No one except Cyril. “Now that the perpetrator has been caught,” he announced, “these attacks will cease, and I see no reason for me to remain in the Sea.”

“The only true test of Ansley’s guilt is whether this happens again,” Runa said. “But if you want to run off before we’re certain, by all means, leave.”

Barclay, Tadg, and Viola squeezed their way past the onlooking Guardians. Cyril’s three apprentices stood behind him, each staring glumly at their shoes. Yasha lurked in a far corner.

Cyril glowered, and Edwyn rested his hand on his shoulder. “Runa is right. I made the mistake of leaving only to have to return. Even if Ansley is guilty—and it certainly seems that she is—we should wait—”

He was cut off as Tadg stalked between them. “Runa, we’d like to talk to you in private. It’s important.”

“Again?” she asked. “If it’s important, you can say it in front of all of us.”

Tadg shot a furious glance at Cyril. “No. Just you. It has to be in private.”

Runa studied the serious expressions all three of them wore. “Fine, then. We’ll go upstairs.”

They climbed up the spiral staircase past Orla’s office and entered a small guest bedroom where Runa was staying. Her enormous saber-toothed tiger Beast lay on the bed, shedding white and black fur all over the quilt. As they entered, the Beast lifted her head and peered at them suspiciously. Then she bared her long fangs and hissed.

“This is Klava,” Runa said. “She doesn’t like people, but she won’t attack you. Not while I’m here.”

Runa’s words hardly gave Barclay peace of mind. Klava’s front teeth were so long that they could pierce him through.

“Now what is all this about?” Runa asked.

“We want to hear about Audrian Keyes,” Tadg told her.

Runa blanched. “How do you know about Audrian?”

“Cyril told his apprentices, and they told us. He’s saying the Grand Keeper had a third apprentice and you killed him. And we’ve told them that it’s obviously not true, but they don’t—”

“It is true,” Runa said softly. “But there’s more to the story than that.”

Barclay sucked in his breath. Viola gasped.

“Wh-what?” Tadg stuttered. “What do you mean that it’s true?”

“I should’ve known Cyril would say something,” said Runa bitterly. “That’s very like him. If one of us did something wrong, he was always the first to tell. But you all are kids. He had no right—”

“I think we have the right to know what happened,” Tadg snapped.

She sighed. “Why don’t you three sit down?” But when Barclay stepped toward the closest chair, Klava let out a low, threatening growl. “Give her space,” Runa told Barclay sharply. And then, to Klava: “It’s all right, girl. Go back to sleep.”