Page 17 of The Bone Season

Someone else was in a bad way. A boy with freckles and a wispy fringe, so pale he almost looked bloodless. I had failed to notice him because he had no aura.

‘What is this place?’ He could hardly get the words out. ‘Who are all of you?’

Julian furrowed his brow. ‘You’re amaurotic. Why have they taken you?’

‘I’m what?’

‘Probably a mix-up.’ The oracle sounded bored. ‘Tough luck, kid.’

The boy looked as though he might faint. He lurched to his feet and yanked at the bars.

‘Please. I’m not meant to be here,’ he shouted. ‘I’m not unnatural, I swear!’ He was almost in tears. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry about the stone!’

‘Stop it,’ I hissed. A few people swore at him. ‘Do you want to be next?’

He sank back to the floor. I guessed he was about fifteen. I was reminded of a different time, when I was both surrounded and alone.

‘Hey,’ I said, gentler. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Sebastian Pearce,’ he said. ‘Seb.’ He shifted closer to me. ‘Are you really … unnaturals?’

‘I’ll do unnatural things with your entrails if you don’t stop flapping that jaw of yours, rottie,’ a voice sneered. ‘Ever heard of a splanchomancer?’

Seb cringed.

‘He’s being dramatic,’ I said. ‘I’m Paige. This is Julian.’

Julian gave me a bemused look. Clearly it was my job to make small talk with the amaurotic. Seb glanced between us like a nervous rabbit.

‘We’re not going to hurt you, Seb,’ I said. ‘Where are you from?’

Seb hesitated. ‘IV-1.’

‘Nice area,’ Julian said gamely. ‘Whereabouts?’

‘Richmond.’

Seb wrapped one arm around his knees. His stained lips shook with cold.

‘Tell us what happened to you,’ I said.

He glanced at the others. I couldn’t find it in myself to blame him for his fear. From the second he could understand words, he would have been told that voyants were the source of all evil.

‘One of the other students planted something in my satchel. A stone,’ he said. ‘The Schoolmaster saw me trying to get rid of it and called the Vigiles to assess me. It took hours to convince them I was innocent. A week later, on my way home, two strangers followed me. I heard a gunshot, and— and then I think I must have fainted. I was sick.’

I wondered about the effects of flux on amaurotics. The physical symptoms might appear, but probably not the phantasmagoria.

‘That’s awful,’ I said. ‘I’m sure this is all a terrible mistake.’

Seb perked up. ‘Then they’ll let me go home?’

‘Probably not,’ the oracle said.

The sound of footsteps silenced us. Pleione pulled open the door.

‘Follow me,’ she said.

No one dared protest. We stepped over the tasseographer as we left.

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