“Oh, come on,” I muttered. “Now?”
“You made sure the real Avis wasn’t coming tonight, right?”
“I did! Everyone told me he never shows up to these things!”
“Yeah, well, unless he’s got an identical twin you might want to qualify that, because someone who looks exactly like him just walked in the front door.”
“Okay.” I started walking towards the stairs, trying not to make it too obvious that I was hurrying. “I think it’s time to leave.”
“I’ll get to the evac point. Call when you’re a minute out.”
I switched channels again and came in the middle of Sonder and Luna arguing. “—risky,” Sonder was saying. “What if they see?”
“You said they can’t tell if you’re using timesight.”
“They might notice that I’m—”
“Luna, start closing,” I said. “Five minutes, then we’re leaving, back entrance.”
“Got it. By the way, we just ducked Onyx. Seemed like he was looking for someone, know who it might be?”
“Very funny.” Looking ahead, I saw that Caldera was just about to come around the corner ahead of me. “Oh, great.”
“They’re still standing where they were,” Sonder objected. “How are we going to—?”
“Do I have to think of everything?” Luna said. “Alex, I’ll meet you at the door in five.”
“Got it. Alex out.”
Caldera came striding around the corner and fixed me with a look of death. Obviously Sonder had told her what I was wearing. “You!”
“Keeper,” I said formally. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Caldera had been about to start swearing at me again, but my tone brought her up short. Looking from side to side, she saw that two Dark mages were within earshot and both were watching with undisguised interest. “Mage,” she said through clenched teeth. “Would you mind if we spoke privately?”
“I’m afraid I was just leaving,” I said. “How was your meeting with Lord Jagadev?”
“Screw Jagadev!”
In the futures in which I went to the balcony edge and looked over, I could see Onyx talking to Meredith. He looked even angrier if anything, and she didn’t look happy either. He made a cutting motion with his hand; Meredith pointed again in the direction of the balcony. Onyx turned and stormed off towards the stairs. “I doubt you’re his type.”
Caldera took a deep breath, obviously getting herself under control. The futures shifted and I glanced ahead; yet another person I didn’t want to talk to was heading my way. “I recommend you locate your assistant,” I said. “I think he might need assistance himself.”
“What? What have you done now?”
From behind Caldera someone cleared his throat. Caldera turned to see Morden standing behind her. “Keeper,” Morden said. “If it’s not too much trouble, would it be possible for me to speak with Avis?”
Morden put just the tiniest accent on Avis—enough to let me know that he knew who I was, not quite enough to make it obvious to Caldera. Caldera knew I wasn’t Avis, but she didn’t know that Morden knew I wasn’t Avis . . . this was getting confusing. Caldera gave me a last warning glance, which I returned blandly. “We are going to talk later,” Caldera said to Morden. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Morden bowed slightly. “I look forward to it.”
Caldera walked off around the left-hand curve of the balcony. She was heading in Sagash’s direction, and I had to fight off the impulse to eavesdrop. Watching those two bounce off each other would be interesting, as long as I was at a safe distance. “Can I assume you’re here to support my proposal?” Morden asked.
Was that why the real Avis was breaking his usual habits and showing up? I really should have done more digging on what Morden was up to. “Not in a million years,” I said. I didn’t bother disguising my voice; trying to play those kinds of games with someone like Morden is a waste of time. “What do you want?”
“I believe that’s my line.”
Onyx had come up to the balcony again. Luckily this time he’d turned the wrong way, but he’d be back. “I’m a little short on time,” I said. “Could we hurry this up?”
“You know, Verus, you should learn to be more polite,” Morden said with a smile. “Someone might take offence.”
I looked at Morden. His smile didn’t waver, and I felt a brief chill. Morden doesn’t look dangerous, but he’s very powerful, and if he decided to make a serious attempt to get rid of me I don’t think my life would be worth much. He wouldn’t even have to do anything himself; all he’d have to do would be to point Onyx in my direction. He hadn’t—yet—but I started mentally planning out escape routes, and this time I kept my mouth shut.
“Better,” Morden said when I didn’t answer. “I understand you have an interest in Anne?”
“As do you, last I heard. Do you happen to know where she is?”
“What are you offering?”
“I’m not going to work for you.”
“Really? I’d hoped you’d reconsidered.”
I took a breath. “Morden,” I said. “Exactly how many times does that sociopathic Chosen of yours have to try to kill me before you register that it might be a problem?”
“I’d really hoped the two of you could work out your differences,” Morden said. “Ah, well. Someone else has a prior claim.”
“You don’t know where Anne is either, do you?”
Morden shook his head. “Your fishing attempts are actively painful to watch. Enough games. I do not know Anne Walker’s location, but fortunately for you I have my own interests in her well-being. By this time tomorrow, I will know where she is and why, and I will take my own measures. Go home, Verus. You and your Keeper friend. I will take care of this from here.”
I stared at Morden, trying to work out if he was telling the truth.
A flicker of movement from the direction of the entrance caught my eye, and as I looked towards the front entrance a nasty feeling went through my gut. There was someone crossing the floor wearing a mask and an outfit very similar to mine, and from his body language he looked extremely unhappy about something. If he’d just had to get past a group of Jagadev’s guards, all of whom had been under the impression that they’d let him in already, I could understand why. A strange two-tone bell sounded, echoing through the club, and people looked up.
“Avis seems a little upset,” Morden said as I stood there, hesitating. “Tell me, is there anyone at this audience whom you haven’t managed to aggravate?”
“The ones I haven’t met?” Several of Jagadev’s men were moving in a purposeful way towards the front entrance. That chime had sounded a lot like an alarm . . . almost as if Avis had had to fight his way in . . . in which case they’d be looking for someone dressed exactly like . . . “Got to go,” I told Morden. “Later.”
“Have you made your choice yet?”
I’d moved past Morden, but that made me pause. “What?”
Morden was watching me, his head tilted slightly. “He won’t wait forever, you know.”
Something about the words made my hair stand on end. I backed away, not taking my eyes off Morden, and the Dark mage watched me go. I put a pillar between us and started walking fast.
As I headed for the stairs, I switched back to Luna and Sonder’s circuit. “—trying,” Sonder was saying.
“Can you hurry this up?” Luna said. “Running out of time here.”
“I . . .” Sonder paused again. It sounded like he was using one of his spells, but his voice didn’t have the usual sureness it does when he’s seeing into the past. “I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure, what?”
“Time’s up,” I broke in, broadcasting only to Luna. “Luna, we’re going.”
“Fine,” Luna said. “I’m thirty seconds out.”
“Good, I’ll—shit. Wait a sec.” Avis was heading straight for the stairs. I cut the connection and tried to figure out if I could get past him. No good, the stairway wasn’t wide enough. I moved past, heading for the nearest corner—