He stepped into the main room of the Whaveloda dock house, an almost overwhelming wave of anger rising up inside him. The three otterkin dock workers waited for him, along with Farler and Gensher. Illando's gaze fixed on the big wolfkin for a brief instant. He still hadn't decided if he truly believed that the traitor he'd been looking for could really be standing so close, after all this time.

The moment passed. His eyes moved on, across the other figures in the room and finally coming to rest on the map spread out on the main table. Pictures were arranged around it, showing a sprawling complex – all cubes and right angles, jammed together in a haphazard sort of way. A red circle on the map marked the location.

An immense old fish factory, abandoned for years. This really might be where the fate of Wildhearth would be decided.

"Alright," he declared. "I hear you've got some good news for me?"

"We think this is where that Kendris bastard is hiding," Kappsi interjected, shooting her wolfkin chaperones a fiery look. "I found it in the old dock surveys. Skoppa and Haarm went and dug out some recent records from one of our contacts. The place is still standin'."

He walked over to join them, gazing down on the images. They'd explained the bones of it over the howl-wire – the inaccessible canals, the derelict district. On the face of it, it all made sense. Their permanent base could never have been somewhere densely populated, or the enforcers would have found them long before now.

"This is in the Drambower District?" He flashed his eyes up to Kappsi.

She nodded. "Aye."

"And you're absolutely sure?"

"Sure as I can be without crackin' open my crystal ball."

Illando smiled thinly. "Then it looks like Glasser was telling the truth."

As he examined the drawings, plans and pictures, Illando could see more reasons why Kendris would have chosen this place as his base. Tactically it was a nightmare to approach. The dried canals formed natural gullies and kill zones, and the vantage point of the cumbersome structure meant a sentry would have a wide field of view.

Approaching it undetected would be very, very difficult.

"Are any of you familiar with a factory like this?" he asked quietly.

Skoppa gulped and raised a tentative paw. "Aye, I've done a few trawler runs on the outers. Layouts are pretty much the same across the board. Varies a little dependin' on where they are and the land they got to work with, but nothin' too wild."

Illando nodded. He cocked his head to one side, looking at the map and mentally adding the locations of the attacks, stacking up the facts for himself. Geographically it was a good fit as the epicentre for this chaos, though the sheer spread the Savage Fire had managed to achieve over the past weeks made it difficult to be certain. His eyes flicked up to Kappsi.

"You really think someone could use those canals?"

"Aye." She made a vague gesture over her shoulder with one paw. "Y'just gotta know how everything's built. There are at least three workin' docks that you could hoof to in a couple of hours from that factory. Far as I'm concerned, this is the place."

Farler inclined his head in agreement. "I thought the same thing, sir, but it does fit. We've not had any patrols run through that part of Drambower for years. It's a derelict. That plus the information you got from the watchguards? I think we've found our target."

"I dunno, Illando," Gensher grunted, casting a dubious eye over the images. "You sure they'd really be in there? I get that it's out of the way, but doesn't anybody else think this all looks a little too cosy?"

"Meanin' what?" Haarm asked.

"That place is a big bloody target for somebody trying to keep their head down. Not the sorta place I'd be usin' to hideout. Someone would be bound to find it eventually."

"They have to have a base somewhere," Farler countered. "Y'saw them in Helsfur. This 'Kendris' needs the crowd. Feeds off it. Stands to reason that he needs somewhere big to get everybody riled up. For him, maybe it's worth the risk."

Gensher still looked uncomfortable. "I don't like it."

"Do you have a better idea?" Illando challenged.

"Well... no."

"And the rest of you, you're sure?"

The others exchanged searching looks with one and other; nodded and murmured their agreement.

He fixed a searching stare on Gensher, feeling the fur on his spine stand up with unease. Was that one last ditch effort to deflect them away from Kendris's base of operations? His jaw tensed till he felt an ache and had to consciously relax it.

"Someone will need to take a look – confirm this is the place," Illando said eventually, turning to Kappsi again. "You think you can traverse those canals by paw?"

"I reckon we can give it a go." The otterkin glanced at her brothers before shooting him a wry smile.

"Then I want the three of you to head out to Drambower. Go at night. Walk those canals, get to that factory and find out if your hunch is right."

"Oh, aye, just like that?" Skoppa erupted indignantly. "Mate, we said we'd help you find 'em, but I think the rest is for you to sort out."

