About half an hour after the pain started, it stops with an abruptness that indicates magical interference rather than relief. Only the fact that Loran’s Bond is still there – muffled and blocked once more – consoles me that it’s not due to something even more final.

  “It’s stopped,” I say out loud for the benefit of those with us who are not part of my Bond network. As well as my guards, Layton insisted on joining us. Where he goes, apparently, so does his captain. Or perhaps that’s only when he joins a group of humans and beasts, each one with rescue and revenge in mind.

  The last half an hour has felt like an intolerable taunt – while I could feel the worst of Loran’s agony, I couldn’t communicate with him, or send him anything of my own. Nor did it do more than give a vague direction to where he could be found, even to Sulir.

  But it did manage to confirm something – they’re being held in the southern section of the city as we suspected. And we’re almost there. If I have to go house to house to find them, I will. But perhaps Rory or Sulir will be able to help me. I know that Rory has never been to the gang’s headquarters, but he might be able to recognise signs of criminal activity which are invisible to more law-abiding folk.

  “Sulir?” I ask. My tracker opens the eyes which he had closed in concentration. Then he nods slightly.

  “I’ve still got a trace, but it’s not as strong as before.”

  “Is it enough to lead us?”

  “For now,” he confirms, then takes off at a run. The rest of us quickly follow.

  Even though it’s mid-afternoon and there’s plenty of traffic, the streets clear themselves as we move faster than a normal human could. I grin humourlessly, more a baring of teeth than anything else.

  Taunting me with a partially-opened Bond will be the criminals’ undoing – where before Sulir was only able to detect how close we are to my Bonded, while my companion was in pain, he knew what direction they’re in too.

  Finally, he comes to a stop at a T-junction, pressing himself into the wall nearby and blending rather well with the shadows it casts.

  “What is it?” I hiss in his ear as the rest of the group catches up and follows suit. I peer around the corner – Sulir’s attention seems to be on the street ahead rather than the one we’re on.

  It’s a perfectly ordinary street at first glance, filled with well-made detached houses, each tucked behind its own earthen walls. In comparison to the other houses I’ve seen, they fit comfortably in this world’s version of the middle-class. The edge of the prosperous merchant section, indeed. It certainly isn’t where I’d expect to find a hotbed of criminality.

  I eye the house in front of us – nothing makes it stick out from its neighbours. “Is it here?”

  “This is as far as my Skill is leading me,” Sulir murmurs in reply. He concentrates silently for a moment. “We are close to your Bonded,” he says next. “Not this house – the warding is still interfering, but it’s too close. Within fifty paces, though.”

  Fifty paces? That’s approximately fifty metres – that radius covers at least three houses and possibly the same again on the street beyond. A faint thought goes through me that setting fire to places generally sends the rats scurrying out, but I reject it a moment later. I’ve already dealt with one city-threatening inferno on this trip. Lord Layton probably wouldn’t appreciate it if I repeat it here.

  Sirocco? Ivor? Noir? Do you see anything that might give a clue? I ask my watchers-from-above.

  One human cave looks much like the next, Sirocco replies, Noir and Ivor chiming in with agreement.

  I sigh with frustration and gesture impatiently to Rory – hopefully he has an ability to identify other criminals. Otherwise, I’ll have to start knocking at doors and see who responds to the name ‘Dexil’.

  The ex-bandit is standing a few steps away from Lathani, looking at her warily ever since she dropped him when we arrived. He needed a ride of some sort since he’s not a Classer. Lathani volunteered – not to carry him on her back, but in her mouth, like he was a cub and the back of his clothes was his scruff. It’s possible she’s still holding a grudge for the attack he was part of.

  He should probably be glad that it was Lathani who offered – the other option was being dangled from Ivor’s claws since I’d never force one of my companions to bear him on their backs if they didn’t want it.

