Faerie Wars 02 - The Purple Emperor

by Brennan, Herbie

  Apatura Iris. (FOL) Father of Prince Pyrgus, Prince Comma and Princess Blue. Purple Emperor for more than twenty years.

  Asloght. The major prison of the Faerie Realm.

  Athame . Witch's dagger.

  Atherton, Aisling. (HMN) Henry Atherton's younger sister and pain in the ass.

  Atherton, Henry. (HMN) A young teenage boy living in England's Home Counties who first made contact with the Faerie Realm when he rescued the faerie prince, Pyrgus Malvae, from a cat. Henry has a portal control, made by his old (i.e. ancient) friend, Mr Fogarty, which allows him to visit the Realm at will.

  Atherton, Martha. (HMN) Headmistress of a girls' school in the south of England. Wife of Tim Atherton, mother of Henry and Aisling.

  Atherton, Tim. (HMN) Successful business executive. Husband of Martha Atherton, father of Henry and Aisling.

  Beleth (a.k.a. the Infernal Prince; the Prince of Darkness).

  Prince of Hael, an alternative dimension of reality inhabited by demons.

  Blue, Princess Holly. (FOL) Younger sister of Prince Pyrgus Malvae and daughter of Purple Emperor Apatura Iris. Blue runs her own private espionage service and keeps an illegal psychotronic spider that enables her to carry out certain difficult spying activities.

  Brimstone, Silas. (FON) Elderly demonologist and former glue factory owner.

  Bubble wand . Magical wand designed to produce a stream of coloured bubbles. Very popular at weddings and similar occasions.

  Cardui, Madame Cynthia (a.k.a. the Painted Lady). (FOL ) An elderly eccentric whose extensive contacts have made her one of Princess Blue's most valued agents.

  Chalkhill, Jasper . (FON) Business partner of Silas Brimstone and, secretly, former head of Lord Hairstreak's intelligence service.

  Cleopatra . Queen of the Feral Faerie.

  Clutterbuck. An Orange Trinian hired by Chalkhill during his imprisonment.

  Comma, Prince. (FOL/FON) Half-brother of Prince Pyrgus and Princess Blue. (Same father, different mothers.)

  Cossus Cossus. (FON) Lord Hairstreak's Gatekeeper.

  Demon . Form frequently taken by the shape-shifting alien species inhabiting the Hael Realm when in contact with faeries or humans.

  Dingy, Harold. (FON) Bodyguard and general dogsbody of Lord Hairstreak.

  Endolg. An intelligent animal that looks much like a woolly rug. Endolgs have a unique ability to sense truth which makes them popular companions in the Faerie Realm.

  Faerie of the Light (Lighter). One of the two main faerie types, culturally averse to the use of demons in any circumstances and usually members of the Church of Light.

  Faerie of the Night (Nighter). One of the two main faerie types, physically distinguished from Faeries of the Light by light-sensitive cat-like eyes. Make use of demonic servants.

  Faerie Realm . A parallel aspect of reality inhabited by various alien species, including Faeries of the Light and Faeries of the Night.

  Feral Faerie . A wild, nomadic faerie people who live and hunt in the depths of the great primeval forest that covers much of the Faerie Realm. The Feral Faerie are not known to hold allegiance to either the Faeries of the Light or the Faeries of the Night.

  Fogarty, Alan . (HMN) Paranoid ex-physicist and bank robber with an extraordinary talent for engineering gadgets. Fogarty was made Gatekeeper of House Iris in recognition of the help he gave to Prince Pyrgus, even though it was Fogarty's cat which nearly ate Prince Pyrgus in the first place.

  Forest Faerie . The way you refer to a Feral Faerie if you don't want to give offence.

  Gatekeeper. Ancient title used to describe the chief advisor of a Noble House.

  Glaistig . Semi-feral intelligent bipedal blood-feeder, thinner and slightly shorter than the average male faerie. Wild Glaistigs are reputed to kill travellers and drain them of their blood.

