Feargus

  My conversation with Elijah changed everything.

  Well, almost everything. The main objective of Operation Verena was still the same, and while a few of my educated guesses had been confirmed, there were a few important variables I hadn’t been aware of when I conceived the plan. The good news was, those variables would only help us, and we were in a far better position now. All that was left was to tell the others involved.

  After finishing up at the Widow’s Peak, I made my way to Alexander’s and had a quick chat with him and the subjects who, while grateful they’d had somewhere nice to stay in the meantime, were ultimately hoping to return home. They had family, after all. Also, I'd learned that subjects for the P-Series testing were chosen by lottery, and most Verenians saw it as an honour to be chosen. But, like any rational people, didn't really want to die once death was at their door. So, I assured them that getting them back home was part of the plan, and then made arrangements with Peter and Alexander to be ready with the wagon for us the next day. Following that, I raided the attic for whatever art supplies seemed necessary for the crew’s storybook project.

  Back in our neck of the woods, I stomped on the ground above the hatch, and it wasn’t long before the brothers met me at the bottom of the stairs. By the time I returned, it was already quite late, and again, it seemed everyone was asleep except for the two. Both of them looked eager to say whatever it was they had to say, so after getting comfortable and delivering all the book supplies to the workroom, I joined them in the sitting area.

  I had a lot to tell them, too.

  But first: Zack.

  I settled in beside him on the couch while Sebastian sat across in the big chair.

  “Update on Quinn?” I asked.

  “She’s understandably anxious and no longer feels safe at the Gander,” Zack replied. “She is a professional at remaining discreet, fortunately, and her position was not revealed. As far as we know, the Councilwomen are none the wiser. However—”

  “However,” Sebastian picked up where his brother trailed off, “The Councilwomen intend to remain in Jaska for the foreseeable future. They have a number of people working for them, recruited to alert them if one of you should surface. Therefore—”

  “Therefore,” Zacharias continued, “we’ve moved Quinn for the time being.”

  “Where?” I asked, setting aside my surprise that the brothers had done anything together, let alone that they seemed to be on the same page at the moment.

  “The Tragers were still looking for a temporary live-in,” Sebastian explained, “and not only does Quinn have experience with minding the children among the reserves, but she’s adequately equipped to defend the household.”

  “Mates, that’s brilliant.”

  Zacharias and Sebastian nodded.

  “And how are we coming along with our plans for Verena?” Sebastian asked.

  “Well.” I scratched my beard and looked between them. “While I was at the Widow’s Peak picking up supplies, I had an interesting chat with Elijah the Historian. Did either of you know he was from Verena?”

  The brothers shrugged.

  “Technically, so are we,” Zacharias reminded. “How does this help?”

  “There’s always been something about Verena that’s bothered me,” I said. “Something that never made sense on the surface. And that’s: why hate Palisade? And if they hated Partisans specifically, why would they want to create more of what they hate? From the research, we’d come to the conclusion that they were preparing the city in case Faust ever changed her mind about their independence, but that’s only the half of it.”

  The brothers shared a glance, then looking back to me.

  “It’s about theology,” I continued. “Elijah explained that Verenians rebuke the widely held idea of the Six as benevolent gods. They see the Six as malevolent mortals that achieved false godhood by finding a mystical way to imbue themselves with power and immortality. They believe that they gathered all this power in order to cause the Divide and rid the world of their challengers.”

  The brothers shared another glance, and I split my attention between the two of them.

  It was quiet for a moment until they both rolled their eyes.

  “Oh, for the love of—” Sebastian started.

  “Us again?” Zacharias asked.

  I nodded. “The Verenians believe that you both were prophets of the true higher power, sent to the world to spread the word through your music. They’re pretty proud of themselves for being your hometown, too.”

  The brothers sighed.

  “That’s not everything,” I said. “The reason they’ve been trying to replicate Partisan powers isn’t just about city defense. Ultimately, they’re hoping to create and breed an entire city’s worth in order to destroy the Six, who they believe have enslaved Partisans at Palisade where they’re holding your souls hostage.”

  The brothers rolled their eyes again.

  “Well, they’re partially correct,” Sebastian commented.

  “What do they know of the Anima?” Zacharias asked.

  “The reason they don’t speak of their religious beliefs to anyone outside the city is because they think the Six have planted secret super-Partisans all over the world who’ve brainwashed everyone into believing the false faith. They think they're the true chosen ones, and that their silver protects them—which isn’t entirely wrong either, is it? I reckon the mine’s good enough reason for the Anima to have steered clear of the city for all these years.”

