Off to the left of the dining room and through a limestone arch is a full-service kitchen. The man who oversees it, Gustav, is a Genesis-generation Speaker with a physical ability that allows him to multiply food—real food, unlike whatever it was I created today. With dozens of Remnants living in the catacombs, what he does is invaluable. He cooks one small thing and then suddenly it’s a loaves-and-fishes scenario, with everyone having more than enough—and leftovers to spare. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also a top-notch chef, for which my stomach is currently very grateful.

“He seemed pretty confident,” Cami says, seated to my right. It’s the first time she’s spoken since we sat down, and despite her audible hunger from hours ago, she’s only picking at her own bowl of soup. Her mind is elsewhere—back in that glass-walled cell with her brother. I can’t blame her, not when we’re so close to having the real Ward back with us. And all the answers he’ll hopefully be able to provide.

“He did,” Arryn agrees, sitting opposite me and beside Kael. She’s playing with her bread roll, tearing small strips off it. There’s a crease between her brows; I can see that she’s agitated by something.

I think I know what. But now isn’t the time for me to bring it up. Not here.

“Confidence doesn’t change facts,” Kael says. A vibrating sound has him pulling his phone from his pocket, frowning at the screen. “Sorry. I’ve got to take this.” His eyes land on me and he finishes, “Come find me when you’re ready for Ward.”

“I’m ready now.”

“An hour. Minimum,” he replies, rising from his seat and moving the phone to his ear as he walks away.

An hour. It’s frustrating, but I can handle that small wait. Even if I don’t think I need it. My headache has already faded, and while I could definitely sleep, I’m not as fatigued as I was when we were running all over the city. I feel like I could easily Speak whatever is needed to free Ward right now, and then strategize what comes next.

“Salt,” I say, as if to prove as much to myself. A flash of light and the salt-shaker on the next table over disappears and rematerializes in front of me, just as I envisioned. “Pepper,” I add, and the same happens with the dark canister.

I glance up to see Arryn and Cami watching me.

“See? I’m fine.”