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‘Yes,’ the Minister for Defence said, recovering. ‘What sort of weapons should they use?’

‘None of your weapons can destroy the Emim,’ Arcturus said, ‘but they do have a corporeal presence.’ He had put on a mask of his own. ‘Your soldiers can wound and slow them with concussiveforce, fire, acid and bullets. Do not be conservative with your ammunition.’

‘So that’s grenades and rockets, flamethrowers, sustained gunfire. Treat them like they’re tanks,’ I said. ‘You can protect your soldiers with salt. Buzzers can’t enter a salt circle.’

‘We have gritting to clear ice from the streets,’ the Minister for Defence said. ‘Will that work?’

‘Yes,’ Arcturus said. ‘Make sure the circles are unbroken.’

The Minister for Defence stepped aside with his phone, speaking in rapid Italian. Now I could hear the distant shouts of panic. It was starting.

‘If you stop this,’ Sala told me, ‘you will have my vote of confidence as Underqueen.’ She took a small black device from one of her bodyguards. ‘My clairvoyance is not the sort that can be used in combat. I will evacuate the government to a secure location. Some of the Council will come with me, but anyone with a suitable gift will assist you.’

‘President Sala,’ one of the others said, ‘we cannot mobilise based on the word of this one—’

‘Credimi, Fatima. Sa di cosa sta parlando.’ Sala clipped the device to my jacket. ‘Keep this on. I’ll be able to see and hear you, as well as track your movements.’

‘My weapons,’ I said. ‘Where are they?’ Sala motioned to another bodyguard, who came forward with my holster and boot knife. They wouldn’t do much good against the Buzzers, but having them gave me some courage.‘I’ll take that nice rifle of yours, if you please,’ Maria said. ‘I’m sure you can find a spare.’ The guard passed it to her without argument. ‘You should leave now, President Sala. The Mime Order will handle this.’

‘I will return as soon as I hear from you.’ Sala looked me in the eye. ‘Save this city, Underqueen.’

She let her bodyguards usher her away.

‘Okay,’ I said to the Ranthen. ‘How do we find the latent Rephs?’

‘We can go after the Emim. They will be drawn to the resting places,’ Pleione said. ‘I can also follow the nearby spirits’ lamentations.’

‘You’re a whisperer?’

‘As you would say.’ Her eyes glowed. ‘The songs flow in three directions.’

‘And we only have two opaline blades,’ Terebell said. ‘We cannot split into more than two groups.’

‘Here.’ Lesath drew an opaline sword and presented it to Arcturus. ‘Talitha Chertan offered this in tribute, Warden. We convinced her to join the Ranthen.’

Arcturus considered it. I remembered him using a blade like that in Versailles.

‘You guard it for me, cousin,’ he said. ‘I am yet too weak to wield it.’

Lesath sheathed the sword without question. I felt another surge of appreciation towards him.

‘Since only Pleione can act as a guide,’ Terebell said, ‘we must guess the locations, so we can spread our forces.’

I looked at Pleione. ‘Can you not tell exactly where they are from here?’

‘No,’ Pleione said. ‘I must allow the spirits to show me.’

‘One of the sibyls’ recent visions was of the Trevi Fountain, just north of here,’ Verca volunteered. ‘There is an old archaeological site underneath it, which might serve as a crypt. I know it well, if you need someone to lead you. I was a tour guide when I lived in Rome.’

‘Of course you were.’ Maria hefted the rifle, grimacing as she moved her left arm. ‘Paige, do I get a commission for finding the most useful member of the Mime Order to date?’

‘Accompany the sibyl,’ Terebell said to Lucida and Lesath. ‘If her instinct is wrong, follow the Emim. Arcturus, Errai and Paige, you come with me and Pleione.’

‘I’ll go with Verca,’ Maria said.

‘Good. Use your fire,’ I said. ‘Where are Eliza and Jaxon?’

‘They went after Fitzours,’ Nick said. ‘I’m with you. Warden, will visions work against the Buzzers?’