by Mike Shevdon
"Yeah, well," she said. "Shit happens."
There was a sound that might have been a hiss behind her. Someone had drawn a weapon — a reminder perhaps that manners were required. She was well aware that this was a dangerous game, but she was done with arse-kissing. She wasn't here to beg.
"And this is…?" Kimlesh said.
"This is my friend," Alex said. "Lords and Ladies, this is Sparky. Sparky, meet the Lords and Ladies of the High Court of the Feyre."
Sparky looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Pleased to meet you," he mumbled.
Mellion leaned forward, his silver chain glinting as his dark eyes focused on Sparky, who shifted uncomfortably under his inhuman gaze.
"You would do well to remember where you are," said Lord Krane, who lounged in the throne at the centre of the group.
Alex met his gaze unflinching. "Yeah," she said. "And you would do well to remember that there still is a where, and a when, which there wouldn't be except for us."
"You have a high opinion of yourself," said Teoth, folding his arms, "which conveniently neglects to account that you are at least partially responsible for the events that transpired."
"We didn't know what she was going to do," said Alex.
"Then perhaps," said Barthia, "you should be more careful with whom you associate."
"She would have found someone else," said Alex. "It wasn't us she needed, just three people who were stupid and naive enough to follow along."
"Then you acknowledge your culpability," said Yonna. When she received a blank look, she tried again. "You accept the blame for your part."
"I 'spose," said Alex.
"That in itself is enough," said Krane.
"If she'd found someone else," Alex said, "we wouldn't be having this conversation. You and everyone else wouldn't exist. From what she said, we'd have never existed." She shrugged, "I don't understand that bit."
Teoth leant forward. "An unravelling of causality. Interesting."
"We've heard enough," said Krane. "Let's not complicate the issue."
"There is still the matter of our promise," said Kimlesh.
"What promise?" asked Alex.
Yonna spoke. "We promised your father that you would have a place in the courts, if you came into your power."
"That's hardly relevant now," said Krane.
"A promise is a promise," said Kimlesh. "Would you have me break my word?"
"What about me?" said Sparky.
Kimlesh shook her head. "There was no such promise regarding you, my child."
"I'm not a child," said Sparky, "and I'm not yours."
Alex thought a little of her defiance had rubbed off on him, which was not necessarily a good thing.
"The ruling of the High Court takes precedence over a single court in matters that affect us all," said Krane. "There is no doubt in my mind that this affects all of us. Indeed, it could be said to affect everyone and everything."
"Quite," said Teoth.
"That may be so," said Yonna, "but all of us promised that Alex could have her place. A promise of the High Court takes higher precedence still."
"It won't help her," said Barthia. "She may take her place or not as she pleases, but her fate is still a matter for the High Court."
"I don't want your place," said Alex. There was a silence in which Alex could hear her own heart beat.
"Be careful what you say, child," said Kimlesh. "You do not know the consequences…"
"I don't want a place because of some promise that you made my dad," Alex said. "Sparky and I, we did some things, but none of them were that bad."
"There is the matter of Fellstamp," said Garvin from the darkness behind them. "He has not woken."
"That is not a matter for the High Court," said Yonna.
"He serves the High Court," said Garvin, a note of challenge in his voice, "and deserves your protection and favour."
"Garvin has a point," said Krane.
Kimlesh ignored Krane. "The Warders place themselves in danger," she said. "We acknowledge their service, but we cannot demand blood price for every slight, no matter how grievous."
"The Warders serve only the High Court, Lady. Can we not rely on the Court's protection in return?"
"You have our protection and confidence, Garvin, as you well know, but injuries happen. We have every hope and confidence that Fellstamp will recover and rejoin your ranks."
"And if he doesn't?" said Garvin.
"Then we will hear your petition at that time," said Yonna.
"This does not resolve the issue before us," said Barthia.
"We are not here to consider the injury done to Fellstamp, but to consider the fate of these two, who have transgressed but also given good service."
"Only through a desire to save their own skin," said Krane.
"Can you support that statement?" asked Yonna.
Krane waved a hand. "I am merely stating the obvious."
"Then we agree, it is insupportable," she said.
"Not insupportable," said Teoth, "just difficult to verify."
"Are we allowing conjecture, now?" she asked Teoth.
Teoth folded his arms, refusing to be drawn to comment.
"The girl has said that she declines an offer of a place in the Courts," said Krane, "and the boy never earned one. We are here to consider the matter of disposition. Come, this is hardly complex. Are they more dangerous alive or dead? While admittedly they played a part in preventing calamity, they also came perilously close to precipitating the end of the everything. The two do not bear comparison."
Mellion gestured, using one brown hand to separate two imaginary parts, one from the other.
"I think what Lord Mellion means, is that one happened," said Yonna, "and the other did not."
"You are splitting whiskers," said Teoth.
"She is stating truth," said Barthia. "One is fact, the other is extrapolation."
"You know what I think," said Alex, in a voice that cut across the argument.
They stopped arguing and turned their attention on her.
"I think," she said, "that you have no idea what you're talking about. You're all sitting here pontificating about something when you weren't there. You don't know what happened, or why? Do you?"
