Magnus looked at Caspian’s unfastened coat. At our joined hands.
His hand tightened on the head of his cane.
“The Tower has accepted review,” Quill said. “The named Marks will be transferred under witness.”
“Under guard,” I said.
He waved a dismissive hand. “Then under guard.”
Linden opened his notebook.
“Astra Verita,” he read. “Caspian Ashford. Kieran Marsh. Jonah Hale. Transfer authorized at dawn under Article Seven escalation. No severance, suppression, concealment, or private bond intervention is to be attempted before Tower review.”
“Suppression,” I said.
Linden’s eyes flicked to mine.
“That’s the word?”
“It is one of them.”
Quill looked toward the passage.
“You will go in pairs.”
“No.”
The word came from Caspian.
I felt the whole corridor hear it.
Magnus stepped forward.
“Caspian.”
Caspian didn’t look at him.
“No,” he said again. “We go together.”
Quill’s attention sharpened. “The passage is narrow.”
“We will make it work.”
“The Tower order names all four of you. It does not grant you authority over the manner of transfer.”
“The Tower order also forbids severance and concealment before review,” Caspian said. “Separating the named Marks in a closed passage is an intervention.”
Linden stopped writing and looked up.
I looked at Caspian.
So did everyone else.
For once, he did not look as if he wished he had said less.
Kieran’s smile returned by a fraction.
“Ashford,” he said, “that was the first interesting thing I think I’ve ever seen you do.”
