She sat down opposite him at the rough-hewn wooden table, looking somewhat the worse for wear. Her skin was a shade paler than usual, and there were bags under her eyes, as though she hadn’t slept since the attack.

“It’s good to see you,” Gyre said.

“You too,” Yora said. “You had us worried.”

“The Auxies were persistent,” Gyre said. “Everyone else all right?”

Yora shook her head. “We lost three people in the attack, and another couple were badly hurt. The good news is Raskos didn’t get anyone alive.”

Gyre guiltily bit off what he’d been about to say. He’d barely thought twice about the new faces, the tunnelborn Yora had pulled in for security. “I’m sorry,” he managed.

“Sarah’s all right. She and Nevin were putting the finishing touches on our way into Raskos’ warehouse. But—”

She stopped for a moment as one of Yevri’s sons approached, a scowling, blue-haired boy in his teens, who set down two bowls of thick, meaty soup. Yora peered at hers suspiciously.

“House special,” Gyre said. “It’s good.”

She took a bite and gave a little sigh of pleasure. Gyre grinned and picked up his spoon, and for a few moments they gave the food the attention it deserved. The meat was vulpi, tender and juicy, with a thick glistening layer of fat rising to the top. It reminded Gyre of home, though his mother had never cooked anything so heavily spiced.

“You were about to tell me the bad news,” he said, when Yora was scraping the bottom of her bowl.

“We’ve had new information,” Yora said. “Raskos is moving the Core Analytica, shipping it out of the city. We think he’s finally found a buyer.”

“Plague it,” Gyre said. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah. The information’s solid. So it sinks most of our plans, but it’s also an opportunity. It looks like they’ll be transporting it in a single wagon, with only a couple of guards. The dux doesn’t want to draw attention.”

“You have to figure he’ll have his people watching the route out of the city, though.”

“He will. But Nevin and I went over the maps, and we have a plan. He’ll be moving it through Sprayfall Tunnel, and we can block the road behind them, cut off any reinforcements.”

Gyre frowned. “Getting clear is going to be tough.”

“Sarah’s on it. She promised me she’d come up with something.”

“Right.” Gyre went over his mental map of the city, figuring distances. With a little cover from alchemicals, it could work. “When?”

“Tomorrow.” At his expression, Yora said, “I know, it’s not enough time. But this is our only shot. If he gets the thing away, then Kit’s out of luck, and we’re out fifty thousand thalers.” Her expression went stony. “And Harrow and the others died for nothing.”

“Then we don’t have much choice, do we?” Gyre looked down into his empty soup bowl, then back up at Yora. “I’ll let Kit know. Send Lynnia the details for the rendezvous.”