld’s show.

  Saffron went to check the windows. Most were sealed units with just one door into a garden. This room didn’t have the river views.

  Lena went right, to a door on the Daughters’ side of the room and opened it. ‘When they come, I give them the keys to this room. See?’

  It was a pleasant, if cramped, sitting room with only a high window. I suspected the bathroom off it would get more use than the room itself. Lena led us to the corresponding door on the opposite side of the main room and threw it open. She didn’t invite us to enter, and I could see why.

  ‘Lord Mowbray’s study,’ she said.

  I peered over her shoulder and glimpsed a lot of pale oak. Pleasant. He could easily have made it a gloomy man-cave, but this room was perfect for conducting Estate business. Even the desk was pushed into a corner rather than dominating the space. The only one of our party who crossed the threshold was Scout, who stuck his nose in, sneezed and backed out just as I was trying to focus on one of the paintings. Lena shut the door behind him.

  When he sneezed, I got a ripple, like water lapping over your nose in a swimming pool. I’d never had that before, and I had no idea what it meant. What I did know was that the room was guarded by a Ward of some description, and I don’t know how I knew that, either. This morning’s pain was paying off already.

  There was more to the tour, and it finished back in the main hall. When Lena had said that it wasn’t going to be used properly, I think she meant that it wasn’t going to be filled with liveried footmen and trays of champagne. What it did have was a cosy corner by a fireplace with a settee, three armchairs and a coffee table. They were tucked away at an angle but they had a good view of the whole hall, including the entrance to the Aisling rooms. This was our spot.

  Lena opened a decorative wooden cabinet on the wall and showed us a telephone handset. There was a list of extension numbers on the back of the door. She used the phone to call someone and said, ‘Ja. Bitte.’ She replaced the handset and said, ‘Coffee is on its way. Do you have any questions?’

  ‘Will the dinner go ahead tonight regardless?’ said Mina. ‘Even if they’re at each other’s throats?’

  ‘Oh yes. Everyone will make nice. I have told Ethan that I will kick them out at six thirty to get changed. Dinner will be at eight o’clock.’

  The coffee arrived and Lena stayed with us until she got a text and disappeared in a flurry.

  ‘Someone’s in trouble,’ said Saffron.

  ‘Possibly. See you at the dock in twenty,’ I said. I poured myself a second coffee and took it outside for a smoke. Part of the tour had included the little hut with ashtray. There was even a water bowl for Scout next to one of the cloakrooms. Lena had thought of everything. Or someone had. Being the Steward of Pellacombe was not a job she’d expected to do when she was growing up, and this was her biggest test so far. I wondered how much of what was happening had come from her and how much from the collective memory of the Pellacombe estate.

  I finished my coffee and went to get my case from the King’s Watch suite.

  14 — Match

  Saffron had one job to do on the flight to Glastonbury, and she executed it perfectly, advising Air Traffic Control that we were entering a specified area and repeating their permission word for word with a clarity that her drama teacher would be proud of. I put the Smurf into a slow circle and we all admired the view. Except Scout. He was curled up in a dog basket with his paws over his ears to fidget with the bonnet we’d given him. It’s too loud for a dog in a helicopter.

  ‘I’ve never seen it before,’ said Michael. ‘It really stands out, don’t it?’

  They don’t call them the Somerset Levels for nothing. All around us, flat fields soaked up the sun with only the odd tree breaking cover. And then there’s the Tor.

  The hill on which the tower stands rises like a film set from the flatness, a perfect tear-drop mound of green with the tower standing proud. In the summer sun, it looked like Merlyn himself was about to saunter up and engage in a spot of Necromancy. No wonder the largest coven of Witches in England is based nearby.

  ‘I’m taking her down now,’ I said. There was only the lightest of breezes this morning, and I’d had a good look at the landing zone already so I let the Smurf do most of the work for once.

  The Daughters of the Goddess have their base south-south-west of the Tor, near a river. The Homewood itself exists on another plane and is invisible even to Mages like Saffron. Vicky’s seen it, but she’s a Sorcerer. To the west of the Homewood is an old country house that advertises itself as a women-only spiritual and holistic retreat. It’s quite popular in the local community because it employs people, it sponsors things and a lot of the staff live there.

  It’s also the Daughters’ main point of interaction with the rest of the magickal world. It’s a centre of learning, the biggest outside the Invisible College. It’s a hotel for visiting Witches, and it’s a farm. Thirty nine Daughters live in the Homewood. Most spend most of their time on the higher plane, but they have to eat and they have to have somewhere in the normal world to live, and it’s here at Home House that they register their address on the electoral roll.

  The Daughters had made a temporary LZ out of their all-weather sports pitch and the Smurf settled down right on the centre spot. I shut down the engines and took off my headset.

