The librarian looked at me like I’d just asked him to run naked through the stacks. I didn’t want to get him in trouble, but one way or another I was leaving here with both of Rudra Muralin’s books. They were small enough to fit under my jerkin if necessary. I remembered the kid tacked to the ceiling. I smiled, and Nelek swallowed nervously. I’d like to see Lucan Kalta try tacking me anywhere.

“But the books are from the restricted section,” he said as if that explained everything. It didn’t.

“Restricted books can’t be checked out?”

“Only those with the highest scholarly qualifications can—”

Time for a change of tactic. “How are Paladin Eiliesor’s scholarly qualifications?”

“Impeccable, but—”

“The paladin needs to see these.” I gave him my most earnest look. “Nelek, isn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Nelek, you heard what happened yesterday in the square?”

“I wasn’t there, but I talked to some who were.” He paled. “Terrible business.”

“Yes, it was. And as you can understand, the paladin is working hard to find who was responsible. He would have come here himself, but he simply couldn’t spare the time. Information in these books could really help him.”

He looked incredulous. “Those books?”

“These books. But it needs to be kept secret. Get these books for the paladin and keep it quiet, and you’ll have the gratitude of the paladin and the archmagus.”

Nelek’s eyes widened. “The archmagus?”

“The archmagus.”

Nelek glanced nervously at Vegard.

“Their undying gratitude,” Vegard told him.

That man was unbelievably handy to have around.

The librarian hesitated a moment longer, then drew himself up. “I’d be proud to help. I have a good friend at the checkout desk. Let me see what I can do.”

Chapter 8

“Quick thinking, ma’am,” Vegard told me, after Nelek had gone.

“I do what I have to. I’m sorry I had to lie to your friend.”

The Guardian shrugged. “You did what you had to. Are those two little books that important?”

“They are. I need to read them, and seeing how Lucan Kalta feels about me, if I let them out of my sight, I’ll probably never see them again. Just how much pull does Nelek really have around here?”

“Usually enough.”

“You’ve checked out books on the sly before?”

“All the time in my student days. A lot of stuff I wanted to know was in books I couldn’t get my hands on.” There was a gleam in Vegard’s sky blue eyes. “Make friends in high places, or distribute coin in the right places.”

“So how does Lucan Kalta know if someone walks out with his books?”

“My student days were before Lucan Kalta.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah,” Vegard agreed.

“Kalta just seems to know,” Riston said. “We’re still not sure how.”

I picked up both books and considered the available space in my jerkin. There wasn’t as much room as I would have liked. “I’d like to see him try tacking me to the ceiling,” I muttered.

Vegard’s chuckle was downright evil. “I want to see him try.”

Nelek came back in record time, but he wasn’t alone. The two assistants who had brought the books stood behind him.

“We’re here for the books, ma’am,” he said, brisk and professional. Then he gave me a quick wink. “Marten and Cecil, if you would take the history volumes, I’ll take care of the other two.”

After the assistants collected the two goblin histories, Nelek held out his hand. I hesitated and then gave him the journals, never taking my eyes from his. He got the message loud and clear. If he tried to go anywhere with those books other than the front desk, I was going to tackle him.

“The chief librarian requested that I escort you to the front desk,” Nelek said, watching the two librarians walk around the corner and into the stacks. His mouth curled in a tiny, conspiratorial smile. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll take care of your request.”

Vegard and I traded a look. You gotta love friends in high places.

A tall figure stepped out of the stacks, blocking our way.

His hair was the color of winter frost, eyes the pale blue of arctic ice, an alabaster complexion, a cold, sharp beauty. Pure-blooded high elf. His black and silver robes were understated and elegant, and clearly cost a small fortune.

Nelek instinctively clutched the books to his chest. “Magus Silvanus, always a pleasure to see you.” The librarian didn’t sound pleased in the least; he sounded terrified.

So this was Carnades Silvanus, senior mage on the Seat of Twelve, Ailia Aurillac’s faculty advisor, and parental brownnoser.

I sensed Vegard and Riston come to reluctant attention behind me. They had to. The Guardians’ main duty was the protection of the archmagus and the mages of the Seat of Twelve.

