“And your song,” Lady added, “is a beautiful way to try and find some peace with your mother.”
“The Ward said I needed to figure it out before she’ll accept me.” I told them about the soundcheck at Wembley, where I’d begin trying to reconcile with my abandoners, starting with the Hounds.
Lakshmi fingered the crucifix around her neck. I caught a shimmer of sympathy in her shadow on the door. “What matters most is to finish it,” she said. “Your song, I mean. Hank Williams could do it.”
I looked up and saw she was smiling. I think it was the first joke I’d heard her tell.
Chuey grinned. “So, what, she’s a little bit country, and you’re a little bit rock and roll? You two trying to reboot the Osmonds?”
I burst out laughing. Lady and Church, too. Cassius smiled. Even Lakshmi joined in. It felt good after drudging up the past.
“Jack,” said Church, “I’ve taken the liberty of informing the regulars that you’ve received ownership of the Iron Horse.”
Before I could thank him, my phone rang. I dug it out of my pocket—no caller ID. “Hello.”
“Jack, where have you been?” said Emaline.
“Took longer than planned to get the Orcus thread,” I said. The line was silent a moment. “You actually procured Orcus?” “Wasn’t easy.”
“Be careful with it, Jack. Orcus can be fatal to use.”
I chuffed a laugh. “That might have been nice to know up front.
Anyway, what’s up?”
“Your freeboot thanatist goes by the moniker ‘Madam,’ ” she said, “and Brach’s chief seamster, Muybridge, told me that she’s found a way to further collapse the ward.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, but whatever it is has Brach excited. He’s leaving for the Guildhall in a few minutes to be briefed, which should give me time to search his library for Cython writings on ward creation.”
“Good,” I said. “You get an address for this ‘Madam’?”
“No, but I got a tip that she’ll be at the Cambridge Circus Cinematograph Theatre, Modern Stratum, tomorrow at three. But watch yourself, Jack. Madam is clever and unpredictable.” She hung up.
Topside, the Cinematograph was a derelict theater about a block south down Charing Cross. But I had no idea what shape it would be in in the Strata. I was mostly just glad I had a day to rest—Tin Pan, Rats Castle, the waelcyrge . . . I was beat.
“What was that about?” Lakshmi asked.
I put my phone away. “A couple of nights ago some wonderful folks tried to abduct me, led by a freebooter called ‘Madam.’ But the abduction was interrupted by the wraith that’s been tracking me. This ‘Madam’ tried to net the thing, gave Cassius and me time to escape.”
“Any freebooter experienced enough to take black-market abduction contracts would have been able to see deeper inside the wraith,” Lakshmi observed. “She may be able to tell us something that could help us find it.”
“That’s what I’m hoping,” I said. “It’s also possible her crew was hired by Muster Brach.”
“Dear me,” said Lady, “that could prove it was Brach who had you and Henry killed.”
I nodded.
“More than a little surprising,” said Church, “given Henry and Brach’s long friendship. What makes you suspect him?”
“A rumor,” I lied, “from someone close to Brach.”
“I see,” said Church. “Well, even if you believe there’s credence to this claim, proving it may be difficult. Brach is widely recognized as one of thanaturgic society’s brightest arcanists.”
“That’s what I’ve heard.” I scrubbed my face, trying to refresh myself. “But if this Madam has information that could help our case against Brach, as well as intel on the wraith, we’ve got to talk to her.”
I looked around at my friends. The last time we’d gone into the Strata together, we’d rushed headlong into a nasty fight. “I just got a tip on where this Madam is going to be tomorrow. Apparently, she’s also found a way to further collapse the ward. So, for a host of reasons, I’ve got to check her out. You guys in?”
