“I came to see Madam Valentin,” said Maximilian. “It’s about her prophecy.”

“You are too late,” said Monsieur Valentin bitterly. “She ’as been bound.”

“What? Why?”

“Because of the prophecy. She is now unable to talk. I am waiting for a nurse to come and ’elp her. I ’av called many times but—”

“My mum’s a nurse,” said Maximilian. “They’ve been really busy.”

“Why are they doing this?” said Monsieur Valentin. “My poor Adele! It was not ’er fault she ’eard this prophecy.”

“Who did it?” asked Maximilian.

“The Binder, hof course,” said Monsieur Valentin. “After this ’ee also search next door for the boy that ’as been living there. I don’t know why. I tell him nothing, hobviously.”

Maximilian tried to process all this.

“Who is the Binder?” he asked.

Monsieur Valentin had been looking either at Maximilian or at his pipe while he’d been talking. But now his eyes settled on something just behind Maximilian. There was a beat, and then a small bony hand clamped down on Maximilian’s shoulder.

“I am the Binder,” came a thin, heartless voice. “And you, young mage, are going to have to come with me.”

Effie hurried back to the chapel to give Leander the book. Wolf was awake, but still seemed a bit dazed. Leander was standing over him, holding a small book and chanting something. Wolf gave Effie a half smile and then chanted whatever it was back. He radiated calmness and joy.

Effie put the book of warrior cleric’s prayers on the pew next to Wolf and left again. Sandalwood incense, Leander had said. Would they sell incense in the student shop? But it was already closed for Midwinter, so Effie left through the main entrance and walked in the falling snow toward Pickle Street, which, as well as housing the Esoteric Emporium and Dark Daze, had a little magic shop called Wanda’s.

How this shop remained open was a complete mystery to everyone. People who didn’t believe in magic either didn’t notice Wanda’s tiny shop or, if they did, felt mildly offended by the idea that someone would charge something like ten whole pounds for fake crystals that didn’t even work. People who did believe in magic also didn’t approve of Wanda’s shop, but for them it was because it was so tame. The crystals did work—they were crystals, after all. But Wanda did overcharge for items that most people now got through mail-order catalogs. Still, she did sell a good range of incense.

Effie was just about to open the door when she became aware of a dark shape on the pavement in the snow in front of the shop. At first she took it as rubbish that had been put out to be collected. But then she realized it was a person.

“Are you all right?” Effie said to the shape on the ground.

The shape didn’t move.