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Jimmy, or Mr Carter.’
    ‘It’s not that we think you can’t complete a solo mission, Isabel. Quite simply, it’s too dangerous to send anyone out alone at this time. Normally it would be Ethan going with you. The two of you work well together. But my orders are a directive from the Tribunal, with no explanation offered or forthcoming.’
    ‘What are you trying to say, Arkarian?’ she asks.
    I don’t answer for a minute, wondering why Lorian would do this to me. Finally I just spit it out, ‘Isabel, I am going to be your partner.’
    She doesn’t say a word, but her mouth drops open and colour drains from her face. After a minute she collects herself and sits upright, taking a big breath.
    I think about her strange reaction, trying to interpret what it means, but draw a blank.
    She licks her lips. My eyes are drawn there.
    She notices and swallows deeply. ‘Right,’ she says, her voice strangely hoarse. She coughs into her hand and my eyes fly up to hers. Her mouth moves, but words seem to escape her.
    Ethan starts to laugh, breaking the tension that seems to crackle in the room. I look at him and he covers his mouth with his hand and shakes his head.
    ‘What’s with you?’ Isabel snaps at him.
    ‘Oh nothing,’ he says, looking like a cat with a bowl of cream between his paws. ‘So when do you two leave?’
    ‘Tonight,’ I say.
    ‘You’d better get to bed early then, Isabel. And remember, you have to act as normal as possible, or your mother will suspect something strange is going on. And don’t forget you have to be asleep for transportation to take place.’
    ‘Why are you telling me all this? I know how it works. I’ve been before. Remember? A hundred times.’
    ‘Yeah, but your brain’s not working real good right now,’ Ethan says.
    She kicks him. Hard. Her foot connecting with his shin. It must hurt. He winces, grimacing at her.
    Isabel slowly regains her composure. ‘Where are …?’ She stops and starts again. ‘I mean, where are we going? And … ah, how long will we be away – together ?’
    ‘We go back to France, to a year somewhere around the middle of the Hundred Years War, to protect the life of a six-year-old child. And as for how long we’ll be there – together – I really don’t know.’

Chapter Three
    Isabel
    I’m going on a mission with Arkarian. Arkarian! And it could take days. Maybe months. Who knows? And all this time Arkarian and I will be together. Together!
    As I lie in bed goose bumps break out on my arms and I pull the blanket up tightly around my shoulders. But I’m not cold really. It’s just the thought of my upcoming mission, the thought of spending so much time with Arkarian. Alone! I remember the last time I was this excited. It was my first mission. I was with Ethan and we went to England. We were in John of Gaunt’s bedroom, when suddenly Ethan kissed me. But that kiss was only an excuse to get us out of a sticky situation. Arkarian wouldn’t use that tactic no matter how awkward the situation we might find ourselves in. Or would he? If the situation were desperate?
    I roll on to my side. If I don’t get to sleep soon I won’t be going at all. Of course, my physical body won’t be going anywhere. It will stay here in my bed and appear as if I’m only sleeping. The body is, after all, merely a vessel for the soul. So when I shift to the Citadel, I’ll have a new one that’s kind of on loan. Onlymy eyes will remain the same. They can’t change, ’cause they’re connected to the soul. The Citadel controls all this. It’s a wondrous place. And most importantly, this new identity will protect me from being recognised in the past.
    I close my eyes, willing them to stay that way, but can’t stop the thousands of thoughts racing around inside my head.
    The moon makes an appearance outside my window and I get up to close the curtains. It won’t make much difference, though. Lady Arabella’s gift of seeing through all forms of light still keeps