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‘From observation,’ Arcturus said, ‘he attains a sense of superiority from manipulating those around him.’

‘Oh, good. Another unscrupulous bastard,’ Maria said. ‘We needed more of those around here.’

‘We have to find out where Frère and her child are, or Ménard is just a dangerous puppet,’ Nick said. ‘Paige worked hard to forge an alliance with him, even if it wasn’t built to last.’

‘Nashira moved several times during my captivity, but always kept to France, to oversee the Iberian Peninsula and keep watch on Ménard,’ Arcturus said. ‘She took strongholds in Léaz and the Jura Mountains. Frère may be in one of those locations.’

‘Where did she keep you?’

‘Carcassonne, where she could confer with her commanders in Spain. During this time, I was tortured for information about the Mime Order.’

He delivered this statement in a toneless voice. I had known – of course I had known – but the confirmation still broke something in me.

‘My access to aura was restricted, to ensure I was too weak to escape,’ he said. ‘On the Day of the French Republic, I took advantage of the celebrations to invoke a psychopomp. One of my guards assisted me.’

Terebell spoke: ‘Who?’

‘Situla Mesarthim.’

Thatwasa surprise. Situla had always seemed staunchly loyal to the Sargas, but now I thought about it, she had stopped just short of killing me in Versailles. I had thought it was because Nashira wanted to do it.

‘Our cousin has made the right choice,’ Lesath said.

‘Nashira discovered her betrayal. She was sequestered for helping me.’

Lesath absorbed this.

‘Another of us gone,’ he said, ‘but for a good cause.’

Arcturus was silent. I could only imagine how he was feeling. As rightful Warden of the Mesarthim, he was their guardian, and most of them had already been lost during the civil war.

‘Nashira has always had a certain respect for you, Warden, despite your differing views,’ Lesath said. ‘It is why she fought so hard to break you over the centuries. She would not have bothered with a lesser adversary.’ Arcturus glanced at him. ‘Did you learn anything of use from her?’

It was refreshing to have a Ranthen-aligned Mesarthim in the group. Lesath looked at Arcturus with a clear, straightforward respect I had rarely seen other Rephs afford to him.

‘It is true that Nashira has never quite let go of the idea that I could be moulded into a loyal consort. That she could make a true and lifelong ally of the Warden of the Mesarthim,’ Arcturus said. ‘That would be a far greater victory than merely claiming me as her trophy.’

You will never be a war trophy to me.

My own words echoed in my mind. I had meant them with every sinew of my being.

‘After a time, I allowed her to believe she was convincing me, hoping she might share her plans. She told me she meant to conquer Italy,’ Arcturus said. ‘And she told me how.’

Nick leaned forward, his face intent. After all, this was the official reason we had rescued Arcturus.

‘Cadoc Fitzours is her weapon,’ Arcturus said. ‘Using his gift, he can compel world leaders to do his bidding. With a dreamwalker on one hand and Grapevine on the other, Nashira can force countries not only to convert, but to appear willing, ensuring she does not violate any secret treaties or international laws. She can grow her army, but avoid open war.’

There was a long silence.

‘Well,’ Maria said, ‘it seems you’ve cracked Operation Ventriloquist for us, Warden.’

I said nothing, sick to my stomach.

‘I don’t understand,’ Nick said. ‘Does he … possess them?’

‘Fitzours begins with an outspoken politician. Someone with a history of opposing Scion,’ Arcturus said. ‘He commits a crime in their body in front of witnesses, or leaks evidence to law enforcement.’

‘Helen Githmark.’ Maria snapped her fingers. ‘She was arrested for a hit and run.’