  Rory steps forward slowly, reluctance and a strong sense of self-pity still the dominant emotions churning within him. So close to our target, he could be a liability. He might not be able to hurt us, but if he suddenly decided to shout a warning out of malice, it would cause more problems regardless.

  Just to remind you, I tell him faux-casually, I now hold your service contract. You’d better be very, very sure that Dexil’s gang are capable of killing me – and all my companions – if you consider doing anything but fulfilling your side of the bargain: helping me to find and rescue my other companions.

  He swallows and I feel fear become the dominant emotion on his side of the Bond.

  “O’-o’ course. I-I promised te help, so I will,” he assures me with a voice that’s just a little too high.

  “So?” I prompt, gesturing towards the street ahead. I’m satisfied when he doesn’t make his attention too obvious – who knows what sort of warning systems they have in place?

  “That one,” he says after a moment, pointing to the house to the right of the T-junction.

  “Why do you say that?” I ask, scanning the house myself. It looks much the same as any other on this street.

  “Look at how many blokes there are on guard. An’ they’re tryin’ te hide. Merchant guards wouldn’t do tha’.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  I study the house more closely. There is only one guard visible in an alcove outside the front gate. He looks much like the similar guards on the other properties – bored and hot.

  But now he’s pointed it out, I can see Rory has a point. The guards aren’t obvious at all, but if I watch for long enough, I see the signs. A curtain that’s out of place with the outline of a presence visible behind it. Something that I first took for a decorative pot on the wall shifts a little and is revealed to be a helmet. Suspiciously blurred shapes in shadowy alcoves.

  Despite still being a bit far away, I send out a wave of Inspect, though I focus on it going undetected. The results, bare as they are, confirm that this house is hiding secrets – there is protective warding over the whole property that my Inspect can’t pass without alerting someone. With any luck, those secrets include my Bonded.

  I shift back to where Layton, his guard captain, and my own guards are standing, all looking tense. “I think we’ve found it,” I tell them and then quickly catch them up on what I’ve discovered.

  “What do you wish of us, Heir Titanbend?” the guard captain asks tensely. I quickly cast Seal just to ensure that no listening ears might catch something they’re not supposed to.

  “Where are the city guards?”

  “Still some way away,” the captain answers after a brief glance at Layton. “The southern contingent is closest, but they will take half a mark to get here, a full mark at the maximum. If we wait-”

  “We’re not waiting,” I tell him. Not when we’re so close. “Have them create a net and close in – we don’t want any stragglers escaping. The same with the other guards.” I’ve read enough books where smugglers and other criminals have multiple exits ready for a visit by the law. And this group has the bill coming due for their actions – I’d hate for them to skip out on it.

  The captain looks at Layton who nods, then takes out a mirror from his pocket and starts speaking quietly into it, relaying the instructions I just gave him and also adding a few of his own. I admit that trying to clear the streets so that any escaping criminals are more obvious is a good idea.

  “Do try not to destroy my city while you wreak your vengeance, would you?” Layton cautions, his eyes intense. “And if you bring any prisoners back here, Rilard will make sure they stay here.” Rilard? Oh, the guard captain.

  “Thanks. I’ll bear that in mind if I have any,” I tell him darkly, my eyes flicking towards the figures I can see. I hear Layton swallow next to me. I turn back to him. “Do you have a problem with that?” I ask genuinely. It is his city after all – if he requests I take them alive…I’ll try. But I won’t make any promises. It’s not only me who wants blood.

  There’s a moment of silence and then Layton shakes his head.

  “As long as there are no nobles in there, I dare say our kingdom will be better off if a few criminals are burnt off its surface. To that end, I’m coming with you.”

  “What?” I ask, surprised out of my vengeful anticipation. I turn to look at him and see his mouth is set in a firm line.

  “It is my city, and the fault of the criminals who my guard have been unable to destroy. I will be part of righting this wrong.”

  I eye him for a moment, then nod slowly.

