meat grinders. The Droods inside the Hall targeted the massive worms with every weapon they had and blew them apart one segment at a time. The slimy flesh soaked up incredible amounts of punishment before the worms collapsed and fell, slamming back to earth inside and outside the barrier. The creatures still outside tore the wounded worms apart and ate them up, all in a few moments.
And inevitably there came a time when the monsters were packed so tight together before the shimmering barrier that Molly and I were forced to a halt. No matter what we did with armoured strength or with Oath Breaker, we just couldn t make any progress. They were simply too big and we were too small. Of course, size didn t mean anything where Oath Breaker was concerned; if I d unleashed its true power, even for a moment, I could have blown whole monsters apart right down to the molecular level. But then, neither I nor any of my party would have survived such an explosion. Using the ironwood staff as a club was a bit like hitting someone over the head with a nuclear device, but it was still safer than the alternative.
Patrick and Diana kept up a steady stream of fire, while Molly and I looked around for another way forward. They blasted anything that got too close, and then they stopped briefly to confer before concentrating their firepower on a massive leg that blocked our way. The vicious energies actually opened up a tunnel through the flesh of the leg, and Molly immediately ran forward into it. So of course I had no choice but to go after her, with the others bringing up the rear. Patrick and Diana kept firing their guns, blasting out more elbow room from the meat walls and ceiling of the tunnel, expanding it as we went.
I couldn t help noticing how well they worked together, as though they d been doing it for a long time. And they certainly seemed a lot more familiar with action in the field than I would have expected, even from the Regent s favourite Special Agents. They were excellent marksmen, too. I never saw them hit anything they didn t mean to. So, professional field agents with a long working relationship who didn t seem fazed by anything they encountered Who were Patrick and Diana, really? And why was I so sure I knew them from somewhere?
We burst out the other end of the meat tunnel to find the shimmering barrier right ahead of us. I yelled for Molly to stop so the others could catch up, and she did, reluctantly. I looked back in time to see Patrick and Diana run out of the dripping tunnel mouth and immediately look around for new things to shoot at. The Regent strolled out after them, and a monstrous foot came slamming down from above and crushed him into the ground. We all cried out in shock and horror, but there was nothing any of us could do. It had already happened; it was over. And then the massive foot lifted up and moved on, and there, in a deep depression in the ground, was the Regent. Sitting up and brushing fussily at his clothes, entirely unhurt. Which was, of course, when I remembered.
Kayleigh s Eye! I said. When that tea lady tried to kill you, the bullets couldn t hurt you because you were wearing Kayleigh s Eye! No wonder you weren t bothered by taking a walk in monster country!
Even as I was saying that, a winged thing dropped down from above, heading straight for the Regent. It was much more our size, our scale, barely twenty to thirty feet in wingspan. The Regent looked up at it, smiling, and suddenly there was a small silver gun in his hand. He aimed carefully and pulled the trigger, and the winged creature just blew apart into hundreds of meaty chunks. The Regent smiled, blew imaginary smoke from the end of the short barrel, and made the gun disappear with a quick flexing of his fingers.
I didn t just bring the Eye, he said easily.
Told you, said Patrick. More tricks up his sleeve than a barrel of conjurers.
I turned away, not trusting myself to speak, and tested the shimmering barrier with one hand. Nothing bad happened, so I just plunged right through it. And the moment I was on the other side, the alien world s heavier gravity fell away and I could breathe again without struggling. The barrier wasn t a force shield; it just marked the spot where alien conditions ended. The Hall was still surrounded by an area of Earth-normal conditions that it had brought with it. The relief was so great I just stood there for a long moment, breathing deeply, a big stupid grin on my face. And then the others came through to join me, so I put on my professional face again and led them towards Drood Hall.
The golden figures at the perimeter, inside and outside the screen, just nodded briefly to us as we passed, concentrating on keeping back the monsters. More armoured figures ran back and forth from the Hall to the barrier, presumably with important messages or more ammunition. They were too busy even to acknowledge us. As we approached the front doors, a single figure appeared, carrying the single biggest and most impressive-looking gun I d ever seen. I was surprised he could even hold the thing, let alone aim it. It was, of course, the Sarjeant-at-Arms. He aimed the gun right at us, and then he saw me, and I swear his jaw actually dropped. I think the whole journey was worth it just to see that. His mouth snapped shut again almost immediately, and he stepped outside and urged us in. He tracked the gun back and forth, making sure nothing had come through the barrier after us, waited till we were all safely inside, and then hurried in after us and slammed the front doors shut.
It was wonderfully cool and calm and quiet in the hallway.
The Sarjeant-at-Arms put down his huge gun, leaning it carefully against the closed front doors. He nodded briefly to me.
Good to see you, Eddie. What took you so long?
I stepped forward and hugged him tightly. It was a bit like trying to hug a brick wall, but I gave it my best shot. Then I stepped back and grinned at him.
Good to see you too, Cedric. You have no idea how good.
Please, Edwin, said the Sarjeant. Not in front of strangers. Who are these people you ve brought with you?
Molly armoured down, and the Sarjeant blinked several times as the golden mask disappeared to reveal her features. But that was nothing compared to the look of actual shock that took over his face when he looked at the Regent, Diana and Patrick. He stepped forward involuntarily, his gaze fixed on the Regent of Shadows.
Dear God, he said. It s you!
Quite, Cedric, said the Regent. Demons in Hell are probably snowboarding even as we speak. But, yes, it s me. I m back. Where is the rest of the Council?
Here, said a familiar voice. All that s left of us.
I looked around, and hurrying down the hallway towards us were William the Librarian and the telepath Ammonia Vom Acht. The Librarian looked his usual tall and world-buffeted self, but he was wearing clothes that actually seemed like he d put them on himself for a change, and with his great head of grey hair and full grey beard, he looked more like an Old Testament prophet than usual. His eyes seemed sharper and clearer than they had in a long time. Ammonia Vom Acht stuck close beside him, giving every appearance that she d been doing that for some time. Medium height, sturdy, with a broad mannish face and a shock of unruly auburn hair, Ammonia had a face so full of character there was no room left in it for anything like good looks. She was wearing her usual battered tweed suit and stout brogues with trailing laces. Her jaw protruded forward with bulldog stubbornness. I noted, with quiet shock, that William and Ammonia were holding hands.
I pointed at them. All right, I said, when did that happen?
But before William could answer, I stepped forward and hugged him hard. The Sarjeant sniffed loudly behind me.
He keeps doing that. I don t know why.
I let go of William, stepped back and grinned at him. You re looking a lot more yourself, William.
Ammonia s been helping me, said William.
I always knew what I really needed was the love of a good woman.
But we couldn t find one, said Ammonia,
So he has to settle for me.
They smiled at each other fondly. The Sarjeant-at-Arms gave me a What can you do? look but said nothing.
The three of us are all that s left to form a Council, said William. And we ve been very busy since we arrived here.
Where s Uncle Jack? I said. Has something happened to Uncle Jack?
The Armourer is down with Alpha Red Alpha, said Ammonia. Hitting it with the science stick, trying to persuade it to work again and get us the hell out of wherever it is we are.
And then we all cried out and jumped back as a vicious snapping creature materialised abruptly in the hallway. Covered in dark green scales, long and Reptiloid with a great wedge head, lots of fangs and claws and a vicious barbed tail that snapped back and forth behind it. Big enough that it filled the hallway from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling, it was actually trapped for a moment, unable to manoeuvre. Ammonia pointed a single finger
