Page 53 of The Dragon and the Dove

Under the eyes of the Silver-tongue’s spies, she planted her flag.

The wind picked up, rippling the material until it looked as if the dove was taking flight.

A good omen.

Or a message, perhaps, from Oriel herself.

Val whooped, clapping her hands, and the others joined in.

Sera began to laugh.

The last of the clouds misted and the sun returned, gilding Sera where she stood above the City of Fantome.

She tilted her chin to the sky – and froze.

Laughter died in her throat at what she glimpsed to the west. Enormous dark shadows vaulted over the horizon, staining the sky like ink.

A flock of monsters Sera had only ever glimpsed in books and nightmares.

Wide scythe-like wings that snatched away the sunlight.

War cries echoing in the wind.

Sera gripped the flagpole as a terrible shiver tore through her.

Down below, the others stilled, turning their horror-struck faces to the western skies.

They knew, all of them, what it meant.

The Strix were here.

Part II

Beware the snake that appears too easily in the long grass.

Once you set foot inside their habitat, you are as much at their mercy as they are yours.

FREDERIC VAN HALLAN, SAINT OF FARMERS AND HUNTERS

Chapter 11 Seraphine

The morning after the Strix blotted the skies above Valterre, a black carriage arrived at the gates of House Armand.

Spotting it through her bedroom window, Sera pressed a kiss to Pippin’s head. ‘Be good while I’m gone, Pip.’

The others were waiting for her in the garden. Val and Anouk, with their faces made up and their hair freshly curled, Theo with a satchel full of steelfire, and Ransom with a face full of murder.

At the doorstep, where Mercure and the others had come to wave them off, Tobias was still pleading his case. ‘I’m part of the Order of Flames. I don’t see why I can’t go too!’

‘This is a matter for the saints of Fantome,’ said Mercure.

‘Theo doesn’t even have any power!’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that,’ said Ransom.

‘Not this again,’ sighed Anouk. ‘I can’t deal with an entire journey of you two sniping at each other.’

‘I’m minding my own business.’ Theo made a point of rattling his satchel. ‘And all these very sharp weapons.’