Page 158 of The Bone Season

‘Scion will not allow you to escape,’ he warned me. ‘If an opportunity appears to present itself, I strongly advise you to resist the temptation. In the unlikely event that you do succeed in eluding the authorities, you will never be able to get back to Oxford.’

‘When you escape from somewhere, you don’t generally intend to come back.’

‘Your fellow humans would still be imprisoned here, including Liss.’

‘Don’t you dare use her to pull my heartstrings,’ I hissed. ‘What have you ever done for the performers – for any of them?’

‘I help as many humans as I can without raising suspicions.’

‘You have all this space, and you brought three people in from the cold?’

‘Those in the greatest need,’ Warden said, his voice low. ‘Fazal was almost killed by Castor Sargas, who once ruled Balliol. Gail has a condition that requires frequent medication. I told you about Michael. I have also done my utmost to protect you by downplaying your progress to Nashira.’

He had never been this frank with me. I waited, not wanting to stop him.

‘Magdalen has been my home for two centuries,’ he said. ‘I have tried to make it safe for you – but I cannot bring every human inside, lest it be taken from me. Nashira has already threatened me with that.’

Jaxon would tell me to harden myself. He would throw every amaurotic and performer into the dirt if stepping on them got me back to him.

‘If I stay,’ I said after a moment, ‘none of us will be any less trapped.’

‘Return from this assignment, and I will tell you what I know. I will also tell you the meaning of the symbol you found on my snuffbox.’

‘Every time I think you might be honest, you hold back. You can’t keep dangling this carrot,’ I said under my breath. ‘Do you swear it, Warden?’

‘You have my word. Do I have yours that you will not try to escape?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘You’ll just have to trust me to do what I think is best.’

Warden looked me straight in the eyes. When he strode on, I followed.

Magdalen Walk was deserted. Melting hailstones crunched beneath my boots. When we reached the Residence of the Suzerain, two Rephs escorted us to the oration library, where Nashira waited.

Warden knelt before her. I knelt beside him without being prompted.

At first, I had thought he greeted her like this because she was his sovereign – but none of the other Rephs had to lower themselves. Next, I had assumed they showed affection like this, only to have that dashed when Warden had been so obviously tender with Terebell.

This time, I saw the stiffness of his movements; how he never even tried to lift his gaze. Nashira regarded him as if he were a loyal dog, not her consort. It gave me a hot rush of second-hand humiliation.

Something was off about this relationship.

‘Arcturus,’ Nashira said. ‘I see you have brought our dreamwalker in good time. I am pleased you are both joining this assignment.’ (Like we had a choice.) ‘Situla will report to me on how you work together.’

Situla Mesarthim was almost as tall as Warden. I could see the family resemblance in their features, though her brown hair was long and plaited, her skin a few tones lighter. Like Warden, she was dressed like a Londoner.

‘Cousin,’ she said. Warden gave her a small nod. ‘40, you will treat me as your second keeper this evening. I trust that is understood.’

‘I am certain that 40 will behave herself,’ Nashira said. ‘Rise, both of you.’

Warden stood, looking down a short way at his consort. I got back to my feet.

‘You will be teamed with 30 and 1 on this assignment,’ Nashira said to me. ‘Arcturus will supervise you. Situla will take 18, 12 and 26.’

At first, I thought she meant Julian. A moment later, I realised it must be the 26 from the last Bone Season.

My own counterpart must already be dead. I seemed to be the only 40.

As if David Fitton had been summoned, he emerged from behind a screen. He was dressed exactly like the Overseer on the night of my arrest.

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