The Glass Magician (The Paper Magician Trilogy #2)(31)

“So, none of these are big enough for someone to pass through, right?” she said.

Delilah nodded. “Yes, he can’t come through anymore. At least not using this mirror.”

Ceony nodded. Opening the lid of the blind box, she carefully lifted one piece of the mirror out, an oblong triangle with sharp edges and one chipped corner. It measured just larger than her hand. She shut the blind box and handed the piece to Delilah.

Delilah turned it over in her hands, then set it on the floor. “I’ll do the spells, Ceony, but I don’t want him to see me.”

“He did, once. At the bistro.”

Delilah shuddered. “Well, I don’t want him to see me again.”

Ceony nodded. Delilah pressed her fingers to the glass, then scooted away so that the shard of mirror didn’t reflect her face. Ceony hovered over it instead, staring into her own reflection, shadowed and blue from the filtered light passing through the room’s window.

“Reflect, past,” Delilah ordered, and Ceony’s reflection changed to a wide view of the vanity room.

Ceony licked her lips. “It can show you what happened in this room before?”

Delilah nodded and whispered, “It’s handy for detective work. Magician Aviosky used to serve on the police force before transferring to Tagis Praff.”

“Really?”

Delilah nodded, then returned her focus to the work at hand. “Search, Ceony Small,” she said. To Ceony, she whispered, “Your compact. I named it so we could chat long distance.”

She smiled. “That’s sweet.”

“Reverse,” Delilah commanded the mirror, in a voice as bold as a mouse’s.

The image in the glass changed, and in it Ceony could see the foot of a bed and a wardrobe—the same room where Grath had stood before. Her makeup mirror must have been sitting in the middle of the mattress. She heard voices coming from the part of the room she couldn’t see and leaned in closer to the mirror so she could hear them better.

“Hold,” Delilah whispered.

“—can’t keep going behind my back!” Grath hissed. Ceony recognized his voice immediately.

She didn’t recognize the voice that responded, smooth as chocolate and with a strange accent that clipped most of his vowels and swallowed half his consonants: “How long have we been in England?” he asked, his voice quieter than Grath’s, more practiced. Ceony had to press her ear to the glass to hear, and her drumming heart only made it that much harder to listen. “We were supposed to sail for Gibraltar three months ago. Your plan, if you remember.”

“I’ve talked to wild dogs that make me repeat myself less than you do, Saraj.”

Ceony stiffened and glanced to Delilah, whose eyes widened until they shined more white than brown.

In her stupor, Ceony missed the first few words of Saraj’s response. “—lost interest now. You promised me a good game, but there’s no excitement here.” He paused. “Let’s get the bird gone and sail. I hear African blood makes for a strong aphrodisiac.”

She could sense the Excisioner’s smile. Her every limb shivered.

“I don’t want her dead!” Grath shouted. Ceony jerked back from the mirror shard, and Delilah nearly released it. “Not yet. We still—”

“Find yourself some new meat,” Saraj replied, tone darkening. “You’re on your own. I’m—”

“Shhh,” Grath hissed.

Saraj said nothing, and a moment later the view in the mirror changed, shifting to show the front of the wardrobe and the hinges on the room’s door. Grath had picked it up.

Ceony shouted into the mirror, hoping it would make Grath think she’d only just tapped into it. “Grath! Are you there?” she called. “I’ve got your magic. Let’s talk!”

To her relief, he chuckled. Gooseflesh instantly tickled her arms and legs. The image in the mirror shifted and darkened, revealing Grath’s face. His burn had completely healed. Had Saraj done that?

Delilah cowered, but kept her hands on the mirror. Grath blocked off the rest of the room behind him, including all signs of Saraj.

“And the little bird returns,” Grath said. His eyes shifted left and right, as though he were trying to peer past Ceony. “What Gaffer have you gotten to help you, hmm? Brave man.”

“It’s none of your concern,” Ceony snapped, talking louder than necessary to keep her voice from shaking. “I’m ready to negotiate.”

Grath laughed again. Ceony kept her face smooth, though she couldn’t help but purse her lips. She knew negotiating with a killer was worthless—she wasn’t completely dim-witted. Still, it could only be to her benefit if he thought her na?ve. Na?veté seemed the strongest card Ceony had to play, and she knew how to cheat at cards.

“I admit I wasn’t expecting cooperation,” Grath said, pitching his voice low.

“I’m only cooperating if you leave Saraj Prendi out of the picture,” Ceony said. “This is between you and me.”

Grath frowned. A vein in his forehead popped and pulsed, and Ceony thought she heard the closing of a door behind him. Had the Excisioner left?

“That man is a real tosser,” Grath said, grinning wide enough to reveal his sharp canines, but that vein still throbbed in his forehead. His ears had turned red as well. “I’ll take care of him, pet. Don’t you worry. I don’t want you dead, not yet. Not when you still have information I need.”