“On your knees,” the Tiger says.

The men’s faces darken, but they obey. No one defies Lord Kaplan. Lenoir hands him a pistol. He takes it and, without ceremony, points it at the first kneeling man. The Flesher barely has time to raise his hands before the pistol cracks: Kaplan shoots him straight through the heart. I flinch. His body falls slowly, in a cloud of gunpowder. I look away as the second man lowers his head. He knows there’s no getting out of it. I’ve never liked watching deaths. I hear the thump as he hits the floor a heartbeat later.

“Two men bearing the mark of my Guild,” the Tiger says to Orso. “Consider the accusation met.”

“You are all goodness and deference, my dear Kaplan.” Orso bows as Lenoir drags the bodies away. Then he smiles. “But enough death and retribution. Let us celebrate our reunion. I want to share with you a moment of great joy.” He draws Ettie out of his shadow and gently moves her forward.

Seeing her, the Tiger half rises from his seat and turns to Thénardier, who has materialized beside Tomasis. Thénardier is staring at me, his lip curled in anger.

“A new mortal is passing through the gates of the living and into the kingdom of the dead,” Orso says.

The Tiger gives Thénardier a glance laced with significance.

Thénardier steps forward, red-faced and flustered. “Monseigneur Orso.” His voice is like treacle. “You seem to have both my ward and my daughter in your care.”

Orso looks at him as if he’s a worm.

“Do you address me without invitation, Thénardier?” Orso asks in an icy tone. “You are only a Master and have no voice at the high table.”

Thénardier hesitates, glancing at Lord Kaplan. “But they’re my children …”

Orso’s hand comes down on my shoulder. “This one is a child of the Thieves. Tomasis is her Father. Is that not what the Law says?”

What does the Law say? the Ghosts echo behind us, hundreds of voices raised, till the question bounces off the walls and thrums through my entire body.

Tomasis’s eyes burn into me. I meet his gaze squarely. I’m probably in a world of trouble.

“And this one has asked for the mark of the Ghosts.” He puts a hand on Ettie’s shoulder. “It will be given to her, in your illustrious presences.”

Lord Kaplan makes a sound of fury and stands, a finger pointed at Orso. “You wouldn’t dare, you old bear! She’s mine!”

I see Ettie shiver in Orso’s grasp.

“Yours? I see no stripe upon her, my brother.”

I look at Thénardier. His face is contorted and pale.

“Thus, she’s free, and has a voice to ask to join the Dead. Is that not the Law?” Orso continues.

It’s the Law! It’s the Law! the Ghosts whisper in a frenzy.

The Tiger looks around the table, and the other Lords remain silent. Grim. Voiceless.

“Do you defy the Law, my Lord?” Orso asks coolly. “Or do you think to twist it to suit you, as you once did before?” Orso tilts his head, addressing the table of the Lords. “How far can the Law be bent before it breaks upon our backs, destroying us all?”