Passing a group of anxious Gray Tower functionaries clustered around Dame Sercombe, a pale girl with thick blond curls and a student’s bag slung over her shoulder sat down on a bench and smoothed the skirt of her ash gray dress, which she wore under a white pinafore, and slightly too long green cloak. Once settled, she looked up and watched an unusual vessel arrive at the docks. Unlike the Brad’s usual vessels, which traversed it by oar, sail or Qe magic, this vessel was propelled by a single water wheel turning in the middle of its top deck. How said wheel turned was unknown; any and all attempts to investigate had failed, resulting in either nothing or violence.

  But the girl wasn’t here for that. With an air of unconcern, she pulled three books out of her bag, placed one on the bench to her left, placed a second to the right, and opened the third, a thick folio detailing last year’s fashions, on her lap to peruse.

  Over on the docks, a murmur surged through Sercombe’s functionaries as the strange vessel’s gangway lowered, allowing its two passengers to descend. Both wore crested headdresses, cloaks made of feathers from a dozen species, and heavy face paint, dark, flowery blue and purple for the taller one, a fruit’s pink and yellow for the shorter one. As a pair, their colors overwhelmed the plain blacks, whites and maroons Sercombe’s functionaries wore.

  As the knight approached with a deep bow, the girl said to no one, “I have to ask: what do the colors mean? Has anyone ever gone to the Cokop Islands and asked?”

  A low, breathy response came from behind her. “One wonders why an Academy student asks.”

  “HIDDEN CINDER,” said the girl.

  Behind her persona, Dana waited, tense. Both the question and the arrangement of the books had been a signal, one that only other Circle agents could interpret as a request for information. Normally the requester would wear something that blended in, but Dana had plans for later and only limited access to Magdala Gallus’s wardrobe so this would have to do.

  Of the agents the Circle had dispatched to Bradford, Dana hoped that the one behind her was a hFo-Xa like luzself, a mask who listened, waited, watched. Dealing with any of the others was too risky.

  “A document has been distributed,” lu said. “The target doesn’t see the danger.”

  The one behind stated, “HIDDEN CINDER is not this one’s concern.”

  “HIDDEN CINDER has SolLab priority.”

  On the docks, the Cokop emissaries ignored Dame Sercombe, their eyes on the sky. Who were they waiting for?

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Acknowledged,” stated the one behind. “This one offers two questions, one favor.”

  That was generous. Should lu negotiate? No, two questions and a favor were all that lu needed.

  “Accepted.” Lu brought the folio up to luz face. “Is the target right?”

  “This one would say no if the target had made a better impression yesterday in the ashen spire, if the tax collector had waited for the regular enchanter’s assessment, if the profits of the bridge hadn’t gone to ex-slaves and expatriates.”

  In plainer terms, Dwayne had annoyed someone at the Gray Tower yesterday, the Exchequer had made someone resent Dwayne for the special attention, and the profits the Wesen and Vanurians had earned on the bridge had made Sourans jealous. If Dana hadn’t had to be Rodion, lu would have found each of the fools responsible and screamed into their faces that Dwayne was trying to help them.

  Over on the docks, Dame Sercombe was growing more and more frustrated. Having already presented some official document, she now made some impassioned plea to the Cokop emissaries, but they continued to keep their eyes on the sky.

  Dana finally quelled luz fury. “What’s the danger?”

  “This is known: the target’s association meets at Sanford.”

  “Acknowledged.” Granite could take advantage of the Club meeting. Dana needed to get the one behind to intervene. “My favor is-”

  “Keep quiet.” The one behind drew close. “Handler need not know your feelings for HIDDEN CINDER.”

  Dana’s world swam. As hFo-Xa, lu could suppress any outward signs of emotion, and luz thoughts were no concern, even if a hFoQe bothered to read them. Luz true emotions however, those could not be suppressed.

  And the one behind was hFo’Ri.

  Dana tried to speak. “I-”

  “Do not worry.” The other Fo mage’s breath tickled luz ear. “This favor is no burden. Ah, interesting. She is who they’re waiting for.”

  Lady Pol landed on the dock. Immediately, the Cokop Emissaries placed hands together, acknowledging her as they had not Dame Sercombe. Why?

  “The Qe Master’s Examination,” said Dana.

  “Yes,” agreed the hFo’Ri. “This one must ask: what is so interesting about HIDDEN CINDER that Cokop would send emissaries all the way here?”

  Dana grit her teeth. “No response.”

  Lu could hear the teeth in the hFo’Ri’s smile. “Accepted.”

  Then Dana was alone. Lu counted thirty heartbeats then stood up, collected her books, and walked away. Entitlement, jealousy, resentment: these emotions were potent fuel for Granite’s next play. Unfortunately it was too late; Dwayne would have to deal with it himself. Phons save him.

  What Dana could do was drag Granite out into the light and let Mei’s righteous crusade sinks it claws into a worthy target. To make sure of that, Dana patted luz bag to make sure Lord Kalan’s letters were still there.

  It was time to leave Mei a little evidence.