Page 159 of The Bone Season

‘Evening, 40,’ he said.

An amaurotic came to my side. ‘This way, please.’

Without looking at David, I followed the woman behind the curtain. David smiled and shook his head, as if I were an amusing child.

The space beyond was a dressing room of sorts. I took off my uniform and donned the one that had been left for me. A fresh undershirt, trousers, then a thicker shirt with long sleeves, made to wick off sweat. Next, the bulletproof armour – a lightweight vest, marked with the red anchor. The final layer was, quite literally, a red jacket.

I pulled on the boots, lacing them tight. I could run, climb and fight in this attire. A small backpack had been provided, which contained a syringe of adrenalin and a medical kit, along with an air rifle and a set of darts.

Flux darts, for hunting voyants.

Once I was kitted out, I emerged from behind the curtain. The human team members had all gathered around a table. Carl beckoned me.

‘Hello, 40.’

‘Carl,’ I said.

He let the name slide. ‘How are you finding your new tunic?’

‘It fits.’

‘I mean, how are you finding being a red-jacket?’

All of them were looking at me now, their faces curious.

‘Fantastic,’ I said, after a pause.

Carl nodded, pleased. ‘It is great. We’re glad to have you with us.’

I raised an eyebrow. Carl must have decided that I was a friend worth making.

‘I’ll reserve judgement,’ 30 said, pulling her thick hair from her collar. She was taller than me, wide in the hips and shoulders. ‘You newcomers have yet to prove yourselves in London. I’ll be keeping a close eye on you both, 1 and 40. You’re to follow my orders to the letter.’

‘Same to you, 12,’ 26 said. ‘Take your lead from me and 18. No heroics.’

David nodded.

30 gave me a penetrating look. From her aura, she was a soothsayer – a less common one, possibly a cleromancer. If she had been part of the syndicate, she must have clawed her way in. I wondered how many voyants she had helped to detain, and if any of them had been syndies.

‘All of you have been issued with an air rifle and flux darts,’ she said. ‘You’re permitted to carry your switchblades for self-defence, but you are not to kill any of our targets. The Suzerain insists they’re kept alive.’

Carl looked crestfallen. ‘We don’t get proper guns?’

‘You don’t. We veterans do,’ 30 said. ‘After your third assignment, you may be entrusted with a firearm, once you’ve received specialist training.’

At least they couldn’t shoot to kill. Even the White Binder would be powerless against a bullet.

‘A Vigile commandant will update us in London,’ 30 said, ‘but the plan is simple. Our teams will launch a surprise attack on Carter and the Seven Seals. We have no intel on the sort of weapons they might have, or how powerful their abilities are, so I say we hit them hard and fast.’

Jaxon and Nick were lethal in spirit combat. Nick could blind his opponents with visions; Jaxon could wield his boundlings against them.

As for physical combat, Nadine was our best. She was a crack shot, and knew how to fight. Danica could be good at close quarters, given her strength.

Zeke and Eliza, however, were not natural fighters. They would be most vulnerable. I hoped Jaxon might leave them at the den, but I knew he wouldn’t. He would be far too eager to show Carter his collection.

‘Vigiles will be stationed nearby, to catch them if they do elude us,’ 30 said, ‘but ideally, we need to contain this confrontation in Trafalgar Square, to avoid causing any unrest in London. We render the targets unconscious and get them straight back to our vehicles.’

Warden had been deep in conversation with Alsafi. Now he came to stand with our group, along with Situla and a blond Reph, clearly a Chertan.

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