Page 389 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Thank you. And then the final two lines, which, I believe, actually carry a fair amount of weight.’

Lachlan makes a face. ‘How so?’

‘Eight swords in earth till eight bells clear. Eight bells is our radio sign for all clear.’

‘It comes from the old term, eight bells and all is well.’

‘I know that, but there’s something here, cleverly buried, I can feel it. I think,’ Cole says, ‘it’s talking about the bubble. Eight swords in earth. Trapped.’

‘Eight swords is also a tarot term.’

‘Yes it is,’ Lee says, staring at the page.

Kade blinks. ‘This is what you were saying before, right? The eight of swords. The prison of your own making.’

‘Indeed.’

‘You think I’m the one connected to the bubble?’

‘I do.’

‘Vasily said it’s been like this for seven years,’ Lachlan points out. ‘I did the ritual a week ago.’

‘My sister has said that she believes the key to undoing all this is to break your Death Knot,’ Lee says slowly, looking between them. ‘But I do not believe that.’

Kade asks, ‘Why would Blaire lie?’

‘Blaire is a complicated woman, but no matter what, I know she wants the best possible outcome. She is not, however, above trickery.’

‘Like telling me you needed me to break his blood curse?’ Riley asks.

‘Sometimes we must be brave even when terrified. I think eight swords here,’ Lee says, touching the light molecules of the last line of the poem, ‘is quite literal. Eight swords. Eight weapons. Eight people capable of killing, currently stuck.’

‘Wait, so who is stuck?’ Cole asks, holding up a hand to count.

‘Kade, Blaire and Vasily,’ Lachlan reels off. ‘Myself. Harker could be lying but let’s assume he’s not and that he’s trapped too. That’s five. You can definitely come and go, right?’ he asks Lee.

‘Yes, although not far until the pain of distance kicks in.’

‘Right, so five, not eight.’

‘Is Roman trapped?’ Kade wonders quietly.

‘We could ask him,’ Lachlan says. ‘Why?’

‘He said Penhalyx couldn’t come inside the city, right?’

‘I think so,’ Lachlan says. ‘I can’t remember what he called it.’

‘We have the footage,’ Finn says, pulling it up. ‘Here.’

The holding room scene replays.

‘The geomantic anomaly above and around Varrow City. You cannot leave, but he cannot enter. There has been no way to get you to him, nor him to you. He cannot come inside. You could not be dragged out, and as I said, there are other complications.’

‘So the bubble is keeping him out? This… geometric—’

‘Geomantic,’ Cole corrects.