Silvanus was as tall as Mychael, which put the top of my head level with his jaw. He looked down on me—in more ways than one. I’ve always made it a point not to dislike someone on first sight, but I was willing to make an exception for this one. Gleaming against the black silk of his robes, a mirrored disk dangled at the end of a silver chain. A high elf and a mirror mage—no wonder I didn’t like him.

“You must be Raine Benares, the seeker we’ve heard so much about.” Silvanus smiled, revealing perfect teeth. The smile was as fake as the charm he tried to put into his voice. “I’m Carnades Silvanus.”

He extended his hand for mine, palm up, his long fingers slightly curled. He was going for a hand kiss, not a handshake. I was brought up to believe that it’s rude not to shake someone’s hand. I was also brought up to trust my instincts. The touch of a hand was all it took for some mages to assess another’s magical strengths or weaknesses. I didn’t want Carnades Silvanus knowing either of mine.

I inclined my head; I tried for gracious. “Magus Silvanus.”

He left his hand out a moment longer, then slowly lowered it, never taking those arctic eyes from mine. “I understand you’re assisting the city watch in their investigation of Ailia Aurillac’s disappearance.”

“I understand it’s a kidnapping.”

“So it appears. Have you made any progress in your investigation?” he asked politely.

“The paladin and chief watcher are aware of my findings. Since the investigation is ongoing, I can’t discuss them publicly.”

His smile was back. “But you are a private consultant— and I’m hardly the public.”

“The paladin or chief watcher will have to determine who knows my findings.” I tried a fake smile of my own. “That decision’s not mine to make. I’m only a consultant on this case and a guest on this island.”

“My apologies, Mistress Benares. I meant no offense. I merely asked out of concern for Miss Aurillac’s safe return.”

“We’re all concerned about that. I understand you’re her faculty advisor.”

“I am. Miss Aurillac is a splendid young lady and one of our top scholars.”

I glanced at his mirror pendant. “So her specialty is mirror magic?”

“Ailia is gifted in many areas and has yet to choose a specific area of study. But yes, one of them is mirror magic.”

“And the others?”

“She has an interest in spellsinging and alchemy.”

I snorted to myself. Like her daddy’s coffers didn’t have enough gold. I’ll bet I knew what he wanted her to major in.

“I want to thank you for what you did in the square yesterday,” Silvanus said. “I was on that stage. Your skills are very impressive—your strength even more so.”

“You’re welcome.” Thanks was the last thing I expected from him. It’s been my experience that if one hand is extending an olive branch, the other hand is about to stab you in the back. “I’m glad I was there to help.”

Carnades saw the books in Nelek’s hands. “Ah, Rudra Muralin’s journal. I understand you’ve been studying all afternoon, Mistress Benares. Study is admirable.”

One of my hands curled into a fist, ready to fight for that journal if I had to. “You’re familiar with Muralin’s works?”

“I have a keen interest in goblin history. It’s a hobby of mine.”

“An elf studying goblin history. That’s unusual.”

“Understanding your enemy is the first step to defeating him. Education is the key to that, not ignorance. We bury our past at our peril.”

I could add bigot to the list of reasons why I didn’t like Carnades Silvanus.

“My interest is academic,” Silvanus said. “What is your interest?”

“The same as yours,” I shot back smoothly. “Education.”

A boom shattered the silence and I almost jumped out of my skin. A black-robed librarian quickly bent and scooped up the massive book that had landed flat on the marble floor.

I felt the barest touch on my wrist. Silvanus.

My memories of the past week flashed through my mind in an instant.

I reacted instinctively, which meant in the next instant Silvanus’s hand was twisted at what I knew to be a painful angle. Any hand that touched me without permission got treated the same way; it didn’t matter if he was man or mage. No means no.

Vegard and Riston weren’t at attention anymore, and I think Nelek was about to faint. I held up my other hand indicating that they should not interfere. To my surprise, they stayed put.

“I’m not that kind of girl,” I told Silvanus quietly. “If you have a question for me, ask it.”

The mage’s breath came in a pained hiss. “You’re infected with that filthy goblin rock.”

I leaned in close. “And you’re rude. You don’t touch anyone with a questing spell. If I wanted you to know my memories, I’d tell you.”