  ‘Where are they?’ said Saffron.

  I pointed to the main building. ‘See that minibus? They’ll wait until we get out, then they’ll drive up.’

  ‘Oh. A power play.’

  ‘You could say that.’

  Scout was the first out, and he headed straight for some trees. He came trotting back as the minibus bumped over the grass and drew up in front of us.

  The first to get out of the bus was their Guardian for this trip, Isolde, first wife of Lord Mowbray. Her picture still hangs in the family area of Pellacombe, so she was easy to recognise. Twenty years older now, but still the angular, awkward woman who had bequeathed her genes to Eseld and Cador. Like all the Daughters on this trip,
she was wearing street clothes for the journey, in her case a pair of jeans and a red jacket. In fact, all but one of them were in their favourite pair of jeans and trainers.

  Behind her came Alys, the Little Mother. It’s an odd title for such an important position: the Little Mother of Homewood is the second most powerful Daughter. Alys was looking behind her as she got out, talking to the two women behind her. Alys could best be described as powerful, and what she lacked in height she made up for in square-shouldered determination.

  The next two were the ones I’d seen before at the Cloister Court, Brook and Síona. Brook was their counsel, who’d gone toe-to-toe with Cador and earned a draw, and Síona was the Witch from London, presumably representing the many, many Daughters who don’t live in Glastonbury. They were still talking as the fifth member of the party unfolded herself and straightened up to survey the scene.

  ‘Will you look at that!’ said Saffron.

  ‘Will she fit in the chopper?’ said Michael.

  Scout whimpered and jumped behind me.

  I just stared, trying to let my sunglasses hide my shock and incipient naked terror, because I now knew what Rick had meant about Raven and Chris Kelly having something in common. They are both taller than me, and I’m six foot four.

  The best way to describe the First Daughter of Ash is statuesque, and that’s because she was like a regular sized female athlete who’d been made into an oversized statue. Everything was in proportion, but so much bigger. The shoulders, the chest and the powerful thighs were all emphasised by the singlet and the leggings. Odin only knows where she gets athletic shoes in her size.

  A long black braid snaked its way down her chest until she flipped it over her shoulder and looked at us. Raven, 1st of Ash, had deep set eyes and strong, high cheekbones. As well as being unmissably striking, she would have been beautiful, too, if it wasn’t for a slightly heavy jaw. She grinned and flashed a huge set of brilliant white teeth.

  I stepped forward and met Isolde half way between the bus and the chopper. I took off my glasses and introduced myself. Isolde did the honours for them, and there was a big round of handshakes (excluding Michael, who had vanished without trace). When it came to Raven, I felt my hand enveloped by power, both physical and magickal, and she was the only one who made a comment.

  ‘Can we go the scenic route? I’ve always wanted to see the land from a helicopter.’

  Alys stiffened visibly, but it was Brook who spoke. ‘I’m sure the Watch Captain has to follow a flight plan or something.’

  I don’t like being talked about in the third person. Who does? At least she didn’t call me the pilot. There’s been a few high-ranking passengers who’ve regretted doing that. I turned and focused on Raven. ‘If I get the chance, I’ll ask Lord Mowbray. I’d be happy to oblige.’

  Raven gave me a short nod and stepped aside so that I could meet Cordy. Noooo! Banish that thought.

  So that I could meet CORDELIA. There.

  Rick’s ex had a knowing smile on her face for some reason. Rick’s taste in women is best described as omnivorous, yet Cordelia was the one he’d asked to marry him. She was the shortest of the group, barely above Mina in height. I wondered if that was why Raven had chosen Cordelia to be her Page: they did look very odd together. I barely had time to take in more than Cordelia’s impish grin when Alys started walking towards the Smurf. I stretched out my legs to get there before her and help her on board.

  That wasn’t an act of chivalry (misplaced or otherwise), it was because I had a problem to solve.

  ‘Could you please sit at the sides and leave this seat for Michael?’ I said, pointing to the single by the door.

  Alys paused with her hand on the grab rail. ‘Is there a reason for that?’

  ‘Weight distribution.’

  She took her hand off the rail and confirmed what I thought: the Little Mother is a very, very nervous flyer. ‘Don’t you need to check everyone’s actual weight?’

  I shook my head and bent to whisper. ‘Would you be more comfortable with a view or without?’

  ‘With.’

  ‘Then take that one, over there. The closer to the middle, the less movement.’

  A smile flickered and died. ‘Thank you.’

  Michael had reappeared. I think he’d run around the field in a huge loop to get to the back of the bus without having to meet the Witches, and he was now piling their luggage next to the hold. I left Saff to finish loading the passengers and went to help Michael. Balancing the cargo really is an issue, and I hefted every case before telling him where to place it.

