Taryn was starving.

But her elbows were submerged in suds and this was not the place to feed herself. She’d spent all morning pulling hot breads out of ovens, the delicious aroma filling her nostrils. She’d mixed creamy pie fillings, some of which had splattered and stained her clothes. She’d sprinkled glittering cinnamon and sugar onto rolled dough and the sweet crystals still saturated the air and clung to her sweaty skin. But Taryn could not have any of it. Not until she finished the dishes.

The lunch rush was supposed to have ended an hour ago but Mama Kebar continued to work tirelessly behind her. So Taryn ignored her rumbling belly. And she scrubbed and she rinsed and she dried and she repeated. And she watched.

Since they opened that morning, Taryn had maintained a constant vigil over the bakery, her mind alert to when the door opened and a new flame crossed the threshold. She kept a mind on Kem as he came in and out to prepare and make deliveries. This left Rai to work the floor alone for most of the day. Galen came in to check on her a few times every hour. Until Rai became annoyed and told him not to show his face until closing. As the late-morning carried in the wave of midday diners, Taryn watched Galen bribe Kaz then Andon then Gerrie to check on Rai.

Taryn also watched Pine Keep fall under attack; thirty to forty victims at a time falling prey to roving packs of thugs. She watched the assaulting flames flee the scene when bluebacks arrived. Saw the groups split and hide, or meet up with others to form different packs, targeting different citizens. All while she remained trapped in the kitchen, sneaking bites and dodging threatening waves of Mama Kebar’s rolling pin. And washing the endless stream of dishes Rai kept sending her way.

Between 12:30 and 1:30 that afternoon, Taryn counted 307 victims from 157 separate attacks. Yesterday’s tally had been 214 victims from 157 attacks. There was a clue in that. But the significance of it would have to wait. In the busyness of the bakery, she didn’t have a chance to focus long enough for a deep Inquiry; to build a catalogue of the attackers and map their movements. At one point she counted only 94 active assailants. At another she was sure there were 127. And another still, 82. Because of how they split and regrouped, she didn’t know how many were new attackers for the day and how many were repeats. There could very well be upwards of 300 thugs wreaking havoc on the peace of Pine Keep but she couldn’t track them; she could only watch.

Taryn removed the cork plug to drain the soapy water. The kitchen door swung open and Rai stormed in.

“I swear on all the souls of heaven,” she said, “the next person who asks me how I’m doing will be banned for a year.”

Taryn pumped fresh water into the sink to rinse out the suds. “I suppose that means your medicine has worn off.”

“Please tell me you have more.” Rai leaned against the wall and slowly stretched her leg out. She rubbed her bruised face against her shoulder; scratched at her injured arm through her sleeve.

When they’d woken that morning, she’d refused to stay home. It’s what the Princes of the Fall wanted for the citizens of Pine Keep, she’d said. And she refused to give in to fear. She spent half an hour gritting through the pain to get to the bakery. Another hour fumbling through simple tasks until she collapsed in exhaustion – and that all before the bakery even opened. And still, she refused to go home. So Taryn had begged her trust and went in search of an apothecary.

Taryn dried her hands on her apron while the sink filled with clear water. She pulled the small pouch from her apron pocket and poured the last small pill into Rai’s hand.

Rai grabbed a mug from the bin of those freshly washed and scooped some water from the sink to chase down the pill. Within moments, her breath eased and her fidgeting stopped.

“Better?” Taryn asked.

“Much,” Rai said. “I don’t know how you found this but it is a godsend. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” In truth, the pill was an innocuous concoction of starch and sugar. It did nothing. The true relief came from Taryn’s manipulation of Rai’s subconscious mind; a cutting of the ties to the pain she felt. As Rai’s mind repaired itself, the sensation returned, which was why she’d been itching. Taryn wouldn’t be able to do it more than a few times before Rai’s mind developed a more speedy response to it and possibly some defenses against it. “But that was the last one. As soon as it wears off, you’re going home.”

“If it lasts as long as the first, I won’t need another until morning.” Rai dropped the mug into the sink. “You have a customer, by the way.”

Taryn groaned. “Another fanatic seeking to avenge the King?”

“It’s Mr. Gondriguez,” Rai said. “He’s here for his weekly update.”

“Oh,” Taryn said. He was a day early. He must have learned something.

“Are you still going to insist on these meetings now that the whole city knows?”

“That depends on what he knows.” Taryn would have to speak with Shield to learn how he’d like to proceed. Until then, her last orders remained.

“Why go through the bother?” Rai asked. “You’ve never cared about the story before.”

“He lied in a previous story and it caused no end of trouble for me. I want to be sure that he isn’t doing it again.” Taryn removed her moist apron and left it hanging by the sink. “I’ll be back in a few minutes!” she called to Mama Kebar.

“Hmm.” Rai gave her an appraising look as she held the door open.

“What is it?” Taryn wiped sweat from her brow and smoothed out the wrinkles in her shirt. She’d washed before leaving the Kebar home that morning but it had been more than a full day since she’d had a proper bath. And with yesterday’s clothes still draping her skin, she didn’t feel very intimidating, only grimy.

“I think you just told me the truth.”

Taryn took the chance to pour a ladle of thick soup into a round trencher for herself before she followed Rai into the busy dining room. There were many more patrons than usual for the time, scattered throughout the tables and booths. Rai broke away to address the few customers perusing the counter displays. Taryn joined her prey near the door.

“So you are still alive,” Mr. Gondriguez said.

“It’s good to see you too. Let’s sit.”

“No, thank you. I won’t be here long.”

