"Not long," said the Brucolac. He met her eyes, but he did not look proud. "We found out where Simon Fench rested his head and printed his works. But you know…" he said with sudden fervor. "You know that we had no idea of his plans. We would never have allowed this."

The implication was obvious. He had allowed "Simon Fench" to spread his influence, to print his dissident literature and unleash damaging rumors, so long as he had thought the victim of that activity would be Garwater rather than the city as a whole. He had not known about the Crobuzoner fleet that Fennec had called. Like Tanner and Bellis, he found himself implicated in what had happened.

Bellis watched, sneering inwardly at the Lovers’ ostentatious outrage. As if you’ve never done the same or more, she thought. As if that’s not how all of you bastards operate against each other.

"I’m aware," hissed the Brucolac, "of how this stands. And I want this bastard brought down as much as any of you do. Which is why it will be a pleasure, as well as a duty, to take him."

" Youdon’t take him," said Uther Doul. "I take him-my men and I."

The Brucolac turned his yellowing eyes to Doul. "I have certain advantages," he said slowly. "This mission is important to me."

"You do not get absolution this way, Deadman," Doul said coldly. "You chose to let him play his games unimpeded, and this is the result. Now, tell us where he is, and then your interference ends."

There was silence for several seconds.

"Where is he?" shouted the Lover suddenly. "Where’s he been hiding?"

"That’s another reason it makes sense for my cadre to hunt him," the Brucolac replied. "He’s in a place many of your troops might refuse to go. Silas Fennec is in the haunted quarter."

Doul did not flinch. He stared at the vampir. "You do not take him," he said again. "I am not afraid."

Bellis listened with shame, and a slow-burning hatred for Fennec. You fuck, she thought with savage satisfaction. Let’s see you lie your way out of this.

Even though he might still be her best hope to get out, she could never allow that fucking pig to lie to her, to use her. That could not go without payback, no matter the cost. She would rather take her chances in Armada, or at the Scar.

You should have fucking told me, Silas, she thought, breathing hard with fury. I wanted-I want-to get away, too. If you’d told me the truth-if you’d been open, if you’d been honest, if you’d not used me-I might have helped you, she thought. We might have done it all together.

But she knew that was not true.