Page 22 of The Bone Season

As he spoke, I looked right into his eyes, even though I shouldn’t. I wanted to know the face of my enemy.

‘It is done,’ Nashira said. ‘Those of you who remain will be escorted to Amaurotic House. The rest of you will go with your keepers to the residences.’ She clasped her hands. ‘You have been spared the wretched fate of other clairvoyants in Scion. Embrace your new lives, and you will reap many rewards. Together, we will make sure that there is no safer place than Scion.’

With that, she departed, shadowed by two of the human guards.

Arcturus started to leave. From his purposeful stride, he was used to people hurrying to clear a path for him. When I didn’t come at once, he waited.

Everyone was staring at me. My head spun as I followed my new jailer.

The first red of dawn had dusted the sky. Arcturus swept through the gates and turned left. I barely managed to keep up with him.

‘You are my tenant now,’ he informed me. (What a nice word forprisoner.) ‘Should you pass your tests, you will live with me on a permanent basis. If you fail, I may decide to evict you. You should try to avoid that fate. The streets here are not kind.’

They couldn’t be much worse than London.

‘You should know that we sleep by day. There is a strict curfew,’ he continued. ‘You must be indoors from sunrise to dusk.’

When he led me past an old sign readingCATTE STREET, I took note. I needed to learn the layout of this city as soon as possible.

‘Your silence concerns me.’ Arcturus stopped. ‘Do you understand what I am telling you?’

‘I’m not allowed to speak without permission,’ I reminded him.

‘I will grant you that privilege.’

‘I’m fine, thanks.’

Arcturus returned my unflinching gaze. His eyes held a dead heat.

‘We are stationed at the Residence of Magdalen.’ He turned his back on me again. ‘I trust you are strong enough to walk.’

‘I can walk,’ I said curtly.

‘Good.’

Arcturus strode on to another gaslit street, this one named Magdalen Walk. From the hush and stillness, the sinister performance had come to an end.

As I trailed after him, I spotted a group of voyants standing under a streetlamp. One woman caught my gaze, but she was quick to look away.

‘You lot,’ a red-jacket barked at them. ‘Back to the Rookery. The Bone Season does not exempt you from the curfew.’

They melted into the shadows at once. Arcturus ignored the disturbance, but glanced back to make sure I was still following.

Magdalen was from another time, another world. Imposing and magnificent, it boasted tall chimneys, Gothic arches, and a bell tower with turrets, and that was just what I could see from the street.

Deep chimes rang out as we approached a wooden door.THE RESIDENCE OF MAGDALENwas carved into the lintel, flanked by lanterns. I had less than no idea why Arcturus pronounced itmaudlin.

He used an iron knocker to rap on the door. It opened to reveal a man with brown skin and grizzled black hair, who bowed and let us inside.

‘Warden,’ the man said, once the door was closed and bolted. ‘Welcome back. I trust the Bone Season brought a promising crop.’

‘Yes. This is my new tenant,’ Arcturus said. ‘Her number is XX-59-40.’

The man gave me a guarded look. He was probably in his early fifties. His grey tunic and lack of aura marked him as an amaurotic.

‘Very good, my lord,’ he said. ‘I’ll inform the night porter.’

Arcturus led me across a courtyard, into a stone passage. It was open to the cold on one side, making the torchlight flicker. I followed him up a flight of steps. At the top, there were more steps to the right, leading to a door. He unlocked a larger door on our left.

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