Chapter Twenty-Three

Annabel’s eyes snapped open. I’m still alive. She looked to the others. They were still standing just as she was. Something had gone wrong. The trapdoors hadn’t dropped.

The Hangman grunted and tried the lever again. Still they stood. After the third attempt failed, he turned to Cranestoft and shrugged.

The Regent’s face blazed fury. He stormed onto the platform, scowling at the floor, stamping on the trap under Davy with his booted foot. He shoved the Hangman out of the way and closed both hands around the lever. Annabel braced herself, certain this time it would work.

Boom! An explosion smashed the gates in the palace wall. Flaming splinters of wood flew in all directions. Another blast cracked the air. The people scrambled to get away, tumbling over each other, screaming in fear as a section of the wall exploded and stones crashed over their heads.

Through a screen of smoke and fire armored mechanical walkers stalked into the arena, guns blazing. Hundreds of children stormed in after them. Huge cannon rumbled into the Place and boom! boom! boom! opened fire on the palace.

“Seems your cannon thingy still works, miss,” someone said behind Annabel. The noose loosened and slipped from her neck. She span round. “Harry!” she said. “Oh, Captain!”

“Bit handy meself,” the captain said. “Don’t take much to wedge a few trapdoors shut.” Annabel embraced her fiercely.

“Save it,” Harriet said, kindly, disentangling herself. “We got a war to win first, ain’t we?”

The Hangman had fled. Sibelius freed the others.

Cranestoft scowled. He leapt from the platform, drawing his sword. “Kill them!” he shouted, spitting fury. “Kill them all!”

The Place of Assembly was now a bloody battlefield. Sibelius and the boys grouped round Annabel and Harry, with Dr. Ravensberg by their side.

“Get down!” shouted Sam, shoving their backs. They jumped behind the platform. The noise, smoke and cries of battle raged all around them.

“I must get Princess Annabel to safety,” Dr. Ravensberg said. “That is our priority. When this is over, there must be someone to bring order again.”

“We must support Mademoiselle Josephine et les enfants,” said Sibelius. “They give their lives for all of us. But I agree Annabel must be taken to safety; also you, Monsieur.”

“My laboratory is the safest place,” Annabel said. “I feel like such a coward.”

“You ain’t that,” Harry said to her. “But there’s no point pretending you could hold your own in a fight, is there? A dead princess ain’t never going to be a queen, right?” She turned to her crew. “You lot help Jo and the kids. With any luck, we’ll get the people on our side, too, once we can get the word out what’s going on. Sibelius is me deputy while I’m away. You follow his orders and you work for Jo, get it?” They all nodded. “I’ll get Annabel and the Doctor to the lab. I’ll be back soon as.” She looked at each of them with a love Annabel only just understood. They each spat on their left palms, wiped the spittle on their right and shook her hand saying, “’Til death.”

“Good luck!” the captain said and then turned to Annabel and Ravensberg. “Down there,” she said, pointing to a drain grille. Annabel had to strip down to her bloomers and corset to fit through the gap. Ravensberg swallowed his embarrassment and followed her. Once they were in the dank chamber, the captain slipped through after them.

“This way!”

And they scuttled like rats into the dark, the sounds of battle echoing behind them.