The Black Key Read Online Free PDF Page A

Indi says brightly.
    â€œAnd then we hide on the trains until they leave for the Auction,” Olive finishes. A gleam shines in her eye. “That’s when we take out the caretakers and the doctor.”
    â€œYou’re not killing them, Olive,” I say. “Just knocking them unconscious.”
    â€œI’m sure we’ll be able to manage,” Raven says. “It was just Charity and Dr. Steele on our train there.”
    â€œNorthgate always sends three caretakers,” Sienna says.
    â€œThey’ll still be outnumbered,” I say.
    â€œThe Regimentals will be waiting for you at the Auction House,” Sil reminds us.
    â€œAnd it’s Garnet’s job to delay them as long as he can,” I say, rolling up the map and taking out the blueprints. “And remember, if anything happens on the train, if you get found out or . . . or anything. Get to the walls. Bringing down the walls is crucial. And even if it’s not the wall that surrounds the Jewel, breaking down any royal barrier is a success for our cause.”
    Olive pouts a little but keeps quiet. There are multiple sheets of blueprints of the Auction House, because not only are there many different rooms, there are several floors beneath it. I pin them down with plates and glasses.
    The Auction House is built in a large dome with other smaller domes and turrets piled up around it, various rooms where the royalty are entertained while they wait to purchase surrogates. And of course, the amphitheater where the Auction itself takes place. But there are also—as Lucien pointed out—the Waiting Rooms and prep rooms and a train station on the floors below, chambers for the servants to wait in, and powder rooms for young royal ladies to fix their hair and makeup. And there are secure rooms, safe rooms, in case any danger should befall the Jewel during the Auction. These rooms have thick walls and iron doors. They are where the royalty will run to if threatened. We’ll have them trapped, while the city falls around them.
    The Auction is the biggest social event of the year. Lucien told us that every married royal is allowed to attend, sothey don’t need invitations like they would for the Exetor’s Ball or a simple House party. Anyone who can attend does. It will be the highest concentration of royals in one place.
    â€œSo we’ll get in here,” I say, pointing to the underground train station, on the blueprint that shows the lowest levels of the Auction House. “And we’ll have to be ready right away. Sil is right, there will be Regimentals expecting four trainloads of unconscious girls. And Garnet might not be able to delay them long, if at all. We should expect a fight.”
    â€œYes, and most of the Regimentals he’s been able to bring over to our side don’t work in the Jewel,” Raven says. “He says the Jewel Regimentals are the worst.”
    Garnet has gone from wild party boy to upstanding citizen in a head-spinning amount of time. While all royal men are technically officers in the Regimental army, it’s always been more of an honorary title. No one actually serves. But once Garnet chose to serve in the search for Ash, he discovered a lot of discontent among the Regimental forces, especially in the lower circles. Now he’s using that to our advantage.
    â€œI do wish there were an easier way,” Indi says wistfully. “One that didn’t involve violence.”
    â€œYou want us to fight them with hugs?” Sienna asks.
    â€œLove is stronger than hate,” Indi says.
    â€œViolence is the only option, so there isn’t any point in arguing about it,” I say, cutting Sienna off before she can retort. “Once we’re inside, everything needs to happen at once. We need to contain the Regimentals. We need to cause so much panic that the royalty run and hide in their precious safe rooms. Then we need to get to the wall.”
    â€œAnd