Catcher seemed lost in thought. Barely audibly, he finally asked, How are you with a bow, Raven?

Fair. No champion.

Better than fair, the Captain countered. Damned good.

You, Croaker?

I used to be good. I havent drawn one for years.

Get some practice. Catcher started pacing too. The office was small. I expected a collision momentarily. After a minute, Soulcatcher said, There have been developments. We tried to catch Whisper at her camp. We just missed her. She smelled the trap. Shes still out there somewhere, hiding. The Lady is sending in troops from all sides.

That explained the Captains remark. It did not tell me why I was supposed to hone my archery skills.

Near as we can tell, Soulcatcher continued, the Rebel doesnt know what happened out there. Yet. Whisper hasnt found the nerve to pass the word about her failure. Shes a proud woman. Looks like she wants to try recouping first,

With what? Raven asked. She couldnt put together a platoon.

With memories. Memories of the material you found buried. We dont think she knows we got it. She didnt get close to her headquarters before Limper tipped our hand and she fled into the forest. And just we four, and the Lady, know of the documents.

Raven and I nodded. Now we understood Catchers restlessness. Whisper knew his true name. He was on the bulls-eye.

What do you want with us? Raven asked suspiciously. He was afraid Catcher thought we had deciphered that name ourselves. Hed even suggested we kill the Taken before he killed us. The Ten are neither immortal nor invulnerable, but they are damned hard to reach. I did not, ever, want to have a try at one.

We have a special mission, we three.

Raven and I exchanged glances. Was he setting us up?

Catcher said, Captain, would you mind stepping outside for a minute?

The Captain shambled through the doorway. His bear act is all for show. I dont suppose he realizes that we have had it figured for years. He keeps on with it, trying for effect.

Im not going to take you off where I can kill you quietly, Soulcatcher told us. No, Raven, I dont think you figured out my true name.

Spooky. I scrunched my head down against my shoulders. Raven flicked a hand. A knife appeared. He began cleaning already immaculate nails.

The critical development is this: Whisper suborned the Limper after we made a fool of him in the Raker affair.

I burst out, That explains what happened in the Salient. We had it sewed up. It fell apart overnight. And he was a pure shit during the battle at Roses.

Raven agreed. Roses was his fault. But nobody thought it was treason. After all, hes one of the Ten.

Yes, Catcher said. It explains many things. But the Salient and Roses are yesterday. Our interest now is tomorrow. Its getting rid of Whisper before she gifts us with another disaster.