The True Queen (A Sorcerer to the Crown Novel) by Zen Cho

Author:Zen Cho [Cho, Zen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-03-12T04:00:00+00:00

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DAMERELL’S cage was as pleasant as a cage could be which had once contained the decomposing remains of princesses, for he had exerted himself to clean it. He was sitting at his bureau, swearing under his breath, when the party entered. He looked up, taking off his spectacles.

“Ah!” he said. If Henrietta Stapleton’s presence had not given the game away, a glance at Rollo’s countenance would have sufficed. Damerell knew what was afoot at once, but he betrayed it by neither look nor word. “To what do I owe this honour?”

“These fairies have a message for you, they say,” said Bartholomew, adding with irony, “I hope we have not interrupted your work!” He glanced at the papers scattered upon the bureau.

“Not at all,” said Damerell graciously. “I am grateful for the interruption.” He turned to the two women. “I’m afraid to own I have succumbed to writing poetry to while away the hours. I am reconciled to producing poor stuff, but there are some depths to which no gentleman should descend. I was on the verge of rhyming dragon with wagon when you appeared.”

“You are acquainted with these fairies, then?” said Bartholomew.

Damerell’s eyes passed over the women.

“I have not the least idea who these people are,” he said.

Henrietta drew herself up, assuming a magisterial air.

“The hour is arrived,” she boomed, “ye who were once known as Paget Damerell!”

Damerell’s mouth twitched. Rollo quaked at the sight. Poggs had an inconvenient sense of humour and often found amusement in things no one else thought droll. If he should give way to laughter now . . . !

There was no need for Rollo to worry, however. Though he could not know it, Damerell was nearly as nervous as Rollo.

“The use of the past tense is rather worrying!” said Damerell.

“We bear a message from your sworn brother, the Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heavens,” announced Henrietta. She paused.

In truth Henrietta was not altogether reconciled to the message Prunella and Zacharias had concocted with Mr. Hsiang’s assistance; she doubted whether it was right to repeat such paganisms.

It was a view with which Muna had some sympathy, but the two naga breathing down her neck put paid to any reservations she might otherwise have had—it was true that one of them was friendly, but his teeth were just as large as the other’s. Since Henrietta did not speak, Muna interjected:

“What Miss—my mistress means to say is, the Emperor sends his best compliments and he should be obliged if you would return to the heavens directly. You have suffered quite enough to atone for your sins and he begs you will come with us now to the northern skies. There you will be restored to your rightful position among the stars, looking down upon the trivial joys and sorrows of mankind.”

Damerell received this extraordinary message with composure. “I should be honoured to accept your master’s invitation. Permit me a moment to gather up my possessions.”

He looked around his cage, then said, “Here is good news! I have nothing here that I wish to keep.

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