Page 38 of The Bone Season

Eliza had lost several years to purple aster. Even after Scion used the flower to create flux, the syndicate had never stopped trading in it. There were four types of aster with ethereal properties, each affecting voyants in a different way.

Even before she dabbled in purple, Eliza had been hooked on white, which caused amnesia. Since kicking the habit, she had made me swear never to touch aster. I saw no reason to break that promise.

Still, I couldn’t blame Tilda. Having lived with a whisperer for almost two years, I knew it was one of the hardest gifts to carry.

Trinity was guarded on the side that faced the Broad. I went down Parks Road and ended up outside a set of tall gates. Just as Tilda had reported, a group of soaked humans were on the lawn, led by one of the Rephs. They worked by the light of a lamp post.

Julian was in the group. Half of them were holding silver batons, waving them about as if they were conducting an orchestra.

The Reph suddenly rounded on Julian and threw a spirit at him. It must have caught him off his guard – he lost his footing and crashed to the ground.

‘On your feet,’ she said, her voice carrying. ‘Or do you wish to die here, 26?’

Julian shook his head. He slowly rolled on to his side and shuddered.

‘Get up.’

He couldn’t do it. Of course not – she had just hit him in the face with a furious spirit. She looked down at him with utter disdain before returning to the warm glow of Trinity.

The humans exchanged weary glances before they followed. None of them stayed to help Julian. I pushed the gates, but they caught on a chain.

‘Julian,’ I called.

He raised his head. After a while, he picked himself up and walked to the gates. His boots and white tunic were covered in mud.

‘She loves me,’ he said when he reached me. ‘Really. I’m her star pupil.’

‘I’m sure. What kind of spirit was it?’

‘Just a wisp, I think.’ He rubbed his raw eyes. ‘Sorry. I’m still seeing things.’

‘Like what?’

‘Piles of burning books. A red sky.’

The wisp had left an impression of its final hours. It was an unpleasant aspect of spirit combat.

‘It will pass. Give it a minute,’ I said quietly. He nodded and grasped the gate, blinking a few times. ‘How are you otherwise?’

‘Oh, you know, fine. Just a normal evening with the giants from another world.’

We held it together for a solemn moment, then cracked up at exactly the same time. Wheezing on either side of the gate, we surrendered to the absolute horrifying absurdity of our situation, using our sleeves to muffle our laughter, tears seeping down our cheeks.

‘This is … ridiculous,’ I managed. ‘What is goingonhere?’

‘We’ve gone mad.’ Julian wiped his eyes. ‘It’s the only explanation.’

‘Okay. I’m glad we agree.’ I sucked in a deep breath, collecting myself. ‘Back to your training. What were those batons?’

‘They help you learn the ropes of spirit combat, like training wheels. Aludra wants us to know how to make and deflect spools by April.’

‘You won’t be an expert by April, but it’s easier than it sounds.’

‘Good to know. Where did you learn?’

‘My parents,’ I said. ‘They were voyant.’ The lie came out smoothly, strong and convincing. ‘Aludra is your keeper, I take it.’

Julian nodded. ‘I don’t know why she volunteered. She clearly hates us.’

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