Flowering trees and shrubs created nooks and private spaces. A young man sprawled under a tree reading a book; on an open, grassy lawn, a handful of shrieking children kicked a ball around. Golden bracelets glinted on their wrists. Only a pair of uniformed officers, pistols at their hips, reminded me that this was a military stronghold; they crossed the garden briskly, heading for the gate.

I drew closer to Verdi as my guide in this forbidden place. I caught a soldierly whiff of leather, gunpowder, and steel from him. It was nothing like the wine-and-rosewater miasma that wafted off the dandies at court.

“How is she?” I asked, pulling my mind firmly back to the matter at hand. “My Falcon?”

Verdi touched the edge of the bruise around his eye. “She’s … not transitioning well.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised.”

The corner of his mouth quirked in acknowledgment. It was a little thing, but the informality sprouted a seedling of hope in my chest.

We passed a pair of girls who sat chattering by a fountain. One wore a jess, and one didn’t—Falcon and Falconer, I supposed. Lieutenant Verdi nodded to them, and they waved back. After he passed, they burst into stifled giggles, but he didn’t notice. I wished I could linger behind and find out whether it was because of the bruise, or if they thought he was handsome. But I’d always been terrible at that sort of conversation.

“We’ve treated her with respect, and set her up in comfort in her own room.” Verdi gestured to one of the many-windowed brick buildings surrounding the rambling garden. “But it doesn’t matter. You were there yesterday; you can guess how it is.”

“She hates being shut in here.”

I’d heard of peasants trying to fake the mage mark in their children so the whole family could move into the Mews. But I supposed one would feel a bit differently about it if one were knocked out and dragged here.

“She considers us enemies.” Verdi sighed. “Especially me. I’m hoping you may have more luck with her.”

“Me? I’m the one who caught her.”

“But you stood up for her first. That must count for something.”

I remembered the gleam of the jess on her limp arm. “I doubt it.”

Verdi stopped and turned to me, his brows drawn together. “My lady, please. I know you owe me nothing. But Colonel Vasante, the commander of the Falcons, has charged me with salvaging this mess I’ve created. I’m doing my best, but Falcon and Falconer are a pair. A team. I need your help.”