Daemons Are Forever

I stared steadily at the Armourer and the Sarjeant. “The Merlin Glass chose this man, as the best and most suitable candidate out of the whole past family. That ought to tell you something. Jacob, all will be made clear to you, in time. Now please, introduce yourself.”

“I have fought in many wars,” the living Jacob said, just a little grandly. “Those secret and invisible wars the Droods have always specialised in, for the protection of the world. I can help thee deal with the practical and political sensibilities, those being my area of expertise, in my day. The principles of waging war are really quite simple: divide and conquer, identify and strike at weak spots, and most of all, get everyone else so confused they don’t dare do anything for fear of doing the wrong thing.”

“The world has changed some, since your day,” said Callan.

“But the hearts of politicians have not, I’ll warrant,” said Jacob.

“He’s got a point,” said Callan.

“Thank you, Jacob,” said the Armourer. “I’m sure your experience will prove invaluable. Now, if you and William will excuse us, we have private matters to discuss.”

William nodded and gestured, and the Merlin Glass shrank back down to normal size again and tucked itself into my jacket pocket. Thankfully without the bloody gong sound this time. The Armourer glared at me.

“All right, Eddie. You’re still looking dangerously smug. Drop the other shoe. Who or what did the mirror find for you in the future?”

“Ah,” I said. “This is where it gets just a bit complicated. I have located a superb future warrior, and distant descendant of ours, called Giles Deathstalker.”

“Deathstalker?” said Harry. “What kind of a name is that?”

“It suited him,” I said. “The point is, I’ve seen the man fight, and he’s death on two legs and nasty with it. Just what we need. He’s quite ready to help us out. Unfortunately…”

“I just knew there’d be a catch,” said the Armourer.

“Unfortunately, he’s so far ahead of us in the potential timelines that the Merlin Glass couldn’t just bring him through, like Jacob. I’ll have to go get him. And that means using the Time Train.”

The Armourer didn’t actually sink to the floor and bury his face in his hands, but he looked very much like he wanted to.

“The Time Train? Have you finally lost every last little bit of your senses, Eddie? You can’t use the Time Train! It’s far too dangerous!”

“By all means, try it,” Harry said generously. “Either way, we win.”

“Smugness is very unflattering, Harry,” I said loftily. “I know what I’m doing, Uncle Jack.”

The Armourer snorted loudly. “Be the first time. Well, if you must go … be sure and bring back as many future weapons as you can.”

“Deathstalker,” said Roger Morningstar. “Hell of a name.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

About Time

When it came to my using the Time Train, the I

I reached out with my thoughts through my silver torc, and made mental contact with Strange.

“Hi there!” said Strange. “Did you know the Sarjeant-at-Arms is looking for you? And the rest of your I

“The fact has not escaped me,” I said. “I need you to run a diversion for me. You game?”

“Of course! I could use a little fun. Your family is all very worthy, Eddie, but a lot of them really are very solemn.”

“Trust me; I had noticed. All right, I need you to broadcast the news that everyone in the family is to get their new torcs. The I

“Oh sure; the more the merrier, I say.”

“Good. Then spread the good news, and tell everyone they need to come to the Sanctity right now.” I gri

“Oh dear,” said Strange. “Are you about to do something desperate and dangerous again?”

“Of course. Mind the store while I’m gone, Strange.”

“Please, call me Ethel.”

“Over my dead and lifeless body.”

To my surprise, when I finally got to the rear of the Hall, avoiding the main corridors that were already filling up with cheering family members, Molly was already there waiting for me. She greeted me with a fond embrace and a smug smile.

“How did you know I was going to be here?” I said.

“Honestly, sweetie, I am a witch, remember? Sorry it took me so long to get away, but Pe

“Has she agreed to stop seeing Mr. Stab?” I said.

“Well, not as such,” said Molly. “The best I could get out of her was an agreement never to meet with him alone.”

I nodded reluctantly. “Pe

“I suppose it’s like those sad, desperate women who want to marry serial killers in prison,” said Molly. “Women always believe they can change a man, bring out the good in him through the power of their love. Some just like more of a challenge, I suppose. And Mr. Stab does have that dark, dangerous, vulnerable thing going for him. I know, I know, don’t look at me like that; I do know he’s been slaughtering and butchering women for over a century… but there is more to him than that, Eddie. I have seen him do … good things. So have you.”

“He’s Mr. Stab,” I said. “He kills women. That’s what he does. If he hurts Pe

“He won’t,” said Molly. “He’s never hurt a friend of mine.”

“If he kills her, I’ll kill him. Friend of yours or not.”

“If it comes to that, I’ll help you,” said Molly. “So, why are we here, Eddie?”

I gestured at the long steel-and-glass hangar, standing tall and proud at the rear of the Hall, though set a discreet distance away. It was a wide, steel-girdered construction, with an arching glass roof, big enough to hold several football matches in simultaneously. The family never does things by halves, even when it comes to museums hardly anyone visits anymore. I took Molly’s arm in mine and led her towards the open entrance.

“I’ve located a very useful ally in the future,” I said. “Unfortunately, he’s so far ahead of us that we’re going to have to go and get him in person. And for that, we need the Time Train.”

“Just the two of us?” said Molly.

“Well,” I said, “I did ask for volunteers, but the response was disappointing. Apparently everyone else had more sense. Time travel is always dangerous, and no one’s actually used the Time Train in ages. Probably with good reason. It’s not the most… reliable device the family ever built. If you’d prefer to stay behind, I’d quite understand. I’d stay behind if I could find anyone daft enough to go in my place.”

Molly hugged my arm firmly to her side. “Do you really think I’d let you go anywhere without me?”

I gri

“You romantic devil, you. Flatter me with your silver tongue, why don’t you?”

“Together, forever,” I said. “How about that?”

“Forever and ever and ever,” said Molly.

I led her into the long hangar. It’s a huge place, packed full of all the early technological wonders produced down the ages by family Armourers with a bee in their bo