Taryn smiled at his toothless rancor. “You didn’t come all this way just to tell me nothing, did you?”

“I came to tell you that if you want to bully someone, you need to make sure that your own conduct is above reproach.” He stepped close to her. Over a head taller and wider of breadth, he made an imposing figure. Unfortunately, the attempt at physical intimidation only weakened the weight of his words. “You coerced the information from my investigation to identify the Countess Soren and launch your assault against her. That’s premeditated intent. If you so much as whisper a word of your ludicrous allegations against me, I will notify the authorities and you will be arrested and executed like the traitor you are.”

“If I’m a traitor, why did the King’s Arsenal release me? Dozens of guards come through these doors every day. Why haven’t any of them apprehended me?” Taryn blew at the hot liquid in her palms and nibbled at the lip of the bread bowl. She’d forgotten to grab a spoon.

“Provident Ruling won’t protect you forever,” he said. “Once His Majesty has ensured the safety of his beloved, he will levy formal charges against you. That, in combination with the evidence I possess, will seal your fate. If I were you, I’d run while I still had the chance.”

“They aren’t married, Mr. Gondriguez. So if I had attacked her, it would not have been treason – premeditated or otherwise. In fact, the King’s Arsenal would have been in violation of Viktor’s Providence if they’d tried to stop me. As it is, they’re fortunate I don’t levy any charges of my own.” Taryn held out a chair from the nearest table for him. “Let’s dispense with this delusion that you have any sway here and submit to our prescribed roles. I’ll do the coercing, and you’ll do what I tell you.”

Mr. Gondriguez glanced around, his eyes searching for an ally. Finding none, he forced himself into the seat Taryn offered.

“I haven’t learned anything,” he hissed when she sat across from him. “At least nothing you don’t already know, that some faithless heretic discovered the identity of the King’s mistress and launched an attack–”

“Allegedly,” Taryn said around a mouthful of stew. “You should know better than to pass rumors off as fact.”

“–allegedly attack her,” he repeated through gritted teeth. “The mystery is gone. The story is dead.”

Taryn was inclined to believe him. Her original mandate from Shield had been to learn everything Mr. Gondriguez knew. She’d assumed it was with the hopes of preventing the woman’s unveiling. But that plan had gone to the hells and no one had given her new orders. Regardless, now that Vares had moved her into the palace and failed to denounce anyone’s assumptions of the nature of their relationship, her mandate to protect the King included her. “You started this in order to answer the people’s questions.”

“And now, thanks to you, they have their answer.”

“So what kind of questions are they asking now?” Taryn asked.

His hands clenched into fists on the table.

“I know you’ve been probing into this poor woman’s life,” she went on. “Tell me what you know and I’ll tell you what you can publish.”

“There is a special place in the Black Hell for people like you; despisers of the truth and enemies of His Majesty’s holiness.”

“I’ve seen the Black Hell. I even have a map. When you find yourself lost down there, I’ll be sure to take just as long to get to the point of helping you. Tell me what you know.” Taryn settled in to listen. The stew was still too hot to eat but she could tear off bits of bread to dip.

“Fine! I will gladly share this with you because it is an encouragement to my faith and a bitter pill to the likes of you. Let it be swallowed as gall and curdle in your stomach.” Then he stood, knocking his seat aside. Before Taryn could think of a way to stop him, he turned to address the bakery’s patrons. “Shava Soren, Countess of Mayville, holder of the 37th seat of Congress, hails from a long line of noble, faithful humans. The Mayville seat has remained pure for over five hundred years and the Soren name has survived since the War of the Royals. It has never fallen out of favor with the Lothors. Even in the height of Varun’s madness, they never turned from the faith. They continued to shelter and support their brothers through their persecutions and are honored to this day for their sacrifices to the faith.

“After her father was martyred in the fall of Greydome Temple, her mother remained a widow until her death, dedicating her life to gathering support for the rebuilding of the sacred temple. This is the legacy that has captured His Majesty’s attention.” He paused to look down at Taryn with a triumphant grin. “When they are wed, her devout faith will turn the hearts of the people back to their King, and their gods. And all the faithless heretics will be given over to the hells for a great unmaking.”

Taryn couldn’t think past his words to give a response. Five hundred years was a long time for a noble line to be free of mutations. Among the families of Congress, secarin was usually found once every hundred years or so. Among the Fallen, two- or even three-hundred years could pass before any of their children manifested mutant power. It was selective breeding at its finest, though they told themselves it was a gift from the gods for their devotion to the Lothors. And while the Bellautorexes may have fallen out of favor with the annulment of Vares’s first engagement, five hundred years made this woman a prime candidate for Lothoria’s next Purist-supported queen.

And Vares loved her.

Taryn swallowed the moist lump in her mouth but it was tasteless on her tongue. All around her the bakery was silent. Many were unsure of what to make of Mr. Gondriguez’s announcement. Except for a pair of flames who’d entered the bakery as Mr. Gondriguez finished his monologue.

“Well said,” one of them said.

Taryn went still. She knew that voice.

It belonged to Grande Don Wasan Verda, LAAMP Executive Administrator, Second Chair. He wore the gold trimmed dark robes required of all LAAMP Executive Administrators; his chest adorned with the gilded medallion hanging from the chain of office that dropped from his shoulders. His family’s name also predated the War of the Royals. Its illustrious line hid a few blackened branches, one as close as two generations back. But the Verda name was one of the five that forever held a seat on the Council of the Fallen Kings.

“It is so good to know that there are still true believers among this faithless generation.”

