“Gabi —” Callum gasped.
“She went toward Rudeos’s office,” said Giroud, pointing at a set of iron-and-copper double doors. “Are you sure you should —”
But Callum was already darting around him. He knew exactly where Rudeos’s office was. He pounded down the last corridor and threw open the door.
Gabi was standing in the center of the room, on the middle of a circular rug. Rudeos was leaning against his desk, backlit by the glow of lamps behind him. He looked very grave.
Callum skidded to a halt. He looked back and forth between Gabi and Rudeos.
“You can’t,” he said to Gabi. “You can’t tell him.”
Gabi straightened her shoulders. “I have to, Callum.”
“You promised,” Callum said raggedly. He’d half thought that Gadon might have followed him, but Gadon hadn’t, and he felt suddenly and ho
