CHAPTER FOUR

In which Puck explains what is going on and reveals troubling news about the Invisible Order.

Emily, Jack, William, and Corrigan were seated around a table eating bowls of soup that Katerina had brought to them before disappearing into another room to talk to Puck. It was turnip soup. Emily hated turnip soup, but she was so hungry she forced herself to swallow every last mouthful. One of the things she had learned over the last few years was that when you were given food, you ate it, because there was no telling when the next meal would turn up.

They were all finishing up when Katarina and Puck reentered the room. As he walked toward them, Emily couldn’t take her eyes off his shadow. Or rather, shadows. She counted at least ten, all of them attached to Puck. They danced around the chamber and darted across walls, constantly moving and shifting under their own guidance. But whenever Puck stopped moving, the shadows paused to see what he was doing. If it seemed remotely interesting, the shadows darted back to their proper place, joining together to form a single shadow as would be cast by any normal human being.

It was as if they were separate, self-aware beings who were listening to and watching everything that was going on.

Puck sat down and drummed his fingers on the wood.

“Katerina tells me you may have saved my soldiers,” he said, a frown marring his young face. He surveyed them with large, green eyes. “That’s the only reason you aren’t dead already. To be honest, I’m still not sure if I shouldn’t just kill you all now. You, boy,” said Puck, turning to William, “what do you think I should do?”

Will blinked in surprise. “Uh … definitely not kill us.”

“Mmm,” said Puck thoughtfully. “Maybe I should just kill the piskie, then?” he said hopefully. “Save you lot for later.”

Emily leaned forward. “You won’t kill any of us. We helped you.”

“So you say. Could be a trick, though.” Puck cocked his head, looking for all the world as if he were listening to someone speak. For some reason, Emily found her eyes drawn once again to Puck’s shadows. After a moment, Puck nodded, muttered something beneath his breath, cracked a grin, then turned serious again, all in the space of two seconds. “The piskie could be a spy. You could all be spies. Sent here to destroy my army. Take me down from the inside.”

“Spies for who?” snapped Jack. “If you’re going to sit there accusing us of spying, at least tell us what’s going on.”

Puck opened his mouth, then paused and turned his head to listen once again. “Think you …?” he muttered. “Could still be a trick.” He listened again, then slapped his hands angrily on the table. “Well, fine then!” he shouted. “Have it your way!” The boy folded his arms and stared sullenly at the table.

“Well?” prompted Emily.

“Well what?” he snapped.

“What’s going on? We helped Katerina. It’s only fair you give us an explanation.”

“Oh, it’s only fair, is it?” asked Puck sarcastically. “Well, if you put it that way, then I suppose I have to tell you, don’t I? Don’t want to be seen as unfair, do we? No. Not at all.”

Katerina sat down next to Puck and laid a hand on his arm. “They did help us,” she said softly. “I’d be lying in that lane with the midnight rider’s lance through my back if it wasn’t for her.” She nodded at Emily.

“Then you talk to them,” said Puck. “Because I’m not sure I like them. Especially him.” Puck nodded at Jack. “Looks a bit shifty, that one.”

Katerina sighed. She patted Puck’s arm, then turned to face the others. “Ask, then. I’ll try to answer your questions.”

“What’s going on?” asked Emily immediately. “Why are you fighting the fey? Why are Black Annis and the others after you?”

“The first question to answer,” interrupted Corrigan, “is who rules the fey. There were a lot of changes going on now. Changes for the worst.”

“Were a lot of changes?” said Puck. “You speak like it’s all over. Believe me, things are just getting started.”

“To answer your question,” said Katerina, “Titania is the Faerie Queen. She and Oberon rule over the fey.”

Emily turned to Corrigan in confusion. “Titania? But isn’t the Queen’s name—?”

Corrigan held up a hand to cut her off. He leaned toward Puck. “Who are you fighting?” he asked. “Not Titania, surely. You’re Oberon’s Puck. And Oberon was always loyal to Titania.”

“I’m my own Puck,” said Puck, offended. “But no, we’re not fighting them. There are others …” He sighed. “Things are difficult at the moment. Rebellion in the ranks. Some of the fey think that Titania and Oberon have grown too soft, that they have too much fondness for the humans. They want the King and Queen deposed.”

“Who leads these rebels?”

“A fey called Kelindria,” said Katerina. “At least that’s what everyone is saying. That she fancies herself as the next Queen. And she has support.”

“Black Annis,” said Emily.

“And the Morrigan.” Katerina shivered. “She’s a bad piece of work, that one.”

“She defeated Baba Yaga, you know,” said Puck. “Over in Europe. Baba Yaga ruled over the Winter fey. They called her the Bone Mother. But then the Morrigan stepped right in and killed her. Those knights used to be Baba Yaga’s protectors, but now they’re loyal to the Morrigan.”

