Before I could think to indicate that Willoughby was always welcome among us, June sneaked in and closed the door behind her. “Is this some sort of party I was not invited to?” Then she put a hand on her bony hip. “Cj, darling, did you already tell Aurelie of our accomplishments? I thought we were meant to present our findings as a group.”

CJ took a turn at ignoring and leaned over, pointing at a spot on the map. “Here is an issue though, Aurelie. Quite a few lengths of land where the tunnels on the pyre map are discontinued.”

I examined this discrepancy and noted the place where the tunnels were interrupted. The map indicated a large building obstructing the way. I knew this building. The shape of it, the smell of it. I could almost hear the snap of Femme Marna’s belt on my knuckles.

The tunnels were cut off because of the Fortress. Where girls were sent who needed considerable amendment.

June peeked in, and her face grew pale. “Oh dear. I am not sure we should venture in that direction.”

Niall wrinkled his brow. “Really? Why not? We are so close to connecting this entire section of Lykke to the rest of the tunnels. Why stop here?”

“The Fortress. That’s why. As a governess, I have had the displeasure of visiting the Fortress once. It is not the most welcoming place, and its operators are not the most welcoming Femmes. Also, I am not sure a way through exists. The tunnels might indeed be blocked by the building’s underground facilities. We would need to enter the building and explore to tell for sure.”

“So we simply enter,” Niall said with a shrug. “I am not afraid of a gaggle of Femmes.”

CJ scoffed. “You’re afraid of Isther. And Aurelie. And June. And me.”

Niall laughed a bit too loudly in denial.

“It is called the Fortress for a reason, Niall. The building was designed to withstand attacks during Ellyan times. To this day, they are not accommodating to those who have no business there. And to have business at the Fortress, one must be a young girl in need of…molding.”

“I’m a young girl in need of molding,” CJ said, crossing her ankles to prove her point but shoving her hair back into her cap to discredit it. “Send me  in.”

“Absolutely not,” June said with a firm wave of her hand. “We have already risked losing Aurelie. We must be careful.”

“I think CJ would be brilliant,” Niall put forth. “We should give her the chance. Besides, this is important to her. It is important to all of us.”