The docks at night were a dangerous part of the city, especially with Jen and her squad sneaking through the shadows. Mariela had fallen asleep shortly after their conversation and she hadn’t woken when they slipped out of the cave at dusk.

Jen hated leaving the woman alone, but didn’t dare spare one of her team to stand guard. They took four healing potions with them and left the other two for Mariela. Jen had no idea how many members the Unkindness had or how many could use the black flames, but she suspected they had enough that even together her team would have a tough fight.

This close to the water the stink of fish guts mingled with salt and rum to assault her nose. Scores of ships creaked in their slips, everything from tiny sloops to three-masted caravels. The streets were practically empty. Anyone they met after dark in this part of town would mean them ill.

The glow-ball lanterns had been smashed years ago and no one bothered to replace them. The only light came from the windows of the raucous taverns lining the streets. Dark as it was, to Jen’s soul-force-enhanced eyes it might as well have been daylight. Despite her night vision she saw no sign of the Unkindness and she had no idea where they hung out. If they had to search every vomit-scented tavern in the docks it would be a long night.

Jen leapt from her perch on the roof of a sail maker’s shop to a tavern roof across the street where Talon crouched.

“See anything?” she asked.

He pointed at a tavern three doors down. “There’s a pretty barmaid down there. If we live through the night I might introduce myself.”

She slapped his shoulder. “See anything useful?”

“Nah.” He patted the gauntlets on his belt. “How long am I going to have to drag these around?”

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“Until we find someone to check them out. What’s the matter, they too heavy for you?” She leapt away to check on the others before he could respond.

Alec stood behind a meat smoker’s chimney, the mouthwatering scent of rendering pork filling the air. Jen landed softly beside him. “Anything?”

He shook his head. “I really want some bacon.”

“We can have some for breakfast after we rescue Master Shen.”

Jen leapt away. Three blocks further on she reached Rhys. The oldest member of the team stood in the shadows of a snow-clogged alley. “Anything?”

“Edward slunk by a minute ago. He was tailing a likely looking fellow, but I have no idea if it panned out.”

“Which way?”

He nodded to the right.

“I’ll see what he found. If we need help I’ll whistle, so keep an ear out.”

He nodded again and settled deeper into the alley. Jen leapt to the roofs and ran along above the street, eyes straining for any sign of Edward. She gritted her teeth. He should know better than to tail someone on his own, especially after seeing what the thugs could do.

At last she spotted him standing in the shadows of an empty alley, his maul leaning against the wall behind him. His gaze was focused on a two-story brick building across the street. A glow lamp hung above a closed door at the top of a short flight of steps. Nothing about the place seemed remarkable to her.

She leapt down and landed beside him. Edward never flinched. “Report.”

“I followed a guy in a coat like the ones the thugs were wearing to that building across the way. He knocked and when the door opened he rolled up his sleeve and showed the raven tattoo. The door guard let him in then slammed and locked the door. That was about a minute ago.”

Jen grinned in the dark. This was the best sign they’d found so far. “Do you think this is their base?”

He shook his head. “No idea. I couldn’t see past the guard. You want to go kick the door down?”

Kicking the door down was the last thing she wanted to do. If the Unkindness heard them coming they might kill Master Shen, assuming he was still alive. “Do you remember the knock he used?”

“It didn’t sound like a code if that’s what you mean. He just knocked, the door opened, and he showed off his tattoo.”

“Perfect. All we need is to get the door open. I’ll fetch the others. If anyone comes out before I return take them into custody. And for heaven’s sake keep it quiet.”