The other man was Kanneth Teelor, LAAMP Executive Administrator, Fifth Chair. He carried no noble titles, nor claims to once royal blood. Only the same devotion to the Purist ideals.

Taryn wondered what they were doing there, and how she should respond. She’d never considered what she’d do if she ran into them anywhere in the city – let alone the bakery where she worked. It had never come up when they’d been negotiating the conditions for allowing her excursions into the city and Taryn wasn’t sure if she should be angry or worried.

“You honor me, Your Grace. Your Excellency.” Mr. Gondriguez bowed to the Administrators. “But everything I’ve done pales in comparison to your righteous work. You valiantly confront the enemies of this world on His Majesty’s behalf.”

“I assure you,” Verda said. “You’re words are more powerful than you know.” He said this with a sweeping glance over the bakery, his lips twisting into a slimy smile as his gaze lingered on Taryn.

Taryn decided that she was more annoyed than anything else. They stayed out of each other’s way at the palace. It was a rule that didn’t need to be explicitly stated. She’d assumed the same should apply in the city. “I can’t decide what’s more surprising,” she said. “The fact that Mr. Gondriguez feels confident enough to preach his sermons in the presence of two LAAMP Administrators; or that those self-same Administrators would applaud him for it.”

Mr. Gondriguez’s brown eyes went wide and the color drained from his face.

“You have nothing to fear.” Verda clasped a hand on the writer’s trembling shoulder. “Powerful as they are, your words don’t seek to convert any heathen hearts. There is no law against bringing encouragement to the faithful.”

“Would you bet your career on that?” Taryn challenged. She let a slow smirk crawl across her lips. She found no pleasure in bullying middlings who had no idea of what she was capable of. This, however, was a familiar battleground. She felt that old belligerent swagger begin to wake in her mind. It had been far too long since she’d engaged in a verbal sparring match with a LAAMP Administrator. She was sure she remembered how. “Because I think the courts of Pine Keep would agree with me on the matter.”

Teelor scoffed. “No judge in their right mind would convict a citizen on such weak claims.”

“Perhaps. But something tells me that if anyone did a thorough investigation, they’d find enough to ruin a man,” Taryn said with a sidelong glance at Mr. Gondriguez.

He was visibly distraught. His mouth hung open, his chest heaved as if he couldn’t quite get enough breath. He was twitching like a hare caught in a snare and the LAAMP Administrators were quick to withdraw any extensions of camaraderie from him.

Verda’s jaw clenched as his eyes bored into hers. This was one of the points of contention between them. Taryn always knew something they weren’t prepared for. It was often things she shouldn’t know and she wasn’t always able to use it to her advantage. But it was enough to remind them that they had no way of proving the suspected violation of her immunity agreement. No way of enforcing it. And that was a victory in itself.

“I can’t imagine that His Majesty would be pleased with two Administrators within his own monarchy who would treat so casually something as significant as a Provident Ruling,” Taryn went on. “Fortunately, I am not completely without mercy. Our beloved King has enough on his docket. As it stands, Pine Keep has too many terrors to thwart and I think Mr. Gondriguez is mostly harmless. As long as these fine customers can enjoy their meals in peace and get on with their days, I can overlook this… lapse in judgment.”

“How very gracious of you,” Verda said through his teeth.

“But I’ll have to ask you two to leave,” she added coldly. “I find your casual disregard of the kingdom’s most sacred laws highly inappropriate.”

“Would that I were as well versed on the matter as your young companion seems to be,” Verda said to Mr. Gondriguez.

“She is no friend of mine, I assure you!” Mr. Gondriguez said.

Verda dismissed his words with a wave. “Alas, we are only LAAMP Administrators, not judges or counselors. Our purview lies with mutant offenses, not human laws.”

Taryn sat back. She didn’t know whether to be pleased by her easy victory or disappointed in their swift retreat.

“I suppose that means we should get back to work then,” Teelor said. “Apprehending mutants running amok in this city.”

Something in his tone made Taryn stiffen. She hadn’t considered that they might have been there on official business and now she wondered in earnest what they were doing there.

“Now that sounds like a more appropriate use of our time,” Verda said. “Have there been any reports of such, Mr. Teelor?”

“There is one.” Teelor kept his eyes on Taryn as he reached into his robes and produced a green portfolio, the golden emblem of the LAAMP stamped on its face.

The sight of it completely crippled her belligerent swagger. For all her bluster, she knew she could only be so belligerent and cocksure and insolent because of the protection her immunity agreement granted her. She operated within the boundaries it outlined for her and skirted through all the loopholes she found. And sometimes, such as the moment she now found herself in, she became so confident that she forgot that her immunity was a double edged sword. She searched her mind to find anything in her recent words or behavior that could be used to wound her. She was not encouraged by what she found.

Suddenly Rai moved to stand beside Mr. Gondriguez. With her back toward Taryn, she faced off against the Administrators. “The mutant you’re looking for disappeared somewhere in the Manor District days ago. You won’t find any sign of him here. Hardly anyone made it this far down the Fall.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Verda made a show of reading over the contents of the portfolio. “According to this report, this bakery seems to have a habit of shielding mutant fugitives from the King’s justice.”

His gaze lingered on Taryn and she knew that they had come for her, not Denan. His implication was not lost on the other bakery’s occupants. Some of them glanced at her and gasped. A few even left, scampering out carrying goods from the counter that they hadn’t yet paid for. Or abandoning unfinished sweet tarts at the window booth. Those who remained watched with wide eyes and bated breaths; waiting. Taryn couldn’t guess what for. If the LAAMP had been sent to apprehend her, they wouldn’t do it this publicly. No matter how angry Vares was, he’d never reveal the secret of her.

