"Nicko! Dad!" yelled Jenna and hurled herself into Silas's arms. It felt like months since she had seen him. "Where's Mum. Is she all right?"

"She's fine," said Silas. "She's gone to Galen's with the boys. Nicko and I just came by to give you this." Silas fished around in his deep pockets. "Hang on," he said. "It's here somewhere."

"Are you mad?" Marcia demanded. "What do you think you are doing doing, coming here? And get that wretched wolf away from me."

The wolf was busy dribbling over Marcia's python shoes.

"He's not a wolf," Silas told her. "He's an Abyssinian wolfhound descended from the Maghul Maghi wolfhounds. And his name is Maximillian. Although, he might allow you to call him Maxie for short. If you're nice to him."

"Nice!" spluttered Marcia, almost speechless.

"Thought we might stay over," Silas carried on, tipping out the contents of a small grubby sack over Marcia's ebony and jade Ouija table and sifting through them. "It's too dark now to go into the Forest."

"Stay? Here Here?"

"Dad! Look at my socks, Dad," said Jenna, waggling her toes in the air.

"Mmm, very nice, poppet," said Silas, still fishing around in his pockets. "Now where did I put it? I know know I brought it with me..." I brought it with me..."

"Do you like my socks, Nicko?"

"Very purple," said Nicko. "I'm frozen."

Jenna led Nicko to the fire. She pointed at the sentry boy. "We're waiting for him to wake up. He got frozen in the snow, and Marcia rescued him. She made him breathe again."

Nicko whistled, impressed. "Hey," he said, "I reckon he's waking up now." The sentry boy had opened his eyes and was staring at Jenna and Nicko. He looked terrified. Jenna stroked his shaven head. It was bristly and still a little cold.

"You're safe now," she told him. "You're with us. I'm Jenna, and this is Nicko. What's your name?"

"Boy 412," mumbled the sentry.

"Boy Four One Two...?" Jenna repeated, puzzled. "But that's a number. No one has a number for a name."

The boy just stared at Jenna. Then he closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.

"That's weird weird," said Nicko. "Dad told me they only had numbers in the Young Army. There were two of them outside just now but he made them think we were Guards. And he remembered the pa.s.sword from years ago."

"Good old Dad. Except," she said thoughtfully, "I suppose he's not my dad. And you're not my brother..."

"Don't be daft. 'Course we are," said Nicko gruffly. "Nothing can change that. Silly Princess."

"Yes, I suppose," said Jenna.

"Yes, of course, course," said Nicko.

Silas had overheard the conversation. "I'll always be your dad, and Mum will always be your mum. It's just you have a first mum as well."

"Was she really a Queen?" asked Jenna.

"Yes. The The Queen. Our Queen. Before we had these Custodians here." Silas looked thoughtful and then his expression cleared as he remembered something and took off his thick woolen hat. Queen. Our Queen. Before we had these Custodians here." Silas looked thoughtful and then his expression cleared as he remembered something and took off his thick woolen hat. There There it was, in his hat pocket. Of course. it was, in his hat pocket. Of course.

"Found it!" Silas said triumphantly. "Your birthday present. Happy birthday, poppet." He gave Jenna the present she had left behind.

It was small and surprisingly heavy for its size. Jenna tore off the colored paper and held a little blue drawstring bag in her hand. She carefully pulled open the strings, holding her breath with excitement.

"Oh," she said, not able to keep the disappointment out of her voice. "It's a pebble. But it's a really nice pebble, Dad. Thanks." She picked out the smooth gray stone and put it in the palm of her hand.

Silas lifted Jenna onto his lap. "It's not a pebble. It's a pet rock," he explained. "Try tickling it under its chin."

Jenna wasn't quite sure which end its chin was, but she tickled the rock anyway. Slowly the pebble opened its little black eyes and looked at her, then it stretched out four stumpy legs, stood up and walked around her hand.

"Oh, Dad, it's brilliant brilliant," gasped Jenna.

"We thought you'd like it. I got the spell from the Roving Rocks Shop. Don't feed it too much though, otherwise it will get very heavy and lazy. And it needs a walk every day too."

"I'll call it Petroc," said Jenna. "Petroc Trelawney."

Petroc Trelawney looked as pleased as a pebble can look, which was pretty much the same as he had looked before. He drew in his legs, closed his eyes and settled back down to sleep. Jenna put him in her pocket to keep him warm.