"We have a thorough report from Garvin," said Barthia.
Alex gave a bitter laugh. "What? The same Garvin that stayed down the bottom of the hill out of sight? That Garvin? He doesn't know what happened," she turned. "Do you?"
"I have reported as I witnessed," said Garvin.
"Just say no," said Alex. "It's easier to understand."
"While it's clear you played a significant role…" said Garvin.
Alex ignored him, turning back to the array of faces at the edge of the darkness. "You take a half-seen story from someone who's already said that he wants revenge for the injury to Fellstamp," said Alex,"which conveniently neglects to account for the fact that Fellstamp and Fionh attacked us. Fellstamp was holding a knife to my friend's throat," she said. "Did you forget to mention that as well, Garvin?"
"Is that true, Garvin?" asked Kimlesh.
"The Warders were doing their job," he replied.
"So he was, then," said Yonna.
Krane cut across them, "The issue here is not whether Garvin's testimony is accurate. The child has already admitted her part in what happened. This is not in dispute. Rather, we are here to decide what must be done and I think that, at least, is clear."
"But you still don't know…" said Alex.
"Enough!" bellowed Barthia, in a voice which even quieted Alex. "Krane is right, the issue is clear. We must decide."
From the back of the room, a small disturbance was developing. The main doors opened onto the corridor. Alex turned to see her father entering behind her, initially with relief, but then with confusion. Beyond him, a number of disreputable looking people were being held back by Tate and Amber, filling the corridor beyond them. Even Garvin was taken aback, until he stepped forward,
long blade drawn.
"What is the meaning of this?" Garvin demanded.
• • • •
As I entered the court, I wondered for a moment whether Garvin would lose it and precipitate a bloodbath. I was relying on him to be his usual dispassionate self, but it was clear that I'd hit a nerve. His face was flushed and I thought I saw the reflection of light from the long blade quivering with contained rage.
"Lords, Ladies," I said quickly, "I beg your indulgence and your consideration."
"Warder Dogstar," said Kimlesh. "Please explain yourself. Who are these people?"
"And what are they doing in Court?" asked Garvin.
I turned briefly to Garvin. "You asked for them," I said. "You said they were all to be brought before the court — without exception."
His face registered surprise, then anger.
I turned quickly back to the High Court. "If I may explain?"
"I wish you would," said Teoth.
"These," I said, "are the children of mixed blood, those that some call mongrels and others call half-breeds. Each of them has been through a great deal, not least because they were imprisoned and subjected to experiments at the research facility at Porton Down. They are the children of both humanity and the Feyre."
"Get these people out of here," said Krane to Garvin.
"Wait," said Kimlesh. "I would like to hear what Dogstar has to say."
"And I," said Yonna.
"Are we in danger?" said Barthia.
"I will vouch for their conduct," I said. "I have persuaded them to come before you to hear your deliberations on their fate, not one by one, case by case, but first-hand as a group of people who share a common cause and a common heritage."
"This is preposterous," said Krane. "How can we deliberate their fate when they are standing there watching us?" he asked.
"How can you deliberate their fate without seeing them?" asked Kimlesh. "Come forward, all of you, into the light, if you will."
They filed into the court around Alex and Sparky, until they were arrayed in a semi-circle that echoed the thrones before them.
"Have you a speaker?" asked Kimlesh.
There was muttering between them and I caught Andy's eye. He stepped forward. "I'll speak, if you'll let me?" There was a general muttering of assent.
"What is your name?" asked Kimlesh.
"Andy — Andy Warner, from Southwark."
"And what are your sympathies, Andy of Southwark?" she asked.
"My sympathies?" he said.
"What are the aspects of your power?" she asked. "What elements call to you?"
"I don't know what you mean," he said. "I keep bees. Is that what you want?"
"An honourable craft," said Yonna, "and an ancient one."
He smiled at that.
"Do you know who we are?" asked Yonna.
"Not so much," said Andy. "Niall here, he explained some of it, but there wasn't much time."
"Do you know why you are here?" asked Barthia.
"Maybe," said Andy. "It's to do with all of us, isn't it? Whether we'll be able to live in peace and keep to ourselves." The others murmured agreement around him.
There was another commotion at the back. I saw Angela coming forward into the group.
"You I do know," said Teoth, recognising her.
"I have been your guest, my Lord," said Angela, "but though the accommodation is more comfortable, and the regime kinder, perhaps, I find a prison is still a prison."
"You rush to judgement at your peril," said Teoth.
"I do not rush, my Lord," she said. "It's been some days and I have had no word."
"Well now that we've all got to know one another," said Krane, "Can we clear the room? We have matters of import to decide."
Blackbird came forward. "If I may speak?" she said.
Yonna inclined her head.
Blackbird walked to the front of the group. "I stand here with Niall, and all these people who have come before you by their own consent. They have come as one to hear your judgement on matters which concern all of them."
"Why, what have they done?" asked Krane.
"They are not being judged for what they have done," said Blackbird. She reached behind her and pulled forward Alex and Sparky to stand beside her. "Even these two are not judged for their actions. We have already heard that they saved us all, at risk to themselves. In other circumstances we would be thanking them."
