“I don’t like this,” I whispered.

Morwin gestured for a Civil Obligations Herald to close the door after the departing civilians. The tramp of feet on the wooden floorboards faded, and she waited until the auditorium grew quiet. Her expression was anxious, her face pinched.

“Thank you,” she said at last, and adjusted the collar of her robes. “I’m sure you’re all confused, so I’ll get straight to the point. Just before I reached Tivaria, I was intercepted by a messenger from the Mud House. According to her intelligence, a mature Haunt has been sighted in the Berai province.”

There were gasps from across the room. My mind reeled. A mature Haunt? But how? Asan rapped the speaker’s gavel against the side of the podium.

Morwin spoke a little louder. “The last communication the messenger received, the creature was headed north-west toward Ceyrun. The messenger makes for the city, and will alert the Order to the threat as soon as she arrives.”

“And the rest of the Mud House?” demanded an Enforcer in the audience.

“They are safe, having evaded the creature’s attention.” Morwin cleared her throat and stood taller. “We, however, are not. As matters stand, Tivaria lies directly in the Haunt’s path. It will most likely be drawn to us.”

My heart rate quickened. It was coming here? The idea seemed faintly ridiculous. How could there possibly be a mature Haunt loose on Aytrium in the first place? Surely there would have been attacks, some earlier indication of its presence, some kind of warning? It could not just appear out of the air.

“You will be divided into three-woman cohorts,” continued Morwin. “We will begin binding every entrance to the building.”

“That would be pointless,” said Asan.

Morwin paused, caught off-guard. She turned slightly. “With all due respect—”

“We don’t have the numbers to fortify a building this large. Not without a lot more lace.” Asan projected her voice so that everyone in the auditorium would hear her. “I’m guessing that none of the Sisters present brought emergency provisions this evening? Which means that even if we succeed in defending the hall temporarily, the bindings won’t last long enough for Ceyrun reserves to reach Tivaria. If a Haunt gets inside the building, Sisters will die.”

“We need only hold the entrances, Commander.”

“If this Haunt is mature, it will come through the walls.” Asan’s tone was brutally matter-of-fact. “Not to mention that staying here would jeopardise the safety of the civilians assembled for the symposium.”

Morwin had gone red in the face.

“It is our only option, Commander,” she said. Her forehead shone with sweat. “Your pessimism is unhelpful.”

“I’m not being pessimistic; I’m stating facts,” said Asan. “And you’re wrong—there are other options. Where in the Berai province was the Haunt sighted, and how long ago?”

“We’re wasting time—”

“Where, Jiana?”

“The messenger was in an understandable hurry; she didn’t stop to brief me on specifics.”