Archibald Lox Volume 2 by Darren Shan

Author:Darren Shan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Home of the Damned Ltd
Published: 2021-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

44

Cal and King Lloyd get into an in-depth grop discussion, so we move away to leave them to it. Nora’s smiling as she observes the old man’s animated expression. “It’s been a long time since he was so himself,” she says. “He’s usually in good form on Tuesdays, but even then his attention strays.”

“Why are Tuesdays so important?” I ask.

Nora hesitates, then says carefully, “He’s friendly with a boy in New York. They both love checkers, so they meet each Tuesday in various spots around the city and engage in combat.”

“What about the crocodile?” I smile.

Nora chuckles. “The boy loves dressing up.”

That sparks a memory and I start to react. Before I can say anything, Inez grips my right calf – unseen by Nora – and pinches so hard that I choke on a yelp.

“How are you, Nora?” Inez asks. “What’s it like, living in the Born?”

“Difficult,” Nora says. “I’d be happier in Diamond, but my loyalty lies with King Lloyd, and that’s where he wants to be, so I don’t complain.”

“Does he still intend to stay there until he dies?” Inez asks.

“Yes,” Nora sighs. “He loves wandering the streets, looking at the skyscrapers.”

“And going to the theatre?” I ask, rubbing the back of my calf and shooting Inez evils.

“Not so much,” Nora says. “He finds it hard to concentrate. Occasionally we go, but sometimes we leave even before the interval.”

“How long will you stay in Topaz?” Inez asks.

“Not long,” Nora says. “We’ll hang around after the match tomorrow, as lots of people will want to pay their regards, then depart the following morning.”

“You won’t get to see much of the city,” Inez notes.

“No,” Nora says. “We’re staying in the palace – Malina’s a good friend of the king’s, so we were able to cross using a borehole to her quarters – and we won’t be straying far from there. But he was eager to thank you again, so Cindy and Seamus guided us here through the tunnels.”

“There’s no need for thanks,” I mutter. “We were glad to help.”

The king calls us back to rejoin the conversation, which has moved on. He wants to know if we’ve been to Diamond since he last saw us, and is disappointed that we haven’t.

“I’m looking forward to having a chat with the players,” he says. “I want to know if anything’s changed, if life’s still pleasant there, if there’s anything I can say to convince them to leave before the realm falls.”

“You mustn’t be hard on them,” Nora says sternly. “They’ve made their choice. Don’t try to make them feel guilty.”

“I won’t,” the king says sadly. “I just hate to see them throw their lives away.”

“Maybe they won’t,” Inez says. “An inheritor might yet be found. If that happens, the ones who didn’t desert will be hailed as heroes by the others when they return.”

“How likely is that?” King Lloyd asks.

Inez shrugs. “How likely was it that an amateur locksmith would wind up in your palace and save you from all-out madness?”

King Lloyd blinks.

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