“So,” Caldera said. “If you’re out in the open, I’m guessing we’re not in danger.”

“Not yet,” I said, and pointed around the corner. “Though if we go in there that might change a bit.”

“What’s inside?”

“First off, the house is warded,” I said. “Subtle, but it’s there. No attack spells or barriers to entry, but scrying spells won’t work and you can’t gate in or out. Standard privacy wards. Also, there’s someone inside.” I’d had plenty of time to explore the futures in which I broke in, and while they’d been chaotic, it hadn’t been hard to notice a pattern. “A kid, and he’s aggressive. If we just smash the door down and go charging in, he’s going to attack us.”

“With what?”

“A knife.”

Caldera shrugged.

“Yeah, I know, not exactly a threat to you. I think it’s a panic attack, not something calculated. He’s scared, and if he’s cornered, he’s going to fight.”

“Can we talk him down?”

“Not sure. But I don’t think he can hurt you, so it’s not like we lose anything for trying.”

Caldera nodded. “Okay, let’s do it. Stay behind me.”

We turned the corner and walked down the street, passing a scattering of parked cars. Out of habit, my eyes went left and right, checking the terrain. Electrical substation on the corner, leading to a small park and a council estate. Not much cover apart from that—nothing but rows of houses. Number 34 was a detached house with no car in the driveway and no lights in the windows. Streetlights cast it in a dim orange glow. Caldera walked up to the door and knocked.

Silence.

Caldera knocked again.

“He’s not going to answer,” I said.

Caldera looked at the route around to the back of the building. “He going to do a runner?”

I shook my head.

“All right.” Caldera took out a focus and channelled her magic into it. I watched with interest. After a second, the door rattled open and I followed Caldera in.

The inside of the house was dark and silent. I tapped Caldera on the shoulder and pointed upstairs. She nodded and we climbed to the top floor. The stairwell was cramped, a little too low for me and a little too narrow for Caldera.

There were three rooms on the top floor, and the house’s other occupant was hidden behind the middle one. I started to signal to Caldera but she was already moving in that direction; she’d probably sensed him through vibration. “Hello?” Caldera said, stopping in the doorway. “Anybody there?”

Silence.

“I’m Keeper Caldera of the Order of the Star. I’m with the Council. I’m not going to hurt you or arrest you. I just want to talk.”

More silence.

“Look, I know you’re in there. You don’t have to come out if you don’t want to. How about you tell me your name?”

The futures shifted, started building. “He’s going to make a break,” I murmured.

“Okay, how about you tell me what you’d like to do?” Caldera said. I saw her shift position slightly. Through the open doorway I could see a desk and the window. The boy was just on the other side of the door, only a few feet away. “We can just stay here if you want. You can—”