Had this one, in fact, been aimed at her? It would have taken incredible luck for it to penetrate the thick needle-clad branches of the tree with enough force to hurt. And it had been shot high in the tree in any case. Nowhere near where she had been hiding. Storm jumped to her feet and began to climb. The thick branches were closely spaced, the needles sharp. It was an awkward, prickly, breathless climb. But she reached the arrow, pulled it free and, one-handed, half climbed, half fell back to earth.

Storm stood in the dappled green light beneath the yew and unrolled the parchment wrapped around the arrow shaft. She gasped aloud when she saw it was a piece torn from her own journal! How? And then she saw that the torn fragment was part of the page that recorded her journey over the rooftops with Mer.

Storm turned the fragment over and saw, drawn in charcoal lines on the reverse, a diagram of the centre of the city. It was a crude copy of the map Betaan had shown her. The tavern where she had met her uncle and Foam the day she escaped from Tolbar was circled. And beside it someone had drawn the mark that meant high moon, the middle of the night – a crescent moon perched on the point of a vertical arrow.

Storm frowned as she considered what to do. This message was meant for her and it wasn’t difficult to interpret. Someone wanted her to meet them at the tavern at high moon. Tonight? It must be. And as to the person … it must be Mer herself. The other girl must have seen it often in her old room. Storm chewed her bottom lip as she thought.

Dangerous to go. But impossible not to. Mer was her route to the rebels. She needed to convince them that the Fifteen recognised the need for reform. Talon might be reluctant, but he was leader in name only now. She wondered how Mer would feel about the fact that it was her mother, Waffa, who had taken control.

And what if it’s a trap? asked her mind-voice. What if you’re wrong and she does work with the Fire-witch? What if she’s been paid to betray you?

Then I will find out. And what will be will be. No more waiting! I can’t keep hidden here in the Pact quarter, hoping my enemies won’t hurt me.

Decision made, Storm stabbed the arrow into the deep litter of decaying yew needles and reached for her flute. Time to practise. More than just her life depended upon her magic. Dain had taught her to always keep trying, no matter how difficult things got or how many mistakes she made. I won’t give up, Ma! I promise.

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