Page 59 of Resurgence of the Pack

Victorian Birmingham was smaller than the present-day city but no less chaotic. There was the thrum of people all around, and the station platforms were heaving. Well-to-do people were catching trains to go off to celebrate the New Year; this wasn’t yet a place for the hoi-polloi, but solely for those who could afford first-class travel.

‘Shine your shoes, guvnor?’ a young boy asked Greg. He was dressed in shabby clothes and he couldn’t have been more than ten years old; his frame was skeletal and his legs were bowed, a symptom of rickets. Child labour was alive and well in the nineteenth century, but knowing it and seeing it were two very different things. The worst thing was that it hadn’t been eliminated in the twenty-first century either. My stomach churned as I watched the small child look hopefully at Greg. I needed to do more; we all did.

Greg shook his head but tossed a coin to the kid. The shoe-black’s eyes widened at the sight of it and he flashed Greg a huge grin as he pocketed it. Then he turned and fled into the crowd before Greg could realise he’d given him the wrong coin.

‘Is that the right currency?’ I asked in a low voice.

‘Of course.’ Greg looked amused. ‘Do you think I’d bring modern currency with me?’

No, I didn’t; Greg was nothing if not prepared. I was just annoyed with myself for not thinking of it myself. ‘He sure ran off fast.’

Greg shrugged. ‘They probably usually earn a penny and I tossed him a pound. In these times, it’s the equivalent of a hundred quid or so.’

I nudged him. ‘Softie.’

‘These kids live a hard life.’

We had barely made our way off the bustling platform when an ogre approached us. Greg tensed next to me. Behind the ogre were another two, plus a troll and a dryad sporting plenty of visible weapons.

I plastered on a friendly smile, careful not to hold eye contact for long, and gave the first ogre a shallow bow. ‘My honour to meet you,’ I said. The formulaic greeting seemed less out of place in the times I now found myself in.

He bobbed me a markedly shallower bow, held a hand to his heart and uttered the phrase in return.

With so many minions lurking behind him, I was pretty sure that we weren’t getting away with a quick nod to each other. Besides, part of me was curious about Krieg’sgrandaddy, or whatever he was to my High King. I decided it was best to seize the bull by the horns.

You and bulls,Esme muttered.

‘I would love to pay my respects to Mr Krieg, if he’s available.’

Next to me, Torrance made some strangled sounds; apparently I was off piste again. Poor Torrance, he didn’t know that was my MO: situation normal, all fucked up.

Greg knew me, though, and his face was studiously blank. We’d played strip poker once and needless to say I’d ended up in my birthday suit whilst he’d remained fully dressed. Still, I’d enjoyed rectifying that after the game was over.

The ogre looked faintly surprised, like he didn’t normally get people who were actuallywillingto meet Krieg. I met his gaze long enough to show him a flash of Esme and my backbone before looking away so as not to formally challenge him. I was a Queen, dammit, and I wasn’t going to cower in front of anyone.

In my head, Esme bared her teeth.

The ogre gave me another glance, this one a little more respectful. ‘Follow me,’ he said brusquely. ‘No bags?’

‘I hadn’t been planning on an overnight stay,’ I admitted as we followed him through the busystation. He grunted.

When we got outside, a carriage was waiting. The ogre in charge sent the rest of his gang back to watch the platforms whilst he escorted us to Krieg. To be honest, the huge ogre looked somewhat comical as he folded himself into the carriage; he was much too tall and he had to sit hunched over with his head bent forward.

It was late and evening was drawing in, but the streets were still busy as people left work and readied for the New Year celebrations. The carriage took us to a relatively new building that remained iconic even in my era.

We were not taken to the front but to the seedier rear entrance. ‘This way,’ the ogre grunted as he climbed out. The three of us followed obediently as he led us through the servants’ door and into a small room. ‘Wait here,’ the ogre said.

We waited. Ten minutes passed and Greg started pacing. Torrance, meanwhile, was casually juggling fire, passing it from hand to hand and chucking it into the air before expertly catching it. Show off.

I miss being able to do that,Terrance said quietly.

Maybe I can learn to juggle,I suggested.Would it help if you could do it vicariously?

He chuckled.I appreciate the offer, my Queen, but you have better things to do with your time than master the art of juggling flames.

I was about to disagree when a servant woman bustled in with a huge blue dress over her arm. ‘Out, gentlemen,’ she snapped. ‘You can wait in the hall whilst I dress the lady appropriately.’ After a moment’s hesitation, they left.

The woman had no marks on her forehead and appeared to be wholly human. ‘Let’s get you undressed,’ she said.

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