Blaze of Glory (37 page)

On the other side of Grainger Square, the Special
Services' Lattimer Hall was altogether fiercer. A fire in
a row of houses had provided the opportunity for a
purpose-built building to take up the entire block.
A squat concrete establishment, only two storeys, it
looked as if it could laugh off a cannon shot. Lattimer
Hall imposed itself on the surroundings the way
Darnleigh House didn't, which may have said something
about the way the two agencies thought of themselves.

By the time they were ushered through the well-guarded
entrance of Darnleigh House, Aubrey was
beginning to flag. He was pleased that this appeared to
be a healthy fatigue, not the soul-sapping exhaustion that
his condition usually brought about. But he couldn't
help feeling nervous as he passed into headquarters of the
Magisterium.

He glanced at George, who yawned, and Caroline,
who looked alert, taking in the surroundings. His
father had been dazed enough for Craddock to order a
wheelchair be brought for him. He nodded, eyes closed,
face pale.

'Craddock,' Aubrey said, and he yawned as well, 'we've
been up all night. Can the interrogation wait a while?'

Craddock raised an eyebrow. 'Interrogation?' He
studied Aubrey for a moment, then he gestured at the
nearest operative. 'Find recovery quarters for these
people. Take Sir Darius to the infirmary.'

Aubrey was feeling woolly-headed with tiredness by
the time he lay down in the small room he'd been shown
to. Sleep fell on him like an avalanche. It was hours before
he woke up.

When he did, he found that someone had taken off his
shoes and removed his Tommy Sparks clothes. He lay in
a very comfortable bed in a darkened room. Enough light
came through the gaps in the curtains to show him that
the room was well furnished, if a little old-fashioned for
his liking. He reached out and pulled back the drapes to
see Lattimer Hall frowning at him from across the square.
The thought of all the Special Services people inside
made him close the curtains again.

A serious young woman in the black uniform of the
Magisterium was sitting on a chair watching him. 'Would
you like something to eat?' she asked.

'Where's my father? Where's Caroline? George?'

She stood. 'Miss Hepworth is in the mess hall. I don't
know about the others.'

'What time is it?'

'Just after noon. I'll be outside when you're ready.'

She slipped out of the door. Aubrey used the small
washroom to bathe hastily. When he brushed his hair, the
reflection in the mirror looked tired, but not unnaturally
so. A pair of black trousers, a black shirt, tie and jacket
lay on the end of the bed. They were his size and he
dressed quickly.

The mess was a brightly lit room, long and narrow,
with no windows. Tables were lined up in rows, ten or
twelve chairs to a table. The surfaces – walls, linoleum
floor, tables – were utterly clean. It reminded Aubrey of
the dining hall at Stonelea School, without the smell of
boiled cabbage. Instead, this place had the upright and
cheery aromas of coffee, toast and boot polish.

Caroline was there. She was sipping a cup of tea,
holding it in both hands as if she were cold. She was
wearing the same uniform as Aubrey's escort. He thought
she made the jacket and trousers look remarkably striking.
Aubrey's escort took up position near the swinging
double doors and watched them with the ease of someone
who has watched many people and in much less
comfortable settings.

Caroline glanced at him without putting down her
cup. 'Where's George?'

'Probably sleeping, if I know him.'

She sipped her tea, a frown creasing her forehead, then
she looked up. 'What's
wrong
with you?'

Aubrey blinked.
Now that's a big question
, he thought.
'What do you mean?'

'You're looking healthy enough now, but over the last
few weeks I've seen you looking like a corpse, getting
better quickly, then deteriorating again.'

Aubrey shuddered. 'Not quite a corpse.'

'Well?' She put down her cup. 'What's going on? Why
was Dr Tremaine taunting you about your soul?'

A shutter rolled up and a round-faced woman leaned
out. 'You want something to eat, luv? We've got egg and
bacon pies, sandwiches, or a mixed grill.'

'Just tea, please.' He turned his attention back to
Caroline. How much could he tell her? How much
did he
want
to tell her? 'I have a condition,' he said,
finally.

