“Pretty sure,” said Gracious. “I mean, yeah, it’s a risk, but... No, they’re fine. My calculations were correct. This isn’t the first time I’ve used this, and the test subject showed no signs of impaired cognitive ability.”

“Who was the test subject?” asked Aurora.

“I test everything out on myself before taking it into the field.”

She stared at him. “You zapped your own brain?”

“And it didn’t do me any harm apart from the dizziness and the vomiting spells and the weirdly persistent ringing in my ears. Also the blackouts and the mood swings and the creeping paranoia. Apart from that, zero side effects, if you don’t count numb fingertips. Which I don’t.”

“Because he also lost the ability to count,” said Donegan.

“That was temporary,” snapped Gracious. “We’re in, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are,” said Vex. “And now we need to get to the sword without encountering any mages or Cleavers. Saracen? Think you can guide us?”

“Sure,” said Saracen, and closed his eyes. He swivelled his head slowly, and then pointed. His eyes opened. “This way.”

23

ow long before they’re in position?”

Sanguine glanced at his watch. “A little under five minutes.”

Jack nodded, and looked out over the city. “Beautiful here.”

“Cold.”

“Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you? You’re from warmer climes. You’re soft.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course it is,” said Tanith, approaching from behind. “You’re a Texas boy. You’re used to being pampered by the sun. In London, we’ve got to be that little bit tougher, don’t we, Jack?”

“Indeed we do,” Jack answered, and he hobbled to the edge of the roof.

“How long have you been around, anyway?” Sanguine asked Jack.

“Me? Don’t know, really. Don’t remember bein’ a kid. Don’t remember family or nothin’. I can remember the last few hundred years, and then things go foggy. I remember bits and pieces from before that, but...” He shrugged. “For all I know, I’ve always been alive, but I’m only able to remember the last few centuries.”

“You might be lucky,” said Sanguine. “I remember every little detail about my childhood, and I wish I didn’t.”

“At least you know where you came from.”

Sanguine grunted, didn’t say anything.

“And at least you’re not alone,” Jack continued. “As long as you keep those sunglasses on, no one’s ever gonna look at you and think anythin’ is out of the ordinary. But me? All I am is out of the ordinary.”

Sanguine stayed where he was while Tanith joined Jack by the edge. “Maybe if you left London a little bit more,” she said, “maybe travelled the world, you could have found more like you.”