“New Cauldron, same as the old Cauldron,” Sveta said.

“They have less resources. And they rule Gimel,” Tattletale said. “Different mission statement now. From getting through the end of the world to surviving the aftermath.”

“When you put it that way, you make it sound like they’re on our side,” Precipice said.

“New Cauldron, same as the old Cauldron,” Tattletale said, indicating Sveta, who she’d borrowed the line from. “Doing things that everyone should be unambiguously on board for and making every enemy possible along the way.”

“Great,” I said. “Countenance and I exchanged a few texts while we drove back. Relay gave him a quick recap and he reached out. He sounds…”

“Undecided?” Byron-as-Capricorn asked.

“On the positive side of undecided. Agreeable but yet to say he’s sure he’ll do it. They’ll try to look after and stall any plans for the mercenaries and what they’re planning with the time bubbles. If we catch up or figure out why while we’re dealing with the mercenaries’ allies, we use that info to help them wrap up.”

“We can’t focus on the mercenaries and stop whatever it is they’re doing?” Foil asked.

“We don’t have leads on them. We do have some loose leads on Cradle’s business dealings, places Love Lost’s people have been seen, people they’ve hurt, and some last known whereabouts of March.”

“We go after them, then,” Byron-as-Capricorn said. “All at once, after one target?”

“Coordinated strikes,” Ashley said.

“I dunno,” I said. “I like the focused attack better. Our goal is to keep them from achieving their goals or our worst-case scenario. A focused attack guarantees we take the most problematic person out of the picture.”

“March,” Foil said, definitively.

I drew in a slight breath.

“You don’t think so,” she said. Again, a statement, firm.

“We’re supposed to be cooperating,” I said. “The best order to remove threats would be to remove one of ours, one of yours, another one of ours. It gives the best odds that we see this through.”

“Or we coordinate,” Ashley said. The kid on the ground was inching closer to her while she focused on us, wriggling and twisting until her arms threatened to dislocate, just to get closer, gnashing teeth. “No need to worry about order if we’re going after all of them at once.”

Capricorn shifted. From Byron to Tristan.

“I think coordinated,” he said. “It’s faster, and it means we can support the other groups. Even if we fail on one front, we have better odds of keeping them from uniting. Doing what you say, Victoria, and keeping them from achieving any goals and meeting up.”

I glanced at Tattletale.