Page 178 of The Bone Season

My eyes filled again, my jaw clenching. I had cried more in the last few days than I had in over a year.

‘I had a question.’ Liss whispered it. ‘Where is home to you, Paige?’

London had both held and hurt me. I had been cut away from Ireland.

‘I don’t know,’ I said.

‘I feel the same,’ Liss said. ‘A few years after the Rephs came, my ancestors sailed from the free world to Edinburgh. I’ve often wondered how long it took them to stop being homesick, if they ever did. For years, this place has been the only home I know, but my dreamscape … is still a bonny clearing in the Highlands.’

‘We’ll find a new home.’ I stroked her dark hair. ‘Liss, I’m going to get you a deck of cards. And then I’m going to get you out of here.’

‘How?’

‘The Rephs really did help with the first rebellion. I think I know which one of them started it,’ I said. ‘I think we could try again.’

‘You make me feel brave, Paige.’ A tiny smile lifted her cheeks. ‘Be careful, won’t you?’

‘I promise.’

She nodded and slipped back into her deep sleep. Julian soon returned, folding his arms. He still had plenty of muscle from training.

‘Are you serious about going to the House?’

‘Not just for the cards,’ I said. ‘When I was in London, I saw a single voyant fend off three Rephs. They’re not unbeatable, Jules. I want to at least get a glimpse of the supplies that might be in there.’

‘For a rebellion?’

‘Maybe.’ I arched an eyebrow at him. ‘Say that was the general idea. Are you in?’

‘Of course I’m in.’ The flame on the stove played in his dark eyes. ‘If you risk going to the House, I’ll start the work here. I can rally the troops.’

‘Don’t do it.’ Cyril spoke from behind the shelves. ‘You’ll die, like the ones who came before. The Buzzers came in and—’

‘They’re not going to rebuild the Rookery, Cyril,’ I cut in. ‘After the Bicentenary, that’s it. You’re back out in the cold with nothing.’

Cyril fell silent.

‘That settles it, then.’ Julian grasped my elbow. ‘Paige, we have to do this. A prison break. We leave them with no voyants again.’

‘Jules.’ I gripped him back. ‘I agree, but we can’t rush this. There are over three hundred people in this city, and we don’t have any way out. I looked for one during my second test. There really are landmines in Gallows Wood.’

‘But you do want to fight.’ He gave me a serious look. ‘You’re from the syndicate, aren’t you?’

After a moment, I nodded. ‘Did Liss say?’

‘Yes. I can also just … tell.’

‘Not sure if that’s a compliment, but thanks.’

‘Liss mentioned you hold a high rank in the underworld. If that’s true, you might be able to give the performers the sort of hope they’ve not had in a decade,’ Julian said. ‘You could promise them that there will be something more after this. That they’ll have a home in London.’

I needed to explain that I didn’t have the power to make that kind of promise. Only Jaxon could give them a place in the syndicate, and he never would. To him, none of these prisoners were diamonds among stone.

Before I could articulate this, Julian continued: ‘I know what you mean, about biding our time. But I need something to hold on to, Paige. All of us do. Let’s start to plan this – you and me. Let’s show them that even after two hundred years, they still have something to fear.’

His conviction was invigorating.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘I have my own irons in the fire, but you can plant seeds, too. Start with people who have good reason to hate the Rephs – but Jules, be careful who you trust. Ask them questions. Nothing more.’

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