The Lords of Blood and Honey (The Kingdom of Honey) by David Gardner-Martin

Author:David Gardner-Martin [Gardner-Martin, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arganite Bay
Published: 2017-05-16T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 21

In the Pooter household in Dutiful Crescent, the atmosphere over breakfast captured some of the tension in the City, but the clatter of cutlery as the children fought playful battles for the toast, helped to lessen the sense of gloom.

‘Bramblebush said he heard a vulfbear howl!’ cried Punsworth One.

‘Can I see a vulfbear?’ cried Punsworth Two.

Allacar, their Eject child, alone remained silent as he ate his breakfast.

‘I do not think you would enjoy such an encounter,’ Pooter replied sternly, an image of the terrible beast with the huge claws in which he had taken refuge in the Palace, appearing in his mind’s eye. Allacar nodded in agreement without raising his head.

‘But we will be safe, my dear, won’t we?’ asked Glarious, when the children had been sent to wash their hands.

‘The high walls of the City are impregnable,’ Pooter replied. He reached across the table to take Glarious’ hands, his feelings for her growing stronger with every passing day. It was as if a brake had been released, his deeper emotions, submerged for so long in a tide of responsibility, suddenly free once again. ‘No harm will come to us, or our beloved children,’ he added warmly. ‘I simply shall not allow it.’

Glarious smiled, and despite her worries, she then began to laugh. ‘Oh Punny,’ she said. ‘You say the funniest things. The way you speak, anyone would think you were the Champion of Champions!’

And Pooter laughed too, the children rushing back into the room to observe the strange sight of their parents holding hands and staring into each other’s tear-filled eyes.

By the time Pooter set off for his office, news of Hivecarl attacks on Holy Guards filled the streets.

‘There are many bodies!’ cried a plump lady, still shaking from what she had seen.

‘It’s true,’ added a young man. ‘I think them all killed. And there has been fighting in the Cathedral too.’

‘Hivecarls are vicious warriors,’ said an elderly gentleman shaking his head. ‘They are bred from birth for combat.’

‘But what will happen next!’ cried the plump lady in some distress.

No one gave an answer.

Thankfully all the fighting had been some distance from Pooter’s office, and when he arrived his first appointment dragged his mind back to a familiar world. Mr Royspark Badger of Crastwick Stoneworks, together with his bookkeeper, Mr Nutspat, sat before him with lifeless eyes. Pooter gave them an overview of their trading accounts, Badger’s face falling with every set of numbers.

‘T’is a bad time for stone,’ Badger said at last. ‘Wood seems to be the fashion these days. It is clear we will need to diversify if we are to survive.’

There was a sullen pause as both Badger’s and Nutspat’s heads drooped.

‘But with open fighting between the Hivedom and the Church, might that not improve demand?’ piped up Nutspat suddenly. ‘I mean, for headstones, and the like?’ the young man then added, turning to his master as Pooter observed him with distaste.

‘You may be right, Nutspat!’ said Badger, perking up and eyeing his bookkeeper approvingly.

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