Page 29

Viggo observed the crumbling tenement from his position in the shadows of an abandoned tannery. The stench of chemicals and rotting hides lingered in the air around them.

Dusk was settling over Whitechapel, the fading light casting long shadows across cobblestones slick with the day’s earlier rainfall. The glow of gas lamps flickered to life in windows, illuminating the squalor of the East End in a sickly yellow haze.

“Are you certain this is the correct address?” Rufus said uneasily.

“Yes.” Viggo shot a look at the inspector and hid a dry smile at his obvious discomfort. “I know this place like the back of my own hand.”

Evander stood still beside him, his ice-blue gaze focused on the lodging house’s entrances.

No one had been more surprised than Viggo when the pair of them had walked into Nightshade that afternoon and requested to see him. He’d been in the middle of coordinating the team that would discreetly guard Solomon on tonight’s mission.

Much to Finn and Solomon’s amusement, Rufus had stood out like a sore thumb in the middle of the guild’s main office while Evander explained the reason for their presence.

A figure appeared presently at the building’s main entrance. Hawk waited until a cart trundled noisily by before casually crossing the road and strolling into an alley one building over from the tannery.

He joined them in the shadows a moment later.

“There’s a room on the third floor, at the rear,” he reported quietly.

“Two women took lodgings there two nights ago. They’ve barely left since and they’ve paid extra for their meals to be delivered to their door.

One appears younger, perhaps twenty or so, with auburn hair.

Her companion is older, plainer, and carries herself like a servant.

The landlady told me they paid for a month in advance with silver coins. ”

Evander exchanged a startled look with Rufus.

“The timing coincides with James Thornfield’s disappearance.”

“And silver coins aren’t normally common in these parts,” Viggo murmured. “Thanks, Hawk. You can return to the guild and continue with tonight’s operation. We’ll take it from here.”

Hawk nodded and disappeared as silently as he’d appeared.

Viggo stretched out the kinks in his neck. He was more at ease here, in the familiar territory of the East End, than he’d been during their visit to the Royal Institute. This was his domain, not the pristine streets of London’s wealthier districts.

Though Evander’s expression remained controlled, Viggo had learned to read the subtle signs of excitement in the set of his shoulders and the slight narrowing of his ice-blue eyes.

The mage could smell prey and he was keen for them to get on with their hunt.

“What’s our approach?”

“Direct confrontation would be unwise,” Viggo advised. “The building has multiple exits, including two through the back alley. If one of those women is indeed Thornfield and he panics, we could lose him in the maze of the rookery.”

“We should contain the situation, then,” Evander said with a frown. “Rufus and I can approach from the front, while you secure the rear exit. If Thornfield attempts to flee, you’ll be waiting.”

Viggo nodded. It was a solid plan and it played to their respective strengths. “There should be a window in their room that overlooks the back alley. If they try to escape that way, they’ll need to drop nearly twenty feet. Not impossible, but difficult for someone unused to such manoeuvres.”

“Very well,” Evander said with a brisk nod. “Let’s move quickly. The longer we linger around, the more attention we’ll attract.”

They separated, Viggo slipping through a narrow passage between buildings that led to the rear of the tenement.

The alleyway behind was deserted save for a mangy dog nosing through a pile of discarded food scraps.

Viggo positioned himself in a recessed doorway across from the building, his dark clothing and the deepening gloom of the rainy evening rendering him nearly invisible.

He frowned as he calculated the time it would take Evander and Rufus to climb to the third floor. The tenement was old, its stairs likely creaking with every step. If Thornfield was as nervous as a fugitive should be, he might hear them coming.

Viggo’s instincts proved correct. Barely five minutes later, the window above him scraped open. A face peered out briefly—young, feminine, with auburn hair and a determined set to the jawline. The figure glanced down before withdrawing.

A rope fashioned from knotted bedsheets unfurled from the window a moment later. Viggo remained motionless and watched as a slender figure in a plain dress began a clumsy descent, followed by a second woman who moved with more confidence despite her older appearance.

He waited until they were both committed to their escape and halfway down the improvised rope before stepping into view.

“Going somewhere, ladies?” he called up to them.

The younger woman froze, head whipping towards Viggo with wide eyes. For a moment, no one moved.

Surprise jolted Viggo when she released the sheet and dropped the remaining eight feet to the ground, landing with surprising grace. She immediately pressed her hands against the cobblestones.

The ground rumbled beneath Viggo’s feet.

The alley floor buckled, bricks and dirt erupting in a wave that rushed towards him. Viggo gasped and leapt sideways, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack. A jagged stone pillar shot up where he’d been standing a heartbeat earlier.

He scowled. It was earth magic, powerful and controlled.

“Mary, run!” the young woman shouted.

