“Hope so,” said Paddy. “When you start giving me my lessons. Real ones. Not like that. Not like a kid’s game.”

“What, you want me to come at you with a pointed stick?”

“No. There’s more to giving lessons than just attacking someone.”

“Wouldn’t know,” said Achilleus. “Never given a lesson before. Not sure I’ll be much use as a teacher. You’ll just have to watch and learn, I guess. Pick up what you can on the job. It’s not nothing I ever usually think about.”

“I’m a quick learner,” said Paddy.

Achilleus smiled at him, then shoved him down on the floor again. Paddy looked like he was going to burst into tears, but Achilleus just laughed at him. He was still laughing when Maxie came in.

“I’m going up to see Blue,” she said. “Give him my love,” said Achilleus. “Will you come with me?” “What for?” “I want to talk to him about whether we stay here.” “Why would you want to leave?”

“You could have died today, Akkie.”

“That was my choice.”

“And Freak did die.”

“Could have happened any time.”

“We’re just doing David’s dirty work for him.”

“So? I like doing dirty work.”

“Be serious.”

“I am being serious, Maxie. I mean, look at me, I’m a fighter. What do you expect me to do? Sit around all day counting potatoes? I’m not like you, Maxie, I’m not interested in politics. So long as I have a bit of excitement in my life, get some food at the end of the day, I’m cool.”

“Like an animal.”

“Jeez, calm down, Maxie. Look around you! We’re living in Buckingham Palace, for God’s sake, not the zoo. Before— how we used to live—that was living like animals. This is living like a queen.”

“I thought you’d rather live like a king,” said Maxie.

“Same difference,” said Achilleus. “Bottom line: I like it here. I don’t know why you’d want to leave.”

“Because if we stay here we’ll become like David. All he really wants is power.”

“That’s fine with me,” said Achilleus. “As long as I’m on the winning side. Don’t want to hang with no losers.”

“Will you come anyway?” said Maxie. “To see Blue?”

“I get bored of too much yakking.”

“Fine. Don’t come, then.”

“I won’t.”

Achilleus winked at Paddy, who laughed. Maxie blushed and headed for the door before she lost her temper and made a fool of herself. Her side was throbbing badly enough to make her cry. Jester was waiting in the corridor outside, carrying a candelabra with five lit candles. She wondered how much he had heard of their conversation.

What the hell. It was no secret how she felt about David.

Damn Achilleus. Damn him! At least Ollie was meeting her up there, so she had some support.