“And that means they’re loyal to Kelindria?” asked Emily. Puck nodded. “The split goes right down the center of our people. Titania can’t do anything outright, because a lot of fey are wondering whether Kelindria doesn’t have a point. If Titania arrests Kelindria, some will think she felt threatened. It will give Kelindria’s cause strength, turn her into a martyr.”

“And while Titania dithers, Kelindria grows stronger,” said Katerina. “She’s gathering her forces together. There will be a war soon, and I don’t think Titania can stop it.”

“And that’s what you’re doing?” Corrigan said to Puck, jerking his head in Katerina’s direction. “Building your own army? You gave them all the Sight, I suppose?”

“Aye,” Puck said, a note of defensiveness creeping into his voice. “What of it?”

“They’re just children.”

“Hah! Shows what you know,” said Puck. “They’re hard as nails. Tough. Besides, who else is there? I don’t trust adults. Treacherous, they are. I’m fighting the war Titania can’t. Understand? If it can’t be traced back to her, then no one can accuse her of being scared of Kelindria.”

“Are you under her orders?” asked Corrigan.

“No. I’m doing this of my own will. No one else has the courage to act. They’re too scared to make a move in case it’s the spark that ignites the inferno.”

“And you don’t have that fear?”

Puck shrugged. “What happens, happens. All you can do is make the most of the situation and try and turn it to your advantage.”

“What about the Invisible Order?” asked Emily. “Why aren’t they fighting?”

Puck’s shadow suddenly split into ten separate shadows again, fanning out along the wall behind him and leaning toward Emily. “What do you know of the Order?” Puck asked, surprised.

“Just … things.”

“What kind of things?” asked Puck, a note of danger entering his voice.

“Keep your distance, Puck,” said Corrigan. “You took your humans into your confidence. I’ve done the same. I told her about the Order. And her question stands. What

of them?”

“Where have you been for the last ten years?”

“Not here.”

Puck snorted. “That’s obvious. The Order is gone.”

“What do you mean, ‘gone’?” asked Jack.

“Gone. Finished. Ceased to exist. Dead.”

“Dead?”

“Dead. Every single one of them. Hunted down and killed.”

“Who by?” asked Will.

“Who do you think? Kelindria and her followers. Least, that’s what I think. She wanted the Order out of the way for when she makes her move. Anyway, that’s why I took matters into my own hands.” He grinned. “You could say we’re the new Invisible Order.”

“But what about Christopher Wren?” asked Emily. “He can’t be dead.”

“Who?” asked Puck.

“Christopher Wren. He was an important member of the Invisible Order.”

“’Fraid you’ve been misinformed. Never heard of him.”

“Are you sure?” asked Corrigan. “He’s a scientist of some sort. Member of the Royal Society.”

“The Royal Society? I’ve heard of that lot,” said Puck.

“They meet over at Gresham College. Bigwigs. Think they’re going to change the world with mathematics.” He fixed his eyes on Emily. “But they’ve got nothing to do with the Invisible Order. Never have.”

“If they did they’d all be dead by now,” said Katerina.

Emily glanced helplessly at the others. None of this made any sense. Christopher Wren was supposed to be a member of the Invisible Order. He was the one who had made sure Emily got the clues she needed to find the key back in her own time. He had to be involved.

“We need to speak to him,” she said. “You said it yourself. Members of the Order have been targeted. Maybe he’s just keeping his head down.”

“And you think he’s just going to open up to you?” scoffed Puck. “What are you going to do? Bat your little eyelashes at him?”

“I’ve never batted my eyelashes at anyone,” said Emily firmly. “And all I can do is try. It’s better than sitting here doing nothing.” She turned her attention to Katerina. “Will you take us?”

Katerina hesitated, looking to Puck for some kind of signal. He waved his hand at her.

“Take her,” he said. “But the rest of them stays here.”

“Why?” asked Emily.

“Because I’m still not sure I trust you. With these three still here I can at least make sure you don’t get into mis

chief.”

“What kind of mischief?” asked Jack.

“Like bringing Black Annis and the Morrigan to my hideout,” said Puck.

“We’ve already explained that we’re on your side!”

Puck leaned back and folded his arms. “Those are the conditions.”

“So you’re saying we’re prisoners?” asked William.

“Not prisoners. Not as such. More like a guarantee.”

“And what if we were to simply get up and walk out of here?” asked Emily.

“You can certainly try. But these tunnels go on for miles. Easy to get lost if you don’t know the way.”

Emily looked at the others. Jack stared at Puck in frustration. Corrigan simply shrugged.

“Your decision,” said the piskie.

“Fine,” said Emily. She looked at Katerina. “Can you take me now?”