Page 107 of The Dagger and the Flame
Dufort sighed as he returned his gaze to the statue of Saint Calvin, searching for a face beneath the skein of moss. ‘The bravest of us carve out our own path in life, Bastian. Once we choose our destiny, there is no other way. There is no going back.’
Ransom grimaced at his words. They were not true – they could not be true. There were always other paths, other choices. Dufort had chosen his destiny for him at ten years old and now Ransom wanted a different one. He wanted to choose for himself.
‘Wrangle that wayward conscience of yours, boy. We have graver matters to worry about.’ Dufort turned for the gate, beckoning for Ransom to follow. ‘The king is growing concerned about our little monster problem. If I don’t get them out of this city, he’ll send ten thousand soldiers to sweep the streets with all the brute force the royal purse can buy. Hisnightguards are already a nuisance. I don’t want any more soldiers sniffing about in my city.’
Another growl of thunder tore through the night, and far across the Verne, the clock tower chimed eight.
They paused at the gate. Dufort sighed. ‘I know what they say about me in the catacombs, you know. That all the Shade has eaten through my heart. I am not so far gone that I can’t sense your restlessness.’ He laid a heavy hand on Ransom’s shoulder. ‘You’ve been unhappy these past few months. I can see it. I have always been able to see it. Don’t think that I’ve been content to watch you struggle, son. That I haven’t thought to do something about it.’
Ransom frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘When I was at Bellevue Castle, I spoke to the king about your family. Your mother, Gisele. Your sister, Anouk. I know how much you’ve been missing them.’
Ransom’s heart stuttered in his chest. ‘You… spoke to the king aboutme?’
‘The smallest of asks,’ said Dufort, with a wave of dismissal. ‘He’s put his best scouts on the case. Scattered them across the country like a fistful of marbles. There is nothing hidden in Valterre that cannot be found by the Crown.’ He rolled back on his heels, offering a smile of lazy confidence. ‘When we find them, you can bring them home, Bastian. Buy them a house and fill it with riches. Put all that coin you’ve earned to good use, perhaps remind yourself of theblessingsthis Order has given you. The blessings thatIhave given you.’
Ransom’s throat tightened. ‘How long?’ he managed. ‘How long until you hear back?’
Dufort shrugged. ‘A week, maybe two? Stay close to me. When I hear something, you’ll be the first to know.’
Ransom nodded, hope like a fist in his throat. He couldn’t stop his eyes from misting over.
‘It’s a gift,’ said Dufort as he nudged him through the gate, keeping that hand on his shoulder. ‘You’re not supposed to blubber.’
As the air crackled with the beginnings of a storm, Ransom looked up at the menacing lights of the Aurore and thought of Seraphine somewhere across the city, readying herself for battle.
It was too soon. Too soon to move against Dufort, too soon to slam shut that precious door to Ransom’s past. He was so close now, closer than he’d ever been. He had to find out where his family was or the mystery of it would kill him. Thealmostknowing would drive him to ruin.
As thunder rolled across the darkening sky, he stalked from the graveyard and into the heart of the storm, hoping he was not too late.
Chapter 40Seraphine
As night fell, Sera stepped out of the back door of House Armand. A canopy of clouds blotted out the rising moon and thunder grumbled across the city as though the saints knew what she was about to do. She couldn’t tell if the storm was urging her on or warning her to turn back. She tried not to think about it as she embraced her friends in the garden, pressing a kiss to Bibi’s cheek and squeezing Val’s hand.
‘Are you sure you’re still up for this?’
‘Surer than sure,’ said Bibi, tightening the straps on her satchel. ‘We’ll see you at the Aurore.’
‘For our great blaze of glory,’ added Val, with a wink.
Sera smiled at her friends, ignoring her guilt. She hadn’t told them about her plans for Dufort because she didn’t want toworry them. And maybe, deep down, she was afraid they’d try and talk her out of it.
She turned to Theo, catching the worry on his face before he masked it with an easy smile. He stepped in, adjusting the hood of her Lightfire cloak. ‘Time to become the flame, Sera,’ he said, using her mother’s words to strengthen her. ‘Are you ready?’
She drew a steadying breath, relaxing into the brush of magic against her skin. She felt it reaching down inside her, warming the furthest depths of her soul.
‘I’m ready,’ she said.
Theo took her hand, folding a fistful of magical pearls inside it. ‘Just in case.’
‘Thanks,’ she said. The pearls flickered as she slipped them into one of her pockets. She had a switchblade in the other. Anotherjust in case. ‘See you soon.’
Once she cleared the boundary of House Armand, she didn’t look back. She marched on, into the dark heart of the Hollows. From there, she headed west, shattering the night as she went. Under the heaving sky, the city was darker than ever, but her cloak shone out like a light, guiding her through the deserted streets to the place where the monsters gathered.
By the time Sera reached the harbour, her heart was pounding in her chest. The sky growled and the wind stirred, carrying the odour of seaweed across the square. She stood at the end of the pier, where the reflection of her cloak shone back at her from the black water.
There were monsters here. She couldfeelthem.
