Codder dropped the parcel just out of Gray’s reach, the thud of its weight loud on the prison floor.

The salty air gushing through the cell window plunged about ten degrees.

There was no privacy in the prison. Gray’s neighbours were watching.

‘You don’t look dangerous enough to warrant a dragon-scale vest,’ Codder said. His lips twitched with something too sharp to be a smile. ‘But then again, you never did, did you?’

Gray didn’t move. He didn’t trust himself to. The presence of Codder slithered over him, bringing up every memory of Krydon that he wanted to bury. He tore his gaze off Codder, away from his plain clothes. Was he not dressed in his soldier uniform because whatever deal he’d come to broker was personal?

Wordlessly, Codder crouched and unwrapped the parcel on the ground. The brown paper rustled.

It was books.

Three of them.

Wong’s Encyclopedia of The Others.

The Complete Guide to Dark Creatures of the North by Hubert Huntsman.

A Short History of Folk Songs and Lullabies, by Grimm and Grimm.

‘You want these?’ drawled Codder.

Gray shoved his hands in his pockets and controlled his breath. ‘What are you doing here, Codder?’

Codder jerked his eyebrows and let out a long sigh. 'I guess you don't want them.' He started wrapping the books back up.

Gray edged forward.

Codder paused, his shadowed gaze sharp. ‘Last chance, stray. You want these?’

Gray lowered his gaze to the books, schooling his expression.

He wanted those books more than anything. Yeah, he now knew it was likely a vampiric sorcerer stalking Krydon, but that wasn’t much to go on. Every day in the prison, he read every single word on the news scrolls and there’d been no news about Krydon, nothing about the vampiric sorcerer or the murders. Nothing about anyone doing anything about it.

Killian had said he didn’t know how to capture and kill a vampiric sorcerer - no one did - and while he’d seemed willing to at least try, he was now no longer even an officer in the army.

Gray feared no one was doing anything about it, probably because they didn’t know how and because now there were bigger problems in Lismere.

If - if Gray could get the right information to the right person - and gods, that was a big if - maybe the northerners in Krydon at least could do something.

‘Three, two, one,’ said Codder. ’Time, stray.’

‘I want the books,’ said Gray.

‘You know,’ drawled Codder, ’I don’t like your tone-‘

‘What the hell do you want, Codder?’

Codder sucked his teeth.

He was staying a careful distance away, very precisely out of reach from the bars of Gray’s cell.

‘I know,’ said Codder, his voice lowered to a drawling whisper, ‘you want revenge on what killed your two little friends from Krydon. You risked your skinny neck to ask me for these books in Krydon prison before you referred to me as a dog.’

‘I should apologise,’ said Gray. ‘It was an insult to dogs.’

‘Careful, now,’ said Codder, even more softly. ‘You’re up to your eyeballs in hot water already. You control your tongue around me, or I’ll tell the guards you were spitting curses. Lighting up the cell. Attempting magic.’

‘You’re not going to do that,’ said Gray, staring hard at Codder. ‘You want something from me.’

‘I’ll do it,’ said Codder, his voice soft and full of malice. ‘Don’t underestimate how much I hate you, stray. I will do it.’

Gray stepped forward, and Codder immediately stepped back.

‘You ain’t touching me,’ whispered Codder. ‘You're not even getting close. That icy prick will know. You stay right there, stray.’

Gray shoved his hands deep into his pockets, struggling to keep a stream of pointed insults out of his mouth. Codder seemed to sense this, because the cords in his neck tightened, and his shadowed gaze narrowed.

‘They seem to be very certain that you’re not Conor Griffin any more, stray,’ said Codder, his voice so soft Gray could barely hear him, ‘but the slightest hint that you’re the product of Ryan Griffin fucking around with another sorcerer or fay or any other kind of magical boogeyman, and this cell you’re in will seem like a luxury. Don’t test me, stray. You control your tongue.’

Gray clenched his mouth shut, his chest tight.

‘I’ll give you these books,’ said Codder, ‘and you put your little noggin to use. I want what you find out. I give you these books, and you give me something very, very good to give Major.’

‘Major?’

‘You deaf, stray?’ whispered Codder. ‘Yes, Major.’

Gray let out a disbelieving breath. ‘You don’t even know.’

‘Know what?’

‘He was dismissed.’ Gray paused, his heart still hammering at the damn sight of Codder, uncertain how to convey the brutal way the king kicked Killian out of the army. ‘Harshly. He's not a Major anymore. Pretty sure he's nothing now.’

Codder froze. ‘What?’

Gray edged forward again, forcing Codder to back up. Gray wrapped his hands around the prison bars and eyed Codder over again, at the civilian clothes and the hungry desperation in Codder’s gaze. ‘You were kicked out, too,’ said Gray, suddenly realising. When Codder said nothing, Gray continued breathlessly, ‘The king dismissed Killian’s whole team?'

