The next morning, the Lightwoods and Clary stood sleepily and nervously in the library. A bright light flashed, illuminating the entire room, as Magnus opened a door to Alicante. Magnus stepped aside and admired his work. Then he turned to face the Shadowhunters.

This will take you straight to the Clave's guesthouse," Magnus explained as the Lightwoods and Clary picked up their bags. "As arranged, Maryse, the Inquisitor will meet you there. As for you, Clary..."

Clary's eyes narrowed. "What about me?"

"I'm sure the Inquisitor will not be pleased to see you in Alicante. It seems the new Inquisitor isn't a fan of me either, though I have no idea why. So I'm taking you directly to Ragnor Fell."

"And I should trust you because..."

Magnus shrugged. "Your choice. If the Inquisitor sees you, he'll be sure to never let you out of his sight."

Clary frowned. She looked to the Lightwoods. They all stared at her blankly except for Alec who gave her a curt nod. For less than a second, Alec's expression softened, as if reassuring. Clary sighed. "Fine then."

"So it's settled," Magnus declared.

Without another word, Maryse stepped through the door. Robert followed with little Max in tow.

"Be careful, Clary!" Max said as he disappeared.

Next Alec stepped through. Finally, Isabelle shot Clary a half smile as if to say, "Good luck," and stepped through the door. Magnus closed the portal after the Lightwoods, then turned to Clary.

"Ready for our little adventure, Clarissa?" Magnus crooned with over-exaggerated excitement.

Clary rolled her eyes. "Don't call me Clarissa..."

Max sat on the bed with his latest volume of the graphic novel, Naruto, as Isabelle paced back and forth across the small room. She hated that she couldn't be involved with the Clave's business, but Alec could. Just because he was a year and a half older... Isabelle had the same amount of experience fighting Downworlders that Alec had. She had been as equally involved as Alec in many matters at the Institute. At the Institute, she was considered, essentially, an adult. But here in Idris, she was a child again.

"I wish I knew what they were talking about," Isabelle growled under her breath.

"Maybe you should sit down," Max said, not looking up from his book.

"Sit down? How can I sit down? Mom and Dad and Alec are talking to the High Inquisitor right outside that door."

Max shrugged. "I'm sitting down."

Isabelle growled something incomprehensible. "Max, you're nine. You have no idea what's going on. You wouldn't understand."

"Well, I'm glad I don't," Max said, finally putting down his book. "Everyone's so worried about...well, everything."

"That's life when you're an adult."

"Well, I worry too. I'm worried about Mom and Dad because they have to work so hard. I'm worried you and Alec will get hurt. I'm worried about Jace because he's...Jace. But I can't do anything about it. Even though I want to, I don't even know what to do. So all I can do is wait and hope for the best."

Isabelle nearly laughed aloud. Here she was, ripping her hair out with frustration, and little nine-year-old Max was spewing wisdom to her. Isabelle sighed and ruffled Max's hair. "I guess you're right. Thanks, Max."

Max beamed up at his older sister and went back to his volume of Naruto. Isabelle sat next to him. What did it matter that she couldn't hear what the Inquisitor was discussing with her parents and Alec? She would hear all of it later, if not from her parents, then from Alec. In any case, Isabelle was a girl of many strengths, but patience wasn't one of them.

Clary looked all around her. There was nothing but grass, grass, more grass, and a few trees. As far as she could tell, she was in the middle of nowhere, with the possibly insane warlock, Magnus Bane, nonetheless.

"Where the hell are we?" Clary demanded as the portal closed behind Magnus.

"Somewhere in Idris."

"Somewhere? Somewhere?" Clary cried.

"Don't worry, I know where we're going."

Clary clenched her fists, trying to hold back the explosion she was dying to unleash on the warlock.

"Come on, Ragnor's house isn't far."

"Why couldn't you make the portal take us directly to his house?" Clary inquired as they began walking.

"We warlocks are a paranoid species. He probably has wards all around his house. If a portal suddenly sets off those wards, he won't know what to expect and may panic, and thus we won't know what to expect from him."

"You mean you didn't tell him we were coming?"

"Now why would I do that?" Magnus quirked. "That would just be polite."

Clary rolled her eyes. "You and Jace would make a lovely couple..."

"If only Mr. Wayland shared my...interests," Magnus chuckled. Then his slight smile faded. "The last I heard, Ragnor was in with Valentine, but not willingly of course."

"So he's forced to work for Valentine? Forced to do what?"

Magnus shrugged. "I wish I knew. Ragnor has done much to defy Valentine, but there must be something that Valentine is holding over his head. Ragnor would never willingly do a favor for Valentine. The only dilemma is that I can't imagine what leverage Valentine could possibly have over Ragnor."

"Maybe Valentine has taken someone he cares about hostage?" Clary offered.

"There's no one Ragnor cares about more than himself. If he does anything for anyone, there has to be something in it for him."

"Maybe a bribe?"

"Like I said, Ragnor would never willingly do something for Valentine. He hates him as much as the rest of us do. But he also fears him as much as the rest of us do."

As Clary and Magnus walked, the few trees became many trees. Soon, a small hut came into view in the distance.

"Is that it?" Clary asked, pointing at the hut.

Magnus nodded. When he was about twenty yards from the front door, suddenly, he halted. Clary moved to step past him, but Magnus held her back. Clary frowned at him.

"Stay here," Magnus said curtly.

"What?" Clary cried.

Magnus clapped his hand over her mouth. "Shut up, Clary."

Clary wrestled his hand away. "Why?"

Magnus turned on her. "Clary, shut up. Or I will spell you into silence."

Clary glared at him, but remained silent. Magnus took a cautious step toward the hut. Then another. He closed his eyes as if concentrating hard on something. A few minutes went by in silence. When he opened his eyes again, he turned around to face Clary, a deep frown on his face.

"What is it?" Clary asked.

"Ragnor's wards are down. I can't sense them at all."

"What does that mean?"

"Something is wrong."