Page 33 of Skulk of Foxes
Lunaria glanced away. ‘You might not remember who you are,’ she said, ‘but I do. I knew you’d feel guilty about killing Charrie and that you’d want to come to see his family. If Rubus understood guilt and how it can eat away at a person, he’d have sent more Fey this way, but he thinks this is a long shot. The faeries he’s sent will still do damage to the bogles, though.’
‘I didn’t kill Charrie,’ I said absently. I did still feel guilty though. I turned round, glancing back at the assembled group. Alora was there, and Bally and lots of other kids. I had to get them out of here. ‘How long do we have, Lunaria? How long till they’re here?’
‘I had a half-hour head start.’ She bit her lip. Sanity appeared to glimmer in her eyes again. Praise be. ‘There’s not much time,’ she whispered.
I nodded. ‘Then if you’re not staying with us, you’d better get out of here.’ Even in her current state, she had to realise what a risk she was taking by talking to me and spilling Rubus’s plans.
‘Wait!’ Lunaria reached out and grabbed my arm. ‘Do you know why it was raining fire? Why all those animals went crazy?’
‘Us,’ I told her sadly. ‘It was us and our use of magic that caused it. That’ll only be the beginning of it, if Rubus gets his way.’
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. ‘I heard there was a pink elephant.’
I paused. ‘Did you see it?’
She shook her head. Gasbudlikins. I only wanted a glimpse. I met her eyes one final time. ‘Thank you, Looney Tunes,’ I whispered. ‘Take care of yourself.’
She smiled back at me. ‘You’re welcome.’ A moment later, she spun on her heel.
I stayed where I was, watching as she skittered away. Despite the urgency of the situation, the worry I felt for Lunaria was growing. When she finally disappeared round the corner, I shook myself. There was more than Lunaria’s well-being at stake.
I ran back to the bogles. Morgan’s body was tense and his eyes scanned my face as if he wanted to check that I wasn’t suffering any mortal wounds from chatting. He had good enough hearing, though; he would have picked up every word we said.
‘We have to get everyone out of here. You all need to evacuate now!’ I bellowed.
Nobody moved. ‘Didn’t you hear me? Rubus has sent a contingent of Fey here. They’re looking for me and for Morgan. They’re desperate to find the sphere and desperate to please their evil overlord. Forget flaming rain – that lot will burn this entire estate to the ground without even thinking about it!’
The bogles exchanged looks. Sitri stepped forward with Alora right at his back. ‘This is our home,’ he said. ‘We’re not leaving.’
I threw up my hands. ‘I get that you all have sharp swords but, by your own admission, you’re not properly able to attack. Your best chance is to run.’
Sitri shook his head. ‘The children will be led to safety. The rest of us will stand our ground.’
‘No! You can’t do this. Those Fey are going to—’
‘Those Fey are going to do what they’re going to do. We’re not cowards, Madrona. We’ve faced them before. We’re not just going to walk away now, no matter what happens.’
‘It’s not about being a coward. It’s about doing what’s sensible.’
Alora reached out and clasped my shoulder. ‘We all do what we have to. We might still be able to talk them down. We might not. But Charrie didn’t cower from his challenge and we won’t cower from ours.’
I stared helplessly at Morgan. Rubus’s faeries were already in a state of high tension. By executing Viburna, he’d effectively said that everyone was fair game – so they wouldn’t care if they hurt any bogles. Rubus had whipped them up into a frenzy and had instigated mob rules.
‘Then we have to stay,’ I said. ‘Morgan and I can help. At least our magic will match theirs. With us, you’ll have a chance.’
Sitri was adamant. ‘No. Your presence will only inflame matters. You won’t help.’
‘But…’
He held up his palm. ‘This is our choice to make.’ He turned to a small group of bogles standing to one side. ‘Round up the kids and get them to safety. Everyone else needs to take their places. We’ve prepared for this.’ He glanced back at me. ‘When your lot didn’t leave ten years ago, we started preparing. We are ready.’
I didn’t see how that was possible. ‘Morgan,’ I said desperately. ‘We can’t—’
‘It’s their choice, Maddy,’ he said. I could see my own emotions reflected in his face. ‘We have to respect that.’
‘I’m the Madhatter,’ I snarled. ‘I don’t have to respect anything.’
Morgan exchanged a look with Sitri. ‘But you will,’ he said quietly.