"Skop!" Kappsi thumped him on the arm. "Belt up, would ya?"

"Eh?"

"I came here to find Brickle. She's still out there." She turned to Illando, a faintly contemptuous expression on her face. "Besides, y'think these landlocked goons could get through those canals without us?"

Gensher bared his teeth, but Illando just laughed.

"No, I don't imagine we could," he told her, smirking. "Which is why you're going to show my fellow enforcers here the way."

Kappsi's face fell. "You mean-"

"They're going with you."

"Terrific."

"Show them the way through those canals," he continued. "Prove it can be done."

"Sir, what about you?" Farler interjected.

"You saw Helsfur," Illando answered. "If Kendris is there and has anything like the crowds he was drawing back then, we're going to need a lot more than just the six of us to put a stop to this. I'm assembling a warpack. We'll be gathering here." He tapped an unassuming junction on the map in the neighbouring district, a short sprint from the first of the abandoned canalways. "If you find Kendris, we'll need to move fast."

"And if we find him?" Kappsi's tone edged to one of anxiousness.

"Then we strike, hard and fast." His gaze was cold as he looked at her. "Kendris is going to die, along with anyone else who gets in our way. Do you understand?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but Haarm stepped up alongside her.

"Yeah, we get it," he muttered, nudging Kappsi gently with one elbow. "We'll find him."

"Good." He nodded to Gensher. "Take these three to the nearest safe house and get them some weapons, will you? I'm not sending anyone into that place without the means to defend themselves."

Gensher grinned. "I'll see if I can find something in their size." Beckoning the otterkin to follow, he strode for the door. With Kappsi and her brothers slouching reluctantly behind, he led them out into the evening. A short, cold whorl of air spilled through the dock house, before the door banged shut behind them, leaving only two enforcers behind.

"Farler," Illando said quietly as the echo died.

"Sir?"

"We need to talk."

An uneasy expression flashed across Farler's face. "Is something wrong?"

"You could say that."

"Illando, what's going on?"

"I've been looking for a traitor," he grated, looking Farler in the eye. "And I think I may have found him."

"Illando..." Farler recoiled slightly, brow furrowing. "You know who's been helping the cult?"

Illando nodded slowly. "I think so. And he just walked out that door."

"Wait, what?" Farler twisted around to look, then twisted himself back just as fast. "Gensher?"

"I'm afraid so."

The veteran enforcer looked at him as though he were insane. "You can't be serious."

"Serious as death."

"By the Peace and bloody Fire." Farler dug a paw into his headfur, his face crumpling with bemusement. "Didn't think he had the brains for it," he said after a moment.

"That makes two of us."

"And you're sure it's him? Really sure?"

Illando put a firm paw his shoulder, leaning closer. "Farler, I don't have time to explain everything right now, but the evidence looks bad. You have to trust me."

"I do, but Illando, if he's ... if you're right-," Farler glanced behind him furtively, "are you sure you should be sending him out there with us?"

"If he is working with Kendris, he won't risk doing anything while he's with you. This'll keep him out of the way until it's too late to stop us." He let his grip drop, moving back and clenching his paws tight. "If I'm honest, I'm still not sure I believe it – not completely, but we can't take any chances."

The veteran enforcer nodded his understanding. "So what do you need from me?"

"I need you to keep an eye on him. Once you're out in Drambower, you keep Gensher close at all times, alright?"

"Will do, sir."

"And look after those otterkin, will you? I'd rather not have their bodies on my conscience."

"I'll look out for them."

"Farler, one more thing?"

"Mhm?"

"If Gensher does anything that does put this beyond doubt, do what you have to do. Don't wait for my orders."

Farler exhaled a deep breath, and nodded. "I understand."

"Good." Illando raked both sets of claws back over the top of his head and down the back of his neck until they struck the collar of his armour. Fire, how he hated this. "Just a little longer, Farler," he said. "Just a little longer and we'll bury Kendris; his cult along with him."

Then the howl-wire set in the dock office suddenly exploded into life. It bleated insistently for the better part of a minute, then fell silent. Trading wary glances with Farler, Illando walked towards it, his claws flexing with unease.

It rang again.

"Who in the Fire would be calling here, now?" Farler murmured.

"Someone who knows that somebody's home." Illando stepped forward and tugged the receiver loose. "Hello?"

