‘So you think it was the same meld Reeth and Serrah encountered?’ Karr said.

‘How many can there be?’ Disgleirio replied. ‘But it shook me, I can tell you that. I’ve never faced such strength in an opponent, or skill. And she took the life of one of our best men, which is something I’ll not forget in a hurry.’

‘She was aiding the militia?’

‘Well, in the sense that she was attacking civilians. But I don’t think she was working with the authorities. More like a freelance.’

‘But not some kind of maverick, apparently. At least, Reeth didn’t think so. He suspected a connection with the paladins.’

‘Whoever she’s aligned with she did a lot of damage out there today.’

Goyter stuck her head round the door, a familiar, determined look on her face. ‘Come on, you two, eat. I won’t tell you again.’

Karr smiled wryly. ‘I think we’d better do as she says. The wrath of a meld’s as nothing compared to hers.’

Disgleirio had to grin. He knew it was at least half true.

They filed out of Karr’s tiny makeshift study. The ex-Patrician walked stiffly, but try as he might to hide the pain, he couldn’t disguise his eyes. Disgleirio pushed from his mind the thought that their leader, his friend, had death written on him.

A spacious side chamber in the catacombs had been given over to a dining area. Half a dozen long, sturdy benches almost filled it. But most people had eaten by this hour, and only a handful lingered over their meals. Karr and Disgleirio chose seats at an unoccupied table.

Once they’d settled, the Righteous Blade man said, ‘But the really strange aspect was the business with her foot. I reckon she was drawing magical power directly from the grid. Have you ever heard of such a thing?’

‘Actually, yes, though it’s rare. When I was a young man there was a case that caused quite a stir. It was a minor member of the royal family; a cousin of the King or Queen. I don’t recall which. Anyway, he was ailing. Had some kind of wasting disease the healers couldn’t deal with. Somebody came up with the idea of rejuvenating him by linking him directly to the magic source.’

‘Did it work?’

‘For a while. But it only postponed the inevitable. Tragic, really.’

‘It sounds costly.’

‘Oh, yes. The meld you tangled with must be very wealthy, or have rich patrons. Not to mention access to the magical know-how.’

‘I wish Phoenix was here to ask about it.’

Goyter arrived with a tray. She placed food in front of them, and a jug and goblets.

Karr nodded his thanks. ‘Where’s Tanalvah?’ he asked her.

‘With Teg and Lirrin. I’ll try to have her join you. She still looks a wreck, poor thing. What’s wrong with your food?’

He stared at his bowl disdainfully. ‘Nothing,’ he sighed.

‘You can’t expect hearty banquets, Dulian, not when you have your health to think of.’ She moved off, tray under her arm.

‘Hearty banquet,’ Karr grumbled. ‘Chance would be a fine thing. They feed you slop when you come into this world and again when you’re getting ready to leave it.’ He glanced at Quinn’s plate. ‘Not that yours looks much more appetising.’

Disgleirio was going to counter his comment about leaving the world, but decided to ignore it. He knew Karr had no time for platitudes. Instead he said, ‘I’m amazed they get regular meals organised at all.’

‘Yes, the quartermasters and cooks do a miraculous job. I’m turning into an old grump, Quinn.’

‘Not you.’

Karr tried a spoonful and made a face. ‘Tell me about the note you got.’

Disgleirio put down his goblet. ‘I’ve got it here.’ He dug the piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it over.

Karr squinted. ‘Hmmm. That’s hardly news. It’s no secret that the Diamond Isle’s probably going to be attacked, or that our operation here is vulnerable.’

‘Yes, but why should somebody go to the trouble of telling us that unless they have inside information? Whoever it was took a hell of a risk getting this to me. I reckon it’s genuine, but who’s responsible, or why, I can’t imagine.’

‘We still have supporters, including people who want to help us without getting too involved.’

‘How many know I’m in the Resistance?’

‘Good point. But it would have been a reasonable supposition simply because you were trying to defend innocent people from the militia. Nevertheless, I agree we should take this note at face value.’ He handed it back. ‘I’ll get a warning out to all our cells.’

‘Suppose the note’s referring to a raid here, at headquarters?’

‘I have to assume that no matter how good the informant’s knowledge, they don’t know about this place. It’s too well kept a secret.’

‘Isn’t that what we were saying before the betrayal?’

‘I’m not being complacent, Quinn. I’ll certainly order an even greater level of security. But the truth is that having to move our HQ again would be too much of an upheaval, particularly when we’re so close to activating the new plan.’

‘We should speed up the schedule.’

‘I’m not sure we can; everybody’s working flat-out as it is. It might be different if there were more of us.’

‘Then what about passing word of this warning to the Diamond Isle?’

‘We’ll try, but you know how hard it is getting anything through to them. If the authorities aren’t already nullifying message glamours, they soon will be. Anyway, the islanders aren’t stupid. They don’t need us to tell them they’re in an incredibly exposed position.’

Tanalvah appeared, walking with the slow, slightly rolling gait of a heavily expectant mother. She looked drained. Disgleirio got up and dragged out a chair for her.

‘Where are the children?’ Karr asked.

‘Sleeping,’ Tan replied, expelling a weary breath. ‘Who did you say was in an exposed position?’

‘We were talking about the Diamond Isle,’ Disgleirio explained.

‘Though we were only stating the obvious, I’m afraid,’ Karr added. ‘It’s not exactly a revelation that those on the island are in a hazardous state.’

‘At least they don’t have a traitor in their midst,’ Disgleirio muttered, ‘as far as we know.’

Tanalvah coloured. She was sure their eyes were on her. Then Goyter turned up with her meal, and fussed over her for a moment. Tanalvah prayed that the distraction would make them forget the subject.

‘We all feel bitter about the betrayal, Quinn,’ Karr said. ‘But we have to let it go. It’s history now.’

‘Not if the traitor’s still in our ranks.’

Tanalvah’s heart sank again.

‘If they were, why haven’t there been further betrayals?’ Karr reasoned. ‘Why haven’t they finished us?’

‘Perhaps they’re biding their time.’

‘It would have made sense to hit us while we were weak and disorganised. That didn’t happen. To my mind, that means whoever was responsible fled or died.’

‘Pushing your pet theory again are you, Dulian?’

‘Yes. I still think there’s a good argument for it having been Kayne.’

Tanalvah lifted her gaze. ‘Who?’

‘Mijar Kayne,’ Disgleirio answered. ‘Dulian’s referring to an unfortunate episode that we in the Righteous Blade aren’t particularly proud of. Kayne was a rogue. He used his position to enrich himself, mainly by demanding money to protect people we were already sworn to defend. And we think he might have sold low-level intelligence to the authorities.’

‘What happened to him?’

‘Something that’s very rarely occurred in the history of the Brotherhood; he was expelled. During the slaughter that followed the Great Betrayal he was killed in a skirmish with paladins. While looting, typically. We were looking for him ourselves at the time. It was a toss up as to who put him to the blade first.’

‘And that’s why there’s been no further treachery,’ Karr said. ‘A dead man can hardly indulge in perfidy.’

‘He was greedy and vain, but petty criminality doesn’t make somebody a traitor on that scale. I don’t think it was Kayne.’