Paper and Fire (The Great Library #2)(62)

Power.

The Artifex’s bright blue eyes fixed on him.

Jess wanted to curl his hands into fists and beat the smile off of him, but he forced himself to stay still as Troll said, “Artifex, sir, you asked for a report on the Burner encounter outside. I’m pleased to say that we had no Library casualties, and no apparent civilian involvement in our response. Nine Burners died. Their information is being retrieved and forwarded to your Codex.” He turned toward Jess. “Brightwell is a new addition to our squad, and was the one to alert us to the Burner attack on our flank. He saved many lives today.”

It dawned on Jess that the Artifex hadn’t requested his presence; his squad leader was trying to do him a favor. Troll had no idea how wrong that was.

The Artifex’s cold gaze fixed on Jess, and that smile deepened. It looked real enough. “Well done, Squad Leader. You continue to show great promise, by all reports. I’m sure you will rise high in the ranks. Captain Santi has an eye for talent.” There was a slight change in his voice as he said Santi’s name, as if he couldn’t quite keep the distaste at bay. “Brightwell, Brightwell . . . Ah yes. You studied under Scholar Wolfe, did you not?”

“Yes, sir.” Jess had to force that out. His teeth ground together hard enough to hurt. As if you don’t remember, you bastard. “I was in his most recent class. The one you sent to the Battle of Oxford.”

No reaction from the old man. None. Even his smile stayed warm. “Ah yes, of course. Exemplary work, though the challenges were far beyond what we thought you’d face when we dispatched you there. Your class has proven quite exceptional.”

“Yes, sir,” he said. “Those of us who survived.” If the Artifex read that as a challenge, so be it. “You may want to have a look at the automata outside, sir. They might be malfunctioning. Seems like they almost attacked me. By accident, of course.”

“How unusual,” the Artifex replied blandly. “I’ll have my staff look into it. We certainly wouldn’t want any accidents.”

“Sir.” Jess nodded slightly, which was all the respect he could stomach showing the man. He didn’t intend to push his luck any further. But then the Artifex leaned forward in his chair, and there was a cold fire in his eyes that made Jess’s stomach tighten.

“Have you said hello to my new assistants?” he said. “They asked to be added to my research staff some time ago, and, of course, I could not say no to such excellent candidates once I realized their worth.” There was a vicious humor in the Artifex’s eyes that was meant only for Jess. “Friends of yours, I think.”

For an instant, Jess couldn’t think what he was talking about. Not Wolfe, surely, and Santi was here in his capacity as High Garda captain. He’s insane, Jess thought, and then he realized, as the Artifex gestured somewhere behind him, what the old man meant.

Jess turned, and Khalila Seif and Dario Santiago stood up from the table where they’d been sitting nearby. He hadn’t seen them there; he hadn’t been looking for them. Khalila gave him a tentative smile, but there was fear in her eyes. Dario—more handsome and well-dressed than ever—stepped forward and offered Jess his hand. “Brightwell,” he said. “Still just a recruit, I see. Nice to see you continue to keep to your natural level.” It was just the kind of insult Dario had always given him, but there was a warning flash in Dario’s eyes and his handshake felt painfully firm. “Maybe I’ll request you as a special guard detail when I go shopping.”

Even for Dario, that was laying it on thick, no doubt for the benefit of the Artifex. He watched them like a vulture from the comfort of his overstuffed chair.

“As you wish, Scholar Santiago. I’ll try not to accidentally shoot you.”

“Only on purpose, eh? You haven’t changed, scrubber. I suppose that will do for a fond reunion. I have work to do. Scholar Seif?” Dario gestured to the table where they’d been working and took his seat with a thump. He made a fine show of ignoring Jess altogether.

Khalila walked toward him. “It’s good to see you, Jess. You’re well?”

“I am. You?”

“Very well. I . . . had no idea you’d be here.”

“I could say the same of you,” Jess said, and what he really wanted to ask was, Was it your choice? But he couldn’t. And, besides, he knew.

“The work being done here in the basilica is truly exciting,” Khalila said. “Dario is studying the very pillars of history, you know. It is a field that has always interested me as well.”

Everything interested Khalila, which was one of the lovely things about her. “I’m glad you find it rewarding.”

“Oh, I do. The basilica is amazing, isn’t it? So much history. Rome’s roots go deep.”

“The feet of its moldy old gods may go deep, but I still prefer Alexandria,” Dario said, without looking up. “Rome’s too damp for me, and too chilly this time of year. Like living in a tunnel. Khalila, we have work to do. I’m sure Jess needs to . . . patrol. Clean his gun. Something equally important.”

Khalila turned on him to give him a sharp look. “Dario. He’s our friend.”

“He’s High Garda. Not our level, dear lady, if he ever was,” Dario replied. “Let the scrubber be about his business. You’re under no obligation to be nice.”