  Gnoma, Pheosia . (FON) A freelance necromancer.

  Golem. A clay figure brought to life by magic.

  Gonepterix . Consort of Cleopatra.

  Graminis. (FON) Widow Mormo's brother.

  Grimoire. Black book of sorcery.

  Hael . Polite name for Hell.

  Hairstreak, Lord Black. (FON) Noble head of House Hairstreak and leader of the Faeries of the Night.

  Halek knife (or blade). A rock-crystal weapon which releases magical energies to kill anything it pierces. Halek knives are prone to shattering occasionally, in which event the energies will kill the person using them.

  Halek wizard. Non-human, non-faerie. Reputedly the most skilful of the magical practitioners in the Faerie Realm. Halek wizards typically specialise in weapons technology.

  Haleklind. Homeland of the Halek wizards.

  Haniel. Winged lion inhabiting forest areas of the Faerie Realm.

  Hodge. Mr Fogarty's tomcat.

  House Iris. The Royal House of the Faerie Empire.

  Kitterick. An Orange Trinian in the service of Madame Cardui.

  Malvae, Crown Prince Pyrgus. (FOL) Teenage heir to the throne of the Purple Emperor. Pyrgus likes animals a lot more than politics and at one time actually ran away from home to live as a commoner because of disagreements with his father.

  Mormo, Widow Maura. (FON) Brimstone's temporary landlady and even more temporary wife.

  Ouklo. Levitating, spell-driven carriage.

  Peacock. Chief Portal Engineer of House Iris.

  Portal. Inter-dimensional energy gateway, either naturally occurring, modified or engineered.

  Psychotronics. An obscure branch of Earth Realm science which studies the interaction of the human mind with physical reality. The practical application of psychotronics seems indistinguishable from some forms of Faerie Realm magic.

  Purple Emperor. Ruler of the Faerie Empire.

  Quercusia. (FON) Comma's mother and Apatura Iris's second wife.

  Seething Lane. Former site of the Chalkhill and Brimstone Miracle Glue Factory.

  Severs, Charlotte (Charlie). (HMN) Henry Atherton's closest friend in the Earth Realm.

  Silk Mistress. (FOL) Member of a (exclusively female) Guild trained in the control of spinners and the making of spinner silk into expensive and much-sought-after fashion items.

  Simbala. An addictive form of music sold legally in licensed outlets and illegally elsewhere.

  Sinderack. A savoury with a naturally smoky flavour, particularly popular among city-dwelling faeries.

  Slith. Dangerous grey reptile inhabiting forest areas of the Faerie Realm. Sliths secrete a highly toxic acid which they can spit across considerable distances.

  Spell cone. Pocket-sized cones, no more than an inch or so in height, imbued with magical energies directed towards a specific result. The old-style cone had to be lit. The more modern version is self-igniting and is 'cracked' with a fingernail. Both types discharge like fireworks.

  Spinner. Giant spider used to manufacture a special silk much prized in the faerie fashion industry.

  Steen. Small, easily concealed faerie military field weapon that generates a localised volcanic eruption at point of aim. Not recommened in enclosed spaces because of the danger to the user.

  Trinian. Non-human, non-faerie dwarfen race living in the Faerie Realm. Orange Trinians are a breed that dedicate themselves to service, Violet Trinians tend to be warriors while Green Trinians specialise in biological nanotech-nology and consequently can create living machines.

  Vimana. Sanskrit, Faerie Realm and Hael name for a flying saucer.

  Wildmoor Broads. A flat area of thorny shrubland north of the faerie capital much favoured by the wealthy of the Realm for their estates, since the difficulties of travelling through the area go a long way towards ensuring their privacy. The only really viable means of transport is by levitating carriage. Ground transport is attacked by prickleweed, a semi-sentient plant that will typically swarm over any vehicle and bring it to a halt in minutes. Crossing the area on foot is impossible - the prickleweed paralyses pedestrians, then rips them apart for their nutrients.

