“You know, Mr Remore,” she said, “you rather overturned the fruit cart with how you conducted the last assessment.”

“I’m sorry if you feel your son was treated unfairly,” Rufus said, “but since he had previously passed, perhaps it would have been better not to put him forwards for reassessment.”

Thalia laughed.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Thalia said, to Rufus’s surprise. “However, my husband cannot seem to help poking his fingers into things best left alone.”

“It’s a shame you weren’t here when Thalia’s daughter was tested,” Danielle said. “Thalia oversaw her training personally, and I have no doubt she would have passed. Where is Cassandra, this evening?”

“Out in the delta somewhere, on a contract,” Thalia said. “I do look forwards to introducing you, Mr Remore.”

After some more niceties, Thalia excused herself and the group boarded the Geller family carriage. It was one of the ones drawn by magic rather than animals and was larger than the equivalents from Jason's own world.

“I do believe Thalia is trying to set you up with her daughter,” Danielle told Rufus.

“He’s used to it,” Farrah said.

“If she’s anything like her brother,” Rufus said, “I’d rather she didn’t. I’ve never seen anyone that incompetent undertake a field assessment before. I’m convinced the other members of his group passed because they honed their abilities covering for that idiot. It was to the point that it could be a whole new training methodology. The trick would be finding people so aggressively incapable.”

“You’ll find her daughter to be a very different prospect,” Danielle said. “Cassandra is a remarkable woman, and right about your age. Actually, she rather reminds me of Jason.”

“You’re kidding,” Rufus said.

“Oh, at a glance, they seem different,” Danielle said. “She’s more of a knife to Jason’s hammer, but they both seem to enjoy provocation as a social tool.”

“On second thought,” Rufus said, looking warily at Jason, “I might prefer to deal with the brother.”

* * *

Sophie and Belinda were summoned to Clarissa Ventress's home instead of the Fortress; it was a sprawling manor in Old City's canal district. The canal district had its own internal city wall. It was a legacy of time before the Island, when the district was home to the city elite. It had been left to those who had wealth but lacked in prestige, preferring to stand tall in Old City than go underfoot on the Island.

The two women were led through the compound, past various thugs standing guard. Centuries ago, Clarissa’s residence had been the seat of the Mercer family. The grounds were quite expansive, with more than one canal flowing through it.

Inside the house itself, they were guided by Clarissa’s hulking leonid bodyguard, Darnell. Clarissa was waiting for them in a parlour, sitting at a table with morning tea set out. Hers was the only seat in the room.