Page 15 (1/2)

‘Greetings, Lord Arthur,’ said Wednesday’s Dawn ‘Please accept Lady Wednesday’s apologies for the sad ements Unfortunately I have not yet been apprised of the exact nature of the incident that led you here, but I trust that you are now ready to accompany me to the promised luncheon?’

Arthur looked up at Dawn’s beautiful but cold face

She would cut ht But what choice do I have?

‘I’m not sure,’ he said aloud He still had his sword on his shoulder, and Sunscorch’s advice about dealing with Feverfeould probably apply equally well to Wednesday’s Dawn He tensed, ready to strike, as he slowly said, ‘I’ve heard some scary talk about how Lady Wednesday is kind ofwell, you knowa giant whale that eats everything And I don’t want to get eaten’

‘It is a temporary indisposition,’ said Dawn She looked at Scamandros and Catapillow ‘Which those of lesser orders would do well not to gossip about However, you may be assured that Lady Wednesday intends to resume her traditional human foriven to your visit, Lord Arthur It is currently a regrettable strain for milady to take human shape She has not chosen to do so for many centuries’

‘What does she want fro around the bush ‘She’s in with the Morrow Days She’s a Trustee who didn’t do what she was supposed to I’htful Heir’

‘These are not h to say that otiation, not battle?’

‘Maybe,’ said Arthur

‘Excellent Then I take it, Lord Arthur, that you are ready to come with me?’

‘Where exactly?’

‘Back to the House,’ said Dawn ‘To the Border Sea I have many duties, so we must not waste any time Do you need to breathe?’

‘What?’

‘Do you need to breathe? You are a mortal of sorts, are you not? If I ae amounts of time underwater If you have not already been ensorcelled to need less air, then I shall have to take care of that before we depart’

‘I’m not and I don’t think I want to be,’ said Arthur ‘I have asthic or anything And I don’t want to turn into a Denizen’

‘It is a very straightforward spell,’ said Dawn She gave a s crop, as if to illustrate how small a matter it was ‘It merely allows you to survive on far fewer breaths Perhaps, Doctor Scamandros, you can allay Lord Arthur’s concerns You are a university-trained sorcerer, I note, though I do not recall your naator-Sorcerers in the employ of Lady Wednesday’

‘Ah, dear lady, I was a volunteer after the Deluge,’ said Sca motions and almost tripped over his own feet ‘So the paperwork may be a little, that is, not quite in order But, as to the breathing spell, it is one of suspension, I take it? Perhaps the formulation known as ‘A Thousand and One Breaths’?’

‘It is a peg, purchased at Port Wednesday,’ said Dawn, re it to Scamandros ‘I am unaware of its provenance I believe it is worn on the nose’

Sca, and e onto his palht and looked at the tiny writing on it with his unaided eyes and through his shtforward spell,’ he said to Arthur ‘One breath will serve for a thousand, till it wears off There will be a little ical residue, but far less than that already within your flesh and bone’

Arthur took the clothespeg dubiously and opened and shut it, feeling the strength of the spring

‘Hoill I knohen it wears off?’

‘It will fall off your nose,’ said Doctor Scamandros ‘You h in that case I should be careful not to be too far away from a source of air It ork less and less ith each reapplication’

‘Can’t the Moth take me to meet Lady Wednesday?’ asked Arthur ‘I don’t think I want to use this spell Or be carried underwater No offence, it’s just I don’t like the idea’

‘Time is of the essence,’ said Dawn ‘Lady Wednesday cannot hold her huin at noon, House time, on the day I left We must hurry No ship can carry you there in time, and unless I am mistaken, this ‘Moth’ needs considerable work I also have numerous important tasks that need my attention The Border Sea must be constantly tended, lest it spread into the Real’

‘Do you swear that I will be returned so Lady Wednesday?’ asked Arthur ‘Swear by the Architect, and the Will, and Lady Wednesday’

Wednesday’s Dawn scowled and her riding crop whistled back and forth through the air But finally she said, ‘Yes I shall do everything in my power to ensure you are returned to a place of safety after your luncheon with Lady Wednesday I swear this by the Architect who made me, by the Will, and by uess I’d better go’

He looked at Doctor Scaain and bent his head close to Arthur

‘Captain Catapillow thought it best to inform Miss Dawn,’ muttered the sorcerer softly so only Arthur could hear ‘Not wanting the Moth to be entangled in things beyond us, and afraid of what the Red Hand you bearI have to follow orders, you know But I made sure your letter went first Only Miss Daas already looking for you’

Arthur shook his head, but when Doctor Scamandros offered his hand, the boy sheathed his sword and took it He still wasn’t sure if the Denizen was lying, but Doctor Sca up Hopefully Arthur’s letter really was going to Dame Primus

‘A pleasure to have you aboard the Moth,’ said Captain Catapilloas practically hunched over with his constant bowing to both Arthur and Wednesday’s Dawn ‘Farewell’

Arthur nodded but didn’t offer to shake hands He looked around instead There was Sunscorch up by the cannons, surrounded by what looked like the whole crew, gathered in close to stare at the lu,’ Arthur said He raced up the beach to the Second Mate This tirip and shaken so soundly that his shoulder ached

‘Thanks, Sunscorch,’ said Arthur ‘For picking ’