‘I’m not any kind of Abhorsen-in-Waiting really,’ Bel confided to Clariel as they walked next to each other along the Street of the Cormorant and turned left to take the sloping alley known as the Little Steps down to the next street below. ‘I expect you know that they don’t take the family business very seriously back home. Great-Uncle Tyriel thinks it’s just a title, and I doubt Cousin Yannael has even read The Book of the Dead. They’re all mad for hunting –’

‘Hunting?’ interrupted Clariel, her interest sparked, even though she thought it would be better to stay silent.

‘The Grand Hunt,’ said Bel, rolling his eyes. ‘Hundreds of people on horseback, with hounds and beaters and tremendous rigmarole, whole days wasted charging backwards and forwards and stupid ceremonies and lots of drinking afterwards. Instead of our proper business as Abhorsens. But I intend to make sure at least one of the family is properly prepared to deal with the Dead, or Free Magic or whatever comes up, or out, as the case may be. It is very unusual for the Kingdom to have had no trouble for so long. Do you read history?’

‘No,’ said Clariel.

‘There’s a lot to be learned from history,’ said Bel. ‘I read other things too. Have you read The Binding of the Free?’

‘No,’ said Clariel shortly. She wished he would stop talking. Nobody else was, and she had been enjoying the relative quiet of the city so early in the morning. Though now as the day edged closer, and they descended towards Winter Street, there were more people about, working people going to jobs or beginning to carry out early morning tasks like sweeping in front of houses that were probably merchants’ shopfronts, or would be in a few hours when they opened the shutters.

‘I haven’t either,’ continued Bel. ‘I have seen a copy, at the Abhorsen’s House – the old place, you know. But there isn’t one at Hillfair or in the apartments here. Pity. Still I guess the magister knows how to bind this thing, if we do find it.’

‘Yes,’ replied Clariel, not turning her head to look at Bel as she spoke. Hopefully he would get the idea and shut up.

‘I’m annoying you, aren’t I?’ he said ruefully. ‘Sorry about that. I suppose I tend to talk too much when I’m enthusiastic about what we’re doing. I mean, a Free Magic creature hasn’t been seen for decades, maybe longer!’

Clariel nodded absently, hoping this would be taken as an understanding gesture that would also end any further conversation.