Their land was fenced off, the exterior watched by Auxiliaries and the interior by Moorcat house guards. The chapter house itself was near the back of the estate, surrounded by carefully faked woodlands. It was a magnificent structure, sporting an enormous central dome topped with a gilded statue of Galbio the Moorcat, legendary founder of the organization. Up close, Gyre found the statue unimpressive—the gold was clearly a thin alloy coating, and the details of Galbio’s features looked cheap and hastily carved.

I suppose you don’t get to be a continent-spanning merchant combine by wasting money on a statue nobody is ever going to get a good look at. He settled against the stone base of the ugly thing. The dome was large enough that it wasn’t steeply sloped, but the lead roofing provided awkward footing. It was nearly midnight, and the stars were blotted out by thick clouds.

Fortunately, he didn’t have long to wait. It was only a quarter of an hour before he spotted a lithe figure pull itself up onto the edge of the dome and scramble lightly up toward the statue. Gyre had chewed some nighteye before he’d set out for the evening, and in the weird grayish vision the alchemical stuff provided, Kit’s features were easy to make out. She wore something close to his own working clothes, well-tailored dark silk with a few reinforcing panels of black-dyed leather, and she bore a pair of long knives on one hip and a blaster pistol in a worn holster on the other.

For his own part, Gyre had brought his full kit, long and short blades in their sheaths, half mask covering his missing eye, the pockets of his dark hooded coat filled with alchemical surprises from Lynnia’s supply closet. He crossed his arms, looking down at Kit as she straightened up and sauntered the last few meters. She’d taken nighteye as well, her pupils hugely swollen until her eyes were nearly all black.

“Hello, Halfmask,” she said. “I like the look. Very mysterious.”

“Doomseeker,” Gyre said.

She winced. “Call me Kit, if you don’t mind. I try not to spread my cognomen around.”

“Kit, then. Can I ask why you wanted to meet here? Another test?” He’d had to elude several patrols just to cross the grounds, not to mention a dangerous climb up the side of the chapter house timed to elude the men and dogs on patrol. I hate plaguing dogs.

“Something of that nature. Although, fair’s fair. I got here too, didn’t I?” She half turned and gestured. “Besides, I like the view.”