Contents
CHAPTER 76: JAMESON
Overview
Jameson’s team mines the Devil’s Mercy archives while Rohan withholds current membership data. They learn Katharine Payne forced her way into the club via the Mercy’s Game, itself modeled on the Crucible. Toby absorbs letters tying the first Proprietor to an Ascendant. Kier arrives with urgent news, sending them topside.
Summary
Underground at the Devil’s Mercy, Jameson, Grayson, Xander, Toby, and Rohan divide the work of tracking the Gilded Blade through the club’s historic ledgers, shell corporations, and deeds. Rohan withholds the current membership ledger but offers older secrets and a box of love letters between the first Proprietor and an Ascendant.
Grayson heads to the surface to brief their allies, and Xander follows to watch his back. Toby, stirred by the letters’ intimacy, claims them next, while Jameson presses Rohan for present-day names and asks how many women, besides Zella, belong.
Rohan confirms Katharine Payne’s membership, recounting how she won entry by taking her late husband’s place in the Mercy’s Game decades earlier. He explains the Game was modeled on the Crucible to enforce order with secrets rather than bloodshed, prompting Jameson to recall wagering the secret that Alice Hawthorne was alive.
When Jameson demands details on the Crucible’s darker aspects, Rohan refuses. Moments later, Rohan anticipates company and opens the door to Kier, a sharp-eyed boy who has shadowed the brothers upstairs and implies urgent news.
Kier advises Rohan to get to the surface immediately, effectively ending the research session and signaling that developments aboveground may change their priorities.
Who Appears
- Jameson HawthorneLeads archival push at the Devil’s Mercy; presses Rohan for current membership secrets and female members.
- RohanNew Proprietor; shares historical ledgers and letters, withholds current names; explains the Game’s link to the Crucible.
- Toby HawthorneClaims and reads the first Proprietor’s love letters, quietly absorbing their implications.
- Grayson HawthorneGoes topside to report progress to allies; his movement is shadowed by Kier.
- Xander HawthorneFollows Grayson to watch his back after initial sorting of records underground.
- KierRohan’s sharp young associate; tracks the brothers and delivers an urgent summons to the surface.
- Katharine PayneMember of Parliament referenced in discussion; won entry to the Mercy by winning the Game decades earlier.