Page 50 of The Song Rising

“You’ll stay now, and help us,” I said. “Won’t you?”

“No.”

I stared at him. “You must be joking,” I said, when he gave no explanation of his own accord. “You’re not seriously abandoning us now?”

“We must have Rephaite support, Paige,” Warden said. “Now more than ever. Terebell has no intention of changing her plans—and after what she regards as your insubordination, it may be best that the two of you do not see each other for a time.”

I could only imagine how enraged she must have been when she realized what Vance had done at the warehouse.

“Fine.” I pulled my hands free from his and stood. “I need to speak to my commanders.”

“I also wish to speak to your commanders. If I may.”

“You don’t need to ask permission.”

He looked at my face for a long time. I wondered if he could understand the emotions bubbling through me: the bitterness and disappointment, the fear of what the future would bring.

We left the supervisor’s post together and took the parallel tunnel back to the other end of the facility, avoiding the voyants in the bunks. I didn’t want to get into the habit of hiding from my subjects, but it was safer if I let their tempers simmer down.

As we passed one of the cross-tunnels, the lights on the ceiling flickered, then glowed, and a bluebottle hum filled the facility.

“Alsafi.” I switched off my flashlight. “He’s quick.”

“He knew the need was pressing.”

“Is he sure Scion won’t notice?”

“They abandoned this facility a century ago. It is forgotten. He will see to it that it remains so.”

Our surroundings were a little more welcoming now. None of the bulbs grew too bright—Alsafi must be being cautious with the electricity—but they warmed the concrete and cast-iron.

The others had claimed places on the lower deck. The vile augurs had clearly felt safe enough to emerge, for the time being: Wynn and Vern had occupied one pair of bunks, while Róisín was at the top of the next set, and Ivy at the bottom of the next. Jos was above her, fast asleep beneath two blankets, and Maria had dumped her rucksack opposite Ivy. When she saw Warden’s towering figure, Ivy pushed herself farther into her bunk.

“You found bedding?” I said.

“Not much,” Nick admitted. “Are you okay?”

“Of course.” I spotted a bag on the floor. “Whose is that?”

A hoarse voice came from the doorway. “Mine.”

I turned to see Tom and Glym, both a little worse for wear. It was Tom who had spoken, and he was grinning, if grimy. I was so relieved to see them that I embraced them both.

“Minty asked us to deliver a message.” Glym looked grave. “She has decided against entering the Beneath. She would prefer to stay in Grub Street and assist us from there.”

I wanted to protest, but Minty Wolfson was the soul of Grub Street, and I couldn’t imagine her anywhere else. “And the Pearl Queen?”

“We’ve heard nothing from her.”

Four out of six commanders, Warden, and both my mollishers. More than enough to decide on our counter play. I beckoned the others into an empty side tunnel, where someone had set up a table and chairs. Warden barred the door behind us before taking a seat.

“Time for us to plan our next move,” I said, “because things are about to get much worse.”

“Worse,” Maria echoed. “Than this.”

I handed her Danica’s note. She read it and turned away with a groan, fisting her hands in her hair.

“Portable scanners. For the soldiers,” she said. “It’s a damn good thing we did move underground.”

---