“Okay, we need some people to stay here, and everyone else is coming with me now.” Some started at Theo’s tone of voice, but the situation was serious enough that they stayed quiet, and listened. Frankly, Theo was surprised at how authoritative he’d sounded, and the pause that follow, which worked quite well for dramatic effect, was just for him to reconcile his voice with who he was.

He reminded himself of Fred and all the things he said about acting that he had no time to properly recall right now.

“Astor, Ellis, Finn. You’re all up soon. Stay in this area and make sure everything is going okay and those ten stay exactly where you are.” Astor and Ellis nodded, and Theo realised that he didn’t see Finn in the crowd. Where did he go?

Theo shook his head. A problem for a moment when there weren’t spies running around. “Everyone, keep an eye out for Finn. Okay, I need three warriors to stay back, tell the others on duty what’s going on, and keep an eye out on what’s going on. Most importantly, if shit happens, I want you making sure people aren’t hurt.” There was a moment where people looked around, before Simo and two others stepped forward.

Theo nodded at them. “Great. Everyone else, we’re going to the medical area, and get as many priests as we can up to the ballroom. Let’s go.”

He turned and walked out the door, heart pounding.

To his surprise (and great relief), he heard the sound of a unit quickly forming behind him, and turning back he saw everyone doing exactly as he said. They walked as quietly as possible, past the

Jenny casually power-walked next to him, the patter of her feet slowly phasing out of sync with everyone else before joining his in a duet. “I didn’t know you had that in you. I’d love to see how commanding you can get.” Theo felt his ears heat up, but he tried to not let it show.

“Later,” Theo eventually choked out.

Jenny cleared her throat. “Sorry, you know how it is. Trying not to let it get to me.” Theo nodded, understanding.

They flashed each other a weak smile as they reached the medical area. Theo wasn’t sure if it was the stress (or the fact that everyone gathered was either a warrior or a bard who’d undergone hours upon hours), but it was a lot closer than he expected.

What he saw, however, was much more surprising.

---

It was busy. A hive of ants, except with less limbs and more magic. Felix was standing by the door arms crossed, bristling in a controlled way, trying not to show exactly how on edge and restless he felt, but his foot still rapidly tapped on the floor.

The sound was lost amidst a rapid patter of orders and communication, as priests hurried to and fro, between frozen warriors laid flat on every available surface. Flashes of light twinkled in random order as prayers were sent and magic was delivered and statues were turned back into people.

It was so loud that it took Felix a moment to realise that they’d arrived. It was more than just volume, as the panicked shudders of warriors taking in a desperate gulp of air as they were unfrozen echoed and stuck in a mind the way no sound should.

“There’s more spies. More than the ones at the ball.” Theo reported, out of breath more from panic than any actual exertion, trying to tune out the sounds of lives paused violently returning the way a dinghy ignores the rain.

Felix turned back to the chaos, and muttered under his breath. “Yeah.”

“What happened?” Theo prompted.

Felix closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. “Poison. Or a toxin. Something that would paralyse everyone here without actually killing them or making a mess. Just a bunch of people standing completely still, barely breathing.” In the short time that Theo had known the man, Felix was a consummate professional, and while that was on the job, it was unnerving to see someone who was unquestionably competent be so shaken.

“I got to them before anyone was too far gone, but that also means whoever did this is still out there. Sir and Madam are also safe and aware of the situation, which while welcome means I do not know what their goal could be.”

Felix turned to stare him in the eyes, and Theo saw the eyes of someone who had seen it all go wrong before and was determined for that to never happen again.

“Promise me you will be careful. They are prepared and the last thing we need is anyone else being paralysed… or worse.”

Theo nodded, shaken. He was starting to get sick of situations where life was at risk.

“Why not just kill them?” Others weren’t as easily convinced, however.

They quickly came to regret vocalising their query, as Felix turned his vision onto them.

They flinched. It was like going from the darkness of a cave to the full force of the sun overhead at noon on a cloudless day, squinting at the sheer force of his gaze.

“You are facing any number of internal magic practitioners. You don’t know what they are capable of. You don’t know if any have enhanced hearing if there is a scuffle, or enhanced smell if any blood is spilled. Do you try to fight and assassinate the guards, knowing that it will take time and guards might find you while you’re occupied with another? Or do you incapacitate the guards as fast as possible and focus on your objective, whatever that may be?”

Felix let the question hang for a moment, a guillotine blade over their head, before turning his attention back to Theo. Felix dropped his interest in the answer to his question like a stray crumb at lunch, disdain radiating out in every direction except Theo’s. The unfortunate subject of Felix’s ire almost crumpled in relief from the lack of attention, even as everyone around them tensed. Theo wondered how they managed to survive the College of War…and if Felix had a history teaching there.

“We don’t know how much time we have. Go.” Felix turned around one last time, attention directed at the priests in a much less aggressive manner.

Theo nodded at his back, and looked over everyone who had followed him here. They were still listening, by the looks of it. Somehow.

“We’re going to go and find whoever did this. We’ll find out who they’re working for. And we’ll do it without anyone else being attacked.”