‘Oh, and on the subject of cruelty,’ said Kate, ‘were you planning on leaving that boy trapped under your bed all day?’
‘Seth!’ Ellie took a step forward. ‘What have you done to him?’
The handmaidens threw her filthy looks. ‘You will address the Queen as “Your Divinity”,’ one snapped.
‘I didn’t do anything,’ said Kate coolly. ‘I’m not a monster. He’s probably still there. A servant saw him asleep under the bed while they were sweeping. How did he get in, anyway?’
‘He climbed the Ark,’ said Ellie.
Kate jerked forward, causing a handmaiden to drop her nail file. ‘Climbed? That’s extremely dangerous – the stonework is brittle and old. Those statues are always breaking off.’
‘Oh really?’ Ellie said, tugging her collar.
The handmaidens began to draw earthy red, swirling patterns like plant roots along Kate’s bare arms, while others weaved thin ribbons of gold through her hair, parting it into five long tendrils that spilled down her back. Kate kept her eyes on Ellie the whole time, though Ellie found it hard to look back.
‘Ellie, stop pouting and tell me what you’re thinking.’
‘I don’t like being toyed with.’
Kate rolled her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, okay? I wasn’t sure I could trust you – I thought maybe you were one of Loren’s spies. But now I know you and you’d make a terrible spy.’
‘I would not,’ said Ellie. ‘I can be very sneaky.’
‘With a limp and a broken arm?’
‘Besides, why would Loren spy on you? He seemed nice to me. If a bit full of himself.’
‘A bit?’
‘I’ve been thinking, though – everyone keeps talking about the Festival of Life, and how you’re going to use your powers to make the fields bloom, and fill the seas with fish again. If things are so bad right now, why not just have the Festival early?’
Kate turned suddenly, causing one handmaiden to gasp as she smeared red ointment down Kate’s cheek, like warpaint. She now looked like some demonic warrior, eyeing Ellie dangerously.
‘Get out,’ Kate whispered to her handmaidens.
‘Your Divinity!’ one complained. ‘We’re not finished –’
‘OUT!’
The handmaidens yelped and fled the room. The door slammed shut and Ellie and Kate were alone again.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ellie said hurriedly. ‘I didn’t mean to make you angry. I’m going to help, okay? I’m going to invent things that will fix everything. I’m sorry I mentioned the Festival of Life.’
Kate clenched her fists. She took a step towards Ellie, and Ellie took a wary step back. Just for a second, she saw a flash of Seth in Kate’s frustrated expression, and in that moment was struck by a new thought. ‘You … you do know how to use your powers, don’t you?’
Kate took one more step towards Ellie, breathing in deeply. Then, all the anger drained from her face and she fell to her knees, burying her face in her hands.
‘Oh, oh dear,’ said Ellie, dropping down at Kate’s side. Kate’s hands were smeared with red face paint, her tears turning red as they dripped to the floor. ‘Don’t cry,’ said Ellie. ‘It’s okay if you find it hard – maybe I can help?’
‘I’m the Queen, Ellie!’ Kate snarled. ‘Of course I can use my powers.’ She got to her feet and stormed from the workshop, slamming the door behind her.
Ellie chased after, but paused at the door, pressing her ear against it, listening to the sobs that echoed down the corridor.
The Crystal Whale
That Saturday morning, Ellie sat at a table in the empty bar of the Vile Oak, working her way through a pile of books she’d borrowed from the palace. She took extra care not to let the books touch the sticky patches of orange juice on the table – things with Kate had been left on such a tense note she was surprised she and Seth had been let out of the palace at all. She didn’t want to give Kate any more reason to be cross with her.
Molworth was mopping the floorboards, glaring at the clock, flinching at every whoop or whistle from outside.
‘What’s wrong?’ said Ellie.
Molworth shivered. ‘The weekend crowd arrives at noon. They can be … a handful.’ His knuckles paled as he clenched the mop.
‘Have you ever thought of selling this place?’ Ellie asked. ‘Doing something you enjoy more?’
Molworth’s eyes widened, like she’d announced she was about to murder him. ‘What could I possibly enjoy more?’
The door slammed open and Molworth shrieked, holding up his mop in defence. But it was just Seth and Viola, laughing and shoving each other as they came in. Viola slapped a piece of paper down on Ellie’s table, which Archibald immediately sprawled himself across. Viola rolled him aside.
