“Wilhelm. I cut off your finger because that’s what I needed to do. I didn’t tell you about it because I didn’t think you’d be too keen on the idea. With all your blubbering, and with your tone of voice now, I see that I was right. But we did what we came here to do, and I really don’t see what your problem is.”

Wilhelm gaped at her.

“I’m sorry,” said Moribund. “Should I not have released Mr Scream also?”

“Naw, it’s fine,” said Tanith. “He’s just feeling emotional. Do you know how to get us out of here?”

Moribund nodded. “I watched Mr Chabon let you in. Face the wall. You, too, Mr Scream.”

Wilhelm hurried over and stood beside Tanith. He glanced at the sword on her back, then glared at her. “Be careful you don’t cut off another one of my—”

“Be quiet,” Tanith said.

Wilhelm shut up.

The bright light flowed over them and Tanith felt her body tingle. She stepped forward, through the wall, emerging into the morning air. The smell of freedom.

Wilhelm scowled at her. “Next time you assemble a team,” he said, “be sure to leave me—”

“They’re going to notice we’re not in our cells any moment now, Wilhelm. You don’t have time to make a parting quip, even if you could think of one.”

His lower lip trembled, and he spun and ran.

“What a strange little man,” Moribund said. The veins were gone from his face as he looked back at Tanith. “Think about what I said.”

“That’s it? You’re just going to walk off?”

“You helped me escape, and I’ve returned the favour. Now that we’re even, I have my life to get back to.”

“But we both have Remnants inside us. Shouldn’t we, you know, stick together?”

“Why would we? I don’t limit myself because of what I am,” he said as he walked away. “Do you?”

Figuring that pretty soon the rooftops would be covered with Cleavers searching for her, Tanith took a cab. She sat there with her sword across her lap and her coat over it and talked to the driver about famous people he’d had in his back seat. She hadn’t heard of most of them. Carry On My Wayward Son came on the radio and they sang along with it.

She got out a mile from her destination and walked the rest of the way, making sure she wasn’t being followed. The building had once been a blacksmith’s all those years before. It still had a working furnace, and she felt the heat the moment she slipped in through the window. It was dark and still, like the whole place was holding its breath.

Movement behind her and she whirled and Sanguine wrapped her in his arms. “I thought I’d never see you again.”