Sword and Pen (The Great Library #5)(3)

“Because their lives are less valuable than mine?” Wolfe shot back, and she looked down. “No. I know what I’m looking for. They may not. I know the old bastard better than any High Garda could. He was my mentor, for a good portion of our lives. I know how he thinks.”

Jess tried to imagine Wolfe having the same relationship with the evil bastard Archivist that Jess had with Wolfe. He couldn’t bring it into focus. For one thing, he couldn’t imagine Wolfe as a young man. He abandoned the effort as a bad idea, and as he looked around, he spotted someone standing in the doorway, watching the discussion.

Dario Santiago.

Not his very favorite person in the world, but Jess felt much more comfortable about the Spaniard than he had before; they’d been enemies, cautious allies, friends, enemies again, but through all of that, Dario had been present. There was something comforting about that now, in this silent new world that lacked his brother. Jess walked over to join him. The young man had his arms crossed; he’d changed clothes, too, into a posh velvet jacket and silk shirt and finely tailored trousers. He looked rich and entitled, just as he was. But Dario had never pretended to humility.

“Brightwell.” Dario nodded.

Jess nodded back. “Santiago.”

They both watched the Scholars arguing for a moment. Odd, Jess thought, that though Dario was entitled to wear the black robes, he didn’t have them on. He wondered if that had significance, or if it was just because Dario didn’t want to take away from the cut of his jacket.

Dario finally said, “All right, then?” He rocked a little back and forth on his heels, as if tempted to move away from the question. Or from Jess. But he stayed put.

“All right,” Jess affirmed. He wasn’t, but Dario knew that already, and this was Dario’s way of showing some kind of empathy. It wasn’t much, but from someone like him it was a fair attempt. “Where’s Khalila?”

“With Scholar Murasaki,” he said. “They’re helping to organize a full Scholars’ Conclave. Word is we’ll elect a new Archivist today. Tomorrow at the latest. We need an unquestioned leader if we intend to hold Alexandria independent; the nations sending their ships are all too eager to help.” He shook his head. “They’re cloaking conquest as rescue, you know. Their strategy is to sweep in and claim Alexandria as a protectorate. Once they do that, they’ll pull us apart and squabble over the bones.”

“We can’t let that happen,” Jess said.

“No. Hence the election of a new Archivist.”

Jess felt the impulse to smile. Didn’t. “And you’re not in the running? I’m astonished.”

“Shut up, Scrubber.”

“Touchy, Your Royalness, very touchy.”

There was something comforting about the casual insults; it felt like home. One constant in this life: he and Dario would always be slightly uneasy friends. Maybe that was a very good thing. He trusted Dario . . . to a point. And of course Dario felt the same about him.

“Your cousin’s ships are in that fleet,” Jess said. “I don’t suppose you’re feeling some family loyalty today?”

“If you’re asking if I’m going to betray the Great Library to the Kingdom of Spain, then no. I won’t,” Dario said. “But I don’t want to fight my cousin, either. Not just because I like him. Because he’s a good king, but he’s also clever and ruthless. He’ll win, unless we make the cost of winning unacceptably high. And I’m not altogether certain what he’d consider too high.”

My brother already died for this, Jess thought. The price is already too high. But he didn’t say it. He swallowed against a sudden tightness in his throat and said, “Where are the others?”

“Glain and Santi are organizing the city’s defenses. Thomas . . . God knows, most likely off tinkering with one of his lethal toys—not that it isn’t worthwhile. Morgan is with Eskander at the Iron Tower; they’re getting the Obscurists in line.”

“And what are you doing that’s useful?”

“Nothing,” Dario said. “You?”

“Same, at the moment. Want to come with us to the Archivist’s office?”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Very.”

Dario’s grin was bright enough to blot out Brendan’s absence, for just a moment. “Excellent. I’m as useless as a chocolate frying pan at the moment.”

“In that jacket?”

“Well, it is a very fine jacket, to be sure. But not useful.” Dario’s smile faded. He looked at Jess, straight on. “I really am sorry about Brendan.”

Jess nodded. “I know.”

“Then let’s get on with it.”

First Wolfe, now Dario. There was something comforting about their harsh briskness today. Thomas would be different, as would Khalila and Morgan; they’d offer him the chance to let his grief loose. But Wolfe and Dario believed in pushing through, and just now that seemed right to him. Eventually he’d need to confront his demons, but for now, he was content to run from them.

Wolfe joined them, took in Dario’s presence without comment, and simply swept on. Jess shrugged to Dario and they both followed.

Off to defy death.

Seemed like a decent way to start the day.