They were in the place they always used to meet as children, the little conservatory behind the throne room where their father kept his orchids. The smell of magic almost overpowered the scent of flowers: nowhere in the entire Palace was more private, more secure.
‘She used a transport,’ Blue said angrily. ‘She just sent him off and she doesn’t know where or how far or anything! He could be anywhere – anywhere! He could be on the other side of the world. He could be eaten by a haniel. She won’t tell me why. I’ve demanded an explanation and she won’t tell me why. She just did it, right there and then in front of me. I couldn’t believe it. Why. Pyrgus? Why? Do you think she’s getting senile?’ It was a serious question. Madame Cardui was very old now. She’d always had a mind like a razor, but at her age she might be losing it. A sudden thought occurred to Blue. Perhaps the Gatekeeper’s death had unhinged her.
Pyrgus said, ‘What have you done with her?’
Blue stared at him, then said reluctantly, ‘Put her in detention.’ She couldn’t believe she’d done that either. Madame Cardui was her most trusted friend and advisor, head of the Imperial Secret Service. But this was Henry they were talking about. Using a transport like that was nearly the equivalent of murder. How many people ever found their way back?
‘I see,’ Pyrgus said. He turned away from her and began fiddling with one of the orchids.
There was something about the place, or the way he looked and acted like their father, that calmed Blue down. Or at least allowed her anger to ebb a little so that she began to think more clearly. ‘Pyrgus, what are you doing here?’
‘I told you, Blue. I’m here for Henry.’
‘I know what you told me – it didn’t make sense. You know something about this business, don’t you?’
‘What business?’
‘Stop it, Pyrgus!’ Blue said sharply. ‘You know why Madame Cardui transported him, don’t you?’
Without turning round, Pyrgus said, ‘Yes.’
‘That’s why you kept saying I know. I thought you were just trying to be irritating or sympathetic or something.’
Pyrgus nodded. ‘Yes.’
Blue waited. When he said nothing more, she exploded. ‘Well, what? What’s happening?’
‘I can’t tell you,’ Pyrgus said softly. He sounded genuinely regretful.
There was a knock on the door, muffled by the privacy spells. ‘Oh Light!’ Blue exclaimed, exasperated. She stomped to the door and threw it open. ‘What? What? Didn’t I say explicitly we weren’t -’
Chief Wizard Engineer Peacock was standing on the doorstep, ‘I’m sorry, Ma’am. They said I was to come immediately.’
Blue caught the sleeve of his robe and pulled him inside. She slammed the door, ‘Is it possible to trace a transport?’ she demanded. ‘Not a portal – a transport spell?’
The Chief Engineer frowned. ‘Well…’
‘It’s the same technology, isn’t it?’
Peacock looked at her uncomfortably. ‘Essentially, Your Majesty. But not exactly.’
Blue glared at him. ‘Well, can you? Can you find out where the spell has sent somebody? Even roughly?’
‘I would need to know where the spell was applied -’
‘In the kitchens,’ Blue said impatiently, ‘In the Palace kitchens.’
‘And I would need the casing of the spell cone.’
‘The burnt-out cone?’ What had Madame Cardui done with the spent cone? When it happened, the little shell was the last thing on Blue’s mind. Probably just dropped it. But she could order a search of the kitchens. And have Madame Cardui searched as well.
Peacock was still frowning. ‘It’s sometimes possible to analyse the residues. But…’
‘But?’ Blue asked.
‘But only sometimes, Majesty.’
‘But sometimes you can and they will tell you where the spell sent the person?’
‘Sometimes, Majesty.’
She caught his expression and asked, ‘What? What is it, Chief Engineer?’
Peacock shrugged helplessly. ‘Majesty, a full analysis takes months.’
When the Chief Engineer left, Blue rounded on Pyrgus again. ‘You won’t tell me what’s going on?’
‘I didn’t say that.’ Pyrgus shook his head, ‘I said I can’t tell you. It’s not the same thing.’
‘ Why can’t you tell me?’
‘I can’t tell you that either.’ Pyrgus seemed genuinely uncomfortable. He stopped fiddling with the flowers to come across and take her by both hands. ‘Look, Blue, I would if I could – you know that. I know what Henry means to you. He means a lot to me too. I certainly wouldn’t be risking another fever bout if he didn’t. But I can’t tell you what it’s all about – not yet, at any rate. What I can tell you is that we’re going to do everything we can to make sure Henry is all right.’
Blue glanced at him sharply. ‘We? Who’s we?’
‘Well… me,’ Pyrgus said. ‘Or me and Nymph. Although she – ’ He stopped, as if he’d been about to say too much and said instead, ‘Look, Blue, I can tell you this – I can promise you this: I’m going to go off and look for Henry. Now. I’m going to go off and look for him now, without any delay. I have…’ He hesitated. He knew Blue was going to forbid it, lecture him on the dangers of staying in the Realm while he was carrying the time plague.
Blue said, ‘You have an idea where he might be.’ It was as much a statement as a question.
Pyrgus glanced away, glanced back. ‘Yes.’
‘I’m coming with you,’ Blue said firmly.