‘Even those who didn’t leave with the Exodus were still insulted by Article Thirteen,’ said Dot. ‘Salamander is offering the right to use their magic however they would like.’
Lio shot her a sidelong glance. ‘That Bachelor of Politics is evident as ever, Dot.’
Theodora placed her hand on the window latch. ‘No wards around the bistro,’ she said. ‘Not for us, anyway.’
‘Could we take a portal straight to the dungeon, then?’ asked Lio.
‘Not if you enjoy having your spine attached to your body,’ said Theodora. She waved a hand over Opal’s soiled satin dress, scooping her up. Lio opened the door to the bistro, and the raucous noise spilled out. He squeezed inside the room, battered by dancing spirits. Dot followed, then Theodora, levitating Opal’s body.
‘Which way?’ called Lio over the fanfare. He dodged out of the path of a slug-like spirit, who turned to them and halted.
‘Humans,’ she said. ‘Whatever are you doing here?’
‘We work for Salamander,’ said Theodora and, to Dot’s surprise, the spirit believed her and went on dancing. ‘Straight ahead, Lio.’
They dodged and parried the festivities, skirting the room, tripping over the flailing limbs of the dancing spirits. It was not unlike Dot’s first night at the Raven’s Attic. She took hold of Lio’s and Theodora’s arms and they wove through the party until at last they came to the door beside the kitchen.
The catfish spirit stepped out of the fray. She seized Theodora’s arm.
‘Madame Kaeïs. Refugees are not allowed on the upper floors.’
‘We are not refugees,’ said Theodora, tugging her arm from the spirit’s grip. ‘We’re here to see Salamander.’
‘Is that Miss Weyer?’ gasped the spirit, looking at Opal, who was suspended inelegantly in her dress like a baby from a stork’s bundle.
‘Indeed,’ said Theodora. ‘Where is Casimir?’
‘I’ve not seen Mr Delané for some hours. Still, I cannot allow you—’
Theodora blasted the spirit backward.
‘Hurry!’ shouted Theodora. She seized Dot’s arm, pulled the door open and ran down the corridor. Lio followed, dodging Opal’s bobbing body. They passed down several hallways and at last they came to a submarine-like door. Theodora wrenched it open. ‘Get in!’
Just as the door shut, they spotted an onslaught of spirits rushing down the hall behind them. Theodora yanked on the lever and the elevator plunged downward.
‘That was unnecessarily bold,’ said Lio.
‘I know no other way,’ said Theodora, brushing her hair out of her eyes. Opal stirred, and Theodora nudged at her leg. She flinched but did not wake. ‘Not lucid yet.’
‘Probably for the best,’ said Dot, clutching at the elevator wall.
‘The amnesia charm takes a while to wake from,’ said Lio. Then he looked about at the elevator. ‘How deep does this go?’
‘You wouldn’t like the answer,’ said Theodora.
The elevator thudded to a stop. Lio wrenched open the door and, together, they crept into the dark, hit by the reek of mould and pond water. Theodora lit a plume of fire that illuminated the labyrinth of halls.
‘Won’t those spirits follow us down here?’ asked Lio, glancing up at the elevator.
‘Wouldyouhave come willingly into this place if you didn’t have to?’ asked Theodora. ‘The spirits are terrified of Salamander’s dungeon.’
‘Whatever is that smell?’ mumbled Opal, floating along behind them.
Lio, Theodora and Dot looked at each other.
‘We have to be quiet,’ cooed Theodora, as if to a child. ‘Go back to sleep.’
‘Of course,’ said Opal dreamily, and she closed her eyes and let them drag her along. In the plume of the firelight, Dot caughtTheodora’s and Lio’s anguished expressions, both of them stealing a glance, every now and then, at the woman floating behind them.
