"Oh? What was he doing there?" Cassian's eyes lit up.
"I don't know. That's what you're supposed to investigate. I only caught a glimpse from far away." Yulian didn't mention Starfall Bay.
"Is that so?" Cassian stared at him for a long time, until Rosier impatiently cleared her throat.
"All right. This is important information."
The Department of Mysteries field agent finally said, "If you notice anything unusual, you can contact me. Would you like this? It's very useful."
As he spoke, he pulled a small, glowing golden toad from his pocket. "This is..."
"No, thanks," Yulian interrupted. "If anything happens, we'll contact Susan Bones."
"Er, well... sure. Either way works." This time, Cassian was the one who looked a little embarrassed.
"Oh, one more thing." Cassian turned to leave, then stopped.
"Wolfgang isn't just a member of the Moon Shadow Council. He's the nephew of Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf leader—by blood, not by bite. That means..."
"Means what?" Lyria pressed. Even in the North, adults often used Fenrir's name to scare misbehaving children.
"It means he can keep his wits about him during the full moon," Cassian said, his voice as soft as a sigh. "It means he's ten times more dangerous than an ordinary werewolf. It means..."
He paused. "The Moon Shadow Council didn't used to accept werewolves. But now, if the council really is looking for something, they have the perfect hunter."
Then Cassian turned and vanished into the surging crowd, as if he had never been there.
A shrill whistle rang out. Someone waved a signal flag. Then came the train's long, heavy sigh as it began to move, as if it, too, were gently exhaling for everyone about to say goodbye.
Yulian, Rosier, and Lyria exchanged a glance. No words were needed; a weighty understanding