Sevaka peered back through the gate. A triple column of soldiers in Freemont uniforms were marching through the empty street. A towering kraikon kept effortless pace alongside. She dragged Elzar out of sight.

Lilyana’s face tightened. “They’ve found us.”

“That all depends on who they want to arrest first,” hissed Elzar. “Go! Head for my workshop at the top of the second tower.”

Lilyana ran to join her children. Sevaka lingered, unwilling to leave the old proctor alone.

A gauntleted fist hammered on the gate. “High Proctor Ilnarov! You are called before the Council on a charge of aiding a fugitive. You will open these gates!”

“You know this man?” murmured Elzar.

“Captain Farran. Of my mother’s hearthguard.” At last, Sevaka’s thoughts caught up with her ears. “Wait. Aiding and abetting one fugitive. That crack about your fate being decided. That wasn’t pious gabble, was it?”

“One moment, captain! I seem to have misplaced the key!” Elzar lowered his voice to a whisper. “I may have freed Lord Akadra from the provosts.”

“Viktor? Viktor’s here?”

“About four-fifths of him. I left him sleeping. He’s in a bad way.”

A bronze hand closed over the top of the gate. A wail of tortured metal filled the air. Elzar touched a hand to his control amulet. His scowl gave way to a horrified grimace.

“It’s not working. That kraikon won’t obey my commands!”

The gate’s upper edge peeled back. A hinge exploded from brickwork in a shower of dust. Elzar remained rooted in place, his lips working restlessly.

“My own trick used against me! Someone’s altered the enchantment!”

The second of four hinges tore free. The gate shook. Sevaka grabbed Elzar by the collar and shoved him towards the inner door. With a last glance at the trembling gate, she limped after him.

The gate struck cobbles with a jarring clang. The kraikon lumbered into the loading yard.

“Move it!” bellowed Farran. Impatience coursed through his veins. If Marek could go to the dogs, so could any of them. Malachi Reveque wasn’t the only one with a family. “Drag them out by the heels if you must!”

Hearthguard flooded through the ruined gateway, swords out. Sergeant Volarn hung back, her face haunted by reluctance.

“I saw children. What about them?”

“Malachi Reveque’s brats? They’re on the list. They come with us.”

“She’s not sending them to the gallows too?”

Farran glared at her. “Why? Do you want me to tell Lady Kiradin you were asking?”

Volarn blanched, and no wonder.

“I don’t like it either,” Farran murmured. “Pray the kernclaw gets them first. Kinder on everyone.”