LOREN HEROICALLY RESCUES INNOCENT GIRL FROM CAPTIVITY
‘You’re famous,’ said Viola.
Ellie scanned the newspaper. ‘But … it doesn’t say my name anywhere? Get off me,’ she added, shooing Molworth away as he tried to dab a drip of orange juice off her chin. Ever since she’d returned from the Ark, he’d been treating her with the same devotion he gave to his statues of the Queen.
‘Tell me again what She looked like?’ Molworth said.
‘Stop asking that,’ said Ellie.
Molworth bowed deeply. ‘I live to serve. Can I fetch you more oranges?’
‘This is great,’ said Viola, rubbing her hands together. ‘Now that you’re working for the Queen, you can help me with the Revolution. Steal back all the food She’s been keeping in the palace.’
‘Right, that’s strike ten billion,’ said Molworth, putting his face right up to Viola’s. ‘You are barred from the inn forever.’
Viola stared at him, unblinking.
‘For two weeks,’ said Molworth.
Viola cracked her knuckles.
‘Two days,’ said Molworth. ‘Would you like an orange?’
The door slammed open, and Molworth shrieked again as a crowd of thirty sailors thundered into the pub, led by Janssen. He scooped Molworth up in one arm, depositing him behind the bar. ‘Beer for all!’ he declared.
Viola raced over to greet the newcomers, while Seth picked up a tall sunflower that was lying across the table.
‘From Molworth again?’ he said, then frowned. ‘Wait … is this made of paper?’
Ellie nodded. ‘It’s quite realistic, isn’t it? About half the flowers in the public gardens aren’t real, but you wouldn’t notice without getting close. Loren did it to help the Queen.’
Seth sniffed the flower experimentally. ‘Why?’
‘To stop people from panicking, I guess. The island isn’t nearly as fertile as it looks. The harvests have been declining ever since the current Queen became Vessel.’ Ellie lowered her voice. ‘I think she might not know how to control her powers properly.’
Seth laid the sunflower back on the table. ‘Oh, by the way. The Crone in my visions. She’s a Vessel. To the same god as the Queen, I think.’
‘What?’ Ellie shot up. ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner!’
Seth wrinkled his nose. ‘I only found out this morning. It’s not like I can control the visions.’
‘Has the Crone mentioned anything about how she uses her powers?’
‘No. It’s mostly Leila who talks to me. Last time, she was talking about the Drowning.’
He looked distantly at the window, then frowned and shook his head. ‘You’ve been spending a lot of time at the palace this week. I’ve barely seen you.’
‘I’ve been learning all sorts of things in the library,’ Ellie said excitedly. ‘Did you know there was once an animal called a flying squirrel, that could glide for over three hundred feet?’
Seth grunted, watching Viola and the other sailors. ‘How’s that supposed to help the harvest?’
Ellie’s brow crumpled. ‘Anyway … it’s safer for me to be in the palace. Hargrath could walk in here at any moment, and tell everyone who I am.’
Seth’s eyes
flicked to the door. ‘They’d probably think he was a maniac.’
‘But he could still attack me.’
‘You’re well protected, though,’ Seth said, lifting his chin.
‘That’s true. The Queen will protect me.’
‘I was talking about me!’
‘Oh right.’ Ellie winced. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘You do actually like her, though? The Queen, I mean.’
Ellie shifted uncomfortably, and Seth’s eyes narrowed. ‘What happened?’
‘Nothing, I, um … I haven’t really seen her, since she got angry with me.’
‘I don’t know why you’re bothering to help her, if she’s not even going to treat you nicely.’
‘She’s just … in a difficult position. Imagine ruling a whole island. It can’t be easy.’
Seth raised his eyebrows. ‘You need to stand up for yourself.’
‘Oh, by the way,’ said Ellie, leaping on the chance to change the subject, ‘I’ve been meaning to give you something.’
She reached for a small box wrapped in blue tissue paper – the crystal whale she’d bought for him. Her stomach jittered as she picked it up. Would he like it?
‘Seth!’ Viola cried, rushing over and clamping both hands on his shoulders. ‘Tell Handyl about the giant flying jellyfish you saw that time.’
