If Eg Iridescence had managed to kick a hole in Falada, Colwyn wouldn’t have suffered any permanent injuries but it would probably have hurt quite badly.  He was grateful that Mr Burge had been so quick to step in.  This probably meant that he now owed Mr Burge and the rest of the Underhill Towers council a favour, and that favour would probably involve taking Joe off their hands and paying for any damage he caused, but Colwyn would probably have agreed to do that anyway, if they’d put their foot down.

“Put my brother down!” screamed Pin Iridescence.

“That’s my brother- put him down!” added her sister Cae, who then kicked Mr Burge in the side.

He didn’t seem to notice- those scales were very tough.  “He was trying to kick the horse to pieces,” he told the Finery family, “Is that enough proof that he’s really Colwyn Ballantine, or do you still want to see the documents?”

The Finerys looked a bit uncertain, so Colwyn added, “I’m still prepared to show you them, if you do.  If you carry the horse’s head up to my study, I’ll tell you where to find all my identification.”

Cae Iridescence kicked Mr Burge again, in the hope that this time the result would be different.  Her brother Ty was quicker.  He leaned forward and crooked an arm around Jeanette’s neck.  “Put him down, or I’ll…”

Jeanette, oddly, looked more confused than frightened.  “Hang on,” she asked Pin and Cae, “Weren’t there six of you?”

Colwyn looked around.  Jeanette was right.  Eg Iridescence was in Mr Burge’s claws, and Pin, Cae and Ty were on the ground making a nuisance of themselves, but their brother Bo and their sister Dol were missing.  They hadn’t merged with any of the others- everyone there had retained their own height and blue or purple colour.  They must have snuck off while everyone else was arguing.

Ty Iridescence loosened his grip on Jeanette (who dashed back to the steps beside Colwyn), and shared a slimy, triumphant grin with his sisters.

Ms Tulvey from Underhill Towers looked at the front door, behind the steps on which most of them were sat, then at Colwyn.  “Is there any other way they could have got into the house?”

“Nowhere that’s not locked,” Colwyn assured her.

“Then they’re probably either hiding nearby, or on their way home.”

“Come to think of it, where’s that Kindling Grove guy?” asked Jeanette, looking around.

“I’m here.”  Onrey Tavin stepped into the middle of the crowd.  He sought out the Iridescences, and gave them a murderous look.  “I was talking to my friend Kai.”

Colwyn heard a cracking sound behind him.  Not behind him at Dovecote Gardens; behind him in the Iridescences’ attic.

“I’m sorry,” he told the others, “Please excuse me.”  He moved out of Falada, and turned to the door.  The noise was coming from there, and it sounded as though someone was struggling to unlock it.

When it opened, Colwyn expected to see Bo and Dol Iridescence, fresh from Dovecote Gardens.  Instead, he saw an Opal Hill woman he didn’t recognise, with Ruby and Sally close behind her.

(To be continued)