“I was in a meeting with the defense ministry,” Valor disclosed in his office, his voice speaking for his displeasure at Sush’s tone when she demanded to know his whereabouts during the attack.

Sush and Greg had easily deciphered most of the animal code from Hazel’s secret correspondence after the catastrophe. The Great Horned Owls was code for the archers, sacrificed. Rat with a capital R being let off from above? Sush herself, let off from above when the elevator malfunctioned. She and Greg speculated that his presence in the elevator was most likely not considered since he forced himself in at the last minute.

The next code - other...