Two long, dull days passed before Ada and the others saw Fin again. He didn't say much, just checked that everyone was fine, then left them with thick woollen cloaks and a basket of almost suspiciously luxurious food. The third day was mostly Ashley and Selene needling each other, Maya chattering at Ada, and Ada feeling tense. There was at least a lot of time for practice, and Ada was growing increasingly confident in her control. Spreading her fingers and making tiny sparks jump from fingertip to fingertip was her new favourite, although doing this for even a short time left her exhausted and starving. Fortunately food was plentiful and, of course, there was nothing else to do but rest.

On the morning of the fourth day Ada was woken by Maya.

"I'm sorry," Maya said quietly. "You were sleeping so nicely I didn't want to wake you, but we have to go now. I already put your clothes in your bag, and here's your cloak, and your shoes are there. Oh, and here are your glasses."

Ada mumbled something that was meant to be 'thank you', and put on her glasses and her cloak and her shoes, and then she stumbled out blearily to join with the others.

"Why the hell are we going so early?" Ashley was demanding.

"I'd think even you could figure that out," Selene replied. "It's quiet on the streets, we'll have a much easier time leaving."

"Correct, although that's not the reason we're leaving now," Fin said. He smiled at Ada. "Miss Hasard, I apologise, you look as if you could use another few hours rest. You can sleep in the carriage, but we must hurry now."

"What do you mean, that's not the reason?" Selene asked, as she hopped up beside Fin on the driver's seat.

"All will become clear soon enough," Fin replied. "Could you hold this for me? I'll have need of it shortly."

He handed Selene his hat, and put on a helmet instead. Ada blinked, noticing that Fin was wearing a guard's uniform.

"Come on, new—Ada," said Ashley. "Dunno what's going on here either, but I reckon the faster we go along with it the faster we get outta this dump."

Ada blinked again, then nodded sleepily and got up into the carriage, which shortly began moving.

She must have dozed off, then, because the next she knew the carriage had stopped and they were in a wide alleyway. The sounds of the early morning city were clear around her, and she realised that the carriage door was open and she was alone inside it. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, then stood up and got out, to see the other three girls standing around—Selene had Fin's hat in her hands, her jaw clenched, while Ashley stood with her arms crossed, facing away from Selene. Another argument, Ada thought. Maya smiled at her.

"Mr Fin went to do something," she said. "We're just waiting now. Was it nice to have another sleep?"

Ada nodded.

"I'm used to not sleeping so it doesn't bother me much," Maya said. "When we were little I didn't know when I could sleep or not sleep, so maybe I got used to it. But, Ashley hates it when she can't sleep enough, one time—"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Maya, what have I told you about bothering the—bothering Ada," Ashley said, not looking at her sister. "Leave her alone, she's probably still tired."

Ada went to tell Ashley that it was fine, that she quite enjoyed Maya's depthless chatter, but then she closed her mouth. Something told her that this wasn't the time.

"Anyway," Maya said to Ada, her voice lower, "I think that Mr Fin knows there's someone new here, because he was like this when he found you. And, he brought all of us here, it must be because he wants us to meet them. I hope they're nice!"

That doesn't quite make sense, Ada thought, through the haze of sleep that still clouded her head. Ashley's been going on about how dangerous it is here, and Mr Fin mentioned that they're looking for people with abilities, arresting them, so why would he put us in danger when he could have just left us at the warehouse? Are we moving on now? But no, because he said he'd need at least another day to conduct his business, looking for that statue I assume, so ... so what reason would he have to bring us with him now?

Before Ada could pursue this line of thought further Fin reappeared, leading a heavily-built, very dishevelled and confused-looking girl around the corner. Her hair was a complete mess, as was the badly torn dress she was wearing, both covered in mud and twigs and leaves.

"Ah, Selene, good," said Fin. "Everything looks ready."

He smiled at the girl he'd brought. "Perhaps now I can properly introduce myself," he said, as he tugged off his helmet. He handed it to Selene, who exchanged it for his hat. He put this on his head with an air of satisfaction before continuing:

"You can call me Fin."

"Fin," said the girl, her country accent apparent just from this simple syllable.

"Girls," said Fin, "this is Lina. She'll be accompanying us, for at least a little while. She's had rather a hard time of it of late. Haven't you?"

Lina stared at Fin, then nodded mutely. He indicated the other girls in turn:

"Ashley and Maya Thompson, Selene Thorne, and Ada Hasard. My trusted charges."

"Thorne," Ashley said. She snorted. "That'd be right."

Lina stared at her.

"Now then, everyone into the carriage," said Fin, as he unbuckled his breastplate. "Selene, if you'd be so good as to fetch the overcoat in the second storage cupboard to the rear, I'd be most appreciative. Maya, if you could perhaps help Lina find a cloak?"

Selene did as Fin asked as the others got into the carriage. By the time she returned with his big heavy grey coat, he'd gotten the breastplate off.

"Put this somewhere, good girl," he said, handing the breastplate to Selene before shrugging on the coat. "Ah. That feels a little better. I must say I have rather a distaste for uniforms. I'll change properly later, for now we should leave, and with haste."

Inside the carriage Lina sat, a cloak draped over her shoulders, staring down at the floor.

"Um," said Maya. "I'm Maya."

Lina didn't respond.

"Your name's Lina, right?" Maya continued. "That's a really pretty name."

Lina looked up at her.

"Thanks," she said, her voice heavy and thick, as if finding this simple word had been an exhausting search.

"This is my sister Ashley, say hello, Ash."

"Hey."

Lina looked at Ashley.

"Hello," she said. There was a jolt, and the carriage began to move.

"And this is Selene, I just found out her last name is Thorne, I think that's a really interesting last name, don't you?"

Apparently this question was a little too much for Lina, because she dropped her head again, staring at her feet—Ada noticed that her boots were almost falling apart.

"Um, and this is Ada."

"Are ... are you okay?" Ada asked. It took Lina a few seconds to even register the question, then she looked at Ada, her grey eyes flat.

"I," she said, and then she swayed and fell forward, to sprawl on the floor of the carriage, unconscious.