She rolled her eyes. 'Well, that doesn't tell me much.
What sort of condition?'

He shrugged. 'It's unusual.'

'You're evading now, not babbling, and I'm still not
getting an answer.'

Aubrey chewed his lip and studied her. Her eyes were
green and probably the most arresting he'd seen.

He wavered. Perhaps he should tell her. It would be
good to have another confidante, someone he could share
his plight with. He was sure he'd benefit from her wit and
intelligence. But another part of him was reluctant to
show her how stupid he'd been. At least, to show her any
more
stupidity than she'd already seen.

He wanted her to be impressed by him, not to pity
him.

Aubrey was relieved when, at that moment, the round-faced
woman marched up to the table with a tray. 'Tea.

Some bread and butter, too. You didn't ask for it but I
guessed you'd be wanting it. There's milk and sugar, just
in case you need it.'

Caroline opened her mouth, but Aubrey was blessed
with another timely interruption.

Craddock opened the swinging doors. He wore a
travelling cape and broad-brimmed black hat. Aubrey's
escort, still by the doorway, stiffened and stood at attention,
but Craddock didn't acknowledge her. 'Fitzwilliam.
Miss Hepworth.' He didn't raise his voice, but it came
clearly across the mess hall. A neat trick, Aubrey decided.
'I'd like you to come with me.'

George appeared in the doorway, yawning, in fresh,
clean clothes. 'Not without me.' He waved to Aubrey and
Caroline. 'No chance of food, is there?'

C
RADDOCK LED THEM THROUGH THE WARREN OF
D
ARNLEIGH
House. After going down six flights of stairs, Aubrey
began to wonder at the extent of the place. It seemed
as if much more was underground than above street
level.

They walked along corridor after corridor of closed
doors. Aubrey decided that if he was ever taken by a
foreign power and asked for the secrets of Darnleigh
House, all he could tell them was that the Magisterium
kept thousands of door-makers in work.

Strange noises and smells came from several rooms –
mechanical chattering, organic whining, the smell of the
sea. Aubrey's curiosity was jumping and his magical
awareness constantly prickled, but he didn't think it wise
to stop and ask.

At the end of one long corridor – ceiling, walls and
floor completely tiled in green – Craddock opened a
door. He stood back and motioned. 'Inside.'

Aubrey entered first and stepped into a hospital ward.

It had sunny yellow walls, and two rows of beds, with
severe hospital chairs between the beds. Only one bed
had an occupant. 'Father,' Aubrey said.

Sir Darius looked up, smiled and extended his hand.
'Aubrey. Can you get me out of this place? I've spoken to
your mother and she insists I come home. There's much
to be done.'

Aubrey smiled at his father's impatience. 'I'll try.'

'Good man.' Sir Darius saw Aubrey's companions.
'George, you've been keeping Aubrey out of trouble,
I hope?'

'Impossible, sir. I'm doing my best just to make sure he
doesn't bring about the end of civilisation.'

'True, George, and we thank you for it,' Sir Darius said.
'I don't think the Magisterium and the Special Services
combined could keep Aubrey out of trouble.'

'Sir.'

'Miss Hepworth.' He turned and glared at his son.
Aubrey didn't mind. 'I hope my son hasn't been imposing
himself on you any more?'

'No, sir. He's been helpful.'

'Good, good.' Sir Darius looked unconvinced. 'I'm sure
there's a story behind all this. I'd like to hear it soon,
Aubrey.'

'Yes, sir.'

Craddock came to the bed. Sir Darius nodded at him.
'Craddock.'

'Sir Darius, I'm glad to see you're well.'

'I'm fully recovered.'

'I'm sure you are. We'll just have to wait for the
doctor to confirm that.'

Sir Darius nodded. 'Craddock, thank you for your help
in all this. You're doing a fine job.'

'It's what I aim for. Now, you should rest.'

Aubrey watched this exchange with interest. Had he
detected an easing of tension between the two men?
Years of distrust weren't broken down in an instant, but
were there the beginnings here?