"Ah, thank the Peace," Noelle exclaimed, her voice shooting over the speaker so sharply that he flinched away with a grimace.

"What is going on?" Illando snapped. "Why are you calling here?"

"Sorry, boss, I know this is off regs, but I've got someone on the line that you really need to talk to."

"Who?!"

"Cephia. She's been on the enforcer howlwire for the past hour tryin' to get a hold of you. Told her I'd transfer the call – alright?"

"What happened?"

"She didn't say, boss. Just said she had to speak to you. Figured you'd want-,"

"Put her through."

Noelle cleared her throat awkwardly. "Here she is, boss."

The line crackled for a second; clicked. Then he heard her breaths. He recognised the rhythm, one he'd grown accustomed to over the years through the night hours.

"Cephia?"

A faint sigh. "It's good to hear your voice."

"And yours."

"Sorry for calling, but things are getting out of control here."

"I heard about that designate, Indikkara. Hard to believe."

"It's a whole lot worse than one murder, Illando. They're going after other designates. Right now I'm out in Almachora district with designate Anvaal. They came after him, and two others are missing. They're picking off the loyal designates – anyone who might oppose them."

He felt a churn of unease in his stomach. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"We both know Kendris didn't come here to just kill people. He wants the city. This is how it starts."

Illando nodded slowly, absorbing the words. The claws of one footpaw scraped the floor. "Tell me what you need."

"I need to find Anvaal's friends to start with. Any spare bodies wouldn't hurt."

"I'm sending Morta to you."

"Morta? Are you sure you can spare-,"

"I'm sure," he cut her off sharply. "He's a good hunter – one of the best. Use him."

"Okay," she sounded more relieved than her words suggested. "Thank you. I won't keep him any longer than I have to."

"We're all fighting the same fight, Cephia."

"I know." She sucked in a deep breath; exhaled slowly. "This is bad, Illando. Really bad."

The words stuck a needle of ice right into Illando's spine. He'd known Cephia for a long time – two years of courtship and six as a mated pair – rising up through the ranks of the enforcers and Conclave security side by side. He knew from experience that it took an awful lot to get under her skin, and right now he could hear it in her voice.

A voice edged with fear. Fear for what was coming, for what it might mean for them, for their friends, their pack, and the city itself. What Cephia had uncovered in the Conclave made him sick to his lungs.

"I know," he said, trying to sound reassuring. It felt a little alien to him – Cephia was not someone who usually needed to be comforted. "You can handle this. I wouldn't trust anybody else to see this through."

"You're biased," she chuckled. "But thanks. I've still got friends in the guard – loyal kin who aren't going to lie down and let this happen. Once Morta gets here, between them, Anvaal's security and my squad, we'll do what we can to hold things together."

Illando felt his gut twist. Fangs, he wanted to be there by her side right now, but he knew he couldn't abandon his own task. If Cephia managed to stabilise the situation at the Conclave, he could finish end all of this with one, brutal blow.

He just needed to find Kendris, and kill him.

"Do whatever you have to," he told her. "It won't be long now, I promise you."

"You've found Kendris?"

"We think so. I'm putting a warpack together and we're heading out tonight. If we're right, this is all going to be over soon."

"Be careful, Illando," she answered. "He's more than a fanatic. We underestimated this cult, and Kendris. Things never should have got this far."

"I know. And I will."

"Then I'll make sure this place doesn't go up in flames till you rip that mongrel bastard's throat out."

There was the Cephia he knew, the fire spiking back into her voice.

"You be careful, too," Illando told her. A thin smile crossed his face. "It's going to be a real surprise to some people when the wolves save this city."

"Let's just hope Oslarra lets us have some of the glory," Cephia chuckled.

"Well, she did recommend me for this job. That ought to count for something."

"It better, or she's gonna answer to me."

He took a deep breath. "Be safe, Cephia. I love you."

"I love you, too. I'll see you soon."

The howl-wire clicked and she was gone. He just had to trust her now. Breathing deep, Illando replaced the receiver and shuddered, shaking away every nerve and worry. He fixed his eyes on the wall, tracing the minute details in the knotted dark wood. A low growl rose in his throat, the image of Kendris swimming into his mind's eye. His teeth bared and the growl rose into a guttural snarl the exploded from his jaws. Then he whirled to face Farler again.

"Not one more day," he grated. "Kendris dies, tonight."