“You shouldn’t be here,” Cat growled at Flinn. “You was told not to show your face up here in the close.”

“Your Majesty, we need to speak with you in private about a sensitive matter,” Amon said. “Perhaps you should hear us out, and then decide who should be privy to the information.” He didn’t look at Cat, but it was obvious who he meant. Raisa knew that this was about Han.

“Caterina, could you please excuse us?” Raisa said, nodding toward the inside door. “You can go on to bed if you like. I’ll be in soon.”

Cat got off half a curtsy, threw Flinn a narrow-eyed glare, slouched to the door, and pulled it shut behind her.

“Corporal.” Amon tilted his head toward the bedchamber door, and Pearlie went and stood in front of it.

“I should’na come,” Flinn muttered, setting his feet and trying to pull away from Amon.

“No one’s going to hurt you,” Amon said, drawing Flinn into the corner farthest from the door to the bedchamber. “Her Majesty needs to hear what you have to say.” He pointed to the window ledge. “Sit.”

Flinn obeyed, shaking so hard his teeth rattled.

Raisa sat next to him on the ledge. Though her heart clenched painfully in her chest, she felt the need to reassure him. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “Just tell the truth.”

When Flinn said nothing, Amon spoke. “Tell the queen why you came to me. Just start at the beginning.”

“Y—Your Eminence.” Flinn spoke into his lap, so that Raisa had to lean toward him to hear. “I used to was in Cuffs Alister’s crew, the Raggers. And after he left, I was with Cat Tyburn.” He stole a quick look at the door to the bedchamber.

Now it came back to Raisa—where she’d heard his name before.

“But…but you’re dead!” she blurted. That’s what Han had told her—that the Raggers she’d rescued from Southbridge Guardhouse had been murdered.

“I would be dead, but I left town until they quit killing Raggers.”

“How long have you been back?” Raisa asked, wondering if Han knew.

“I came back right after Cuffs did. Since then, I been working for him. I been his eyes and ears down in Ragmarket, done a little slide-hand and second-story work. Put the tail on those he wanted followed.”

Flinn eyed Amon furtively, as if worried he was incriminating himself. “I wanted…I wanted to get back at the demons—the jinxflingers—that murdered my friends last year. An I thought working for Cuffs would be a way. I thought we was on the same side. Until the other night. At the Smiling Dog.”

“What happened at the Smiling Dog?” Amon prompted.