And now they were in Montreal, pedestrians weaving through trollies and cars by the universities downtown and tiny shops and eateries tucked along cobbled streets near the water. Jade had gone to speak to the sister alone, because they’d been warned that she didn’t care for English, and neither Arthur nor Zhang spoke enough French to do anything but wear on her nerves.

They’d come to a restaurant in the old part of the city to wait for Jade. Zhang was clutching his own coffee with both hands like he could draw out all of its warmth. “Jade is going to want to sit inside.”

“Just admit you want to sit inside,” said Arthur.

“We’re the only ones on the terrace!”

Arthur ignored that, and sipped black coffee, because why bother adding sugar when it only made him miss Rory more? The bulk of his overcoat made the sipping motion far more awkward than it needed to be. “Is Jade on her way?”

“She’s nearly at the Basilica.”

Only blocks away, then. And of course Zhang was with her on the astral plane, even if his physical body was across the table. Arthur took another sip of the coffee that was rapidly cooling in the cold air and bit back the questions he really wanted to ask: Did she have any luck with the sister? Has she found any leads on how to destroy the pomander?

Or am I going to have to search abroad and leave Rory even farther behind?

Zhang’s eyelashes fluttered, then he seemed more present, somehow. “She has a lot to tell us, but she said to start by passing on my mother’s messages.” He counted them off on his fingers. “The guardian magic on Manhattan Island is holding. There was a fire on the Staten Island Ferry; no one was hurt but they’re investigating. There’s a new rumor about the world’s fair.”

Interesting. The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts was to start next month in Paris. Thousands of exhibits, perhaps millions of visitors over the course of its six months. “What’s the rumor?”

Zhang leaned in, lowering his voice. “Apparently that a group of paranormals are planning a hidden exhibit.”

Arthur’s eyebrows shot up. “Paranormal decorative arts? What on earth would it even exhibit, that man with the magic tattoo who gave us so much trouble tracking him?”

Zhang shrugged helplessly. “My mother apparently hasn’t heard anything else.”

“A secret paranormal exhibit at the world’s fair,” Arthur repeated in disbelief. “That sounds absolutely mad. How come you didn’t tell me sooner?”

Zhang gestured at the air, presumably indicating the astral plane. “Jade just told me.”

Arthur blinked. “You mother told Jade instead of you?”

Zhang made another helpless shrug, but his expression was affectionate. “They’re fond of each other.”