Maddeson’s face reddened. “Now, see here—”
From there, my monologue and Maddeson’s assertions gave way to a general discussion. I revealed more details, including Wake’s and Moran’s connection, though I did not mention Lewis’s or my potentially altered condition.
“The professor may have a point,” Lewis said cautiously, into a lull. “The Guild has succeeded in amplifying Entwined in the past. Documents burned may have redundancies. So we must even the field, as it were.”
Harden watched him, agreement in his eyes. I wondered, passingly, what the Separatists would do with the artifacts and their power.
“I agree with Illing,” Pretoria said. She looked to Maddeson. “You would, of course, come with us.”
“Pardon me?”
“You will come with us to collect every artifact in the Landsdown Trove. You will be our scholar,” she said. “We will carry you about in search of the relics, and you can decipher them.”
He blustered. “But that is impossible. Many pieces are in private collections. I have been refused them before, not to mention those in the Museum ju Palnicas, the paperwork and permissions alone… And those lost to the criminal underworld—”
“I will acquire them for you,” Pretoria said stoutly.
Maddeson had drawn breath to continue his rant, but at this he hesitated. “Pardon me?”
“Anything you need, you will have.”
“But the permissions?”
She gave him a level look. “I need no permissions. Nothing will stand in the way of your research.”
Maddeson sat back in his seat, looking suddenly contemplative.
“So you are proposing we gallivant about the world stealing antiquities?” Perry summarized, speaking to me. “With the aim to stop both the Grand General and the Guild? We are all to give ourselves to this, out of charity?”
“Out of self-preservation,” I corrected.
Perry did not look convinced, but turned to Pretoria. My sister was pensive, in a brooding sort of way.
I left them to their silent conversation.
“Details need not be ironed out now, not until we are safe,” I said, and turned to Harden. “Can you still get us out of the city?”
“Out of Arrent,” Pretoria added. She broke Perry’s gaze. “As I have wished to be all along.”
“I can get you out of the city,” Harden affirmed. There was something in his voice, something he was holding back, and he did not look at me. “Be ready, tonight.”
***
True to his word, Harden reappeared that night. We heard the rumble of an engine and looked down to see a canvas-backed military truck in the streets.
Soon after, we sat in the back of the transport. It was long past twilight and the ringing of the curfew bells. My threads had twined again, as extensively and powerfully as before, but I had endured it hidden in the bathroom. I could not hide the change from my companions forever, but first, I had to find a chance to speak to Lewis privately.
The vehicle rumbled and bucked beneath us as Harden and Pretoria, seated in the front, plied the guards at the edgeof the city with forged papers and impeccable bluffs.
“Have you felt… different?” I asked Lewis under the cover of the engine. We sat together, with Perry and Maddeson opposite. The professor looked startlingly convincing in his military uniform. “Since the cells?”
Lewis gave me an odd look. “What do you mean?”
“Your threads.”
“They have not twined since.”
I stared at him, aghast. “Are… are you saying your power is gone?”
