James’s face went blank. Cordelia thought of the way he had torn Belial’s realm apart with his power, the way he had seemed to turn the earth inside out, shredding rocks and hills and trees. “He has used it,” she said. “It is not easy to control—though I should not speak for him. James?”
“I suppose it depends what you mean,” James said. “Use it how?”
Magnus rose from his chair and went to a gilded cart on which an array of bottles and decanters was arranged, and selected a bottle of deep gold spirits. “Would anyone care to join me in a bit of port?”
Matthew drew his empty flask from his pocket and held it out. The bandage on his hand seemed to glow whitely in the lamplight. “If you wouldn’t mind, I could use a top-up.”
Magnus gave him a look that said expensive port didn’t belong in pocket flasks, but he complied. He poured himself a measure and sat down again, the glass of rose-gold liquid balanced between the fingers of his left hand. “You know the ways of shadows, James. Did Belial show you his new realm of Edom, or did you somehow force your way into it? Do you remember?”
“Not consciously,” said James. “I was—upset at the time.” I made a promise to Daisy, and I will keep that promise. If you wanted to prevent me from doing the right thing, you should have started the campaign quite a bit earlier than the night before my wedding.
“If you are suggesting he enter the shadow realm of his own will, the last time he did that, he nearly destroyed the Institute ballroom,” said Matthew.
“And I almost shot him with an arrow,” said Christopher sorrowfully.
“Surely you could refrain from doing that again, er, which one are you? Cecily’s son? Try not to shoot arrows at James,” said Magnus. “Look, when he went into the shadow realm from the ballroom, did he disappear, or was his body still present in this world?”
“I can answer that,” said James. “It was the former. I disappeared.”
“But earlier, when you envisioned Edom,” said Magnus. “Did you actually travel there?”
“No,” Matthew said. “He remained in the room with us. Quite present.”
“I have spoken about this with Jem,” said Magnus. “Most of your travels, so to speak, James, have taken place within a dream-realm. Only when you have physically removed yourself to a dimension controlled by Belial has Belial been in a position to hurt you. He is spying on you, in his nasty little way—I say spy on him right back. In dreams.”
“Dream-magic,” said Christopher, pleased. “I told you those oneiromancy books would be helpful.”
“You saw Edom once in a dream,” said Magnus. “You can see it again.”
“But what is the importance of seeing Edom?” said Cordelia. “What will it tell us?”
“Whether Belial is indeed there,” said Magnus. “Even what his plans are. Is he building an army? Hiding and licking his wounds? What demons follow him? What are his vulnerabilities? Think of it as spying on the camp of the enemy.”
James shook his head. “I have never done anything like that before, in practice with Jem or by accident,” he said. “I am not sure I would quite know how.”
“Fortunately, I am an expert at dream-magic,” said Magnus. “I will accompany you—I would do it myself, but I do not have your power. I can pass through with you, but I cannot open the door.”
Cordelia felt a prick of unease. Magnus spoke matter-of-factly, but he had not been with them in Belphegor’s realm, had not made the terrifying journey there and back. “If James is going to do this, I would like to remain in the room with him, with Cortana drawn,” she said. “In case we catch Belial’s attention somehow, or the attention of some other unpleasant individual.”
“Oh, indeed,” said Magnus. “One cannot be too careful, and Belial fears Cortana as he fears little else.” He swirled his port, watching it coat the sides of the glass. “The great powers, the archangels and the Princes of Hell, are playing their own game of chess. They have their own alliances and enmities. Azazel and Asmodeus have worked together, as have Belial and Leviathan, while Belphegor hates his brethren. But all that could change should a new power emerge.” He shrugged. “Mortals cannot see the greater movements of the game, the strategy or goals. But that does not mean one need be a pawn on the board.”
“Shah mat,” said Cordelia.
Magnus dropped a wink in her direction. “That is correct,” he said, rising to his feet. “Alas, I must leave you, or at least, encourage you to leave me. I must be here when Hypatia returns, and you lot must be absent. She won’t like it that I let you into the caravan.” He smiled. “It’s always better to respect a lady’s personal space. James, Cordelia, I’ll meet you at Curzon Street at midnight. Now off you all go—no more shopping, dallying, or skulking about. The Shadow Market’s a dangerous place, especially after moonrise.”