“So what did your rebel leader tell you?”

Gyre took a deep breath. “Raskos is moving the Core Analytica.”

Kit leaned forward, suddenly all focus. “Is he really?”

“Yora guessed he’s found a buyer for it.”

“Mmm,” Kit said noncommittally.

“She’s got a plan. We’ll have an opportunity to grab it when they try to get it out of the city.”

“I’m sure she does.”

Gyre narrowed his eye. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Here’s the thing,” Kit said, crossing her legs underneath her. “I heard from my own sources this morning. After the Auxies crashed our party, I guessed something was fishy, but now I know for certain. Someone in your group is talking to the dux.”

“Not possible,” Gyre said. “If we had a traitor, we’d all have been caught by now.”

“Yora had to bring in new people, didn’t she? Do you trust them all?”

“I—” Gyre stopped. He didn’t, not like he trusted Sarah and Ibb. “How do you know?”

“It’s a little hard to explain. But you understand that this means your ‘opportunity’ is almost certainly a trap? In fact, I’m reasonably certain they’re not moving the Analytica at all. I doubt the dux would risk it, not with the Order in town.”

Something tightened in Gyre’s chest. “The Order, here?”

“Two centarchs, at least,” Kit said. “They’re staying at the Spike, for now. Best guess is someone is leaning on the dux.”

Gyre shook his head. “Then we have to call everything off. Go to ground until they’re gone.”

“And if they take the Analytica with them when they go?”

“Your client will just have to take that risk,” Gyre said. His scar itched fiercely. “Going up against centarchs is suicide.”

“I thought the legendary Halfmask would be more daring,” Kit said. “Here’s the thing about a trap, though. If you know where it’s going to be, you know where it’s not going to be.”

Gyre paused for a moment. “You think the Analytica will still be at the warehouse.”

“Got it in one. While the dux and his Order friends are waiting for us to take the bait, we can sneak the prize out from behind their backs.”

“That … might be possible,” Gyre said. “I’d have to talk to Yora and the others—”

Kit rolled off the bed and leapt to her feet, suddenly exasperated. “Have you even been listening to me? Yora’s organization is compromised. If you tell her, Raskos finds out, and we’re back to walking into an ambush.”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“We steal the Analytica. You and me. No leaks.”

“That’s …” Gyre shook his head. “We’d never get inside.”

“Most of the equipment is ready, and I can get the rest. I’ve been watching Nevin’s planning. We can do it.”

“We still need to warn the others.”