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‘Unfortunately not,’ Pivot said, ‘but Rome was the last place she was seen before her disappearance in September. Perhaps you will pick up her trail as you search for Mr Fitzours.’

‘I’ll do my best.’

‘Make sure you prioritise the dreamwalker. If you believe you can neutralise this enemy asset and put an end to Operation Ventriloquist, we can arrange your transport and accommodation,’ she said. ‘I will need a day or two to agree your timeline and objectives with my colleagues. Widow will advise you on the next steps. In the meantime, your associate is invited to join us here tomorrow evening.’

‘I’ll speak to him in the morning.’

‘Very good.’

‘By the way,’ I said, ‘did you look into why the Grand Overseer might have a dissimulator?’ ‘Yes. As expected, he is not a known associate,’ Pivot said. ‘Sadly, I can only imagine that he obtained it from an imprisoned or executed agent.’ That did add up. Jaxon had no problem stealing from the dead. ‘Thanks for checking,’ I said. ‘Sorry I couldn’t kill him.’‘Not to worry,’ Pivot said. ‘There will be other chances to turn France against England.’ Ducos opened the door for me. We headed down the corridor, back towards the enclosed walkway.

‘Well,’ I said. ‘Spinner is a charmer, isn’t he?’

‘He is sceptical of extrasensory perception, which is the most popular term for clairvoyance outside Scion.’

‘He doesn’t think clairvoyance is real?’

‘No. He thinks Scion uses it as a convenient excuse for ridding itself of detractors and rebels, and that most of its victims are so indoctrinated that they come to believe it themselves.’

‘I could prove it exists. Just let me at his dreamscape.’

‘I do sympathise with him. There is no scientific evidence of clairvoyance. No explanation for why certain humans can perceive another layer of existence,’ Ducos said. ‘That’s why Spinner is sceptical. It’s also the reason he is so determined to see your associate. He believes Alice Taylan was deluded or mistaken aboutAdvena sapiens.’

‘But Warden would be proof enough?’

‘Most likely.’ She opened the door on the other side of the bridge. ‘Spinner oversees our doublets, who pass valuable information on to our political contacts, the way Opseth did to Queen Ingelin. He will only inform them aboutAdvena sapiensonce he is certain they exist. Otherwise he fears our credibility might be called into question.’

I could understand that. If anyone had told me about the Rephs before I had ever set eyes on them, I would have assumed they were having me on. Eliza hadn’t believed me after I came back from Oxford. Seeing them had cured her doubt.

‘I will ask,’ I said, ‘but if Warden doesn’t agree to this, Domino needs to respect that.’

‘I’ll make sure of it.’

Ducos made her way down the grand staircase. I followed, intending to go to my room.

A siren droned outside.

I stopped in my tracks, chills running all over my body. At once, my stomach was in free fall, my fingernails were biting into the banister, and for all I tried, I couldn’t take another step.

Ducos stopped to listen as a long tone sounded. The note climbed once, then a second time.

‘They raised the floodgates too late again.’ She clocked my expression. ‘What is it?’

I swallowed. ‘Why is there a siren?’

‘It’s just the acqua alta. Were you not told about this?’

‘No.’

‘The Venetian Lagoon is vulnerable to high tides, which can flood some parts of the city. It happens every so often, especially in autumn and winter,’ she said. ‘People here are used to it.’

I almost laughed. Every time I escaped one body of water, another came rushing towards me.

‘The lower floors will be sealed in a few minutes, to stop the water coming in. It will be over by morning,’ Ducos said. ‘Let me know by noon about the meeting. We’ll be ready.’

She vanished down a corridor, leaving me rooted to the spot.

The tones continued. After a minute, I returned to my room, intending to lock the shutters and sleep until the flood had passed. Instead, I sat on the bed, so tense it hurt. I couldn’t think straight. Even with my fear of water, I shouldn’t be reacting this badly to a sound.