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I took a small pastry with cream.

‘Scion didn’t react to the airstrikes. Weaver made an ominous speech about the anchor biding its time, and so on,’ Maria said, ‘but Spain and Portugal have been keeping him busy, and the planes were unmarked, which gave everyone plausible deniability. A clever approach by the free world, I must say. You should also know that Scarlett Burnish has not been seen since April. Weaver claimed she had retired.’

That gave me a chill. My unexpected saviour, who had been a spy for years.

‘The voice of Scion,’ I said. ‘She’s not even thirty. Is anyone buying retirement?’

‘They have to buy it,’ Maria pointed out. ‘There’s more, I’m afraid. In early June, Norway declared its intention to join the Republic of Scion. Now Inquisitor Linda Groven rules from the Scion Citadel of Oslo.’

I took a moment to digest it. Thirteen countries under the anchor, and far more in its shadow.

‘Nick told me Norway had always stood firm,’ I said. ‘Why the sudden change of heart?’

‘We don’t know. It shocked everyone.’

‘Sounds like we need to ramp up the resistance. Do you have any more news from the Mime Order?’

‘Only what Nick reported. After you vanished, the Spiritus Club upheld Eliza and Nick as your legitimate successors, but Nick is still under contract with Domino, so he’s been stuck in Swedenfor months. For all intents and purposes, that has left Eliza as Underqueen.’

‘Is she all right with that?’

‘Nick said she was managing, but she wasn’t prepared for that degree of responsibility, and your subjects don’t know her especially well. As such, a small number of detractors have been calling for another scrimmage … or for the White Binder to be Underlord.’

‘Jaxon worked for Scion. He sold and laundered voyants,’ I bit out. ‘How could he possibly rule the syndicate?’

‘The Mime Order only had your word for that. Binder did win the scrimmage, before you turned on him. Some see him as the rightful Underlord, while others want to go back to the old ways. Now Senshield is gone, they don’t see a pressing need to fight Scion.’

I sighed. ‘Great.’

‘Theyarecriminals, sweet. You were always kicking against the current.’ Maria topped up my coffee. ‘Fortunately, Binder has not made any moves on London. Nobody has seen him.’

The Mime Order was ripe for the taking. If Jaxon hadn’t gone for the throne, he could only be dead.

‘Eliza will need support,’ I said. ‘I have to get back to London.’

‘That may not be possible yet. Since you’re alive, your contract with Domino probably stands. We agreed to work for a maximum term of a year,’ Maria reminded me. ‘You could vanish, of course, but Domino can get you back into Scion. You don’t want to rely on smugglers, like I did. I was lucky to survive. And the crossing is much harder now.’

There was also the matter of the help Domino might be able to give the Mime Order, which Ducos had offered me in Paris, as an associate of the network. Whether the deal remained on the table was another matter.

If youcan provide me with proof that your organisation is ready to fight,you will receive financial support.

‘Eliza wanted to prove herself,’ Maria said. ‘Let her wear the Rose Crown until January, when you and I can return to London. I’m confident she can rise to this challenge.’

I started off in the pits of the syndicate. I know howtough you have to be.Now it was Eliza’s voice that came back to me, laced with resolve.Don’tunderestimate me.

‘You could be right,’ I conceded. ‘Eliza needs room to grow beyond the Seven Seals, without me or Jaxon.’

‘And you need to trust your own people,’ Maria said. ‘Eliza can unite the Mime Order. In the meantime, perhaps you and I can use the opportunity to do some good from the outside.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘I’ve been summoned to a secret meeting at headquarters. Command only invites agents and associates there for matters of the greatest importance and urgency. It must pertain to what Scion is doing next.’ Maria raised her dark eyebrows. ‘How would you feel about coming with me?’

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A WORLD INVERTED

PRAGUE