“How few?” Van persists.
“Including myself, Nathan, Gabriel . . . nine.”
Gus shakes his head.
“But the training is coming on well; they’re just not fighters at the moment. The younger ones, the ones with certain Gifts, will be good soldiers in a few months—”
“We won’t have a few months if the Hunter army grows,” Van says. “And if this is a new society we are creating, a new order, we should be willing to forgive past crimes and go forward together.”
“But—”
“No, Celia. All witches must be given a chance, even Marcus. If he then breaks our rules, that’s different, but past crimes should be under amnesty.”
Grace says, “This is going nowhere. We need to vote on it. A representative of each part of the Alliance: White Witches, Black Witches, Half Bloods, and Half Codes. Nesbitt, you vote for half Blacks, Ellen for half Whites. Celia for White Witches, Van for Blacks, and you for the Half Codes, Nathan.”
“Those in favor?” asks Van.
Hands go up round the table. Everyone apart from me and Celia votes to invite Marcus to join the Alliance.
“So three to two, the vote is carried,” Grace says. She looks at me. “Why did you vote against, Nathan?”
I don’t know the answer, except that I don’t think my father will fit with these people: people who vote. I remember Wolfgang’s story about him killing his friend and I have a bad feeling—he’s too wild. But I don’t mention that; I just say, “It’s a waste of time. We have no way of contacting him and he won’t join anyway.”
Gus says, “You’re wrong. I do have a way of contacting him—and it’s your job to get him to join.”
“You’ve got his phone number?” Nesbitt smirks.
“How I contact him is confidential,” Gus replies.
“Fine,” Celia says. “How soon, though?” She’s full of urgency now. She’s not happy about Marcus but she’s used to working for Hunters and doing what she’s told. I know she’ll just get on with it.
“I’ll arrange for Nathan to meet him in the next few days. I can’t promise faster than that.”
Celia turns to me. “If he joins us then he must understand the terms.”
“What terms?” I ask.
“He follows my orders, as all the fighters do.”
“That’s it?”
“In battle and at camp. He has to behave . . . like a soldier.”
I can’t imagine Marcus doing any of this.
Celia continues. “I need to meet with him as soon as I can. I’m sure you’ll tell him all about me.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure he knows the conditions you kept me in. What was your phrase? ‘I wouldn’t want him to think you were in any state of comfort.’”
Celia straightens and I wonder if she’ll say, “I was only doing my duty” or “following orders” or some crap like that but she doesn’t. She was never the sort to deny responsibility.
*
The group disperses. I have time to catch Celia alone before she goes and I ask about Deborah. “Has she left England yet?”
Celia hesitates before replying. “She says her work is too important. Everyone on the Council knows that in the past her sympathies have been with you but she’s also Jessica’s sister and somehow she’s managed to convince them that she’s changed. She’s still working in the records department. It’s through her that we’ve learned of the Hunters’ past movements and their future plans. It’s vital information, but even so I’ve told her she should leave. She’s chosen to stay, though. She’s trying to get more information on Wallend and his experiments on the Black Witch prisoners. She’s incredibly brave.”
I don’t know what to say. Deborah always was brave. If she believes something is right, that’s that; there’s no other way for her.
Celia moves off to talk to Van, and Ellen comes over to say good-bye.
I say, “Tell Arran I hope to see him soon. I think of him loads.”
She nods. “I will. He’ll be so pleased you’re with the Alliance but more pleased that you’re alive and well, and that you got your three gifts. Was it Mercury who performed the Giving ceremony for you?” And, by the way she asks, I’m fairly sure she knows it wasn’t.
I shake my head. “Marcus did it.”
Ellen smiles. “So that’s why they think you’ll be able to persuade him to join. They know that he wants to help his son.”
Celia calls, “Ellen, we’re going. Now.”
And Ellen throws her arms round me and hugs me and I notice Celia watching, a look of surprise on her face. Celia still sees me as more Black than White, more violent than gentle. Ellen treats me as a person rather than a Half Code. But she’s a Half Blood; she knows what it’s like to be judged by a label rather than the person you are.