The Seventh Star (The King's Watch Book 7) Read online

  The Seventh Star

  Table of Contents

  Dramatis Personae

  Clerkswell

  London

  The North

  1 — Elvenham Circus

  2 — Away with the Fairies

  3 — Home and Away

  4 — On the Case

  5 — The Dogged Detective

  6 — A Vision of Loveliness

  7 — No Complaints

  8 — Safe Haven

  9 — Fresh Starts

  10 — Assisting with Enquiries

  11 — New Blood

  12 — Sheriff to PR1

  13 — Mayfly

  14 — Cherchez le Gnome

  15 — Duty of Care

  16 — Fall Guy

  17 — The Pointing Finger

  18 — Gnome Advantage

  19 — Curried Worm Time

  20 — All You Can Eat

  21 — Queen Sacrifice

  22 — On the Scent

  23 — Dangerous Company

  24 — Whatever it Takes

  25 — Armed Race

  26 — Keep your Friends Close

  27 — And your Enemies Closer

  28 — Leader of the Pack

  29 — Air Lift

  Six Furlongs

  Author’s Note

  Table of Contents

  THE SEVENTH STAR

  The Seventh Book of the King’s Watch

  by Mark Hayden

  A Conrad Clarke Novel

  Dedication

  For the Awesome Rachel Lawston.

  There’s only One Auntie Rah Rah…

  Copyright © Paw Press 2020

  www.pawpress.co.uk

  Front Cover © Lawston Design 2020

  www.lawstondesign.com

  Images © Shutterstock

  Dramatis Personae

  After much nagging from Mr Hayden, I have put some notes here about the characters who appear in this book. I hope you find them useful.

  I recommend that you glance at them and then refer back to them if you need to. As ever, there are full lists and a glossary of magickal terms on the Paw Press website: www.pawpress.co.uk

  I hope you enjoy the book,

  Thanks,

  Conrad.

  Clerkswell

  These are the people who live in Clerkswell, my home village, or who used to live in Clerkswell or who are closely associated with me.

  Conrad Clarke

  Me.

  Mina Desai

  My fiancée.

  Mary Clarke

  My mother. Still with my father at the time of writing. Retired cryptanalyst for GCHQ.

  Rachael Clarke

  My younger sister, now resident in Mayfair and a big cheese in wealth management.

  Sofía Torres

  My half-sister. A student at the Invisible College.

  Scout

  My Familiar Spirit. A Border Collie.

  Myfanwy Lewis

  Our resident Druid/Housekeeper. Currently serving a sentence for her involvement in Dragon rearing. A Herbalist and excellent bat for Clerkswell Ladies Cricket Team.

  Ben Thewlis

  Myfanwy’s fiancé. A cereal agronomist and captain of the men’s cricket team.

  Carole Thewlis

  Ben’s sister. Works in the oil industry. Very good friend of Rachael’s.

  Erin Slater

  An Enscriber who rents one of my stables. A good friend to Myfanwy. Member of the Arden Foresters Circle of Mages. Superb slip fielder.

  Miss Parkes

  Former headmistress of the village school. A Formidable Person.

  Lloyd Flint

  A Gnome. Clan Second to Clan Flint. My magickal blood brother.

  Anna Flint

  Lloyd’s wife.

  Wesley Flint

  Lloyd's uncle. Former chief of clan Flint.

  Albrecht ‘Albie’ Adams

  A young Gnome of Clan Flint.

  Stephen & Juliet

  Bloxham

  Owners of Clerkswell Manor, the Big House. Stephen: developer and chairman of the cricket club. Juliet: housewife and captain of the ladies’ team. Hereditary enemies of the Clarkes. Up to a point.

  Ross Miller

  Young fast bowler.

  Emily Ventress

  Ditto.

  London

  All of these people feature in the following story, even if only in passing. I’ve grouped them by association.

  The King’s Watch

  Hannah Rothman

  The Peculier Constable, head of the King’s Watch. Referred to as the Boss.

  Victoria “Vicky”

  Robson

  My former work partner and good friend of all at Clerkswell. A Geordie and proud of it.

  Saffron Hawkins

  My current work partner. One of the “Oxfordshire Hawkins” and well connected in the world of magick. Second cousin to Heidi Marston.

  Rick James

  Senior Watch Captain. Also responsible for the Watch of Wessex. Ex-husband of Cordelia (see Glastonbury)

  Xavier Metcalfe

  Vicky’s current work partner.

  Tennille Haynes

  Hannah’s PA. Mother to Desirée Haynes

  Iain Drummond

  Deputy Constable. Has responsibility for prosecutions in the Cloister Court

  Annelise

  van Kampen

  A Watch Officer and assistant lawyer to Iain Drummond. Originally from Holland.

  The Invisible College / Salomon’s House

  Cora Hardisty

  Dean of the Invisible College (who wants to be Warden). A consummate politician and an ally rather than a friend.

  Dr Francesca

  Somerton

  Keeper of the Queen’s Esoteric Library. A wise woman who has not hung up her dancing shoes.

