“Under article one point seven, a petition is valid only when it’s been signed by the petitioner after the terms and conditions of the petition have been explained to said petitioner. Show me that signature.”

Ted took a paper off the desk and raised it. Robert Lonesco. Got you.

Robert shrugged. “It was that or they wouldn’t let us in.”

“Article one point twelve, a group petition may be filed by an individual, provided said individual has been selected by the group to act as its representative. Robert, have you been selected to act as our representative?”

The alpha rat smiled. “No.”

The knight with the scar raised his eyebrows. He knew where I was going with this and he knew I was right.

“To the best of your knowledge, who has the right to represent our group?”

“You do, Consort,” Robert said.

I looked at Ted. “This petition is invalid. You are detaining us illegally. Release us now.”

Magic crackled through the building, followed by a hair-raising desperate wail. Hugh’s wendigo had just tested the strength of the wards.

“She’s right,” the knight with the scar said. “We have no right to hold them.”

Ted looked at him. “This is D-day, Towers. This is what you’ve trained for.” His voice rose. “This is what we all trained for. This is important. We make a stand today. Can I count on you?”

Muscles played on Towers’s jaw. “Yes.”

“Good. We’ll continue this talk after we’re done.” Ted moved to the weapon rack and picked up a mace. Diana began to chant under her breath.

“Let us out!” I snarled.

Ted ignored me. “Diana, Towers, Mauro, with me.” He pointed at the medmage. “Steinlein, back us up.”

“Ted, listen to me, you stupid sonovabitch! Maybe you want to go out in a blaze of glory, but—”

They moved out. Steinlein, the medmage with the long braid, followed them. “Sorry.”

No. No, damn it. “Wait! The boy will die!”

“I’m sorry, but he’s dead anyway.” The knight left the room.

The wendigo’s enraged howl erupted. The building shook.

• • •

I TOUCHED THE bars. Magic surged through me in a flash of agony. Warded. Ascanio was dying, Hugh was breaking in, and we were trapped in a cage. Like sitting ducks. Well, this was going well.

I had a lock pick on my belt, but the knights had taken my belt, my jacket, and my sword.

Above us something shuddered with rhythmic, loud thuds, as if someone were hitting the building with an enormous hammer.

Robert rolled to his feet, hunched over by the lock, and tried to pass his hand between the bars. Magic nipped at his claws. He grimaced, baring vicious teeth, and tried to touch the lock. His forearm grazed the bars. He jerked his arm back. A gray scar crossed his skin, where the silver had killed Lyc-V.