‘I didn’t see a flying jellyfish,’ said Seth.
‘Yeah, but I’ve been telling Handyl you did. Just make something up, will you? You’re a hero to him.’
Seth followed Viola to the centre of the pub, where he began to recount a ridiculous saga about the jellyfish he and Viola had ridden beyond the outer islands. He didn’t look back at Ellie once.
Ellie hugged the present close. It was a while before she noticed the girl sitting at the table with her. She wore a weathered blue cloak, a hood pulled down over her eyes. She placed both hands on the table, and Ellie recognized the bands of tan lines on the fingers, the fingernails still flecked with purple nail polish.
Ellie pushed her chair back with a scrape. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘A pleasure to see you too,’ said Kate, pulling back her hood. ‘Can I get a beer here?’
Ellie swallowed. ‘Molworth stopped serving beer to children, after the Apple Pie Riots. How can you be here?’
‘Nobody recognizes me if I’m not dressed up. And I wanted to see what weekends are like.’
Molworth stumbled over, rubbing his runny nose on his sleeve. ‘Ellie, I’m going to the loo. If anyone tries to steal anything, there’s a cutlass behind the bar.’
‘Okay. Um, Molworth, this is, uh, this is …’
‘Kate,’ said Kate brightly, extending her hand. Molworth grunted.
‘You have a ladybird in your hair,’ he said, then walked away.
Kate pulled her hood back. ‘He’s right!’ she said cheerfully, holding out her finger so the ladybird could fly away. She looked at Ellie, then at her lap. ‘Look, the real reason I came here was to say sorry. For how I acted the other day.’
‘Oh.’ Ellie shuffled in her seat. She put Seth’s gift back on the table, trying to think of something to say.
‘Is that for me?’ said Kate, peering at the box.
‘What? This?’ Ellie glanced at Kate and saw the hopeful glint in her eye, then looked at Seth, surrounded by his audience of smiling sailors. ‘Yes, yes, it’s for you.’
Kate unwrapped the present, gasping as she lifted up the whale in both hands. Ellie could see Kate’s golden eyes reflected in its crystal surface.
‘That’s …’ Kate opened her mouth, closed it. ‘Thank you. That’s so kind of you.’
‘Seth’s present!’ Molworth announced, reappearing by the table. ‘You finally gave it to him, then? Did he like it?’
Ellie felt an overwhelming desire to hit Molworth with her cane.
Kate blinked at Molworth, then back at the crystal whale. Her smile fell. On the far side of the bar, Viola had placed Archibald on the mantlepiece and pulled two wooden swords from the wall, challenging the other sailors to duel with her.
‘What are you talking about, Molworth?’ said Ellie, forcing a smile. ‘I got it for Kate.’
Molworth frowned. ‘No you didn’t.’
‘I did!’
Kate fixed her with a knowing look. ‘Ellie.’
Ellie sighed. ‘I’m sorry. You just … you seemed so happy when you thought I’d got it for you, and …’
There was a cheer as Viola casually flicked the sword from the hand of her opponent – a seven-foot giant with shark-tooth scars scabbing his chest.
Kate smiled. ‘I think that’s maybe even kinder. But I really can’t accept this now.’
‘What’s going on?’ said Seth, wandering over and frowning at Kate. ‘Who’s this?’
‘Ellie was giving her your present!’ Molworth said brightly.
‘Molworth!’ Ellie cried.
Seth looked at the humpback whale in Kate’s hand.
‘No, it was a misunderstanding,’ Kate explained. ‘I thought it was for me. Ellie was only being kind.’ She presented the whale to him. ‘Here you go,’ she said, flashing a brilliant smile.
Seth stared at the whale. ‘You got this for me,’ he said flatly.
Ellie fiddled with her sling. ‘Yes.’
‘But you were going to give it to her?’ he said, his brow crumpling.
‘Quite insensitive, if you ask me,’ said Molworth.
‘Well, nobody is asking you, Molworth!’ Ellie yelled, whacking him with her cane.
Seth stared at Kate. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Kate,’ she said, putting the whale down and offering Seth her hand.
