The next junction of guide ropes led to a dead end, and a dozen strides took them through a door and into a small room. They reached its far side almost as soon as they entered.

“Sit,” Silencia ordered, pushing Anilitak onto a rope mat. Some cloth gathered beneath her, a sheet, perhaps. “Tell me what happened.”

Allowed to speak, the words tumbled out, but Anilitak had barely mentioned the ghost when Silencia cut her off. “Quiet!” No other command followed, and after almost a minute, Anilitak tried to start again. “I said be quiet!” Silencia hissed.

Anilitak strained her ears. The enveloping silence roared in her ears like the sea.

Minutes passed in unbroken silence. Anilitak heard phantom sounds in her attempt to distinguish some voice or footstep. Did she hear shouts? She could not decide.

It came as a shock, almost like a flash of lightning, when footsteps descended upon them, light and quick. The door opened almost noiselessly, but she heard it still, and in that moment, she was certain that cries and a thunder of feet filled some nearby hall.

“I am Skip,” the newcomer said before the door had closed. “Who are you?”

“I am Sneer,” Silencia said just as quickly. “The girl's here, too. Pink. Where's Upwards?”

“I don't know. I hoped you were here. You were in the Meal Room when it happened?”

Anilitak finally recognized the voice as Question's.

“Yes. And I hear the mob now. Is he alive still?”

“I think so,” Question said. “It was horrible. Flitter started the fight. Shrill must have had some help, because she restrained him somehow. Half the room joined the fracas. Then she told everyone about Glimpse. Said that she must be found, for the Crown's sake, and that the Crown would take the one who brought the girl to him out of the castle and into the light. He blamed her for the murders and for the curse and flamed their jealousy of the light and...it's only a matter of time before they search through here. We need to move again.”

“Shrill was the Crown,” Silencia said. “He does a startling imitation.”

“Where's Wind—I mean, Flit?” Anilitak asked.

“Shrill was going to take him to the Crown, but if Shrill is the Crown....” Question moved on. “Why does he want you, Glimpse? He's set the whole castle aflame with your name.”

“My name? Did he know my name?”

“He said you were called Anilitak. Is that true?”

Anilitak felt betrayed, frightened, and ashamed all at once. “Yes.” Twice she had tried to share her name with Wind; twice he had refused. Now he knew it from the Crown's lips. “How does the Crown know my name?”

“How indeed?” Question asked.

“Tell us what happened when you were with Churner,” Silencia demanded. “Quickly. We will have to move again soon.”

“What about Flit?” Anilitak asked. “Can't we help him?”

“If you want to walk up to the Crown and demanded his freedom, be my guest,” Silencia said. “No? Enough questions, then. Talk.”