I keep telling myself that anyone in my position would naturally be so, but that doesn’t help. Appearing in front of large crowds doesn’t bother me, and neither does public speaking, as both tend to go hand-in-hand with being the Lair Legion’s Emergency Services Coordinator. I admit that one or two of the butterflies dog-fighting in my stomach could be attributed to the fact that I’m about to be dubbed an honest-to-goodness knight by the Queen of England on live television that will be broadcast across the globe.

    But really I’m nervous because of her.

    “Would you just leave it be? Your tie looks fine.” Whitney gently slaps my hand away from the offending accessory and adjusts it. She looks up into my eyes. “You’ll be fine.”

    I’m not sure how to tell her that the reason I’m uncomfortable is the fact that, for the first time since before all the craziness with the Hellraisers, my ex-girlfriend and I are alone. It’s something that was inevitable, and in fact I put myself in the predicament. I invited her to wait with me until I was to appear before the Queen to receive my knighting.

    I should have expected Dream to duck out on me when he found out Sorceress was going to be the other person I chose to wait with me.

    The rest of the Legion are gathered in the main hall. While most of them are happy for me, I think some may feel a bit slighted that I’m being honored above them for the Transworld Challenge that many of them also participated in. I had even been debating refusing the award, but Sir Mumphrey had talked me out of it.

    “My dear Mr. Boaz, believe me when I say that you would be a blasted fool not to accept the title her Majesty the Queen wishes to bestow upon you. The simple fact of the matter is the rest of our fine comrades are simply not eligible, or else I’m sure they would be standing shoulder to shoulder with you in that room, what?”

    I had mentioned the fact that Bry, as Goldeneyed, was also a Canadian, which meant that, as a citizen of a member of the Commonwealth, he was also eligible.

    “While you and I may know that to be true, I believe our Mr. Katz is unwilling to reveal his identity to receive such an award. With an oik like that bounder J. Jonah Jerkson breathing down his collar I can’t say I blame the lad.”

    I couldn’t argue with that, but it still didn’t feel right to me.

    “As Hatman, you are a symbol to a great many people. I believe young Mr. Foxglove dubbed it the, ah, ‘Cap factor’. Many people look up to you as a role model, and I’m damned proud to say that about a member of my regiment, what? In a world where our children look up to drug-abusing pop catterwallers and steroid-pumping sportsmen with too much money, if we can provide a positive alternative, such as a superhero that is also a fully recognized knight to the Queen herself, is it not our duty to do so?”

    I don’t know why I bother arguing with Sir Mumphrey. I never win.

    Whitney snaps me back to reality. “Hey, you still with us in there?”

    “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. This show on the road yet?” I brush past Whitney to poke my head around the curtain. Everyone is almost finished being seated.

    “You’ll know when it starts, Jay.” She pauses before continuing. “Do you want me to leave?”

    “What?” Even after the time apart, she still reads my like a spellbook.

“It’s obvious you’re uptight about my being here. If you want me to just go and sit in the crowd with the Legion, then that’s fine. Just be honest.” She puts on a smile, but I’m not a slouch in the reading department either, and she’s unsure if I want her here.

    I sigh and plop myself down on the rather plush bench. “I do want you here, Whit. This is one of the biggest non-violent things to ever happen to me, and even though we’re not, together, anymore, you’re still one of the most important people in my life. You should be here.”

    “I’m glad to hear you say that.” Her smile becomes genuine. “You’re still one of my best friends, and I want to be here.”

    “Then here you’ll stay.”

    The sound of trumpets interrupt, which is my cue to enter the Queen’s presence. I get up from my bench and smooth down my suit. Whitney hands he my Hatman cap, and affixes it to my head. “Good luck out there.” She gives me a quick hug and gently pushes me past the curtain.

    I take in the opulent splendor of the hall, how everything is so elegant. There’s a rather large crowd, and the flash bulbs of cameras strobe incessantly. Applause greets me, and I’m pretty sure I can hear Dream shouting something encouraging and derogatory at the same time.

    This is pretty cool.