“They won’t,” Marn said. His cheeks were hollow, and his filthy hair hung around his head, but his eyes were still bright. “Cyrtak was the one who brought them here. The rest followed him because he could pay.”

“Are you all right?” Maya said, sitting up a little straighter. “How long have they had you?”

“I don’t know,” Marn said. “A long time. They kept me there while they brought in other prisoners and … used them to create those things. Cyrtak told me he was looking forward to what he could build out of me.” He hunched in on himself a little, shuddering. “I’m glad you killed him.”

“We’re all glad you killed him,” Beq said fervently, trying and failing to clean her spectacles with her already filthy shirt.

“Marn.” Maya touched his shoulder gingerly. “What happened to Jaedia?”

“Jaedia …” The light in Marn’s eyes faded. “She brought me here. Gave me to them.”

“What?” Maya shook her head weakly. “She would never. You know her.”

“I …” He swallowed. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it … wasn’t her. It seemed … I don’t know.” He shook his head. “She left me in the inn when she first arrived. After a few days, she came back and told me to come with her, and we went into the tunnels. Cyrtak chained me up, and Jaedia told him to keep me around until you got here. I was … bait, I guess.” He blinked rapidly. “I tried to warn you.”

“You did well,” Maya said, squeezing his shoulder. “But where’s Jaedia now?”

“Gone. Out of the city. I heard her talking with Cyrtak. She was going ahead with Nicomidi, now that he’d arrived, and Cyrtak was supposed to follow once he’d taken you.”

“Wait.” Tanax turned away from the tunnel and stalked over. “Jaedia left with Nicomidi?”

“I didn’t see him,” Marn said. “But that’s what she told Cyrtak. She gave him instructions on how to find them.”

“Do you remember the instructions?” Maya said.

“I memorized them,” Marn said. “I thought … maybe they’d help you. When you came.”

“You …” Maya grinned at him, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner. I’m sorry …”

“You saved me,” Marn said, smiling back. “I knew you would.”

*

Midnight had come and gone by the time Maya finally got the chance to sit down, every fiber of her being limp with fatigue.

Fortunately, Grace was the sort of city where there were rooms and services available at any hour. Faressa had been waiting at the tunnel exit, and she’d nearly fainted at the smell coming off them. At her insistence, they’d stripped to their underwear, and she’d hurried off and procured cheap, ill-fitting coveralls for them while Maya piled their soiled uniforms together and incinerated them with a touch of deiat.