  “Fascinating,” Sebastian remarked.

  “Fascinating, and it certainly makes things easier for us,” Zacharias noted.

  That was all true, so I nodded. “There’s one more thing, though. I think there’s another reason they’re so adamant about keeping Partisans out of the city.”

  “What more could there possibly be?” Sebastian asked.

  “Does the scientific term Quercus Memoria mean anything to you?”

  The brothers shared yet another glance.

  Zack ran a hand through his hair. “What are you saying, Feargus Finlay?”

  “I think you both know what I’m saying.”

  “Did the Historian tell you about that?” Sebastian asked.

  I shook my head. “Sort of, but for the most part, I worked that one out on my own.”

  The brothers collapsed back against their respective seats, and I smiled winningly.

  “That’s it then,” I said, standing and stretching. “Big day tomorrow, so, I’m off to bed.”

  After tossing them each a two-finger salute, I left the sitting room to the brothers in silence, shaking their perfectly coiffed heads.

  I was hoping to find Addie in the room, but unfortunately I had to come to terms with sleeping alone. So, after getting undressed and kissing V’s basket, I climbed into bed. Despite all the plates I had spinning at the minute, I felt quite relaxed. Placing Quinn with the Tragers was a massive relief, as was knowing the brothers had come up with the idea together. Operation Verena was looking better than ever, and Strauss’s determination to help Avis instead of destroy her aligned with the outcome in Leberecht I’d been hoping for.

  Aye, everything was looking up.

  That night, I didn’t even have to count myself to sleep.

  Pasty-mouthed and still groggy, I opened my eyes to Zack gently shaking my shoulder.

  “Is everything all right?” I asked.

  “There’s something I must show you.”

  “Right this second?”

  “Ideally.”

  “Do I need trousers for this?”

  Zack seemed to consider. “For now.”

  “Mate, I know we’re close, but I haven’t thought about you that way since—”

  “…Since when?” Zack asked, but immediately regretted judging by the way he closed his eyes and shook his head. “Never mind—just get dressed.”

  Clearing the sleep out of my eyes with a chuckle to stop the nerves, I rolled out of bed and pulled on the trousers and extremely soft shirt Zack had given me. When I was ready, we made our way down the hall and stopped in front of the door to the theatre.

  “Brace yourself,” he said.

  Zack pushed the door open, gesturing me inside.

  The theatre was lit by flickering pink and blue firelight coming from dozens of candles. I felt the tell-tale knock on the door in my mind, and after stepping across the threshold, I looked up to a ceiling replaced by stars and sweeping swirls in every colour imaginable. Surrounded by crates and barrels of different sizes, tin cans and various other household objects, Sebastian sat on a chair in the centre of the platform stage. There was an empty one beside him.

  So, there were colourful flames and swirls, and there was Sebastian on a stage. But the most beautiful aspect of the room came running at me just as the door closed behind Zack. Addie, wearing blue silk pajamas, smiled brighter than any star. She took my hand and led me toward the stage where, in front of it, she’d set up a picnic complete with an array of snacks, drinks, a comfortable blanket, and a pair of pillows.

  While I gave her a confused kiss and looked around, Zack joined his brother on the stage. There was a familiar whooshing noise when he formed a sound barrier around the room. Leading the charge, Adeline had a seat on the blanket, patting the space next to her.

  I rubbed my beard before sitting, looking to the brothers questioningly.

  “Miss Blanchett approached us last night with an excellent point,” Zack said. “She so accurately reminded us that if anyone deserved the first Vonsinfonie Brothers performance in over eight centuries, it should be you.”

  Adeline squeaked, and I smiled over at her.

  “And so for tonight,” Sebastian continued, “we set aside our differences in order to thank you, Feargus Finlay, for everything you’ve done for everyone, and also to help facilitate your clandestine affair. That said, Zacharias and I hope you enjoy your date and this incredibly impromptu and entirely improvised performance.”

  Right—so, that’s how instead of secretly planning an amazing date for Addie, Addie secretly planned an amazing date for me.

  Easily, it was the best night of my life. We laughed, and sang made up words to the brothers’ made up songs while they banged on barrels, stomped, whistled, clapped, and snapped. Listen, it might not sound like much, but I reckon there aren’t any real words to do the performance justice. The whole affair was nothing short of genius.

  And, mates, Zack was correct about one thing: once the concert was over and Addie and I were left to our own devices, I no longer needed trousers.