Sir Darius harrumphed. 'I have an election to win.' He
eyed Craddock. 'No sign of Tremaine?'

'No. He's disappeared entirely.'

'I see,' Sir Darius said.

'You may not have been in any condition to hear last
night, but the Special Services has rounded up the Army
of New Albion.'

Aubrey let out a long, relieved breath.

Sir Darius glanced at his son then stroked his moustache.'
Why?'

'They were going to blow up the King and the PM
during the King's birthday procession.'

'A week before the election?' Sir Darius looked thoughtful.'
That would have thrown a cat among the pigeons.'

'After the conspirators were all arrested,' Craddock
continued, 'Tallis's people found the explosives they'd
fitted under the Old Bridge, near Parliament House.'

'They were serious,' Sir Darius muttered. 'The King
and the PM at once.'

'Yes,' Craddock said. 'Amateurs in some ways, but
deadly serious. If they hadn't been unmasked, the King
would have died.' He looked at Sir Darius. 'And the
Prime Minister.'

Sir Darius glanced at Aubrey. 'Before Tremaine fled,
his hold on me weakened somewhat. I managed to hear
about his being behind the Army of New Albion. And his
plans for the Ritual of the Way.'

'Indeed,' Craddock said. 'We have a formidable foe out
there.'

Aubrey's curiosity got the better of him. 'But why did
he kidnap you?' he asked his father. 'How did that help
his plans?'

Sir Darius grimaced and looked uncomfortable. 'I may
have forced his hand a little there. A New Albion hanger-on
contacted me about supporting them. I made a few
enquiries and what I heard made me very nervous, even
though a plot to kill the King was never mentioned. I was
on my way to see you, Craddock, to put all this on the
table, when Tremaine abducted me.'

'He couldn't just kill you, of course,' Craddock noted,
'because he wanted you to lead the next government.
The government which would oppose Holmland aggression
most strongly.'

'Quite. Although if he thinks I'm as straightforward as
that, he's underestimating me,' Sir Darius said. He raised
an eyebrow. 'And what about the Holmlanders? I know
they were mixed up with the Army of New Albion.'

'Von Stralick,' Craddock agreed. 'We're still determining
his full level of involvement, but we're sure he was the
one who lured the Army of New Albion into our trap at
the Greythorn Society for Non-magical Fitness.'

George waved his hand, interrupting. 'That's right. Von
Stralick told us he thought it was a good chance to get
rid of them.'

'Indeed. Well, we thought we were about to capture
von Stralick's spy ring, but he managed to out-manoeuvre
us.'

'Ah. He wanted you to arrest the New Albionites. He
saw them as a loose cannon, no doubt, liable to disrupt
Holmland's own plans.' Sir Darius frowned.

'Von Stralick was remarkably forthcoming when he
telephoned the Special Services. Said he was in need of a
good rest and he was going back to Holmland. Before
he hung up, he told Tallis to thank someone he called
"young Fitzwilliam" for doing him a great favour.'
Craddock studied Aubrey and waited for his response.

'A favour?' Aubrey said. 'Well, we did run into von
Stralick, and he was injured. I suppose I patched him up –'

'He nearly died,' Caroline put in. 'Without Aubrey, he
would have.'

'I see,' Craddock said, and Aubrey knew the head of the
Magisterium was filing this away for later consideration.
'Sir Darius, I think it fair to tell you that the Magisterium
has had its eye on your son since the failed attempt on
Prince Albert's life. He has shown a penchant for
becoming involved in dangerous matters.'

'I'm aware of that, Craddock,' Sir Darius said. 'He
causes me no end of worry, even though he usually
contrives to fall on his feet.'

Craddock nodded. 'Resourceful chap. He managed to
get to you well before we did, and he held off Tremaine.
Who knows what Tremaine would have done to you,
given more time? It may have been another long-term
plot of his.' Craddock looked at Aubrey. 'Remarkable lad
you have here, Sir Darius.'