"My intelligence leads me to believe that she's in Old Rose," said Ceres quietly, thumbing the day's worth of grey stubble on his chin. The chair he was in was uncomfortable - cracked and smelly leather, probably discarded some ten years ago from a galdor's smoking lounge, rescued and put to use by the resistance, like every other stick of furniture in their possession. "I saw a passenger manifest that listed two stowaways who worked for their keep. It's dated a day after Emme disappeared."

"The other girl - did she arrange it?"

"Annie November?" he said, sounding surprised. "She wasn't deep in. Attended the rally, heard some things you said about Emme. My guess is that she knew Emme personally. Probably met her when she did that article."

"So this was a personal thing," said Serro, frowning. "I thought perhaps..."

"She's not working for...the galdori, if that's what you're thinking."

It had been difficult for a moment not to say "us". Ceres shook his head. "I know that man, the editor they stationed at the Kingsway Post. He's the most evil son of a bitch you've ever seen. Nasty, bureaucratic type. You could bet your hide he knows all about this."

Serro sat upright. "He orchestrated-"

"No. But he knows where they are. Which is why the order to deport the wicks from the city is so confusing. If Azmus knew Emme was in Old Rose..."

"He'd want to make sure she couldn't come back in," said Serro, fiercely, his eyes blazing with hatred. "The bastard was one step ahead the whole time."

"Do you think that was why they executed Willy, then?"

"We executed Willy," said Serro, without a change of expression. "I had no idea he had ties to her. At the time, I wasn't sure if she was still alive. No. If they had known prior to the execution that she was in the city, they would have just had her killed. But regardless...we need to find her."

Ceres looked deeply disturbed, and his face said plainly that he hadn't heard a word of what Serro had said beyond his first sentence.

"Don't be naive," Serro added, under his breath. "Look at the numbers and tell me if it wasn't worth it."

"Jon-"

"You would have done the same," snapped the man. "I was desperate. One more raid and we would have been too weak to carry out the Bethas plot. Willy was a martyr for his cause. He volunteered."

The galdor stood, a thin coat of dust falling from his greatcoat, and began pacing the room. His shaking hands searched for his pipe, which he lit with a match and puffed, distraught.

"Tell me where Emme is right now."
"I don't know exactly."
"Give me an estimate."

Ceres closed his eyes and sighed.

"My contacts in the Brothers indicate that she went into the Black Dove," he said. "But they're withholding again. They want me to come down and bring a bounty on her. Personally." He grit his teeth.

"Then you'll do so."
"I'd stick out like a sore thumb in Old Rose, Jon."
"Hide your field."

"Clock you," said Ceres rudely, sitting down again to face the grim-faced man. "Do you have any idea what that's doing to me? You should send Pierre."

"I need her here," Serro replied coldly. "Go and speak with the witches, if you don't want to deal with Hawke. I will send word ahead of time. If you need money..."

"I have plenty of that," said Ceres, loftily. He knew it annoyed Serro that his resources were nearly unlimited, and took advantage of the steely silence to add, "I can't bring her back in with all those guards at the gates. If you'd only tell me what you're planning, I could work something out."

"Never you mind," said Serro, with an infuriatingly superior look on his face. "Just get yourself to Old Rose and parlay your little heart out. If you need to kill November to get Emme away safely, you have my permission. It might send a powerful message to the Editor. We need to put the fear of the gods into their hearts, Ceres."