Page 25 of The Bone Season

My priority was to get out of here. Until then, I would learn what I could. For now, it was probably in my best interest to play along.

Tonight I planned to check on Seb. I could almost hear Jaxon laughing at me, but Seb wouldn’t last a day on his own. Once I had found him, I would look for Julian, who seemed to have a level head on him. It might pay to forge an alliance or two.

On my way out of the bathroom, I glanced up the rest of the steps. Those must lead to the attic.

Back in the parlour, I laced my boots and opened the middle drawer of the desk. Inside were three blister packs of pills. I popped one of each – red, white and green, none of them labelled.

The city was full of things I didn’t yet understand. These pills might be there to protect me from something: toxins, radiation. Maybe I should take them. Once Warden returned, I would have no choice.

For now, I washed them all down the sink. No matter what happened to me in this place, I refused to blindly obey.

The Residence of Magdalen was like nowhere I had ever seen. It could have been a small district, if anyone had cared to fill it. As it stood, I could only sense three other dreamscapes, all human.

I did a lap of the cloister, which surrounded a pristine lawn. As I went, I tried various locked doors, committing each to memory.

Warden was away tonight. I should use the opportunity to explore the residence, but I wanted to be outside. I would survive Oxford the same way I had survived London, by learning its secrets.

Magdalen could wait.

In the Porters’ Lodge at the front of the residence, a soothsayer had replaced the man from earlier. Her thin brown hair was pulled into a bun, and her gilet looked warmer than mine.

‘Good evening,’ she said. ‘You must be 40.’ I nodded. ‘I’m the night porter. Welcome to the Residence of Magdalen.’

‘Thank you,’ I said, for want of anything else to say.

‘It’s lovely to have a newcomer to the household. The Warden has never been a keeper before – not once, according to our records,’ she said. ‘You’re very lucky to be training with him.’

‘So I’ve been told.’ I eyed her pink tunic. ‘If he’s not your keeper, who is?’

‘Alsafi Sualocin. He suspected I wouldn’t survive my second test, so he permitted me to leave Queens to work for the Warden,’ she said. ‘I’m proud to say this is my twelfth year at Magdalen.’

That was alarming. I hadn’t been planning to sit around here for twelve days, let alone twelve years.

‘I hope you were comfortable in the Founders Tower,’ she added. ‘The attic will be ready for you soon. We just need to clear it.’

‘No bother.’ I folded my arms. ‘I’d like to go outside, if I may.’

‘Of course.’ She opened a thick book. ‘Let me sign you out.’

‘Am I allowed to go anywhere in Magdalen?’

‘Anywhere but the Old Chapel. Otherwise, you can go as far as the gate just east of the lawns. You can also explore the city whenever you like during the night, so long as you sign out.’

‘Anything else I should know?’

She considered me. ‘Personally,’ she said, ‘I would stay close to the residences, within the limits of the medieval city wall. Youcango farther, but if you’re alone, you may be questioned.’

‘I didn’t see a wall when I arrived.’

‘The wall itself doesn’t exist any more, but the boundary is marked on that map. You’ll know it when you reach it. It’s where the lamplight ends.’ She nodded to a frame on the wall behind me. ‘After that point, the city is dark and dangerous. The farther you stray towards the outskirts, the closer you are to Gallows Wood.’

‘And what’s in there?’

‘The Warden will tell you,’ she said. ‘In good time.’

There was a finality to her tone. I decided not to push my luck.

‘I see.’ I went to look at the map. ‘Any idea where I can get food?’

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