"It's hard to tell with her. You, of all people, know what the visions are like. Did she know what would happen or did she just know I should be there? "

"As you say, it's hard to tell."

"But what if she did know? What if she knows what's going on better than we do?"

"Then why doesn't she just say?"

"I think they're ashamed, all of them."

"Ashamed of what?"

"Of doing dirty back-door deals with humanity. Of needing humans to make a barrier strong enough to hold back the Seventh Court. That's why there's no record, no stories. To keep the Seventh Court from stealing their babies and possessing their dead, they stooped low enough to strike a deal with humanity, and now they won't admit it."

"Why not? What's so terrible about wanting to protect your children?"

"The courts rule absolutely, Rabbit, but they rule by consent, not force. The Feyre agree to be bound to the courts for protection and survival. They agree to abide by court law for the good of all. But if someone like Marshdock was able to implicate the rulers of the courts in conspiring with humanity then it would show them up as weak, ineffectual and incapable of protecting anyone. The whole structure would be undermined. Knowledge like that could earn you a lifetime of favours, Rabbit. A Feyre lifetime, not a human one. If you were to share this with Marshdock, for instance, he could become very influential, able to grant favours to those he owed for his position and power. That makes such knowledge dangerous. Those in power would do almost anything to keep the information out of the hands of Marshdock and those like him. Eliminating a couple of half-breed Fey who were poking into things that were none of their business would be the least of it. When the stakes are that high there isn't much they wouldn't do."

"n.o.body knows we know about it, though, do they?" I pointed out.

"Claire knows some of it, now. But she's in as much danger as we are."

"Then we have to make it clear to her that she's not to mention this to anyone."

"I don't think she would anyway. Secrecy is her default position."

"What about Kareesh?"

"She can't be certain and anyway, she started all this. I'm sure of it now. I'm just not sure what we're supposed to do about it."

"Can we leave it as it is, pretend we don't know?"

"And what about the consequences? What happens when the barrier falls and the Seventh Court come through to settle the score? And even if I choose to stand aside and let that happen, you can't. This is where your vision leads. You bargained for a gift, Rabbit. You gave her the stones and in return she showed you your future."

"There are many futures. You said so yourself."

"Yes, but in the one she showed you, you survive. You're able to see it because you survive. It wasn't some random sequence of images that she showed you. It was your own future. Who knows in how many other futures you are killed, or lost, or eaten. "

"Eaten?"

"I don't think the Shade outside your bedroom door wanted to tuck you up and read you a story. "

"So I have to carry on."

"You're taking a terrible risk if you don't."

"I'm taking a terrible risk if I do."

"But the vision tells us you survive."

"For now."

The discussion was put on hold as Claire returned with the address.

"This is where they lived about one hundred and fifty years ago." She offered Blackbird the slip of paper. "A hundred and fifty years is a long time. Do you think they'll still be there?" Blackbird handed me the address. It was a farm near a village called Eardington in Shropshire.

"They farm the land paid for by the Quit Rent. That's why they're there. They've been there since twelve hundred and something, so I doubt they will have moved. If anyone knows how to fix the knife, it will be them."

"We're grateful for your help, Claire, but you mustn't tell anyone we've discussed this. Your life may depend on it," I told her.

"What do I tell the police? They'll be here in half an hour." The nervous edge was back in Claire's voice. "Tell them about the calls. Tell them what you knew before we came, but don't mention anything about the Quit Rents ceremony unless they ask. As far as they're concerned it is just an official duty of the office. "

"And what about Jerry? "

"The Remembrancer?" She nodded.

"I'm sorry, Claire, but I think he's probably dead."

Her eyes filled and she turned away, fishing a rumpled tissue from her jacket pocket and removing her gla.s.ses to dab at her eyes. "We don't know," she said. "There's still hope."

"I suppose there is a chance that he's just delayed or something," Blackbird admitted, though the sour note in her voice told me she didn't believe this herself, "but you must prepare for the worst."

"I'll do what I must," she told us, replacing her gla.s.ses after her moment of weakness, squaring her shoulders. "The bad news is that if the Seventh Court find out it's you and not the Remembrancer that ensures the continuity of the ceremony-"

She folded her arms as if a chill had suddenly taken her, looking from Blackbird to me. "Then I'll be next."

SiXTeen.

Claire stood in the office, her arms held tightly around her. Despite her years of service, the reality of her role was only just hitting home. "We have to go, Claire," said Blackbird. "What can I do?" she asked.

"Maybe you could stay with some friends until this blows over?"

"I can't leave the office. What about the police? What about Jerry?"

"I don't think he's coming back," she suggested gently.

"What if they come here, after me?"

"Don't be here. They don't know you're involved and we won't tell them, but if they figure it out or if they get it from Jerry..."

"He wouldn't tell them."

"He may not have a choice. He won't be able to lie to them."