  Yammeth Cretch.
Heartland of the Faeries of the Night.

  READ ON FOR A SNEAK PEEK.AT

  RULER OF THE REALM

  THE NEXT THRILLING. SAGA OF MAGIC AND MAYHEM IN

  The Spice master's labyrinth was laid out on the floor of a cellar underneath the shop. Blue was surprised by its size. She'd imagined something larger. But she supposed he knew what he was doing. Madame Cardui said he'd been practising - largely in secret - for two generations.

  Blue looked around the chamber. The labyrinth spiral was picked out in small rock-crystal chunks. At the entrance there was a brass incense burner on a tripod. Beside it was a low table with a burnished copper bowl and two glass vials, one containing spice, the other a clear liquid. Near the table was one of those old-fashioned backless chairs with a leather seat. To one side there was a cupboard or possibly a wardrobe: it was difficult to tell. That was all, except for the glowglobes fixed to the rafters in the ceiling. They looked fly-blown and dim.

  'What do you want me to do?' she asked.

  Memnon was in the process of locking the door. He seemed even more upset now. 'Majesty, are you sure you wish no one else present? Perhaps a trusted guard ...?'

  'No one,' Blue said firmly. It wasn't so much the fact she was here - what she planned wasn't illegal - as the possibility that her questions, and their answers, should reach the ears of ... well ... anybody. She would make State secrets in this chamber. As he turned away from the door, she asked, 'What danger is there? To me, I mean.'

  Spicemaster Memnon looked positively distraught. 'I may try to kill you, Majesty.'

  Blue glanced at the little old man and suppressed a smile. He hardly looked strong enough to swat a fly, let alone do her harm. But she appreciated both his concern and his loyalty, so she said soberly, 'Spicemaster, I take full responsibility for anything that happens. If you try to harm me, you will be absolved from criminal proceedings, charges of treason, anything of that sort.' The look on his face told her he was far from reassured, so she added kindly, 'Why don't you tell me exactly what takes place, so I can be prepared.' She smiled. 'Defend myself. If the need arises.'

  Memnon sighed. 'The ceremony is very simple, Majesty. When I am cloaked, I swallow the spice and enter the labyrinth. By the time I reach the centre, the spice will have begun to take effect. When the god manifests, you may enter the labyrinth yourself to ask your questions.'

  'And when am I likely to be in danger?'

  'When the god manifests.'

  Well, that was straightforward enough. But the god would manifest in the Spicemaster, using his body, so it wouldn't exactly be an attack by a raging bull. If it happened at all.

  To distract him, she asked, 'How do you want me to help you in the ceremony?'

  'Majesty, I shall need your assistance to cloak.

  Beyond that, I would require you to play a drumbeat as I enter the labyrinth.'

  And that seemed straightforward as well. She held his coat for him and played a drum. Not that you'd think he needed assistance for any of that, but even simple ceremonies had their formalities.

  A thought struck her and she said, 'I've never played a drum.'

  'It's no more than a heartbeat,' said the Spicemaster obscurely. He looked distracted. 'Majesty, are you certain -?'

  Blue said yes and watched his resolve finally collapse. He didn't want to, but he was going to do it.

  He said quietly, 'Take this, Majesty.'

  For an instant she didn't realise what was happening, then saw he was holding out a small transparent packet of orange-yellow spice, little larger than a coin.

  'What's this?' she asked as her hand closed around it.

  'Mutated spikenard - it may offer you some protection.' He lowered his eyes. 'Shall we begin, Majesty?'

  The cupboard turned out to be a wardrobe, and the cloak hanging in it was magnificent. It was a full, floor-length garment, made from the feathers of some exotic bird that would have put a peacock to shame. Even under the dim glowglobes, the colours danced and shimmered. A cloak worthy of a god, she thought, and wondered how the twisted old Spicemaster would look wearing it.

  But it was a small, rather battered, wooden hand-drum he took from the wardrobe. 'Dragonskin,' he murmured as he passed it to her.