Meanwhile Maxie was busy chewing the wrapping paper and dribbling down Nicko's neck.

"Hey, get off, off, you dribble-bucket! Go on, lie you dribble-bucket! Go on, lie down down," said Nicko, trying to push Maxie onto the floor. But the wolfhound wouldn't lie down. He was staring at a large picture on the wall of Marcia in her Apprenticeship Graduation gown.

Maxie began to whine softly.

Nicko patted Maxie. "Scary picture, hey?" he whispered to the dog who wagged his tail halfheartedly and then yelped as Alther Mella appeared through the picture. Maxie had never got used to Alther's appearances.

Maxie whimpered and burrowed his head under the blanket that covered Boy 412. His cold wet nose woke the boy up with a start. Boy 412 sat bolt upright and stared around him like a frightened rabbit. He didn't like what he saw. In fact, it was his worst nightmare.

Any minute now the Young Army Commander would come for him and then he would be in real trouble. Consorting with the enemy-that was what they called it when someone talked to Wizards. And here he was with two of them. And And an old Wizard ghost by the look of it. Not to mention the two weirdo kids, one with some kind of crown on her head and the other with those telltale green Wizard eyes. And the filthy dog. They'd taken his uniform too and put him in civilian clothes. He could be shot as a spy. Boy 412 groaned and put his head in his hands. an old Wizard ghost by the look of it. Not to mention the two weirdo kids, one with some kind of crown on her head and the other with those telltale green Wizard eyes. And the filthy dog. They'd taken his uniform too and put him in civilian clothes. He could be shot as a spy. Boy 412 groaned and put his head in his hands.

Jenna reached over and put her arm around him. "It's all right," she whispered. "We'll look after you."

Alther was looking agitated. "That Linda Linda woman. She's told them where you've gone. They're coming here. They're sending the woman. She's told them where you've gone. They're coming here. They're sending the a.s.sa.s.sin. a.s.sa.s.sin."

"Oh, no," said Marcia. "I'll CharmLock CharmLock the main doors." the main doors."

"Too late," gasped Alther. "She's already in."

"But how?"

"Someone left the door open," said Alther.

"Silas, you idiot!" snapped Marcia.

"Right," said Silas making for the door. "We'll be off, then. And I'll take Jenna with me. She's obviously not safe with you, Marcia."

"What?" squeaked Marcia indignantly. "She's not safe anywhere, you fool!"

"Don't you call me a fool," spluttered Silas. "I am just as intelligent as you, Marcia. Just because I am only an Ordinary-"

"Stop it!" shouted Alther. "This is not the time to argue. For goodness' sake, she's coming up the stairs she's coming up the stairs."

Shocked, everyone stopped and listened. All was quiet. Far too quiet. Except for the whisper of the silver stairs steadily turning as they brought a pa.s.senger slowly up through the Wizard Tower right to the very top, to Marcia's purple door.

Jenna looked scared. Nicko put his arm around her. "I'll keep you safe, Jen," he said. "You'll be all right with me."

Suddenly Maxie put his ears back and gave a bloodcurdling howl. Everyone's hair stood up on the backs of their necks.

Crash! The door burst open. The door burst open.

Silhouetted against the light stood the a.s.sa.s.sin. Her face was pale as she surveyed the scene before her. Her eyes glanced coldly about her, searching for her prey. The Princess. In her right hand she carried a silver pistol, the one that Marcia had last seen ten years ago in the Throne Room.

The a.s.sa.s.sin stepped forward.

"You are under arrest," she said menacingly. "You are not required to say anything at all. You will be taken from here to a place and-"

Boy 412 stood up, trembling. It was just as he had expected-they had come for him. Slowly he walked over toward the a.s.sa.s.sin. She stared at him coldly.

"Out of my way, boy," snapped the a.s.sa.s.sin. She struck out at Boy 412 and sent him crashing to the floor.

"Don't do that!" yelled Jenna. She rushed over to Boy 412, who was sprawled on the floor. As she knelt down to see if he was hurt, the a.s.sa.s.sin grabbed her.

Jenna twisted around. "Let go of me!" she yelled.

"Keep still, Queenling, Queenling," sneered the a.s.sa.s.sin. "There's someone who wants to see you. But he wants to see you-dead."