  “If you insist. But don’t get in my way, and I’ll want a vow before we go in that you will not intentionally reveal what you see inside to anyone by any means.” I’m not going to hold back if doing so is the difference between success or failure, but I don’t want everyone knowing what I’m capable of. Hopefully, even if the vow isn’t backed by a goddess, Layton is honourable enough to uphold it.

  “Very well,” Layton agrees after a moment of thought. “I swear that I will not intentionally reveal by any means anything that occurs in the house that Lord Markus Titanbend does not give me permission to reveal. I swear this on my honour and my House. Satisfactory?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow.

  I nod – that oath is one of the strongest of those backed by honour alone. Knowing to have broken it would significantly impact his reputation.. Asking for more at this point would be to cast aspersions on his honour.

  “It’s fine. What are you prepared to do to contribute?” I ask, trying to frame it politely – any questions about House capabilities are always considered rude, but I do need to know what he can do.

  “Temperature control is our domain and I am an accomplished swordsman. I will do my best to fit in with your strategy.”

  “Temperature control, hm?” I study him for a moment. “I look forward to seeing that.”

  “We’ll be coming with you, I presume, my lord,” Mathis states, a frown on his face. Laeman looks on with a similar fierceness to his expression. Pelan and Sulir don’t say anything, but I see their grips tighten on their weapons.

  “No,” I respond firmly. Laeman lets out an incredulous sound but it’s Sulir who protests.

  “My lord! We’re here to protect you!”

  “I know, but I need you to support me from behind. I want to know that you’ve got my back and that no one’s sneaking up on us. If we take prisoners, I’m putting you in charge of getting them back here to Captain Rilard, and if we don’t have any prisoners, I still need you keeping our escape route clear.”

  Perhaps it’s arrogant, but I’m determined to get my revenge personally on those who have taken my companions – that their deaths will come at the teeth and claws of my pack. But I’m not so arrogant as to keep the guards standing on the sidelines entirely.

  None of them are happy with my orders, but they accept them.

  “If I need you, I’ll call,” I offer them appeasingly. I’m uncomfortably aware that it’s similar to the words I said to Sulir just before the bandit attack, but I tell myself that this is different. Here, I’m surrounded by fighters and expecting to get attacked.

  Mathis squares up to me, determination in his eyes.

  “I am concerned about you being too far for us to hear. Will you make that Bond with me?” He looks uneasy. “You know. The one that you used with…with Sarran.”

  I blink for a moment, then remember that I had a Tame Bond with Sarran during the first dinner in the Golden Hall. I send a sideways glance at Layton. I suppose it is more diplomatic to reference that than hint that Nicholas and I are Bound together.

  “If you’re willing,” I tell him slowly – I can’t deny that it would be useful to have a line of contact with a group who will mostly be staying out of the fight. A group who will be watching my back. I didn’t want to offer it in case they took it as an order, but if Mathis is volunteering….

  I reach out with a Tame Bond, specifying its limited nature – all I need it for is communication. It takes a moment, but then I feel Mathis accept it, unease and discomfort spreading from his direction. We quickly test that he can hear and speak to me, and then I close it down to almost nothing so neither of us is distracted by it.

  “Stay safe, my lord,” Mathis grunts, his eyes worried as I turn to go.

  “I’ll do my best,” I promise. “Alright, everyone, let’s go.” I start walking down the street. Ivor, Noir, and Sirocco, keep an eye for rats escaping and either catch them yourselves or drive them towards the guards. Don’t put yourselves at risk. Everyone else, start getting closer if you can do so without being detected. Otherwise, prepare to charge. Rory, stay with the captain and follow his orders.

  “What are we going to do?” Layton asks uncertainly as we start strolling towards the house gates.

  I give Layton a toothy grin.

  “Why, go knock on the door, of course,” I say. “I’m not a savage.”

  Layton eyes me for a moment, then an uncertain smile quirks at the corner of his mouth.

  “Of course. Lead on, Lord Markus.”

  here!

  here!

  here!

  here