Page 171 of Fortress of Ambrose
“As I was saying,lyingruns in our veins in this House. And I’m franklysick of it.”
Erla sinks into her chair beside me.
“Caera worked tirelessly to producereplicasand then planted them in the Houses to give them the aura of authenticity. She wrote diaries to herself, journaling lies upon lies about what she did. She fabricated a scavenger hunt, knowing people woulddieto find her alleged secret. And she did it all to ensure she was revered as the most brilliant Ambroser to ever live. Then she named the House after herself. It’s true. Yagrin spoke to a Duncan elder who confirmed the original was written on goatskin. I researched the rest myself.”
Winkel shoves his glasses to his nose. “We’ve suspected as much but could never be sure.” He tucks his lip, and his shoulders sink.
Mouths are open all around the table, including mine. But I button it up and bring us back to why we’re here. “If we can find this immortal’s blood,” I say, “the plan is to infuse it into Jordan at thesame timethat we extract toushana.”
Erla nods.
“Hmm,” a maezre adds. “I’m Maezre Tutom, Nore’s governess when she was small. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Headmistress Marionne. This fellow has to be strong enough. If he isn’t, we can’t risk touching him without some kind of mortality plan.” They stroke their beard. “This is good. Quite good.”
“The bloodisa sound plan,” another adds.
“As brilliant as it sounds,” Jordan cuts in, “where are we going to find this immortal?”
“You’re in luck.” Nore’s color returns. “Turns out I know him. Kendall Dorset. My father. The Dragunhead.”
I don’t believe my ears as Nore tells us about her conversation with Winkel, confirming that her father was—is—a man of many faces. Jordan’s grip is white-knuckled on the lapel of his coat. Nore slides a list of names across the table toward me.
“More of his aliases my mother found over the years.”
I skim the list, flip the page, and there are more. “May I borrow this?”
Nore waves a hand in the air. “How do we lure him here?” She taps her chin as she surveys her maezres.
“Use Quell as bait.” Jordan peels himself from the shadows. “He’s wanted her since my time in the brotherhood.”
“Why?” I ask.
“That, I don’t know. But when the Sphere cracked, he told me to go after Beaulah and he’d retrieveyou. If you offer a meeting with Quell, he will come. Just a suggestion. I’m not in charge here.” His brother glances at him, then quickly looks away.
I recall the creepy way the Dragunhead didn’t take his eyes off me during our meeting.
“Do it,” I say. “Let’s tell him that I want to meet.”
Sixty-Nine
Nore
Silence fell over the room. Nore gripped the table. What about Ellery? Her brother, who was encroaching on her position, her life! Quell and Jordan’s only concern was the Sphere’s magic.
“Before we go any further, my brother is something we needyourhelp with.”
“The magic inside Jordan is paramount.” Quell leaned across the table, tearing herself from the list of Nore’s father’s names. “We have to get it out of him urgently.”
Nore’s eye twitched. “I disagree. I’ve heard your requests. And if we are a team, now you will hear mine.”
Quell sat back in her seat.
“My brother is outside these walls murdering our ancestors so he can break in here without being stopped. That is our immediate threat. And our immediate concern.”
Quell didn’t respond, but Nore could practically hear her thoughts. How was that even of the same stature of an issue as saving the world’s magic?
“The walls of this House have become your fortress,” she said. “So when it comes to protecting this House, I expect each of you all in.”
“That’s only fair,” Yagrin added.