“That’s nothing but vicious lies and rumors!” Rai frowned as she watched the terrified customers leave. “You’re scaring our customers. Respectfully, I’d like you to leave.”

“Stay out of this, child, or you’ll find that the penalty for harboring a mutant fugitive is far more severe than the loss of a few clients.”

“Is that so?” Rai braced her hands on her hips. With her head tilted forward and canted to the side, she made an impressive imitation of Mama Kebar on the brink of brandishing her rolling pin. “And what’s the penalty for palace officials making false accusations?”

Teelor took a step forward and grinned when Rai took a wincing step back. “The Seat does not act on rumors and lies. Everything in this report is the truth.”

“Then show it to us.” Finally finding her courage again, Taryn rose to stand beside Rai. If there were going to try to convict her in the court of public opinion, she would play along. She was not the only one bound by the terms of her immunity agreement. She knew they were willing to go far outside the bounds to see her ruined. But Vares would never condone the revelation of her mutant status, or her immunity.

“Pardon?” Teelor asked.

Taryn couldn’t convincingly argue her own innocence. But she could defend the Kebars’. “You claim that this bakery has a connection to mutant activity in this city. In so doing, you have slandered the reputations of a well-respected family in this community. A family that has a long-standing history of honorable service in this city’s Guard and a continued, favorable relationship with every uniformed officer who patrols these streets. If you expect us to believe that such loyalty is a farce, then you need to present some evidence to support your claims. What is it in your alleged report that paints these people as enemies of the Seat?”

“This information is confidential.” Verda closed the portfolio and tucked it under his arm. “The Seat has a responsibility to protect it’s witnesses from retaliation.”

“People have been coming in here to accuse Taryn of ridiculous things all week,” Rai said. “They aren’t witnesses. They’re liars.”

“She’s right,” Taryn said. “In the past week, I have been harassed by no less than a dozen vagrants and assailants calling themselves patriots. Now that I think of it, whose to say that you two are any different from them?”

“I beg your pardon!” Mr. Gondriguez gasped. “These men are–”

“We don’t know who they are,” Taryn said. “Sure, they sound as if they know their business. But this could all be a ploy for them to lure me into danger. Anyone can put together a costume to look the part. And I find it highly irregular that such high ranking palace officials would be tasked to investigate unsubstantiated rumors. They didn’t announce themselves. They encouraged a blatant violation of a Provident Ruling. Without the cooperation of the local Guard or an escort of Infantrymen from the palace, I’m hard pressed to believe that they are indeed who they seem to be, let alone anything they claim.”

“In that case, I have to insist that you leave,” Rai said. “Or we’ll have the Guard in here to sort out the truth.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Teelor ground out after casting an inquiring glance at Verda. “We’re leaving.”

“We will be seeing you soon,” Verda said. His eyes were fiery daggers aimed directly at Taryn and she understood the message behind them.

“If you believe the rumors,” Taryn taunted, “that’s not something you should look forward to.”

They sauntered out, as haughtily as they’d strolled in.

Mr. Gondriguez tried to leave with them.

Taryn grabbed his arm. “I understand your little defiance,” she said softly. “You saw a chance and you took it. But you only get one, and you’ve just wasted yours.”

He looked down at her and there was still a spark of hatred in his eyes.

“If you aren’t here tomorrow with everything you know about the Countess,” Taryn said. “the Guard will be at your office with a dozen witness accounts of what you’ve said here today.”

That did the trick. With only twenty-four hours to either preserve his freedom or think of a way to thwart her, she knew he’d make the smart choice. His head hung when he left. Taryn didn’t mind that. The sooner he abandoned all hope of being free from her, the more useful he’d be to her. There was a good chance that Shield would call her off Mr. Gondriguez. But until he gave her an actual order, she could use his investigative skills. If there was a connection between the Countess and Kol, it would be better if she wasn’t the only one who saw it.

Taryn moved to return to her snack. She tracked the flames of the two LAAMP Administrators moving into the alley behind the bakery and planned to make them wait a few minutes before she joined them.

Suddenly Rai was there, eyes wide with terror, nervous hands twisting wrinkles into her apron. “Listen. I know you have your own agenda with Mr. Gondriguez, but I think we have a bigger problem. I don’t think those men were lying. And if someone saw you…” Rai bent her head closer and lowered her voice. “If someone saw you help that mutant…”

“That’s not possible,” Taryn assured her. The only person who might have seen her try to approach Denan was the impostor in the alley. And he’d turned up dead in Larisport the next day.

She stepped past Rai and finally settled down to her meal.

Rai pushed the breadbowl away and it took everything Taryn had not to snap at her. “This is serious, Taryn! What are we going to do?”

Taryn resigned herself to the fact that she was going to be starved for the rest of the day. Rai wasn’t going to let this go. And now that the flames of four Infantrymen joined the Administrators’ behind the bakery, she would be out of arguments if they decided that they had waited long enough. Taryn stood.

“Where are you going?”

“You’re right,” Taryn said. “I should be taking this more seriously. I’m going to find them and explain that this was all a misunderstanding. And they’ll never bother us again. Don’t worry,” she added when the color drained from Rai’s face. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”

*****

She found them waiting with triumphant grins on their hateful faces. The four Infantrymen hid their green and gold uniforms beneath dark cloaks. That was an encouraging sign. As long as this encounter remained secret, Taryn would be able to preserve her standing in the city. She recognized Mr. Tool among them, and last week’s newly confirmed Rhys. The other two faces she’d never seen before. More new hires for the LAAMP’s growing army.