  Blue glanced down at the worn green surface. 'Did you say dragonskin?'

  'A small piece only, Majesty. The beast was in no way harmed when it was taken.'

  Blue continued to stare at the drum. She couldn't imagine how you extracted a piece of skin from a dragon without harming it ... or getting yourself devoured, come to that. Perhaps he was lying. Dragons had been protected for years and the penalties for killing one were severe. But she had other things on her mind at the moment. She looked up at the Spicemaster.

  'What do I do with this?'

  'If Your Majesty would care to sit on the chair and -' he managed to look concerned, nervous and embarrassed all at the same time, '- place the drum between Your Majesty's knees ...' Blue did so without fuss, pushing down her skirt to make a lap. 'Now, Your Majesty, tap the drum gently: one-two.'

  Blue tapped the drum with the tips of her fingers. For such a small instrument, it made an astonishingly loud, resonant note. She looked up at the Spicemaster.

  'Gently, Majesty,' he emphasised. 'Let the dragon-skin do the work.'

  She tapped it again, more gently this time. The note still sounded loudly, but the Spicemaster appeared satisfied.

  'Now,' he said, 'one-two, like the beat of a human heart.'

  Blue reached out to stroke the dragonskin. It looked smooth, but there was a coating of very fine green hair beneath her fingers. Tap-boom. She looked up at the Spicemaster. Tap-boom.

  'Perfect!' he said. 'Like that. Exactly like that and at that speed until I reach the centre of the spiral. Then slower and more softly. Do you understand?' He blinked and added, 'Majesty.'

  Blue nodded.

  'Now, Majesty,' said the Spicemaster, 'if you will leave the drum on your chair for a moment and help me with the cloak ...'

  She was completely unprepared for the cloak. Although bulky, it was made from feathers so she expected it to be light, but the moment she tried to take it from the hanger, it writhed and twisted like a live thing and proved so heavy she needed all her strength to hold it. Glory only knows how the Spicemaster was going to manage.

  'Fight it!' he commanded urgently. 'There's no real danger, but it will try to strangle you!'

  How could there be no real danger if something was trying to strangle you? And why hadn't this silly little man mentioned the damn cloak if he was so concerned with her safety? But she fought the struggling garment gamely.

  'My shoulders!' shouted the Spicemaster. 'Put it on my shoulders! It will quiet down once it gets hold of me!'

  If I put it on his shoulders it will crush him to the ground, Blue thought. The thing felt as if it weighed a ton. But he was wriggling into position and the cloak was now so violent it almost wrenched itself out of her hands. Suddenly it was across his shoulders. The Spicemaster staggered a little, his knees buckled, but he managed to hold himself erect. The cloak, as predicted, settled down at once.

  'Thank you, Majesty,' he said.

  Blue sat on the leather seat, one hand absently caressing the dragonskin. It was almost like stroking a cat. The skin vibrated gently as if purring. But her eyes were on the Spicemaster, now at the entrance of the labyrinth. He looked magnificent in the cloak, far more magnificent than a man of his height deserved. The garment had changed him, lending him huge authority and presence. For the first time she found herself wondering if it might not, after all, have been a good idea to bring a guard with her. But she pushed the thought aside. Whatever the illusion of bulk, he was still the same frail little man underneath. She was perfectly safe.

  He poured the contents of the liquid vial - was it water? - into the copper bowl, then unstoppered the second vial. At once a heady scent of nutmeg filled the air. Yet the spice wasn't nutmeg: she knew that instantly. There were citrus
undertones and a heavy hint of musk that carried with it a curious note of corruption. The Spicemaster emptied the vial into the liquid and mixed the two together with a spatula. He glanced back at Blue.

  'Drumbeat, please, Majesty.'

  Blue jumped slightly, then tapped the drum. In one quick movement, the Spicemaster drank down the mixture in his bowl and stepped into the labyrinth.

  If he'd been prepared to admit it, Pyrgus was afraid.