Chapter 20: The Opera House

The watchers had stood on the roofs for a day and a night without moving once.

On Saturday evening the courtier with the lantern came to the red door and held out a card.

The court would hear the matter at midnight, it said, and no hand would be raised against the four of them on the way.

Lucas read it twice and decided he had no better offer.

When the van pulled away from the curb, the figures on the roofs turned their heads together.

They did not follow, but a line of black cars slid out of the side streets and kept pace behind, mile after silent mile.

At a quarter to midnight on Saturday, the loading bay under the opera house was full of black cars.

Lucas parked the van among them and turned off the engine.

Nobody got out.

"Listen," he said, and turned in his seat. "You obey me tonight, and only me. If he speaks to you, you look at me first."

"Yes," said Noah.

"Yes," said Luke.

Thomas gave a shaky salute.

Lucas leaned over the seat and kissed Thomas on the mouth, quick and hard.

He kissed Luke next, with a hand curled in his collar.

When he got to Noah he put his lips to his ear and said nothing at all.

The court name Noah had given him was already in his pocket, and he didn't need to use it.

Noah's breath shuddered out.

"Come back whole," Lucas said. "All of you. That's the order."

The courtier with the lantern led them up the stair and through the tall doors.

The house was full.

Every box on the horseshoe held a lord, and the pit below was crowded with courtiers in black.

A long hush ran down the rows as the four of them walked down the aisle toward the stage.

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