I nodded slowly. ‘Do you think it might be in the Archon?’
‘I will ask our double agent if he has any idea, but I imagine that if it was, he would already have told us.’
Alsafi Sualocin, the Ranthen’s most valuable spy in the Archon. I had known him in the colony as Nashira’s brutal and loyal guard. It had been a shock to discover that he was Ranthen, working in secret to undermine her.
‘Although we do not know the location of the core, this may be the time to consider something we do know about the scanners.’ Warden glanced around the table. ‘As you are all aware, Senshield can currently only detect the first three orders of clairvoyance. Hard as they have tried, Scion has been unable to tune it to detect the higher four.’
Maria tilted her head. ‘How do they do this . . . tuning, exactly?’
‘No one knows, but I have long suspected that exposure to aura is involved. It would be logical for Senshield to recognise what it has already encountered.’ He paused. ‘It is possible that any of you could be used to improve its ability to detect aura.’
That was all we needed. If walking on the streets could not only get us arrested, but potentially increase Senshield’s power, then going into hiding had to remain an option, even if we only used it as a last resort.
‘On the subject of the core – do you think it can be easily replaced?’ I said. ‘If we destroyed it, would they just build another?’
‘Unlikely,’ Warden said. ‘Not being a Sargas, I am no expert in ethereal technology – but I know it is complex, volatile, and delicate. If you destroyed the existing core, I imagine it would take them many years to return it to its current operational state.’
I could hear in his voice that this was educated guesswork, but it was something to go on, at least.
‘Something else to bear in mind,’ he said, ‘is that an improved Senshield will pose a great danger to the Night Vigilance Division. If it can be adjusted to detect all seven orders, there will no need for sighted clairvoyant officers. They will be redundant, and would consequently be . . . disposed of by Scion in the same way as other unnaturals.’ He looked at me. ‘Some of them may well be willing to help you imperil the core.’
‘Absolutely not,’ Glym harrumphed. ‘The syndicate does not work with Vigiles.’
I had always thought Glym was a bit of a prankster, like Tom, but I had learned that he was quite the disciplinarian. He was taking the revolution seriously, at least, which was more than I could say for some of the Unnatural Assembly.
‘If you do not extend the hand of friendship,’ Warden said, ‘the night Vigiles will be eliminated.’
‘Good,’ Glym said.
‘They are traitors.’ Eliza pulled at one of her ringlets. ‘They chose to work for Scion.’
She received an approving look from Glym for this observation. It was a good one. ‘Warden makes a salient point.’ Maria shrugged. ‘They’re potential recruits. Why waste them?’
‘It would only be a temporary alliance,’ I said to Warden. ‘Once Senshield is down, there’s no risk to their jobs.’
‘A temporary alliance may be all that is needed.’
There was silence while I mulled it over. I could listen to counsel all I liked, but in the end, this would be my call. I was beginning to understand why my predecessor, Hector, had been able to abuse his power to such an extent: syndicate leaders were handed a lot of it. The voyants in this organisation bowed before strength, and in the scrimmage, I had proven mine. That didn’t make me an expert in starting revolutions.
My instinct had always been to steer well clear of Vigiles, but what they could offer might be worth the flak I would get for giving them a chance. It would also drain numbers from Scion’s ranks.
‘It’s something to bear in mind,’ I concluded. ‘If we find ourselves in a situation where help from the Vigiles would be vital to our success, we’ll reconsider the matter. Until then, I don’t think we should risk approaching them.’ Everyone seemed satisfied by the response. ‘For now, we need to decide on a course of immediate action. Dani, I want you to do your utmost to find out what Senshield’s core is – and where it is, more importantly. That’s our number-one priority.’
‘Hang on a second.’ Tom gestured to Danica. ‘Doesn’t the White Binder know that you work for Scion? And you’re still happy to work there?’
‘Yep,’ Danica said.
Nick looked troubled. ‘It’s strange, but he doesn’t seem to have given her away. I don’t trust him, so I left, but if he hasn’t said anything after three weeks—’
He trailed off.
‘Warden has already checked with the Ranthen’s double agent,’ I explained. ‘As far as we can tell, Dani isn’t being monitored. He’ll let us know if the situation changes.’
Tom’s brow relaxed out of its frown.
‘While we work out how to disable Senshield, I want all of you to inform your mime-lords and mime-queens of the threat of these hidden scanners, as a matter of urgency,’ I continued. ‘I want them sending reports to you about any they encounter. We need to work out which kinds of places have been targeted and keep the syndicate aware. I’ll have Grub Street distribute maps of all the known locations.’ I tapped the table. ‘We also need to deal with the few who still support the White Binder. Bring them to heel.’
‘They will forget any lingering fondness for him when I-4 has a new leader,’ Glym said.
‘No one has declared themselves to me.’
‘They think Jaxon’s coming back,’ Eliza said. ‘They’re all too scared to take his place.’
Of course. Even now Jaxon was gone, his shadow still lay across the citadel, as it had for decades.
Usually, the only way to change the leader of a section was if the current one was killed, and if no mollisher came forward to claim the title. There would be a power struggle within the section before someone declared themselves to the Unnatural Assembly.
I didn’t know if Jaxon had chosen a new mollisher before he left, and in truth, I didn’t care. I also didn’t want chaos while the syndicate tried to work out who was the best replacement.
‘One of you must have a candidate in mind. I’d like you to encourage them to present themselves at the trial tomorrow. So we can put an end to this.’ I stood. ‘I’ll send orders within a day.’
With murmurs of ‘goodnight’, the commanders left the hideout. As Nick and Eliza went to secure the building, I cleared away the papers.
Warden was the last to stand. For the first time in weeks, we were alone together. I kept my head down as he stepped towards the doorway.
‘Are you leaving?’
‘I must,’ he said. ‘To speak with Terebell about what you have learned.’
I couldn’t stomach this atmosphere between us. The golden cord – the fragile link that had connected our spirits for several months – was supposed to tell me what he was thinking, what he was feeling, but all I sensed was an echo chamber for the void inside me.