The a.s.sa.s.sin raised the silver pistol to Jenna's head.

Crack!

A Thunderflash Thunderflash flew from Marcia's outstretched hand. It knocked the a.s.sa.s.sin off her feet and threw Jenna clear of her grasp. flew from Marcia's outstretched hand. It knocked the a.s.sa.s.sin off her feet and threw Jenna clear of her grasp.

"Begird and Preserve!" shouted Marcia. A brilliant white sheet of light sprung up like a bright blade from the floor and encircled them, cutting them off from the unconscious a.s.sa.s.sin. shouted Marcia. A brilliant white sheet of light sprung up like a bright blade from the floor and encircled them, cutting them off from the unconscious a.s.sa.s.sin.

Then Marcia threw open the hatch that covered the rubbish chute.

"It's the only way out," she said. "Silas, you go first. Try and do a Cleaning Spell Cleaning Spell as you go down." as you go down."

"What?"

"You heard what I said. Get in in, will you!" snapped Marcia, giving Silas a hefty shove through the open hatch. Silas tumbled into the rubbish chute and then, with a yell, he was gone.

Jenna pulled Boy 412 to his feet. "Go on," she said and pushed him headfirst into the chute. Then she jumped in, closely followed by Nicko, Marcia and an overexcited wolfhound.

8.

THE R RUBBISH C CHUTE.

When Jenna threw herself into the rubbish chute she was so terrified of the a.s.sa.s.sin that she did not have time to be afraid of the chute. But as she tumbled uncontrollably downward into the pitch blackness she felt an overwhelming panic well up inside her. rubbish chute she was so terrified of the a.s.sa.s.sin that she did not have time to be afraid of the chute. But as she tumbled uncontrollably downward into the pitch blackness she felt an overwhelming panic well up inside her.

The inside of the rubbish chute was as cold and slippery as ice. It was made from a highly polished black slate, seamlessly cut and joined by the Master Masons who had built the Wizard Tower many hundreds of years ago. The drop was steep, too steep for Jenna to have any control over how she fell, so she tumbled and twisted this way and that, rolling from side to side.

But the worst thing was the dark.

It was thick, deep, impenetrable black. It pressed in on Jenna from all sides and although she strained her eyes desperately to see anything, anything at all, there was no response. Jenna thought she had gone blind.

But she could still hear. And behind her, coming up fast, Jenna could hear the swish of damp wolfhound fur.

Maxie the wolfhound was having a good time. He liked this game. Maxie had been a little surprised when he had jumped into the chute and not found Silas ready with his ball. He was even more surprised when his paws didn't seem to work anymore, and he had briefly scrabbled around trying to find out why. Then he had b.u.mped his nose on the back of the scary woman's neck and tried to lick a tasty morsel of something off her hair, but at that point she had given him a violent shove that had flipped him over onto his back.

And now Maxie was happy. Nose first, paws held in close, he became a streamlined streak of fur, and he overtook them all. Past Nicko, who grabbed at his tail but then let go. Past Jenna, who screamed in his ear. Past Boy 412, who was curled into a tight ball. And then past his master, Silas. Maxie felt uncomfortable going past Silas, because Silas was Top Dog and Maxie was Not Allowed in Front. But the wolfhound had no choice-he sailed by Silas in a shower of cold stew and carrot peelings and carried on down.

The rubbish chute snaked around the Wizard Tower like a giant helter-skelter buried deep inside the thick walls. It dropped steeply between each floor, taking with it not only Maxie, Silas, Boy 412, Jenna, Nicko and Marcia but also the remains of all the Wizards' lunches, which had been tipped into the chute that afternoon. The Wizard Tower was twenty-one stories high. The top two floors belonged to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and on each floor below that there were two Wizard apartments. That's a lot of lunches. It was wolfhound heaven, and Maxie ate enough sc.r.a.ps on his way down the Wizard Tower to keep him going for the rest of the day.