“What are you doing here?” Rhys asked when he recognized her. “What’s she doing here?”

Taryn ignored him and marched straight to the Administrators. “I don’t disturb you at your place of work. You don’t disturb me at mine. Is that clear?”

Verda sneered down at her. “Now that we’re all here, we can proceed.” The green portfolio was in his hands again and he read its contents aloud. “Taryn Seir, you are hereby charged with the unlawful occupation of this, Lorria City; In that it is unlawful for a… person found to be in possession of the mutant arts, these being telepathy, telekinesis, empathy, or any combination thereof, to traverse within a distance of less than five miles, as measured by the most direct path between two points, of the sovereign residence.”

“Wait… what!?” Rhys said.

“How do you plead?”

“You know full well that I have immunity for that,” Taryn said. “And keep your voice down. If this petty game of yours costs me my privileges here, all of my afternoons will be free to play some petty games of my own.”

“Yes. We have a print of that here as well.” Teelor opened a second folio and began to read. “‘Following the second secarin extraction of the day, the subject will be permitted to depart the premises, these being the sovereign residence grounds, for destinations not to exceed the limits of this, Lorria City. The subject will be remanded to the sovereign residence at the end of each day.’ Tell me,” he finished, folding the folio shut. “Where did you spend the night?”

“And how many extractions have you had today?” Verda added.

“Will someone please explain to me what the hells is happening here?” Rhys said.

“Still your tongue and get into position,” Mr. Tool snapped. He drew a sword from beneath his cloak and the other Infantrymen followed suit. Mr. Tool positioned himself directly between her and the Administrators. Rhys and the others covered her sides and rear.

“You’re forgetting the part where it explains that penalties stemming from the violations of that agreement are at the discretion of the King. As is the disclosure of that agreement to anyone whose signature is not already included. The two of you are far outside of your authority here.”

This is her saving grace. Taryn couldn’t deny that they had a case but she was sure Vares would understand once she explained why she hadn’t returned to the palace last night. And he would never have sent them to pick her up from the bakery. He’d send Wendar to summon her from her rooms at the palace. Or Sword and Shield to bar the gate so she couldn’t leave. Then they’d meet. He’d yell. She would offer a defense. He would ordain a punishment. Whether it was reasonable or not depended on his mood and how much she kowtowed. They might have a few sour dinners together until their tempers cooled but that was how it worked; secret meetings over dinner at the palace. Never open opposition in the city. Never at the edge of a blade. Now there were four men who knew what they should not and she was the one who would have to correct that. “Leave now, and the King won’t have to hear about this.”

“Unfortunately, His Majesty is otherwise occupied and couldn’t be bothered to personally address the matter,” Teelor said. “By the time he hears of it, you’ll have already been expelled from this city.”

“Actually,” Verda said, “she knows too much. About the King, our organization, this city. With all these rogue, uninhibited mutant roaming about the counties, she’d be much too valuable to anyone interested in doing the Seat harm. The safest place for her would be a cell. Take her,” he told the Infantrymen. “If she resists, kill her.”

Mr. Tool lunged at her.

Taryn spun out of the way, dodged to the side and stuck her foot out to trip him as he passed. He crashed to the ground and grinned up at her.

Behind him, one of the Infantrymen held up an empty handbow. Taryn felt a hot sting spread throughout her back and tors. She looked down to see six half empty darts sticking out of her flank.

Frantic, she twisted to grab one, four, eight. She blinked down at her hands in confusion.

Four hands. Ten darts.

Too many fingers.

Suddenly, the buildings around her began to tilt and fold themselves onto her. She leapt out of the way. Then the ground became the sky and she flew into it. She put her hands out to catch herself but landed hard on her elbow and she began to be very afraid. She could hear her blood racing through her skull. Her legs felt weak. Her arms, heavy. She saw eight shining swords and twelve faces and she couldn’t properly judge where a thing was to move it in her defense.

“We have her now,” she heard Verda say. “Kill her!”

“No!” Taryn heard movement and tried to stand. She ended up ramming her head against the side of a building and when she closed her eyes against the bursts of light exploding across her vision, she remembered that she had access to more than her own two eyes.

She cast her mind into the closest flame and saw herself kneeling with her face turned toward the wall. Behind her, Mr. Tool had risen to his feet. He was coming for her again, his sword swinging into position above his head for a downward cut. Taryn threw a panicked hand behind her, along with a bit of her power. Her Shadow was focused on the sword. Her mind told her it would be on her in a couple of breaths and she tried to lift it from his grip. But her power collided with the Infantryman behind him, hitting him like a fist to the forehead.

“She isn’t supposed to be able to do that,” Teelor said. He turned to look at Verda and Taryn’s Shadow moved with him.

“The inhibitors need more time to work,” Verda said. Both men began backing away and Taryn could no longer see what was happening to her.

She set her Shadow into the other four flames in the alley, not wanting to risk being blinded again. Her attack had served as a brief distraction but now the final Infantryman charged at her. A guttural yell springing from his throat, he raised his sword high above his head. Before Taryn could properly assess where to apply her power, Rhys stepped forward to intercept him.

Rhys rammed the hilt of his sword into his comrade’s gut and stole the sword from his grip. Then he brought the weapon around and held both blades against his comrade’s neck.

“Take another step,” Rhys said to Mr. Tool, “and he dies.”

“What the hells are you doing?”

“Saving your lives,” Rhys answered. “Do you have any idea who this girl is?”

“She is an enemy of the Seat,” Verda called. “Do your job and kill her.”

