All the Watchers were waiting anxiously in the red carpeted corridor of Buckingham Palace. Only Carter seemed relaxed. This was all very new for Ben. He hadn’t even been in a room with carpet before.

In the two weeks that followed Revolution Day, peace and order had gradually been restored to London, although it would take months, if not years, to repair the damage that the Legion had wreaked. And there were other, deeper scars which might never heal. The courts had been kept busy sentencing the Legionnaires who had been rounded up, and yet Ben didn’t imagine for one moment that it was the end of the Legion. If the last few months of his life had taught him anything, it was to keep his guard up. However, he took comfort when Josiah confirmed that the power of the Hand had sealed the pit more permanently than any key ever could. And the Smutts family had all been found, thank goodness. But other questions remained. How many Legionnaires had gone into hiding? Had all the Feathered Men been dispatched?

“Of course,” said Carter casually. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been entertained by royalty. There’s a tribe of pygmies in Papua New Guinea—”

“Shhhh!” said Moon. “We’d better shut up and look lively, the Lord Chamberlain’s coming.”

“I don’t hear anything,” said Carter.

The door opened and the Lord Chamberlain stood there, resplendent in his official finery.

“His wig makes a deafening rustle,” said Moon in a stage whisper as the Watchers were ushered into the royal presence.

Seated on her throne before them was Her Imperial Majesty, The Queen Empress, Victoria. Ben felt his knees tremble as they approached down the long chamber and his hand grabbed hold of Lucy’s. They stood in awestruck silence: Jonas and Nathaniel Kingdom, Alexander Valentine, Hans Schulman, Jago Moon, Professor James “Claw” Carter, Ghost, Lucy Lambert.

And Ben.

“It seems that we are deeply indebted to you,” said the Queen. “Both our nation and I have cause to thank and honour your bravery and devotion…”

This is it, thought Ben. I’m gonna get knighted.

“For this reason, we have thought long and hard about how we might best recognize your gallant efforts…”

I’m gonna be bloomin’ rich at the very least.

“You have our eternal gratitude and I wish to bestow upon you a gift. Lord Chamberlain, if you please.”

The Lord Chamberlain bowed from the waist and then the Watchers retreated backwards out of Her Majesty’s presence, as instructed.

“What’s that all about?” whispered Ben.

“This way,” said the Lord Chamberlain. “Follow me.”

Five minutes later, the Watchers were standing on the roof of Buckingham Palace. Two figures were waiting for them there.

Josiah, the Weeping Man, standing strong again. His eyes were half shut in appreciation of the sunshine on his face and wind on his wings, and the stumps through his black coat showed the first feathery down of new growth.

And by his side, a girl with bright emerald eyes and chestnut hair cut like a boy’s.

“Josiah said that you might be recruiting,” said Ruby.

Ben grinned. “Ain’t life grand.”

There was more to be said between Ben and Ruby; between them all. They had survived a war and changed irrevocably. London was spread out before them. It too would never be the same.

The purring of an engine began to rise from behind them in the palace gardens, and Ben felt his excitement mount. It couldn’t be…?

“Her Majesty felt that this was the best way in which she could repay your services,” said the Lord Chamberlain, having to raise his voice as the Liberator Mark II rose into view.

“I take back what I said about her being ungrateful,” muttered Moon.

The new airship was magnificent. Half as long again as the original Liberator and improved in every way. Ben’s eyes grew wide. With its bowsprit extending from the prow at the front of the ship and raised poop deck at the rear, the new Liberator looked as if it belonged in the Royal Navy. The polished handrails gleamed and the row of harpoons which emerged from the gun deck looked ready to take on any Feathered Man. Most glorious of all, in Ben’s opinion, was the Watcher symbol emblazoned in brass on the ship’s side.

“She’s beautiful,” Lucy gasped.

“She’s not the only one,” said Ben, smiling at her. “Come on,” he said, repositioning his billycock and running across the roof to the gangplank, which a British Naval Officer had extended over the side.

“The ship comes with Her Majesty’s blessing, but not with the crew,” the Lord Chamberlain added.

The sailors trooped off and the Watchers climbed happily aboard. Jonas took his customary position at the helm and they soared up into the clouds, high above battle-scarred London. Nathaniel stood proudly alongside his pa. Lucy joined them, the wind toying with her summer-gold hair. Valentine and Ruby stood a little apart.

Carter, Ghost and Moon went to examine the gun emplacements.

Ben went to the prow and climbed out onto the bowsprit.

They soared over the city. Ben held out both his arms like wings and relished the feel of the clean, fresh air rushing around him, almost as if it were washing away the last stains of his war against the Legion.

The sky was blue, for the first time in what felt like years, and far below the Liberator Ben could see signs of new life. Rubble being cleared, new houses being built… The city was so much a part of him and Ben delighted in seeing it from this bird’s-eye view. Through his Watcher goggles he could see Big Ben. He could see the docks. He could see Old Gravel Lane. It was exhilarating and he wished that he could stay here among the clouds and never come down.

Josiah came to stand beside Ben.

“So,” said Ben. “Job done.”

Josiah smiled, although there was a tear forming in his eye.

“Evil never sleeps, Ben. You know the Watchers cannot rest either.”

“Is there more trouble brewing?”

“We are needed in the East,” said Josiah.

Ben brought his telescope up. “Whereabouts?” he said. “Is the Legion making a last stand on the Ratcliffe Highway?”

Josiah shook his head.

“Blackwall?”

“Quite a lot further east,” said Josiah.

“Where?”

“India.”

Lucy and Carter had moved a little closer and both pricked up their ears.

“That’s a long way,” said Ben. “Isn’t it?”

“The other side of the world.”

“Here we go again,” said Ben Kingdom, a broad grin on his face as he adjusted his billycock. “Hang on to your hats!”