Page 102 of The Dark Mirror

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘but I believed in his betrayal. I didn’t mount a second rescue attempt, even though I had the forces. I’d understand if he was hurt.’

‘I don’t know Warden especially well, but he doesn’t strike me as the sort of man who sulks. Some light brooding over a glass ofwine, perhaps, but I’m sure he won’t hold any of it against you. You two just need to have a frank conversation, and not leave it too long.’ She waved her knife at me. ‘Now, eat your breakfast and stop overthinking, Underqueen.’

‘Fine.’

I finished my fruit and yoghurt. Ducos appeared a minute later, a thick folder balanced on one hip.

‘You know,’ I said to her, ‘I’m starting to suspect you’ve got a tracking unit in me, too.’

‘I assumed you would be hungry. I’m here to remind you about your debriefing,’ Ducos said. ‘See you upstairs at half past two. We’ll be in the Dogaressa Room.’ She considered me. ‘You were right about Capri, as you were about Versailles. Pivot is impressed.’

Before I could respond, she walked on.

‘I can’t work out if she likes you,’ Maria remarked.

‘She claims she does,’ I said.

‘You need to tell Command about the other dreamwalker. Now you’re an agent again, you can use their supplies and connections to track him down.’ She took a bite of pancake. ‘Ducos knows the Ranthen are in Venice, by the way. Pivot might well ask you to arrange a meeting.’

‘Why does everyone think I’m their secretary?’

‘Because you’re the resident expert in Rephs, sweet. You have a good idea of how to handle them.’

‘If I could handle Terebell, she’d like me a lot more than she does.’ I stood. ‘I’d better let Nick have a look at these bruises. See you and Verca for dinner?’

‘Verca has gone to see her family in Trieste, but I’ll be there,’ Maria said. ‘In the meantime, I’d better keep resting the arm. I want to help you beat the stuffing out of Cadoc Fitzours.’

‘I appreciate the enthusiasm.’

Leaving her to eat, I went to the coffee machine and filled two cups, which I carried to the medical room. Nick looked up from a screen.

‘I thought I’d bring coffee,’ I said.

‘Thank you. I need it.’ He took the cup I offered. ‘How are you feeling today?’

‘The same, with fewer tears.’ I shook my head. ‘I’m sure I never used to cry this much.’

‘Paige, you’ve been through so much over the last year. It was going to get on top of you at some point. Besides, sometimes it’s good to let it all out.’ His face softened. ‘You didn’t get a chance to speak to Warden by yourself. Why don’t you walk back and check on him?’

‘I’ll wait until tomorrow.’

‘You’re avoiding him.’

‘No. I’m giving him space,’ I said. ‘He looked like he was ready to keel over yesterday.’

‘I don’t think I understood what he said about Deathwatch.’

I sat on the examination couch.

‘You know the Rephs used to live in the Netherworld,’ I said. ‘The psychopomps would lead spirits there, so they could come to terms with their deaths and move on to the last light. But over time, humans treated each other so badly that Earth became overcrowded with spirits, and the psychopomps couldn’t handle it. The Rephs call that point the ethereal threshold, and when it’s reached, the veils between worlds begin to destabilise.’

‘I remember this. You told me in London.’

‘Well, here’s what you don’t know. The ruling family, the Mothallath, came to Earth to deal with the problem,’ I said. ‘They managed to lower the number of spirits – but something happened while they were here, which caused the decline of the Netherworld. Apparently, voyants also appeared around that time. All this started a civil war.’

‘Okay,’ Nick said, his brow furrowed.

‘The veils eventually became so thin that the other Rephs were able to make the crossing to Earth,’ I said. ‘Now the Netherworld has fallen, and the Mothallath are gone. That means the number of restless spirits on Earth is only going to keep climbing, and we can’t use the threnody to banish them all to the last light. There are too many.’

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