“She has the King’s protection,” Rhys said. “I’ve seen it. Baral, I don’t want to hurt any of you but I will if you don’t stand down.”

“Then you’ll be worse than a deserter,” Mr. Tool spat.

“Please,” Rhys said. “You’ve heard them yourself. The King doesn’t know about this. He won’t forgive you if you persist.”

“The girl obviously holds sway over him. Killing her will free him.”

Rhys shook his head. “I don’t believe that.”

Taryn watched Rhys and Mr. Tool through each other’s eyes. The older man narrowed his eyes at the younger; studying, considering. Taryn did some considering of her own. Rhys was closer to her than Mr. Tool was, his back to the wall Taryn crouched against. If it came to it, he could slit his hostage’s throat and meet Mr. Tool’s blade in time to save her. But whether Rhys was the kind of man to kill over a misunderstanding or not, she was running out of time. The inhibitors were working through her body and soon it wouldn’t matter if she could see properly or focus her will. If these two clashed and someone drew blood, she was going to die.

Taryn tried not to panic. The faster her heart beat, the quicker the work of the inhibitors. But Mr. Tool would not relent. She could see it in his eyes. She had humiliated him and the Administrators had given him an excuse to avenge himself. And Rhys was not the kind of man to kill a comrade for a misunderstanding. Otherwise, he would have done it and turned his blade against Mr. Tool. His words were a bluff and as soon as Mr. Tool saw that, Taryn was going to die.

Mr. Tool lunged for her.

Taryn thought of calling for help. But everyone she knew would be able to was too far away. Vares in the palace, lost in his grief; Kura in Larisport, reminding his mother who he was; and she hadn’t seen George in months.

Rhys shoved his hostage to the ground and lurched to intercept.

Maybe she could send a beacon and a kind mutant would respond and help her. But the only other mutants in the city were Denan, who was trapped in a hole and not a reader; the palace prisoners, who were trapped in cells and inhibited; and Kol’s army, who were probably hunting her down to kill her themselves.

Rhys wasn’t going to make it.

Taryn thought of the people closest to her. Rai, who always wanted to help her; Kem, who only wanted to know her. Why hadn’t she ever let them? It was too late now. If either of them found her now, if she tried to appeal to the bakery’s patrons or a stranger passing by, they’d take one look of those Administrators robes, the green and gold uniforms, the empty inhibitor darts scattered around her, and they’d run the other way.

She was going to die.

Unknown, unloved, and unable to focus a thought to stop it.

Taryn was going to die.

And she started to panic.

Suddenly, a figure charged into the alley from where the Administrators stood. It collided with Mr. Tool in a flash of blinding light. It wasn’t a physical light; Taryn’s eyes were closed. This was something… other. Something that washed the images of the four Shadows out of her mind and flooded the field of mental flames with its brilliance. The entire range of Taryn’s telepathic abilities cringed. And for that brief instant, Taryn would have sworn that she was alone in that alley.

“Put your weapons down or I’ll do it for you.”

Taryn opened her eyes. There was a hard edge she’d never heard before but she knew that voice!

“Gods, am I glad you’re here,” Rhys sounded as relieved as she felt. “They were trying to–”

Shield stepped into Rhys’s open stance and grabbed each of his wrists. He twisted them up and the swords clattered to the ground. Then, Shield thrust a palm into Rhys’s chest and the lad slammed into the wall so hard Taryn could hear the breath rushing out of his lungs. He fell to the ground beside Taryn, a nasty cough rattling through his chest. The last armed Infantryman dropped his sword and both of them fell prostrate before the Weapon.

“I surrender! I surrender!” one cried.

“Please, we were only following orders.”

The edge was gone from Shield’s voice when he bent to offer Taryn his hand. “Can you stand?”

Taryn clung to his arm. She pulled herself up and stood on trembling legs.

“Have you been hurt?” The sound of glass crunched under her boots and he saw the partially emptied darts scattered around her.

“I’ll recover,” Taryn said. The sting in her chest was fading and her eyes could focus as long as she didn’t have to look beyond a few feet.

“That wasn’t necessary,” Rhys gasped beside her. “We’re on the same side here.”

Shield ignored him, turning instead to the pale LAAMP Administrators mustering themselves to face him. “Explain yourselves.”

“Chief Talon never logged her return,” Verda said. “The girl spent the night outside the palace proper, in clear violation of her immunity agreement. We are within our rights to take her into custody.”

“The King’s right,” Shield corrected them.

“His Majesty was unavailable for–”

“And who speaks for the King in his absence?”

“The Weapons of his Arsenal,” Verda said.

“If you had come to me with your concerns, you would have learned that I relieved Chief Talon of her vigil last night. I informed her that Taryn’s absence was to be expected and that no disciplinary action would be required. I’ve only come to ensure that the rest of the conditions of her agreement are fulfilled. Imagine my surprise at finding that two of the King’s trusted officials have not only subverted his authority in this but have also unlawfully disclosed sensitive information to four unvetted individuals, putting the safety of the entire kingdom at risk. As it stands, the two of you stand guilty of insubordination. You will remit yourselves to my chambers for sentencing and pray it doesn’t enter my mind to charge you for treason.”

Shield turned to the Infantrymen. “What have you been told?”

The Infantryman answered with his face still pressed to the ground. “Mr. Teelor only selected us from the barracks an hour ago, sir. He told us we were needed to apprehend a dangerous mutant who posed a significant threat to the sovereignty of the King. They led us here and identified the girl as that threat.”

“And now you are possessed of information you have no right to. If you want to salvage your careers you will escort Mr. Verda and Mr. Teelor to the Arsenal chambers and speak nothing of this until I arrive. Be swift,” he added, nodding towards the end of the alley. “The King’s Warhammer has procured your transportation.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Thank you, sir!”