"We are not in other circumstances," said Teoth.
"Instead," said Blackbird, "they are being judged for what they are. Even Angela here, is held a prisoner at Lord Teoth's disposal. What has she done to merit this imprisonment? Nothing."
"She petitioned for a place in the courts," said Teoth. "I must consider the matter carefully."
"Must you?" said Blackbird. "If any other fey were to petition for a place they would be granted it without question."
"But they are fey," said Teoth, waving towards Angela. "I do not know what she is."
Angela bristled at this, stepping forward, but Blackbird stayed her with a gesture.
"That is my point, my Lord. You are not treating them as fey."
"Because they are not," said Krane.
"And yet they are not human either," said Blackbird. "These are the children of your grand experiment." She swept a hand around the people in the arc. "They are few in number, but there are more children here than the Feyre have seen in five hundred years, are they not?"
"If they are fey," said Krane, "which we have not yet established."
"You mistrust them," she said. "Oh, please, do not deny it. They are not what you expected, are they? What you wanted was a generation of fey children to swell your ranks and rejuvenate the Feyre. In short, you wanted yourselves, only younger."
"That's not true," said Barthia.
"Then what did you want?" said Blackbird. "You sowed the seed in humanity and expected to reap what, exactly? How did you expect them to return to you?"
"Are we done with this?" said Krane, affecting boredom.
"Lord Krane. You are Lord of the Eldrekin Court. You represent those who can take another form, the shape-shifters and were-creatures."
"This is not news," said Krane.
Blackbird reached to pull Andy forward. "Will you accept this man into your court? Will you give him sanctuary and protection according to the customs and traditions of the Feyre?"
"He's a shape-shifter?" said Krane. "What shape does he take?"
Blackbird turned to Andy. "Show him."
"What, now?" he said.
"Yes," said Blackbird. "Right now."
Garvin moved forward, but Andy's frame wobbled and for a moment it looked like he would fall over. Then he spilled out into a swarm of insects that flew out in an expanding cloud to fill the hall with buzzing.
"Bees?" said Krane. "He changes into bees?"
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" said Blackbird, almost shouting to be heard over the noise.
One or two of the other half-breeds were swatting at the insects, there were so many filling the hall. The crawled on people's clothes, flew into their hair, it was only a matter of time before someone got stung.
"Enough!" shouted Garvin. "Clear the hall! Everyone out.
He and Fionh came around the ragtag group and stood before the Lords and Ladies, but there was little they could do against so many tiny insects. Kimlesh stared in wonder around her, while Yonna seemed immensely pleased with the situation. Not so Krane and Teoth, while Barthia sat stoically while the insects crawled on her.
"Out!" shouted Garvin. "Everyone out!"
Tate and Amber came in from the hall and shepherded the half-breeds outside. Gradually the hall emptied, and when the space was clear, the bees began landing, building into a giant pile, which wavered and became a man again.
"Zorry," he said. "She zaid I had to show you." Andy grinned shyly.
"I think we've seen enough," said Kimlesh. "Please wait outside. We'll call if we wish to speak wi
th you further."
"I hold you responsible for this, Niall," said Garvin.
"I was merely following orders," I told him.
"I'll speak with you later," he said.
"Garvin may be upset with Niall, my Lords, my Ladies," said Blackbird, "but it was essential that you see this for yourselves. This is the reality of your great experiment. This is the result."
"Then we need a new experiment," said Krane.
"Do you?" said Blackbird. "Have you seen such ability before?" she asked.
"Of course not," he said "It's bizarre. How can he take the form of so many? He'll lose all sense of self."
"And yet he survives," said Blackbird, "and prospers, apparently without your assistance. If it was not for the harm done by humanity he would be living quietly still. He asks for little except to be left to live in peace, and you would deny him even that."
"We're not denying him anything," said Teoth.
"On the contrary," said Blackbird. "You are demanding that, like Angela, they present themselves at court to be deemed worthy of a place, and then you reject them because they do not fit your definition of what it means to be fey. They cannot win."
"It is not a game, Blackbird," said Barthia, "and I have not refused anyone."
"Shall I bring someone forward, then?" Blackbird asked. "Will you grant them a place?"
"Bring them forward and we shall see," Barthia said.
"And you will judge them to see if they are worthy to be called fey?" asked Blackbird.
"I will judge whether they are worthy of the court in which they are to be offered a place," said Barthia, "As I would any other."
"But the others are all fey," said Blackbird, "and these are not. They are mongrel fey who have grown up with human customs and human values, some with odd or strange abilities, some traumatised by their treatment at the hands of humanity. They are not ready to join the courts, any more than you are ready to accept them."
"What are you suggesting," said Krane. "We cannot just let them do whatever they want. Look at the damage they've caused already!"
"What damage?" asked Blackbird.
"There are floods in Somerset," said Barthia, "and the storm has done much damage."
"Within a year, a memory," said Blackbird, "and forgotten in ten."
"The Secretariat is aware that the storm is not natural," said Garvin. "They have demanded an explanation."