  Selena Bannister

  Mistress of Illusions. Cora Hardisty’s best friend

  Chris Kelly

  The Earth Master of Salomon’s House – a Geomancer and expert in Ley lines. Almost a friend.

  Tamsin Kelly

  Chris Kelly’s wife. Apprenticed to the Fae Prince of Richmond as a Plane Shifter.

  Eseld Mowbray

  A tutor of Wards at Salomon’s House. Also an heiress to part of the Mowbray fortune. A strong horsewoman.

  Kenver Mowbray

  Youngest of the Mowbray clan, heir to the main part of the Pellacombe fortune and a gifted Geomancer. Apprenticed to Chris Kelly.

  Cador Mowbray

  Not a Mage at all, but I've put him with his siblings. A rich barrister who mainly takes cases in the Cloister Court.

  Heidi Marston

  Custodian of the Great Work and Master Artificer. A larger than life character in all senses of the word. Saffron’s cousin and a member of the Hawkins clan.

  Oighrig Ahearn

  The Oracle – senior Sorcerer at Salomon’s House. Cora Hardisty’s protégé.

  Desirée Haynes

  A postgraduate student at the College. Vicky Robson’s best friend.

  The Cloister Court

  The Honourable Mrs

  Justice Bracewell

  Senior judge in the Cloister Court. May or may not be known as Marcia to her husband.

  Stephanie Morgan

  Deputy Bailiff to the Cloister Court. Wields a mean axe and bakes very nice cakes.

  Augusta Faulkner

  Legendary barrister in the Court. Mostly famous for her work as a defence lawyer. Mother to Keira Faulkner.

  Irina Ispabudhan

  Currently in prison. See the story of the Nine of Wands for full details

  Everyone Else

  Alain
Dupont

  A Frenchman from a small village in Bordeaux. Founder member of the Merlyn’s Tower Irregulars. All his Christmases came at once when he got a job as a paid intern with my sister Rachael at her wealth management firm.

  (Mr Joshi)

  A part-time Hindu priest and retired civil servant. For further details see Ring of Troth

  The North

  Taking the Deputy’s job meant getting to know a new landscape. I’ve included a column to show how I came across these people / creatures.

  Saskia Mason

  Middlebarrow

  Warden of Middlebarrow Haven and Guardian of Nimue’s Spring.

  Evie Mason

  Middlebarrow

  Housekeeper of Middlebarrow Haven.

  Piers Wetherill

  Middlebarrow

  Watch Captain of the Marches.

  The Kirkhams

  Ribblegate Farm

  Joseph; his son Joe; Joe’s wife, Kelly. Owners of a dairy farm on the Fylde. Old friends and allies of mine.

  Stacey

  Blackpool

  A former prison colleague of Mina’s. Has disastrous taste in men.

  The Queen of Alderley

  The Fae

  A Fae Queen who lives near Alderley Edge.

  Princess Birkdale

  The Fae

  A Fae Princess in the Line of Queen Alderley.

  Tara Doyle

  The Fae

  The human face of Princess Birkdale. A footballers wife, model and Instagram star. Winner of Strictly and mother of two.

  Count of Canal Street

  The Fae

  A Fae Count in the service of Princess Birkdale.

  Wayne

  The Fae

  A Fae Knight in the service of the Count of Canal Street.

  Fae Klassq

  The Fae

  A human entertainer who lives with the Count.

  JC

  The Fae

  A human entertainer. MC at the Count’s Club.

  Stefan Blackrod

  Clan Blackrod

  Gnome Chief of Clan Blackrod.

  Lachlan Mace

  Clan Blackrod

  A Gnome. Counsel to Clan Blackrod and friend of Seth Holgate.

  Seth Holgate

  M’cr Alch. Soc.

  An Artificer. President of the Manchester Alchemical Society and prospective candidate for Warden of Salomon’s House.

  Meredith Telford

  M’cr Alch. Soc.

  Deputy President and past President of the Manchester Alchemical Society.

  Lois Reynolds

  M’cr Alch. Soc.

  A sorcerer of some power from Yorkshire and prospective candidate for Warden of Salomon’s House.

  1 — Elvenham Circus

  It was a beautiful day for a party.

  We would have sunshine later, and more importantly, no rain. It was the last Saturday in September, and high pressure over the Atlantic had gifted us clear skies and light winds. It had also gifted us a near-frost last night and mist over the Severn Valley in the distance. All in all, it was such a perfect day that something was bound to go badly wrong. No one is ever that lucky.

  ‘Scout! To me.’ I called the manic mutt from the woods and headed back down to Elvenham. From here, I couldn’t see much of the house because of the marquee on the lawns. The dew on the canvas glistened in the sunlight, and from behind it, a plume of steam showed that the poor boiler was working overtime to provide hot water for the girls. Being first up has its advantages.

  Scout came to heel and looked up at me. ‘Arff,’ he said. I think that meant: Why have you called me over? Have we got work to do?

  ‘Breakfast, chum. For both of us.’

  Now that he’s just a dog, and not a Bonded Familiar Spirit, I have to take a lot more responsibility for him. I don’t mind most of the time, and Myfanwy loves him, too, so at least I’ll be able to leave him here when we’re off on a mission – or a holiday. I still wince when I remember smuggling him on to the cruise ship disguised as an assistance dog.

