“Wait!” Storm cried. “Tell me, is there an active rebellion? Should I contact them? How do I find them?” But the old man shuffled away as if she had not spoken. The monkey appeared, scampered after the Earth-witch and climbed him as if he was a tree, settling on one shoulder.

Storm shoved the last of her biscuit in her mouth and followed. Instead of answering her questions, the old man peppered her with instructions as he led her towards the door in the wall.

“Avoid Fire at all costs! The Salamander’s witch is powerful. I have heard tell of her, and you would do well to stay out of her way. Do not travel the town alone! When you have news – anything, no matter how trivial you think it – send me a message. I may not be here, but Scoundrel will always find me, if you cannot.”

“Scoundrel?” Storm blinked in surprise. The cling-monkey was muttering mutinously under its breath and tugging at the old man’s beard.

“Scoundrel will stay with you. If you have a message for me, tell it to the creature. He is far cleverer than he looks! And now, you must go.”

15

The Pact’s guards caught up with Storm in a quiet residential street not far from the main square. “Mistress Storm, how nice to see you again.” Tolbar wasn’t smiling. She spotted Scoundrel and her not-smile became a glare. “What…” The guard pointed to the monkey, who had gone very still, “…is that?”

“Scoundrel. He’s mine.”

“It probably has vermin! You cannot take him back to the Master’s house!”

“Then, unfortunately, I will have to return to my uncle’s ship.” Storm gave the guard a chilly smile. “Give my apologies to Talon, won’t you?”

Tolbar drew a deep breath. They looked at each other with complete understanding. “Huh. Bring the creature if you must!” The woman motioned for her companions to form a phalanx around Storm. Tolbar scolded her all the way back.

The guard would doubtless be reprimanded over today’s adventures. Storm felt guilty until the moment Tolbar ushered her into the guardhouse and she saw Cloud standing in a corner with his hands tied behind his back and a bruise on his left cheek.

“What have you done to him?”

“We’ve done nothing to him other than arrest him.”

“He’s hurt!”

“I got knocked down in the panic.” Cloud actually grinned. He was enjoying the whole thing! Why didn’t the Elementals Choose him? asked Storm’s mind-voice. He’d probably love having a Fire-witch trying to kill him!

“Untie him. He’s my friend.”

“So he says.” Tolbar made no move to release Cloud, who was watching the proceedings with wide-eyed interest. “The boy is a witness and a possible suspect.”

Storm realised she was being punished for running off. “Suspect? What are you talking about?”

“What do you know about the incidents in the market tent earlier today?”

“Nothing.”