like a black coffee, thick as tar, to get your heart started on a cold morning. I wish I had time to give you a proper tour, Eddie.”
“I wouldn’t be able to concentrate,” I said.
“Of course, my dear chap. Molly must come first. I quite understand. But if whoever has taken Molly had wanted her dead, they would have killed her right there in the Wulfshead while you were distracted. And they didn’t. Which definitely implies they have a purpose in mind for her. And after all, my dear fellow, she is Molly Metcalf. If there is anything at all to her legend, that young lady can take care of herself.”
“Usually, yes,” I said. “But this whole business seems to be linked to the Big Game, and the Powers That Be . . . Personages strong enough to break through the Wulfshead’s notoriously tough security measures. I didn’t think anyone could do that. I’m worried they’ve taken Molly because they want her to do something for them. And the longer they have her in their power, the more time they’ve got to . . . persuade her. One way or another.”
Sir Perryvale shot me a concerned look. “You have time, Eddie. You must believe that. Or you’ll never get anything done.”
“But what if they’re using that time to . . . do things to her?”
“I refer you to my previous answer,” Sir Perryvale said sternly. “That the infamous witch of the wild woods is perfectly capable of kicking the crap out of anyone who upsets her. I’m right, aren’t I?”
I smiled despite myself. “There is that, yes.”
“You mustn’t let a big impressive name like the Powers That Be get to you,” said Sir Perryvale. “In my experience, the bigger the name people give themselves, the less there is to worry about.”
“What if they’re not people?” I said. “And what if we gave them that name?”
“Just concentrate on what’s in front of you, Eddie,” Sir Perryvale said kindly.
* * *
We finally came to a halt in a great open space, surrounded by stairways leading up and up, and floors and floors rising around us. For the first time I got a real sense of the scale of Castle Inconnu. It wasn’t just a building; it was a whole world in itself.
“Impressed?” Sir Perryvale said calmly.
“Yes,” I said. “It reminds me a lot of Drood Hall. But where is everybody? We’ve covered a lot of ground, and I haven’t seen a single soul anywhere. Has something happened?”
“Our Grand Commander, Sir Kae, has led the Knights off into battle against some other-dimensional threat to the Earth,” said Sir Perryvale. “Apparently something really nasty is brewing.”
I looked at him, frowning. “What threat is that? I haven’t heard anything. I’m sure somebody would have said something at the Hall if my family had known . . .”
“We do rather specialize in such things,” said Sir Perryvale, in an only faintly patronising tone of voice. “You Droods protect Humanity, but in the London Knights we set our sights somewhat higher. We keep an eye on the bigger picture.”
“And who decided that?” I said.
The Seneschal shrugged, just a bit vaguely. “The Knights and the Droods did both start out at roughly the same time in history, give or take a century or two. Doubtless . . . people got together, and agreements were made. As to territory, and responsibilities. To prevent . . . disagreements, and even clashes. It’s probably for the best that the London Knights aren’t here right now. Most of us don’t get on with Droods. Professional courtesy is all very well, but . . . Of course, to be fair, we don’t get on with anyone, much. There’s nothing like defending this world for centuries, against all comers, highly successfully, to convince you that you’re always right. Mind you, we nearly always are. It’s a matter of attitude, I suppose . . . You understand, Eddie.”
“Of course,” I said. “I’m a Drood.”
Sir Perryvale chuckled dryly.
“Thank you; for your help,” I said. “I do appreciate what you’re doing, what you’re putting on the line, by letting me in. Helping me. If I can ever do anything for you . . .”
“Well,” said Sir Perryvale, “could we, perhaps, have the Drood dragon? We’d be ever so grateful, and I promise we’d take very good care of it. The London Knights have wanted their very own dragon for ages and ages.”
“That’s . . . up to him,” I said. “I will ask him, when I get