  Second out of bed, and standing outside the back door in her dressing gown was my little sister, Sofía. ‘¡Hola! Conrad,’ she said, somewhat sleepily. The cup of coffee in one hand was drooping dangerously as she fished for a cigarette. I took two out and lit one for her.

  ‘How do you feel this morning?’ I asked.

  Last night had been fairly momentous for the Clarke family. Our sister Rachael and my friend Alain Dupont had become Entangled in the world of magick thanks to Rachael’s meddling and Sofía’s carelessness. Life for the Clarkes would never be quite the same again.

  She pushed her long dark hair behind her ears. Her eyes were a little puffy, but otherwise she had the seam free skin that comes from being nineteen and staying out of the sun. ‘I am feeling guilty,’ she said. ‘It was my fault and you got in trouble. I was showing off.’

  ‘Not your fault. And I’m not in trouble. When you get to know the Boss better, you’ll be able to tell the difference between railing and rollocking.’

  ‘Eh? What are they?’

  Sofía’s English is so good, you forget sometimes that she’s not fully bi-lingual. I cast around for a word that would make sense. ‘Venting?’ Sofía nodded. ‘When the Boss uses Yiddish words, she’s just venting. If you’re in real trouble, it’s 100% English.’

  She tipped her head on one side. ‘You know she is not my boss. Or Mina’s, or Myfanwy’s or Erin’s or Rachael’s…’ She waited until I’d got the message. ‘Mina says, and I think she is right, that sometimes your boss just wants to be Hannah.’

  ‘Yes. You’re right. She’s here as a guest now.’

  Sofía met the Boss for the first time yesterday, and she’s wrong. The very hardest thing for the Peculier Constable to do is to be Hannah, because Hannah is a widow with enough trauma etched on her body to make looking in the mirror a major achievement.

  I stubbed out my cigarette and headed in to get Scout’s dogfood, and from the kitchen, I could hear the sounds of breakfast being prepared. Mina had appeared and was already poring over the list of jobs for today, fighting for space with Myfanwy, who was trying to lay the table for a Kosher spread. Vicky and Erin drifted in, and Myfanwy enlisted them to help nudge Mina out of the way. Yesterday had been Myfanwy’s day; today was Mina’s. Sofía and I kept our distance.

  We’d had a houseful last night, and more were coming through the day as the party got nearer. First to arrive, bright and early, was my current work-partner, Saffron Hawkins. Everyone said Hi, but no one went to give her a hug. She’s as welcome as anyone in my house, and I trust her with my life, but there’s always a little bit of Saffron in reserve.

  ‘Sorry I couldn’t be here last night,’ she said. ‘Family obligations.’

  ‘Talking of family, you missed a riot,’ said Myfanwy with a grin.

  ‘Not half,’ added Vicky.

  Mina lifted her nose in her I-shall-rise-above-this pose and looked at Saffron. ‘Change of plan,’ she said and handed over a sheet of paper.

  Saffron scanned it. ‘Who’s taking the Boss to Synagogue, then?’ she asked. ‘Not that I mind missing the traffic in Cheltenham.’

  Mina kept her face neutral. ‘There were developments last night. Rachael – Conrad’s sister – is now Entangled, and the Mowbrays are staying in the village. Hannah will be conveyed to synagogue in a stately fashion by Maggie Pierce.’

  ‘No!’ said Saffron. ‘How did that happen?’

  ‘Conrad, take her outside and tell her. And don’t be long.’

  ‘Here,’ said Myfanwy, thrusting two mugs of tea at me. ‘Poor girl’s driven down from Oxford with no breakfast, least you can do is give her a drink.’

  We backed out of the kitchen and I gave Saff her tea. She took a slurp and stared at the list of jobs. ‘Help Mike set up the bar. With help from Ben.’ She peered closer. ‘What’s the red “A” in the circle for?’

  ‘Artificer. You
may have noticed that Mina has gone into overdrive. She is encouraging you to use magick to ensure that the bar is running smoothly.’

  ‘But…’ she looked at me like a lost child.

  ‘I know, Saff. I doubt your magickal gift will be of any use at all. Just humour her, OK?’

  ‘Right. So, what the hell happened last night, and how come Rachael is Entangled?’

  ‘And Alain. You’ll meet him later.’

  I told her what had happened. That story rightly belongs with my quest to bring a Druid to justice and is part of the French Leave adventure. I finished by giving her an apology in advance.

  ‘I hate to say this, Saffron, but I’m afraid that my sister may be after you.’

  She spat out her tea. ‘You said she was straight!’

  ‘She is. She wants to secure the Hawkins estate for the new company she’s setting up: Occult Estate Management. She’s got all the Mowbrays, including Ethan, to join her.’

  ‘Seriously, sir, that’s going to put me in a very awkward position.’

  ‘I know it would, which is why I don’t want you involved. If you could get Lady Hawkins to call me after the weekend, I’ll handle it.’

  ‘Thanks. Talking of the Mowbrays, I heard some very interesting gossip last night. You know it was my aunt’s big birthday?’