In his desperation, they had sent several messages to the Order’s address in Ashenagth, who had reported their leader was away. To Ravenna and Balthazar too, though he expected little from Ashenagth’s rulers. His dealings with the McAllisters were strained.
“Not that we know of,” Finn replied. “But if we wait there, maybe he will show up again. Or a Scion will show up and we can follow them to their hideout.”
It was all they had, precarious though it was, and still counted as an opportunity. His pulse jumped at the possibilities.
“If Madden goes there, I want him seized,” Reagan said.
“He will never admit anything to you,” Cerridwen added, her gaze dropping. “Even if he has her.”
He knew what his Second was thinking but didn’t let himself go there.
With his head pounding, Reagan rose to his feet, restless but fuelled by a sudden thread of hope. “You’re forgetting I have leverage over him. I only need to convince him to make a trade.”
The proof of the time weaver meddling with Reagan’s curse was still waiting to be used. He would give it up to have her back. He would swear on it.
“His leverage is better than yours,” Gwin warned.
“Not to him,” Reagan said, speaking aloud so that his staff could challenge him if he strayed. “Madden cannot risk being implicated in the tampering with the curse. If he is found guilty, he is finished. His influence, his business, his petitions, everything he is building towards would be affected. He has to appear immaculate to pursue his agenda.”
“As if magisters are oblivious to the Order,” Gwin retorted. “Of course they know, and they still let him.”
“No. Reagan is right. That is why Madden surrounds himself with cronies,” Finn said grimly. “Why he left three of them with Varian. His so-called associates will do whatever he tells them and incriminate themselves so Madden can continue untouched.”
“Do you think there is a chance she will be there? In Vallern?” Joy asked.
Reagan had forgotten she was there; she had insisted on being involved to find her sister.
Fingers picking at her nails, she reminded him of Jane in more ways than one. When Joy noticed he was looking, she hid the hands beneath the table.
“We’ll look,” he said. “Tell Heil to send squads to take post in Vallern and do the same with the other locations on Eldar’s list.”
“That sounds good,” Gwin said, “but I don’t see why Madden would bring her there. Our best chance is to tail a Scion that shows up there and see where it leads us.”
“I want to search for her too,” Joy said, pulling Reagan’s focus back to her. Reminding him she’d already come to Mountheim looking for her sister once.
“Too dangerous,” Reagan replied steadily for her benefit. “And Jane would never be fine with that.”
The hollow of Joy’s throat shifted beneath the round collar of her sweater, yet her voice rose a shade when she said, “I need to help her. And I can help you too.”
Finn’s white shirt rustled as he leaned back, gaze flicking between them. He lifted a brow, cocking his head as if to say that the idea held some merit.
“No,” Reagan said again, his tone brooking no room for argument.
The least he could do was keep Jane’s sister safe. Finn nodded, reaching for Joy to murmur something Reagan didn’t care to hear.
He gathered the tempest racing through his veins into a single focus, turning to Cerridwen and Gwin.
“Inform Barracus and Heil to prepare,” Reagan ordered. “Have squads sent to these locations and keep the vigils active. I want every patroller invisible to human eyes. The moment the scum shows himself,I’ll deal with him. Then I’m getting her back.”
Chapter 55
Jane
They had turned off the light, leaving me in absolute darkness, not even a sliver slipping beneath the door.
Pressed into the corner of the padded room, I drifted in and out of sleep, alone without my familiar to keep me tethered. I searched for the eagle anyway, reaching inside me head, but my exhaustion blunted the access.
So many laws made sense now. Power like this couldn’t be trusted blindly, not when there were those who would twist it, abuse it for their own gain. Those like Giddeon Madden.