Their blurry shapes rose, cleared, and blurred again as they passed Taryn to reach the two Administrators. Taryn blinked and shook her head clear as they passed back, leading the fussy men further away from her. Her vision stilled as long as she didn’t shift her gaze and she saw them meet with another blurry mass. She assumed this was the King’s Warhammer, since he seemed to be waving curious pedestrians away as he hoisted an unmoving blur into a waiting carriage.

“That goes for you, too,” Shield said, kicking at Rhys’s feet.

Rhys took a couple of labored breaths before he hoisted himself to his feet. He held his hand over his chest, rubbing gently. “What will happen to them?”

“If anyone tries to stop you tell them to find me,” Shield said. “I’ll meet you all as soon as I’ve finished here.”

“I’m sorry about all this,” Rhys said to Taryn. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Now, Cal!” Shield urged.

Rhys finally conceded, collecting the weapons abandoned in the alley as he went and Shield turned all of his attentions to Taryn.

“How do you feel?” he asked. “Should I notify Dr. Seir?”

Taryn watched the Infantrymen leave. Shield had promised them an opportunity to salvage their careers but that was a lie. She didn’t know what happened to them once they were escorted out of the city. Her mind couldn’t reach that far. But she saw the damage they left behind. The broken families who would never understand. All to protect her secret. “They don’t deserve this.”

“It has to be done,” Shield said.

“But they were only following orders. Rhys saved my life.” She couldn’t thank him by allowing him to be sent into exile. “Let me fix it. I can… I can make them forget.”

“Will you obliterate the memories completely or just hide them, so that they’ll return after a few months or years?”

They both knew she wouldn’t risk making someone varn to protect her secret. “After a few months or years, it wouldn’t matter what they know. Would it?” After her immunity expired and she negotiated one that didn’t require a life of secrets and lies. Wasn’t that still the plan? Or had that changed as well?

“You don’t want anyone to be able to lay that charge on you,” he said.

Which was not a real answer.

“This isn’t your fault,” he assured her. “They did what they did and they’ll suffer the consequences.”

“But they won’t,” Taryn said. “Not really. Teelor and the Infantrymen were only acting as Verda’s pawns but Verda is a son of the Fallen. Will you make him disappear, too?”

Shield looked away from her, his jaw clenched.

And Taryn had her answer.

“Trust me,” Shield said. “He won’t be trying anything like this again.”

She didn’t believe him.

“They’re on their way,” Warhammer said. “We should be too. I’ve been recognized. Hello, Taryn. You look… well.”

Taryn squinted at him. There was something strange about the way he’d spoken her name. “You told him about me,” she accused Shield. He and Sword were the only Weapons who were supposed to know. Vares had said they were the only two it was safe to tell.

“He didn’t have a choice. The old man wasn’t going to able to make it here and Vor needed someone to back him up. Relax,” he added when he saw her worried face. “I don’t have a problem with it. I’m actually offended that you all kept this from me for so long. It’s Vet and Vey you should worry about.”

“Val here is terrible at keeping secrets,” Shield said. “You can make him forget if you want.”

“It was one time!” Warhammer threw his hands up. “And we all wanted to tell him the truth. I was the only one brave enough to do it.”

“Except for Vet and Vey,” Shield put in.

“That’s because they’re a couple of ice-blooded bastards,” Warhammer said. “But even they just stood by and let me tell him. Listen, Taryn. I promise your secret is safe with me. You saved Shava and Vil hasn’t gotten rid of you yet so I don’t care what you are. As long as you don’t turn, you’re safe with me.”

“Thank you,” Taryn said. She didn’t know why she wasn’t happier that there was one less person in the world she didn’t have to hide from.

“I meant what I said,” Shield said to her. “Anything you ask of us, its yours.”

Warhammer bent to pick up the empty and crushed pieces of darts on the floor. “How are you still standing after all this?” he asked.

“With difficulty. How many syringes did you bring?” she asked Shield as she rolled up her sleeve.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Shield said.

“But I was looking forward to that,” Warhammer said. “It’s the whole reason we came.”

“Dr. Seir won’t be able to use her seacrin if its poisoned with inhibitors,” Shield explained.

“But it could help me recover faster if I can get some of the poisoned secarin out.”

Shield considered it for a moment before he finally nodded to Warhammer, who kneeled with an excited grin. He drew a small pouch from his vest and laid it out on the floor. “I’ve heard about this for years; never seen it in practice.” He handed her one of the two syringes and watched her closely.

Taryn pumped her hand into a fist several times before she drove the needles into her arm. The two clear liquids went in, golden secarin flowed out.

“Woooow,” Warhammer gushed. “There isn’t any blood drawn?”

“Not as long as I do it correctly.”

“So this is what all the fuss is about,” he mused. “How does it even work? Why does it work?”

“Dr. Seir could explain it better than I could.” Taryn handed him the filled syringe and took up the second.

“Wait!” Warhammer rested a calloused hand over hers. “You dont need to draw too much. This should be plenty.”

“I’ve missed a watch and training session this morning, in addition to two extractions. You might have gotten away with a third,” she said. “Vares would have loved that.”

Warhammer glanced up at Shield. “Am I missing something here?”

“About three pounds of brain matter,” Shield said.

Warhammer stood and studied Shield’s face. “You haven’t told me everything.”

“Not here,” Shield said quietly.

Taryn had spoken too soon. Her knees buckled halfway through the second extraction. Shield had to catch her and ease her to the floor.

