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Haken called half an hour later, giving me instructions to meet him at the office where we’d planned the attack. He didn’t offer any explanations, and I didn’t ask.

The house was mostly empty now. Some Council forensics teams had arrived and were starting to go through the rooms, but most of the mages and security men had been called back to headquarters. It made sense really. The mission had been to bring in Vihaela, and now that Vihaela was apparently dead, things had ground to a halt. Outside, some yellow tape had been used to block off the alley, and bystanders were craning their necks to see if anything interesting was going to happen. I got a few glances, but no one challenged me on the way out.

I took a taxi to the office block and went inside. Night had fallen, and the building was dark and empty. My footsteps echoed up the stairwell as I climbed. When I found the door, I stopped and unslung my bag. I hadn’t worn my armour today, but I’d brought a light backpack. Reaching inside, my fingers brushed against soft cloth before closing on a stone attached to a chain. The item I took out wasn’t much to look at: a smooth-cut rock on a thin chain, teardrop-shaped and dull grey. But it wasn’t a rock, it was a fire-hunger stone, and I’d primed it before leaving the house. I checked to make sure it was still charged, then hung the chain over my neck, tucking the stone inside my shirt. I pushed the door open and walked in.

Haken was at the far side of the office, next to the windows. The lights were off and he was only a shadow in the gloom. Fire mages can see heat—it’s not quite the same as seeing in the dark, but it’s pretty close, and a fire mage can manage just fine with no light at all. Haken turned to me as I wound my way through the tables. The only light was the reflected glow from the street below the window: I could make out the lines of his face, but I couldn’t see his eyes. “Thinking something over?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I tilted my head. “Made up your mind?”

Haken looked at me for a second without answering. “Ready to go?”

“Where to?”

“White Rose’s base,” Haken said. “Maybe. I’m going to need you there to confirm it.”

I shrugged. “Easy enough. How do you know where to go?”

“Can’t answer that, I’m afraid.”

“Then mind telling me why we’re going there? Because it doesn’t seem like the safest possible vacation spot.”

“Our mission hasn’t changed.” Haken said. “If what you’re saying is true and Vihaela’s at their base . . .”

“Then we still have to bring her in?”

Haken nodded.

“If we’re doing something like that, wouldn’t it make sense to bring some backup?”

“This is recon,” Haken said. “If you’re right, then I can’t trust the others on the team.” He looked at me. “I hope you haven’t discussed this with anyone else.”