“Only Seb. Not even Julia has come since I was marked. It’s like I don’t exist – like I’ve already been forgotten.”

Julia is Verity’s mum and Mum’s oldest friend. I can’t believe she would abandon her like this, that only her son has the bravery to remain loyal. “Don’t say that,” I tell her firmly and she seems to shrink. I sigh and go to hug her again. “I’m not brave,” I murmur into her ear. “I am scared all the time. You know that Longsight and Minnow would love it if I just … disappeared. But that’s not what we’re here for – what would Dad say?”

Mum holds me away from her and looks into my face, shaking her head.

“Oh, Leora, he would say so many things.” She takes a breath. “He would say he’s proud of you.” I roll my eyes. “And he would tell us we’re crows now.” She laughs. “He always wanted me to join – maybe it’s time.”

“I think you’d have to leave the house for that.” I smile. “Who are they, anyway? Why haven’t they been helping you?”

“That’s my own fault,” Mum admits. “I burned bridges with them long ago – I was so angry with your father for joining them. It was so risky. I contacted Connor when I thought they might help us with your dad’s book but look where that’s got us. Anyway, after that I told them I never wanted anything to do with any of them.” Her face looks like it did when she’d tell me off when I was small – tightly pinched.

The sound of the timer breaks our connection and Mum opens the oven. A waft of warm sweetness fills the room.

“Well,” I say. “I’m going into town.” I hold up a hand at Mum’s horror-struck face. “You’re welcome to join me, or I’ll see you later.”

Just as I close the front door I see her pick up a biscuit, but it cracks and drops on to the floor before she gets a morsel into her mouth. Should have listened to Seb.

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-one

My confidence stalls once I’m walking. The last time I took this familiar route to the town square I hadn’t yet visited Featherstone. It seems a lifetime ago. This is the way I used to go when I was working at the studio with Obel, heading to the museum with Dad, or going with Mum to the hall of remembrance. Nothing’s like it used to be.