The maid had reached the ground. She shot a scared look at her companion.

“I’ll be fine,” the young woman reassured, her tone resolute despite the fear rendering her pale.

The older woman nodded jerkily and darted down the alley, heading east. Viggo caught a glimpse of Evander appearing at the far end to intercept her.

The young woman sent another wave of earth magic surging towards Viggo, cobblestones and soil twisting into crude projectiles. The Brute ducked and rolled. His immunity to magic only extended to direct attacks on his person.

Physical objects hurled by magical means could still harm him.

“We’re not here to hurt you,” Viggo called out as he jumped to his feet. He closed the distance between them with powerful strides. “Duke Ravenwood is investigating Professor Whitley’s disappearance?—”

The young woman could not hear him in her terror. “Stay back!” she yelled. Her hands twisted in a complex gesture.

The brick wall beside Viggo cracked. Chunks broke free and slammed into his shoulder before he could move.

Viggo grunted from the impact but didn’t slow. Another move from his opponent and the ground beneath his feet turned to quicksand. He cursed as he was quickly engulfed to his knees, the muck grabbing insidiously at his legs.

The young woman didn’t wait to see if her trap would hold. She bolted, weaving agilely between the eruptions of earth she’d created.

Viggo wrenched himself free of the magical quicksand with a roar of effort and went after her.

She was fast but hampered by the skirts of her dress.

A momentary stumble gave Viggo the opportunity he needed.

He launched himself forward in a diving tackle that sent them both crashing to the wet ground.

The young woman struggled violently beneath him, a stream of Latin incantations spilling from her lips as she tried to summon more earth magic. Viggo pinned her hands, disrupting the casting.

“Enough!” he growled. “If we meant you harm, you’d already be dead.”

His captive stilled, chest heaving beneath the dress. Up close, Viggo could see subtle signs that challenged her feminine appearance—a strong jawline, hands slightly too large for a woman of her stature.

“Who are you?” she demanded, fear and defiance warring in her voice.

“Viggo Stonewall,” he replied, cautiously releasing his grip but remaining ready to restrain her again if necessary. “I work with Duke Ravenwood. We’re investigating Professor Whitley’s disappearance.”

Recognition flickered in her eyes. “The Ironfist Brute,” she breathed. Her gaze darted to the ruined cobblestones her magic had torn up. “So it’s true. You’re immune to magic. That’s how you withstood my attacks!”

“Most of them,” Viggo grunted. He stood up and helped her to her feet before rotating his shoulder where the brick had struck. It would bruise, but nothing was broken. “Your earth magic is pretty impressive.”

She swallowed.

Rufus appeared at the entrance to the alley, panting slightly from exertion. “Did you—ah, I see you have our quarry.” The inspector eyed the devastated alleyway cautiously as he approached. “What happened?”

“She resisted,” Viggo muttered.

The young woman’s expression remained wary. “Where’s Mary? What have you done with her?”

Evander’s voice came from behind them. “Your maid is safe.”

Viggo turned to see the mage approaching with the older woman, his hand resting lightly on her elbow. Unlike her companion, she showed no signs of having fought back.

“I’ve explained our purpose,” Evander said. “She seems to think you should hear us out.”

Mary nodded, her plain face etched with worry. “It’s true, Master James. The Duke says they’re trying to help find your professor.”

The captive stiffened at the name.

Evander’s gaze sharpened. “James Thornfield, I presume?” He studied the young woman’s face with new intensity. “The transfiguration potion you used is quite remarkable. I’d wager it’s your own creation.”

For a moment, Thornfield seemed ready to deny it. His shoulders slumped in resignation.

“How did you know where we were?”

“A first-year student saw two women fleeing the Institute the night you disappeared. One of our forensic mages found the broken vial containing traces of the transfiguration potion in the quadrangle.” Evander’s mouth quirked in a slight smile.

“You would have gotten away with it had it not been for the clue Lady Whitley gave us this afternoon. Why did Professor Whitley have a piece of paper containing the address to these lodgings in his possession?” He glanced at the building beside them.

Thornfield rubbed the back of his neck. “He’d anticipated that people working for his sponsor might come after us. I thought it far-fetched at the time but after the professor disappeared, I knew I could be next on the list. We’d agreed that if anything happened, we would meet here.”

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere less exposed,” Rufus suggested, glancing at the curious faces now peering from the windows above them.

Evander followed the inspector’s gaze.

“Your room would suffice if you’re willing to invite us in properly this time,” he told Thornfield with a frown.

Thornfield brushed dirt from his skirts. “Very well. But I warn you, if this is a trap?—”

“It isn’t,” Viggo interrupted firmly. “Though I can’t say the same for whatever you were running from.”

The young man’s face tightened. “Follow me. We’ll use the back stairs.”