Page 23 of The Bone Season

Beyond lay a room with a high ceiling, befitting the lair of a giant. The walls were pale, with dark and polished wainscoting. A gramophone played ‘Gloomy Sunday’ from a stand in one corner.

The furnishings were beautiful. Thick red curtains framed the oriel windows. A daybed and a couch – also red – faced each other beside a crackling fire, accompanied by a wing chair. A low table stood between them, set with two goblets and a decanter.

At least my aura would fit in with the décor.

Arcturus walked ahead of me. I watched him return the key to his belt.

‘The Founders Tower,’ he said. ‘This is where you will live.’

As he spoke, I dared to skim his dreamscape – ancient and strange, hardened by time. I recognised those defences, their impossible layering.

The stranger in the æther had definitely been one of them.

Arcturus turned to me, possibly sensing what I had done. Or perhaps he was admiring his prize.

‘Come here,’ he said.

I walked to him, stopping a short distance away. He was a clear foot taller than me. To look him in the face, I had to crane my neck.

I still met his gaze without hesitation. Let him see every ounce of my hatred for him. Now the initial shock had faded, I was fuming.

‘You do not have the sight,’ he observed. ‘That may prove to be a disadvantage here, unless you have some means of compensating.’

His accent was that of most Scion officials, classic Inquisitorial English. You could have cut glass on those consonants. It was a measured voice, betraying next to no emotion.

Then again, he might have none.

‘I must leave soon.’ His face was cold. ‘Do you have any questions?’

I looked around. ‘I’ve all this to myself ?’

‘No. This is my parlour. Until your room is ready, you may sleep here.’

‘Whereismy room?’

‘In the southwestern attic adjoining the tower. Anything else?’

Magdalen clearly had no shortage of rooms. If he had installed me in his own quarters, he must want to keep a close eye on me.

‘No,’ I said, my voice sounding distant to my own ears. ‘No, this all seems perfectly simple.’

‘Very well.’

He went to a display case. I watched his every move, like the good thief I was.

‘I will be away until tomorrow.’ He took out a short glass. ‘You should acquaint yourself with the city in my absence. Should you hear the siren, return to the Founders Tower at once. If you steal or touch or otherwise meddle with anything, I will know.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Thesirjust slipped out.

Arcturus poured water into the glass. He presented it to me with a green tablet.

‘Take this,’ he said. ‘Take another at dusk, along with the red and white pills. You will find them in the middle drawer of my desk.’

‘What if I refuse?’

There was a long silence.

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