Page 53 of Her Shadow so Dark and Lovely
“No? I suppose this has to do with the Lightkeepers?” He tips his head as if coming to a decision. “And I suppose there really is no safer place. Librarian Sila, it appears, would defend you with her life.”
She did the same for you.
His mouth twists in a wry grimace. “Yes, she did.” Mercias pours the tea into two cups and every little nerve I have is on edge, wondering why he needs two cups, and then he holds one out to me. “Librarian Sila and I have known each other for decades. I can only hope I would do the same for her.”
Is this for me?
“Sila doesn’t drink now, does she?” he says. “Take it before I drop it, I’m not a fire mage.”
I rescue the cup from its potential fate, holding it carefully between my palms. There’s something soothing about it. Comforting. Who the hell is this man and what has he done with Mercias?
“There must be a table somewhere?” he drawls.
I back out into the living area where the little table sits, the threat of it disappearing again ever present. Mercias settles into a chair and I hover.
“Scribe Lorel, sit down.” His tone is such that I sit without even thinking about it. That particular Librarian intonation requires immediate compliance.
I fuss with my cup and take small careful sips as Mercias surveys me, taking in each little scrape and bruise just as Sila had. Only the look in his eyes is rather different from hers. He sighs, pinching his nose between his fingers as if it pains him to even be here.
“Elris is rather disgruntled that you haven’t returned to work, you know. He’s already lost one scribe, so naturally he’s rather distressed at the idea of losing another.”
I stare at Mercias. I hadn’t considered that I might be missed. Or even that anyone would care that I was gone. But, I reason, Elris has always been kind to me. Sybri too. Still, how does Mercias know?
Are you familiar with Illuminator Elris?
Mercias smirks. “You could say that. You know, I could have you returned to the scriptorium if you wanted.”
I—
“I won’t,” he says, with a huff of a laugh. “She seems attached to you and I wouldn’t dare Librarian Sila’s wrath. So I’ll have to put up with Elris’ displeasure instead. Fortunately, he’s easy enough to deal with.”
I stare at him. He surely can’t mean what I think he means.
Are you saying?—
“Yes,” he says.
But that’s forbi?—
“Yes.”
My hands hang in the air. Mercias is bedding Elris. He has as good as admitted it.
Does the Head Librarian know?
“Naturally,” Mercias says, inclining his head. “And naturally, I take the punishment for it. Not that it changes anything.”
I stare at him again. Elris’ warning makes so much more sense now, for all the good it did.
“Of course, if you tell Elris I said that, I’ll deny it,” he says mildly, sipping his tea.
I take a sip of my own to stop myself from staring.
I’m sure I won’t get the chance.
Mercias hums thoughtfully. “Yes. The Lightkeepers. I have informed the Head Librarian of the incident. Librarian Idemay will be interred in the catacombs in due course. The bodies of the Lightkeepers have been returned to the Keep. What’s left of them, anyway.” His face is impassive but a cold fury burns in his eyes. His jaw clenches. “The Head Librarian knows why they came here and has increased surveillance. If they are willing to send a blood mage after you, then they must want you rather badly.”
I don’t know why.
