I nodded. ‘If you have something that was once a part of someone, you can put together a tracer spell that works through just about anything. No chance of it failing on its own. We’re going to need something stronger.’

Luna nodded. ‘What do we do?’

‘Head for the games area. Keep going towards those pillars at the back.’

As we crossed the hall, I led Luna in a looping, swerving course. Most divination spells are directional, and if Cinder or whatshername were trying to anticipate Luna’s movements, this would slow them down. We passed knots of people, fountains, more of the white-masked servants, the buzz of laughter and conversation filling the air. The sphere arena had quieted down; a new match would probably start soon. My eyes tracked up to what looked like a blank stretch of crystal wall above the arena and between the balconies, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Levistus was behind that wall, and somehow I knew he was watching me.

‘Alex?’ Luna asked as we walked.

‘Hm?’

‘Did you mean it?’

‘What?’

‘Khazad. When you said you’d kill him.’

‘I meant it.’

Luna walked for a little while in silence. ‘Thank you,’ she said eventually.

I looked at her in surprise, then smiled slightly. ‘You did well back there.’

Luna looked taken aback, then flushed. She was about to say something when a voice spoke from in front, interrupting. ‘Hi!’

I looked up to see a girl smiling at me. She was young, maybe eighteen or nineteen, and beautiful enough to be a model. Long, shining gold hair hung down her back, and she wore a low-cut blue silk dress with long slits that showed off her legs. A black ribbon was tied around her neck. ‘You’re Alex Verus, right?’

‘That’s me.’

‘Oh, it’s great to finally meet you!’ She came to a stop nearby, her smile showing a set of perfect teeth. ‘I’m Lisa.’

‘Hi, Lisa.’ I kept walking, leaving her behind.

Lisa blinked, then hurried to catch up, struggling in her high heels. ‘It’s so cool to meet you,’ she said, trying to catch my eye. ‘Everyone’s talking about you.’

‘That’s great.’

‘I’d really like to talk to you.’ Lisa came closer, walking right alongside, looking up at me with inviting blue eyes. ‘Could you come here just a minute?’

Luna had been watching, first in puzzlement, then annoyance. ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘I’m here as well.’

Lisa gave her a glance, then turned back to me. ‘Alex? Please?’

‘Sorry,’ I said. ‘We’re busy.’ I took Luna’s hand and gestured to a pillar over the crowd, leaving Lisa behind. ‘That way.’ We turned right around a buffet table and a cluster of people holding drinks.

Luna gave me a searching look. ‘Who was that?’

‘Beats me.’ I pointed towards the pillar. ‘We’re looking for an archway. It’ll be whitish, about seven feet tall. When you see it—’

‘Wait!’ Lisa called from behind. She was hurrying through the crowd after us, looking flustered. I rolled my eyes.

‘Are you sure you don’t know her?’ Luna asked, eyebrows raised.

I sighed. ‘You know, three days ago no one would have looked at me twice. This Mr Popular act is getting old.’

A gap opened in the crowd and I spotted what I was looking for: the azimuth duelling piste. Two slender pillars rose at either end, silvery and delicate, looking like a pair of tuning forks. At our end was an archway of white stone, seven feet high. A mage in ceremonial robes looked up as we approached. ‘Hey. Looking to duel?’

‘That’s okay,’ I said. ‘We just need the annuller.’

The mage gave us a look, then shrugged. ‘Be my guest.’

‘Duel?’ Luna whispered once he was gone.

‘Not a duel,’ I said. I put one hand on the cool stone of the archway and a faint silvery glow started to form across the opening. ‘Watch my back.’

Azimuth duels are a non-lethal alternative to traditional mage combat, fought with focus weapons and intended to be non-lethal. Officially the Council frowns on traditional duels, though despite all their efforts traditional duels still carry a lot more prestige than azimuth ones. Annuller arches are focuses, designed to stop mages entering duels with spells active. Activating one isn’t dangerous, but it’s demanding and requires absolute concentration. Any distraction can ruin the whole process and force you to start over.

Naturally, this was the point at which Lisa showed up again.

‘You’re here,’ she said, breathless. She was limping slightly; high heels aren’t made for running. ‘Um, could you—’

‘Look, Lisa,’ I said, not taking my eyes off the archway. ‘This is really not a good time for us.’

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