Lady Friday(47)

One Who Survived the Darkness was the middle Servant and was fractionally taller than the other two. The claws of her gloves were also a pallid white, Arthur noticed, like carved moonstones, unlike the others, who had claws of some dark, metallic substance.

‘She says thanks for helping Cool of the Evening,’ said Fred.

‘No problem,’ said Arthur. ‘Any enemy of Superior Saturday’s is a friend of ours.’

‘ “The Winged Servants of the Night carry out our duty,” ’ translated Fred. ‘ “To patrol the night of the Middle House and slaughter Nithlings and” … um, I think … “unauthorised travellers, to rend them with our claws and burn them with the fire of our weapons.” ’ ‘Tell them we’re authorised, Arthur,’ said Suzy.

One Who Survived the Darkness turned her masked face to Suzy and made a series of rapid signs.

‘Uh-oh,’ said Fred. ‘You are not authorised. Oh, it’s all right. She says, “Usually we would either kill you or take you to Dusk for judgment. But Dusk has gone, and Lady Friday too. Dawn, who claims to speak for them, is not our master. You are Lord Arthur, and master of much of the House, so a distinguished visitor. Better, you have fought for us. We will not harm you or your minions—’

‘Hang on,’ muttered Suzy. ‘Who are you calling—’

‘Suzy!’ warned Arthur. ‘Let Fred finish.’

‘ “We owe you a debt, and will help you if we can.” ’ Arthur directed a quelling glare at Suzy, who was about to open her mouth again, and then bowed to One Who Survived the Darkness. That gave him a moment to think.

‘Thank you,’ he said slowly. ‘I think you can help us … help me … if you are able to carry myself and my companions up to the Top Shelf. I need to find a sorcerer there, and quickly.’

One Who Survived the Darkness tilted her masked head to the side quizzically, then signed to Fred.

‘She says they can fly us up there. But the High Guild are not to be trusted. Also, Friday’s Dawn and his Gilded Youths are encamped outside Binding Junction and she doesn’t know what they plan or where their allegiance lies.’

‘We’ll just have to chance it,’ said Arthur. ‘It’s going to take too long to get there by raft.’

‘Four of them can carry one of us,’ translated Fred after a flurry of signs. ‘How many are to go?’

‘The three of us,’ said Arthur, glancing at Ugham. ‘I’m sorry, Ugham, but there’s a chance the Piper will be ahead of us—’

‘My task is to escort Miss Suzy and Lieutenant Fred,’ rumbled Ugham. ‘To do so, I must stand at their side.’

‘But if we meet the Piper and he orders you to attack us—’ said Arthur.

‘What can even a warrior such as I do against the mighty Arthur and his sword?’ asked Ugham. ‘I think you have little to fear, Lord Arthur.’

‘Let him come,’ said Suzy. ‘He’s just a turnip farmer underneath.’

‘It does not become you to make jest of my ambition, Miss Suzy,’ said Ugham.

Arthur looked at Fred questioningly.

‘I reckon he’s more help than hindrance,’ said Fred. ‘And now that Suzy and I don’t have to obey, the odds are better.’

‘You’d still answer to the Piper’s pipe,’ said Arthur. He bit his lower lip, unconsciously flicking it under his front teeth several times. ‘Oh, all right. Ugham can come too. Four of us, then.’

One Who Survived the Darkness nodded and made arm signals to the Servants above, who immediately began to descend. The first two landed next to Cool of the Evening, and one of them took out a pair of wings that might have suited a doll, being no more than six inches long. But as the Servant shook them, they grew, and a few seconds later both Servants were helping Cool of the Evening detach her old wings and put on new ones.

‘Hey,’ said Suzy. ‘If they’ve got wings, they can just give us some. Beats being carried.’

One Who Survived the Darkness made an emphatic sign.

‘Ah, that’s “No”!’ said Fred. ‘Guess they haven’t got enough.’

‘Or they don’t want us flying around,’ said Arthur. ‘Never mind. As long as we get up to the Top Shelf faster than on this raft.’

‘It was good enough for you before!’ protested a voice from below. The Servants jumped at the sound of it, wings flapping and hands going to weapons.

‘First it’s “Give us a ride even if it’s against the rules,” ’ Pirkin continued. ‘Now, it’s “Your raft’s too slow.” There’ll be a minute of protest issued by the next meeting of the Association, I can tell you!’