Eventually, after what felt like hours but was in fact only two minutes and fifteen seconds, Jenna felt the almost vertical drop level out, and her pace slowed to something that was bearable. She did not know it, but she now had left the Wizard Tower and was traveling below the ground, out from the foot of the Tower and toward the bas.e.m.e.nts of the Courts of the Custodians. It was still pitch-black and freezing cold in the chute, and Jenna felt very alone. She strained her ears to hear any sounds that the others might be making, but everyone knew how important it was to keep quiet and no one dared to call out. Jenna thought that she could detect the swish of Marcia's cloak behind her, but since Maxie had hurtled past her she had had no sign that there was anyone else with her at all. The thought of being alone in the dark forever began to take hold of her, and another tide of panic started to rise. But just as Jenna thought she might scream, a c.h.i.n.k of light shone down from a distant kitchen far above, and she caught a glimpse of Boy 412 huddled into a ball not far in front of her. Jenna's spirits lifted at the sight of him, and she found herself feeling sorry for the thin, cold sentry boy in his pajamas.

Boy 412 was in no state to feel sorry for anyone, least of all himself. When the mad girl with the gold circle on her head had pushed him into the abyss he had instinctively curled himself up into a ball and had spent the entire descent down the Wizard Tower rattling from side to side of the chute like a marble in a drainpipe. Boy 412 felt bruised and battered but no more terrified than he had been since he awoke to find himself in the company of two Wizards, a Wizard boy and a Wizard ghost. As he too slowed down when the chute leveled out, Boy 412's brain began to work again. The few thoughts that he managed to put together came to the conclusion that this must be a Test. The Young Army was full of Tests. Terrifying Surprise Tests always sprung on you in the middle of the night, just as you had fallen asleep and made your cold narrow bed as warm and comfortable as was possible. But this was a Big Test. This must be one of those Do-or-Die Tests. Boy 412 gritted his teeth; he wasn't sure, but right now it felt horribly like this was the Die part of the test. Whatever it was, there wasn't much he could Do. So Boy 412 closed his eyes tightly and kept rolling along.

The chute took them ever downward. It turned left and traveled underneath the Custodian Council Chambers, bore right to take in the Army Offices and then straight on where it burrowed through the thick walls of the underground kitchens that served the Palace. This was where things became particularly messy. The Kitchen Maids were still busy clearing up after the Supreme Custodian's midday banquet, and the hatches in the kitchen, which were not far above the travelers in the rubbish chute, opened with alarming frequency and showered them with the mixed-up remains of the feast. Even Maxie, who had by now eaten as much as he possibly could, found it unpleasant, especially after a solidified rice pudding hit him square on the nose. The youngest Kitchen Maid who threw the rice pudding caught a glimpse of Maxie and had nightmares about wolves in the rubbish chute for weeks.

For Marcia it was a nightmare too. She wrapped her gravy-splattered purple silk cloak with the custard-coated fur lining tightly around her, ducked a shower of brussels sprouts and tried to rehea.r.s.e the One-Second Dry Clean Spell One-Second Dry Clean Spell to use the moment she got out of the chute. to use the moment she got out of the chute.

At last the chute took them away from the kitchens, and things became slightly cleaner. Jenna briefly allowed herself to relax, but suddenly her breath was taken away as the chute dipped sharply down under the Castle walls toward its final destination at the riverside rubbish dump.

Silas recovered first from the sharp dip and guessed they were coming to the end of their journey. He peered into the darkness to try to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but he could make nothing out at all. Although he knew that by now the sun had set, he had hoped that with the full moon rising some light would be filtering through. And then, to his surprise, he slid to a halt against something solid. Something soft and slimy that smelled disgusting. It was Maxie.

Silas was wondering why Maxie was blocking up the rubbish chute when Boy 412, Jenna, Nicko and Marcia cannoned into him in quick succession. Silas realized that it was not just Maxie who was soft, slimy and smelled disgusting-they all did.

"Dad?" Jenna's scared voice came out of the darkness. "Is that you, Dad?"

"Yes, poppet," whispered Silas.

"Where are we, Dad?" asked Nicko hoa.r.s.ely. He hated the rubbish chute. Up until his leap into it Nicko had had no idea that he was terrified of confined s.p.a.ces; what a way to find out, he thought. Nicko had managed to fight his fear by telling himself that at least they were moving and they would soon be out. But now they had stopped. And they weren't out.

They were stuck stuck.

Trapped.

Nicko tried to sit up, but his head hit the cold slate above him. He stretched out his arms, but they both met the ice-smooth sides of the chute before he could straighten them. Nicko felt his breath coming faster and faster. He thought he might go mad if they didn't get out of there fast fast.

"Why have we stopped?" hissed Marcia.