There was barely any change in Codder; he simply turned - slightly stiff - to glance down the corridor as a prisoner called out some distance away, as he appeared to be doing some quick thinking.

But, why would Codder be here, uncomfortable, desperate, out of the loop, and trying to get back on Killian’s good side? If the whole team had been dismissed, Codder would know about Killian, surely.

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‘Killian kicked you out,’ said Gray, his mouth falling open in shock, ‘before he was dismissed. What did you do? You had a falling out?’

Codder pinned Gray with a very pointed glare, and he nudged the books with his toe. ‘We have a deal or not, stray?’

‘But,’ said Gray, frowning. ‘Why? What's the point if you-’

‘Major is ambitious,’ snarled Codder. ‘This job is his life. He’ll be figuring out how to get it all back. And when he does, he's going to be making a beeline for that thing in Krydon. I know he will. He was - very angry.'

'I don't think he's getting back into the king's army,' said Gray.

'Major is the king’s biggest earner,' said Codder. 'He pulls in the most treasure by far. Baldwin loves Major more than he loves his own children.’

Unbidden, Sorena flashed into Gray’s mind, and he felt a stab of pity. He really hoped that wasn't true.

’In case you hadn’t noticed, stray, your older cousin is killing all our officers. The king will need Major. And I’m going to be back on his team if - when - this happens.’ Codder leant forward, lowering his voice. ‘And you will not be on his team. Understood, stray?’

‘Not on his team?’ Gray repeated, his frown deepening, only half paying attention.

Because, Codder hadn’t seen the king. Hadn’t seen the cold rage, the way he’d ripped the stars off Killian’s uniform. Gray doubted there was any way that Killian would get back into his favour.

Gray didn’t want to lose the books Codder had brought, though.

If Codder wanted to give Gray these books, mistakenly thinking Killian would be able to get back into the army and take Codder with him, then so be it. Gray crouched, his knees cracking, and dragged the books through the bars, with Codder watching from a carefully measured distance.

‘You will say no,’ said Codder. ‘Understood?’

‘He - I’m - they’re testing me, they think-‘

‘They think you’re Wynn Griffin’s son,’ said Codder.

This got Gray’s attention. ‘I know.’

‘Are you?’ said Codder.

Gray straightened up and carefully stacked the books on his bed. ‘I don’t know. I don’t remember.’

‘You were six or seven when the Griffins were killed,’ whispered Codder sceptically, ‘and you don’t remember?’

‘I don’t remember, OK?’

‘Ooh,’ said Codder, dropping his voice even lower. ‘Touchy topic, I see. Watch your tone, stray.’

Gray glared at the books, already regretting taking them.

‘If things get bad,’ said Codder, ‘and they decide to put caution to the wind, if they determine you as mage and not sorcerer, if they’re desperate for powerful mages, and Major comes strolling up here and asks you to be on his team, what are you going to tell him?’

‘That’s not going to happen,’ said Gray.

There was something shuttered behind Codder’s eyes. ‘Then it should give you no qualms to promise me you’ll say no, stray.’

Gray ran his hands through his hair, shaking his head.

‘Is that a no, stray?’

‘You’re mistaken,’ said Gray.

Codder watched him wordlessly.

‘I,’ said Gray. ‘I don’t-‘

‘I’ve known Major for a long time. He’s got something in mind for you. He was already fucking training you, whether he knows it or not. He was teaching you navigation, stray.’

'He wasn't,' said Gray. 'That's not what was happening then.'

'He was,' hissed Codder. 'I was there.' Codder hesitated and then stepped closer. ‘He’ll come in here and he'll ask you to join his team, and you’ll say no.’

Gray clenched his jaw, and searched Codder’s words, his expression, looking for the trap and the lie.

Even if this bullcrap was true, there was no way in hell Gray would ever agree to work for Killian. He’d never work for Baldwin Auguste’s army. They could piss right off.

‘You get conscripted and assigned to his team, stray,’ said Codder, ‘you kick up the biggest stink of your life and make sure they put you somewhere else.’

Conscripted?

Gray kept his face still. Tried to not let his thrumming pulse betray him. Mages didn’t get conscripted. They walked into any job they desired. This couldn’t be true. Besides, only weeks ago everyone had seemed so sure that Gray was a sorcerer. Codder was damn well delusional. He was trying to play 3D chess with half the peices missing.

‘I want him focused on me, stray,’ said Codder. ‘I don’t want him spending his limited time developing your skills over mine. I’m getting back on his team, I’m passing the lieutenant exam, and I’m going to be his lieutenant. I’m going to be earning commission from being in the best treasure league, and I’ll be doing it at a lieutenant’s share. You will not fuck that up for me.’

‘There - there’s not going to be treasure leagues if there’s a war with sorcerers coming,’ said Gray, ‘and I’m not-‘

’Sorcerers collect treasures, stray,’ drawled Codder, tilting his head. ‘At least Wilde and Krupin do, and you can bet your firstborn that they’ve trained your cousin to do the same. The treasure leagues will be huge.’

