"All the better for seeing you," I said. "Where's your cape? I always think you look so more authentic with your cape."

"In the back seat. I have to take it off when I'm driving; I find it restricts my movements too much."

Ms. Fate is the real deal. A genuine old-school super-heroine who just happens to be played by a man.

"We really do need to get a move on," I said. "Walker's people are already on their way here. So fire up the Pink Pan ther mobile, stomp on the pedal, and it's everything forward and trust in the Lord all the way to the Osterman Gate. Stop for nothing and no-one, and I hope all your car's armaments are loaded for bear because we're going to need them."

"You know how to sweet-talk a girl," said Ms. Fate. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your elven friend?"

"This is Lord Screech," I said. "Only he probably isn't. Think of him less as my client and more as cargo to be transported. I'd lock him in the boot if I could trust him out of my sight that long."

"Well," said Ms. Fate, smiling challengingly at Screech. "An elf. How… exotic."

The elf lord gave her a formal bow, with all the trimmings. "Delighted to meet you. You're a man."

"Not when I'm on duty," said Ms. Fate. "Is my secret identity going to be a problem?"

"Not at all," said Screech, smiling easily. "Like all my kind, I delight in all forms of deceit and disguise, and glory in the joys of transformation. We've never understood this human preoccupation with normality. Where's the fun in that?"

"Definitely time to be going," I said. "When an elf starts making sense…"

Ms. Fate laughed and snapped her fingers at the Fatemobile. All the doors swung open. Ms. Fate headed for the driving seat. I looked at Screech.

"You want to do rock, scissors, paper to see who rides shotgun?"

"Only people I trust get to sit beside me in the Fatemobile," said Ms. Fate.

"I'll get in the back seat," said Screech.