  ‘I can feel her,’ he whispered. ‘She’s awesome.’

  ‘Raven?’

  ‘Yeah.’ The poor lad was smitten. I just hope for his sake that Raven doesn’t notice.

  ‘Listen, Michael, you need to watch out on the way back.’

  ‘Sir?’

  ‘Alys is a bit nervous, which is quite normal, but she has the power to kill us all if she panics.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Yes. Keep an eye on her. Without staring, of course. If you’re worried, use the intercom.’

  Saff, Michael and I were the only ones with headsets.

  ‘They might hear me. Some Witches have superb hearing,’ said Michael.

  ‘True. If you’re worried, bend down, feel his pulse and say that Scout’s feeling ill.’

  ‘What if Scout really is ill?’

  ‘He’s my Familiar. I’ll know if he’s ill. Put that last case there and start strapping them down. I’m going to check the engines. Airborne in five.’

  Raven had chosen the seat closest to Michael, presumably because it had the most legroom. Saffron had channelled her inner cabin crew and was busy checking seat belts and pointing out the limited range of controls available to passengers.

  ‘These windows don’t open, do they?’ said Alys with alarm.

  ‘Oh no,’ said Saff. ‘And the doors lock centrally.’

  That did nothing to calm her down, and I was starting to get nervous myself. Scout trotted up and whined. I lifted him into the cabin and he nearly jumped out of my arms to get away from Raven, at which point a thought struck me. ‘Alys?’ I said. ‘My Familiar is very young. Would you mind if we put his basket next to you? If you could give him a stroke now and then, I’d be grateful.’

  It worked a charm, and the flight back to Pellacombe was as smooth as I could have wished for.

  I didn’t get out, because I was moving the Smurf over the water as soon as it was empty. Saffron was responsible for escorting the Daughters to the formal reception, and other hands would help Michael unload. As a special treat, I was taking him up front on the short hop to his home.

  By the time Michael had personally taken me back across the river, the Daughters had disappeared to their rooms and I found Mina showing Saffron something that Mina found hilarious and Saffron found mortifying.

  ‘What?’ I said, pouring myself a coffee.

  ‘I’m telling you, she’s used a filter,’ said Saffron.

  ‘She didn’t need to,’ said Mina.

  ‘Oy,’ I said. ‘What’s going on?’

  Saffron folded her arms and sat back, like a teenager in a strop. ‘It’ll be all over Salomon’s House,’ she muttered.

  With the serene grace of a princess, Mina passed me her iPad.

  At the exact moment that Raven had turned her gaze on the helicopter at Home House, Cordelia had taken a picture and sent it to Rick, who had sent it to Vicky, who had sent it to Mina and Saffron.

  The picture showed the four of us on parade in front of the Smurf. I was immobile with my hands behind my back and Scout was peering through my legs like a rabbit in the headlights. Michael looked like a saint who’s having an epiphany and Saff had taken off her dark glasses to stare. Her mouth was round and open, and you could almost hear her saying OMG like Janice from Friends.

  Everyone who’d forwarded the picture included the previous comments:

  Cordy -> Rick: So this is th
e King’s Watch’s newest recruits????? One cardboard cutout, one child and one flapper. Even the dog looks scared.

  Rick -> Vicky: You need to tell Conrad that Top Gun have been on the phone. He failed the audition. LOL. I’m guessing they’ve just seen Raven for the first time.

  Vicky -> Mina & Saff: I am going to treasure this. I laughed so much my lung hurt. BTW, is that a new uniform Saff????? Desi & Myvvy are gonna love it too.

  ‘Let me guess,’ said Mina. ‘You’re going outside. I shall join you.’

  15 — Daughters. Mothers, too.

  ‘And it worked?’ said Mina when I’d finished my story. ‘Alys really calmed down when she stroked Scout?’

  ‘Gave her something to worry about. Scout just absorbed the Lux like a free snack, I think.’

  ‘What was your plan B?

  ‘I gave my mundane SIG to Saffron and told her to be ready to shoot Alys if she kicked off.’

  Mina shifted her scarf. The shiny material kept sliding off her matching green tunic. ‘I weep sometimes, Conrad. Not for you, but for me. If I had not seen what I have seen and been through what I have been through, I would have been appalled by what you just said. The saddest thing is that I think it was a good idea. Are you sure Saffron would have done it?’

  ‘Saff has a very highly developed survival instinct, and she’s a Mage. If she’d seen a senior Witch about to combust in flight and kill everyone, she’d have had no hesitation. Her only question was whether the cabin was pressurised. Actually, that was plan D. Plan B was an emergency landing and Plan C was the other Daughters dealing with Alys.’