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My heart pounded suddenly. I looked around at all the wooden mannequins, and my head replaced them with pieces of people. I squeezed my eyes shut. When I opened them again, they would be gone.

Patrick checked his pocket watch, “Don’t fret, Teddy. If I blew upyourdaddy, I’d almost certainly be blowin’ up my own in the process. I intend no such thing.”

“Seems like a wasted opportunity, Pat,” Scottie said. “Do you know for certain that the prisoners are bein’ held in the House?”

“No.” Tess interceded now. “He doesn’t.” There was so much strain in her voice, it was a wonder she hadn’t screamed it. “He isn’t even sure the prisoners are stillalive.”

Patrick looked at his mother with barely suppressed irritation.

I couldn’t tell how Tess Colson felt about the prospect of her husband’s death. There was no hint at acceptance or despair. There was only festering anger. I could practically see it sprinting across her skin.

“The House of Lords has always worked against us at a disadvantage. They don’t know where we are, or who we are. We could attack at any time. They might have the superior weapons in their Charmers and Masons andSmiths, but we have the element of surprise. We demonstrated how we could crumble their buildings around ’em once.” Patrick’s eyes darkened. “What would stop us from taking their National House, then?”

“Hostages,” Otto said, nodding at his feet. “Takin’ bloody hostages.”

Patrick nodded. “A few months ago, Polly received a scribble from Belavere City. It was a notice sent to every province in the Trench. Polly?”

All eyes turned to the Scribbler, mine included. She blushed slightly, but nodded and recited in a neutral tone.“Union fugitives remain in custody. The House implores rebels to lay down arms and release its hostages. Surrender brings salvation. Long live Belavere.”

“That’s how I know they’re still alive,” Patrick said sharply. “Tanner won’t kill ’em. He’s using ’em as shields.”

“Gutless bastard,” Gunner muttered, a violent edge reaching his voice.

“Our aim is to find our men and bring ’em back safely,” Patrick said. “By whatever means. If a few lords should die”—and here he looked directly at Theodore—“it will only be to save ourselves. We’ll be outnumbered. Easily overrun. Our own weapons will be nothing compared to their mediums. This isn’t a mission for glory,” he said, ensuring they each understood what he asked of them. “We remove the shield first. We’ll go back for the heart when the time is right.”

“What do they mean, hostages?” I said suddenly. I looked directly at Patrick, watched closely for any flicker of reaction.

“What?” Gunner grunted. “He told you—”

“The notice called for theUnionto release its hostages,” I continued, ignoring Gunner’s clear lust for revenge. “What hostages?”

The rest went still and quiet.

Patrick smiled disingenuously. “Perhaps they’re talkin’ about you three.”

But it was so obvious a diversion that I could only assume Patrick hadn’t been prepared for the question. I knew he could lie better than that. “I think they’re talking about Domelius Becker. The last Alchemist.”

Theo tensed beside me, but I barreled on. “If you gave them Becker, they might exchange their hostages.”

Patrick’s eyes were closed off. “That,” he said, “is not up for discussion.”

Polly gripped my hand at my side imploringly. “Nina—”

But I brushed her aside. “You wouldn’t make the sacrifice? Not even to save your own men?” I asked. “Your ownfather—”

“Enough,” Patrick said with so much ice that the room seemed to shrivel, everyone retreating slightly. When Patrick next spoke, the words were hard as granite, low and deathly final. His eyes pierced mine. “All you need to know, Nina, is that I’ve got reasons for the choices I make. And someone must surely make them. I won’t fault anyone here for bowin’ out if you’ve weighed the danger and my own intentions and found it not worth your while.” He drew a deep breath. “But you will decide in this room. Now.”

There was a restless silence, quickly punctured by Scottie, Otto, and Briggs stepping forward next to Patrick, tipping caps and adjusting their waistlines.

The Colsons were a unit, if a dysfunctional one. They waited together for the rest of us to accept or rescind.

Polly stepped forward next. She stood tall and held her hands in front of her elegantly.

Theo followed suit, looking once to me to convey some sort of message. “I’m for the cause,” he said. “So long as you keep your word.”

“I always do,” Patrick said in return.

This left me standing alone on the outside of the circle, my jaw straining under the pressure. “You’re a liar,” I said quietly. The words were only for Patrick, yet everyone but him seemed to react to them. Theo looked outright alarmed.