Seth’s eyes flitted between her and Ellie. ‘Why would Ellie …’ he began, then took a step back. ‘Wait.’ He looked at Ellie. ‘Is she –’ He looked at Kate. ‘Are you –’
‘From the palace?’ Ellie said quickly, giving Seth a meaningful glare. ‘Yes, she works there.’
Molworth squealed. ‘You’re from the palace? You should have said! Is it true the Queen can turn flour into cake just by clicking Her fingers?’
Kate winked at him. ‘Only chocolate cake.’
Molworth’s face turned red. ‘I know you’re teasing me. But I don’t care. Come, I have a much nicer table for you – you don’t want to sit with these idiots. Here, I got you a gift.’ He picked up the crystal whale and presented it to her.
Seth snatched it from Molworth’s hand, glaring at Kate. ‘You were going to execute Ellie,’ Seth whispered, as Molworth shuffled miserably back to the bar.
Kate’s smile flickered. ‘That was just for show. I would never hurt Ellie.’
‘Why should I believe you? You barely even know her. And you can’t go taking things from her that aren’t yours. Though I guess that comes naturally to –’
‘Seth,’ Ellie hissed.
‘Which of you scoundrels is next?’ said Viola, swaggering over with a wooden sword in each hand, Archibald balancing on her head. ‘Oi, Seth.’ She prodded him with a sword tip. ‘Fight me.’
‘Not right now,’ said Seth.
‘What’s put you in a mood this time?’ said Viola. ‘Ellie, you’ll fight me, won’t you?’
‘Um, I don’t think I’d make a very good opponent,’ said Ellie, pointing to her sling.
Two red-faced sailors behind Viola began chanting, ‘El-lie, El-lie, El-lie!’
‘No, really, I –’
The chant spread, echoing deafeningly from the low ceiling. ‘EL-LIE! EL-LIE! EL-LIE!’
Ellie’s face went hot. Her stomach squirmed.
‘I’ll fight you,’ Kate said quietly.
The whole pub cheered.
‘OTHER GIRL! OTHER GIRL! OTHER GIRL!’
Viola grinned and tossed one sword to Kate, who caught it neatly in mid-air. The sailors fell into a frenzy of bet-taking.
‘Wait,’ said Seth, grabbing the other sword from Viola’s hand. He narrowed his eyes at Kate. ‘I want to fight
.’
‘But you just said you didn’t,’ said Viola, making a face.
‘Um, maybe this isn’t a good idea?’ said Ellie, wary of the glare Seth was giving Kate.
‘I’ve protected you from worse than her,’ Seth muttered, out of the corner of his mouth.
‘I’ll put ten silver pieces on the beautiful one,’ Molworth was telling a sailor.
‘His name is Seth,’ said the man.
‘What’s got into him?’ Viola asked Ellie, and Ellie looked guiltily at the crystal whale.
The sailors cleared a space, and Seth and Kate faced one another. Kate stood perfectly still, her sword held calmly in both hands. Seth swung his in theatrical arcs, his lips set in a line. Janssen clapped his hands once and Seth rushed at Kate, sword raised over his head.
‘Stop!’ Ellie cried, but her voice was swallowed by cheering. She closed her eyes, hearing a scuffle and a thud. When she opened them again, Seth was on the ground, with Kate’s sword tip resting on his nose.
The room fell deathly silent.
‘Good God,’ said Molworth.
There was an explosion of applause. Kate turned a little pink and bowed as three fishermen lifted Seth from the ground, brushing the dust off him. Seth batted them away furiously and whirled round, marching for the door.
‘My turn!’ Viola declared, picking up Seth’s sword to face Kate. Ellie lurched after Seth, but tripped over a root that curled from the floorboards. As she staggered to her feet, a musical voice swept through the pub.
‘Why, look at all these smiling faces!’
Loren was dressed in a sky-blue robe lined with spotted animal fur, his bard and scribe close behind him. The sailors drew in their breath as one.
‘It’s Loren Alexander,’ Molworth whispered, then fell on his back.
A crowd clamoured towards Loren, and he shook their hands one by one, gifting a man with a bead necklace and a woman with a golden brooch. Both were immediately set upon by the others.
‘Now please, loyal subjects, I’ve come to see my dear friend Ellie Stonewall, if you don’t mind. Ah, there she is.’
The sailors parted to let him through, then crowded round to listen attentively.
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