Codder sucked his bottom lip.

‘Give me your word, stray,’ said Codder, ‘that you’ll say no, and I’ll get you what you need most. Which I’ve already got a plan lined up for.’

‘You’re so sure I’ll agree?’

‘You will when you hear what I can get you.’

Gray dropped his gaze down to the books stacked on his bed, trying to hide the shiver running up his spine. Then, carefully, Gray lifted his chin. ‘And what's that?’

‘You need a parent, stray,’ said Codder. ‘Well, parent-s would bet better, at the rate you go through family, but let’s stick to one problem at a time.’

‘You want to go to hell, Codder?’

‘You need a family, Griffin. Someone to live with until you come of age. Else you’ll end up in the consort palace with the rest of the king’s strays and bastards. The place is basically a gilded orphanage.’

Gray wrenched his jaw open. ‘You’re so full of shit, you don’t know what the king’s test will say - I don’t know what it’s going to say - you don’t know anything-‘

‘I know it’s not going to say you’re Conor Griffin,’ drawled Codder. ‘I know you’re a sanctimonious weeny and you don’t act like any sorcerer I’ve ever heard of - you’re an overpowered freak of a mage with no control. That’s obvious to me, and I don’t need no bleeding test to add two and two.’

Gray wasn’t so sure. There was a huge power inside him. He could feel it. And he had felt real dangerous fury scraping his insides. If he had been trained, and if he was prodded in the wrong way, both of these would come tearing out of him and do terrible damage.

‘The king’s not putting Wynn Griffin’s son in an orphanage or into foster care,’ said Codder. ‘Without a family, you’re going into the consort palace, stray.’

I thought he was going to keep me in prison, Gray wanted to say. He’d been classed as dangerous.

But, he kept his mouth shut, his heart beating hard.

‘Everyone knows,’ said Codder, ‘that whoever ends up in the consort palace Baldwin ends up-’

‘I know what they end up doing,’ snapped Gray, having quite enough of Codder’s crap, and thinking of Elona and Alistair and everything he’d ever overheard when they thought he wasn’t within earshot.

Codder’s lips curled. ‘Get your mind out of the gutter, stray.’

‘Your mind’s in the gutter,’ said Gray. ‘It’s always in the damn gutter. Hell, your entire brain is made up of gutter.’

‘I wasn’t referring to what you think I was referring to,’ said Codder, ‘but if you want to go there-’

‘What do you want, Codder?’ said Gray, raising his voice for the first time. His voice was loud enough for the watching neighbours to hoot and holler.

‘As I was saying,’ whispered Codder, an ugly smirk contorting his angular face, ‘whoever ends up in the consort palace Baldwin uses them in his long game of politics and power. How papa Griffin would roll over in his grave, if he knew his precious son was in danger of being Baldwin’s pawn. How hard he fought, to not be in that place-‘

’What do you want?’

Gray’s heart hammered. Bile rose in his throat.

Codder could be messing with him. Was definitely messing with him. But very real fear was stealing through Gray’s veins because while living in the consort palace was better than being in prison (or beheaded), the place was a viper pit.

Codder inched closer. ‘I’ll track down Barin Haxley and make him take you back, so that you have a guardian, you have family, ready and willing to take you back. Fighting to take you back. So you don’t end up in Baldwin’s consort palace. If you give me your word you’ll say no to Major.’

Gray’s throat was dry. ‘You can find Barin?’

‘I can find anyone, stray.’

‘He - he won’t take me back, he …’

Barin would say no. There was no way Barin would take Gray back. Gray had destroyed his life, he’d endangered Harriette. The guilt ate at him, every day.

Gray wanted to go home so badly he his chest ached with it. He wanted to be in Krydon with Alistair and Harriette, where he knew how everything worked. He wanted to be drinking smuggled bottles of cider with them on the roof of the tavern and looking out at the ruins on the mountain above.

‘I’ll make him,’ said Codder.

Gray rushed forward. ‘Don’t make him. Don’t you dare. Hurt them and I’ll annihilate you.’

The corner of Codder’s lip lifted. ‘You want to be in the consort palace, stray?’

‘No.’ Gray held his head in his hands. Dropped them. ‘If you find Barin and you - you just ask him - ask him only, Codder - and he says yes, then ... just - bring me proof that Barin and Hariette are OK. I’ll tell Killian no.’

Codder watched Gray for a long moment and then nodded. He jerked his chin at the books stacked on Gray’s bed. ‘You’ll get me something good?’

Gray glanced at the books.

Determination filled him with a sharp intensity.

‘Everything I can,’ said Gray.

‘Read fast, stray,’ said Codder. ‘Major will be at the Cat and Fiddle pub tomorrow night, meeting a friend. That’s my only opportunity to talk to him.’