“When was the last time you ate?” he asked her.

Her breakfast had been a left over pie and Mama Kebar had allowed her to sate her appetite on scraps throughout the day. “I haven’t eaten much today.”

“Well, you may continue to gorge yourself tomorrow,” Shield said. “You can have one more night with your friends, but you need to be home in the morning.”

“Is this your decision or his?”

“Does it matter?”

It did to her.

“Raging redhead at three o’clock.” Warhammer nudged the pouch and syringes out of sight with his foot.

“Taryn?” Rai peered up and down the alley from the bakery’s rear door. “Oh gods, Taryn!”

“Hello, beautiful!” Warhammer stepped forward to meet her. “Whoa! Point me in the direction of the monster who did that to your face and I’ll make him regret the day he was born.”

“Who are you?” Rai asked, and tried to step around him. “What have you done to her?”

“The name is Warhammer. My friends call me Val, but you can call me–”

“Val!” Shield yelled. “No.”

“I’m beginning to think this was a bad idea.” Taryn finished her extraction and pulled the syringe from her arm. A few drops of blood floated in the tube but it was done. Shield placed it in the pouch and hid the whole thing against his arm. He used the other to drape Taryn’s arm over his shoulders and help her up. Taryn was too dizzy to stand. She didn’t know if the alley tilted because of the poisons or the over-depletion. All she knew was that her head hurt, her eyes felt heavy and she wanted to lay down.

Rai ducked under Warhammer’s outstretched arms and ran to Taryn’s side. “What have they done to you?”

Shield stepped back and let Rai take Taryn’s weight. “Greetings, Ms. Kebar. It’s good to see you again.”

“What the hells have you done to my friend?”

“Rai,” Taryn said. “They were helping me.”

“My apologies,” Shield said. “We were in the area and came upon your friend collapsed in this alley. We offered her what assistance we could.”

“Collapsed?” Rai touched the swollen welt on Taryn’s forehead.

Taryn winced. Her head throbbed with heat.

“Oh no,” Rai said. “Don’t tell me they got you too.”

“What do you mean?” Taryn asked.

“The bluebacks just came with the news,” Rai said. “The Princes of the Fall committed a hundred and fifty-seven attacks today, just like yesterday. They say it’ll be the same everyday until… well, I don’t know. Until the city submits, I guess.”

Shield cleared his throat. “Is that what they’re calling themselves?”

“What do you care?” Rai snapped. “You know, if your people had done something about the King of the Lane, we wouldn’t be in this mess now. Let me guess; you happened upon Taryn in distress and only helped as far as chasing them away so they could find their next victim.”

“Rai,” Taryn said.

“I’m sorry,” Rai said. “I’m just frustrated and scared. And Kem’s still out there.”

Taryn cast her Sentry over Pine Keep, caught swaths of flame in distressed. Hundreds of bluebacks, moving about the sector with purpose; small crowds of witnesses gathered around victims; physicians discharging patients to make room for more. All of them pulsed with the beat of her head. None of them were Kem. He was safely on his way back to the bakery.

“Why are they even here?” Rai asked. “We know it’s not to help.”

“You’re not being fair,” Taryn said. “You know they can’t.”

“But we will,” Shield said. “If that is what you desire. Thanks to the two of you, Shava is alive and awake. Unfortunately, she isn’t eating much. We’d hoped to entice her with some of her favorite foods and naturally thought of this charming establishment. When we arrived, we saw your friend had come to harm. Though I cannot definitively speak to what had befallen her, if you believe that the same group that assaulted you is responsible, bid us to pursue them and we will.”

‘What are you doing?’ Taryn Echoed to him.

“But you aren’t allowed to interfere,” Rai said. “You’ll get into trouble if you do.”

‘You’ll get Vares into trouble.’

“You underestimate your service to our brotherhood,” Warhammer said. “Command it, and it will be done for you.”

“No,” Taryn said. “We don’t command anything. You are to do nothing. We’ll deal with them in our own way.”

Shield inclined his head. “It shall be done just as you say.”

Taryn looked between him and Warhammer and knew that they really would have done it. That the Countess Soren meant that much to them. To him.

Taryn told herself not to panic.

“She’s right,” Rai said. “Pine Keep is strong. We won’t become an extension of Larisport. I am glad to hear that the Countess Soren is doing better and of course we’re happy to do what we can to help her recover. Follow me, I think I know just what she’d like.”

Rai shambled back to the bakery under the combined burden of her own injured leg and a good deal of Taryn’s weight. “I’ve seen you fight, Taryn,” Rai said quietly. “A group of street thugs wouldn’t do this to you.”

“Do you want the truth?”

“Always.”

“I’m starving!”

Rai stopped to gape at her. And laughed.

“Its not funny, Rai. I’ve missed five meals. Five!” Last night’s dinner and this morning’s breakfast. The midnight snack that usually accompanied her night watches, the midmorning cart that energized her day watches. And lunch; the banquet right before her second extraction that fed her recovery. Now her body had to combat poisonous inhibitors, regenerate her secarin and keep her awake. It was too much. “There’s nothing in me now.”

Rai was still smiling to herself when she set Taryn down in the corner booth. She had to wake Taryn when she returned several minutes later with some semblance of a proper meal. By the time Taryn was halfway through her third sandwich, Shield and Warhammer were gone, Kem was back and frowning at the welt on Taryn’s head, and Rai shook her head in disbelief.

“How do you afford to eat like this? Where does it all go?”

“Into a syringe,” Taryn said between mouthfuls.

Rai simply laughed and brought Taryn more food.