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My hand shook when I put the book I brought on the table. ‘Alaric… some answers are here.’

Tova picked it up, looking at me with concern. ‘What are you trying to say, drah’sa?’

‘The blood key binds a person or part of them to the object; this thing… is a part of a key.’

Tova’s brow furrowed as he tugged on his beard. ‘That doesn’t make sense. If you kill the person to make a key, you will soon run out of body parts.’

‘What if the bone is just… a vial, a carrier of sorts? You said schemata mentioned blood. What if the blood and bone didn’t come from the same person? Blood regenerates, and if you’re careful…’ I was so close to retching; my throat tightened.

‘Then you can have an unlimited supply,’ Tova finished for me. ‘Still, it didn’t explain how they made it and why it is bound to the bone. I need a body to test it.’

He slammed his hand on the table, sending the ore ringing. ‘And whose blood is this? Is it one person or many? How is it prepared? It’s all in those damned runes, and I can’t even read them. Fuck!’

Inga moved to Tova’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder while glaring at me as if the dwarf’s anger was my fault.

‘I’ll ask Alaric…’ I said, but Inga shook her head.

‘The King of Ozar is dark fae. We are talking about the Lumivitae’s sacred scripts. We can’t risk making a mistake. It would speed up things if we had a fae noble who could read the Lumivitae’s scripts. Then I could tell you exactly what this reference to blood means.’ She placed her other hand on her hip, her foot tapping on the floor before her gaze shifted to Tova. ‘And when the war starts, you’ll have enough corpses to create any number of bone keys.’

Tova’s gaze slid between Inga and me, conflicting emotions warring on his face. I took pity on him.

‘Inga is right. We need Lumivitae fae. We need Lily. I can’t move on with this until I know what I’m dealing with. I promise I’m doing my best.’

‘I know, Tinkerer. Why not take a break? Come to the palace, talk to Alaric, let me pamper you a bit. If you can’t solve it without Lilliana, then there’s no point in breaking your back or your eyesight,’ I said. It was unsettling that I no longer had to look down to meet his gaze.

More unsettling, however, were the dark circles under his eyes, and the beard, normally brushed and oiled, looked like two dead squirrels fornicating on his chin.

‘Please, Tova, for my sake. I don’t want to worry about my favourite dwarf with this steaming pile of…’ I stopped, reaching for his cheek. The idea of resting mid-project was so alien to Tova that he shuffled uncomfortably. I winced, guilt pressing on me. I should never have let him work himself to the bone. He felt responsible for not stopping Młot earlier, yet I’d ignored his exhaustion. Now his exhaustion was my responsibility.

Tova took my hand and squeezed it before pressing it to his chest.

‘I can’t rest, Drah’sa. Too much is at stake. What if Lily doesn’t return?’ I swallowed hard, unsure what to say. I looked to Rey for inspiration.

‘You can return to your studies tomorrow. One day’s rest is fine. The pillars will still be there, just as they were the day before. Master Orenson, tonight I dine with my family. I’d like Sana’s brothers there too,’ Rey added. I smiled, surprised by the idea. ‘I task you with bringing the Grand Master.’

I was grateful that he’d manoeuvred Tova into accepting a royal invitation. As Rey’s large hand rested on my back, his thumb stroking the groove of my spine, I added, ‘You should bring a partner.’

Inga’s hands stilled as she held her breath. Watching. Waiting.

‘What partner? Have you been sniffing your powders again? You want me to entertain some court lady? No one wants to be close to a dwarf like me,’ he said, putting his hands on his hips. Inga exhaled, her shoulders sagging, and I sighed, wondering how such a brilliant mind could be blind to anything other than engineering.

‘Tova? You’re an idiot.’ There was no point in pushing the matter further. It would only add insult to injury, and Inga was already on the verge of tears.

‘Well, if we’re going to postpone researching the pillars, I’d better return to the palace. I’ll be in my room if needed. With your permission.’ She curtsied in front of Reynard, gathered her things, and left without looking back. Tova’s eyebrows drew together as he watched her leave.

‘Why are you going?’ he asked, but she didn’t turn back.

‘I should smack you in the head with your own hammer,’ I said, and his frown deepened.

‘What did I do? She was fine until you mentioned… Oh…’ he said. Rey raised his hands and sighed.

‘I’ll leave you to explain,’ he said, following Inga’s footsteps.

‘You think she was upset because she wanted to go to this dinner?’ Tova’s face reddened. He looked ready to explode. ‘Why didn’t you invite her too?’

‘Tova, why are you wearing heels?’

That was the wrong question to ask. His red cheeks darkened.