Page 12

“Watch the entrances, and warn me at the first sign of anyone approaching.” Mercury spoke to the Invisible Rain in clipped tones before slipping inside the library.

Tacey stood precisely where he expected to see her: at the well-hidden safe. She’d already opened it.

She startled a little when he stepped up beside her. That had never happened before. She’d always had her Invisible attachment to warn her of his approach. The Transferal, then, had progressed to the point where she couldn’t see or hear her former attachment any longer, at least not well.

“It is dangerous to be out in the open like this,” he said.

She looked over at him. His heart dropped. She was worryingly pale, sickly. If he hadn’t seen her for himself within the last two hours, he would have assumed she had been ill for days.

“What’s happ—?” But he knew before finishing the question. “The Transferal is taking a toll on you?”

She nodded weakly. “I hadn’t expected it to have such an impact.” She seemed barely able to form the words.

“I’ve not ever known a ghost transfer to render the broker so frail so quickly.” And that worried him. “You are far too vulnerable here. You need to return to the Scholar’s room until you’ve regained your strength.”

She shook her head. “Not without the things in the safe.”

Though there was no immediate need for anything tucked in the safe, and the items were more secure if left in there, he didn’t think she had the strength for a protracted debate. Mercury pulled out the heavy bag, the locked box, and the leather-bound book. He closed the door.

Her hands shaking from the effort, Tacey turned the key in the lock disguised as a knot. She then set the key in its cleverly hidden notch. While she saw to that, Mercury swiftly returned the books behind which the safe was tucked.

Mercury set the heavy bag in his pocket. He tucked the box and book under one arm. He set his other arm around Tacey, worried by her continued pallor.

“Is the coast clear?” Mercury asked in a low whisper.

A subtle look of confusion crossed Tacey’s features, but she made no effort to answer. The question hadn’t been directed at her, though. The Invisible attachment that had been with her all her life poked his head into the room.

Tacey didn’t take any notice of him there.

“Yes,” the Invisible Rain said. “But be swift.”

Tacey also didn’t seem to hear him. The Transferal was nearly complete, it seemed.

Mercury scrutinized every inch of the corridor as they stepped out of the library. He managed to keep hold of the items they’d taken from the safe while still supporting Tacey. She was struggling just to keep moving forward.

He had never heard of such a thing happening during a Transferal. Mercury himself was usually quite tired. It wasn’t unusual for him to sleep very deeply. But he could always walk and speak. And he didn’t think he’d ever looked as unwell as Tacey did.

It took a bit of juggling, but he got the hidden pocket door to the passageway open without losing his hold on Tacey. Being tucked safely away eased some of his worries.

Then Tacey’s legs nearly buckled under her, and every ounce of anxiety he’d been feeling returned.

“You ought to have stayed in the Scholar’s room,” he said softly but urgently. “The Transferal has depleted you more than either of us could have predicted.”

“I needed the things in the safe.” Her whisper was barely audible.

“Are you . . .” The words stuck in his throat. “Are you leaving?”

“No.”

That single syllable sent a rush of relief over him, but also a surge of guilt. She would be far safer away from Aventine. Zizzy would be safer. Yet Mercury was grateful she was remaining. That probably made him a terrible person.

Smythe floated toward them, his expression grave. “The Vanns have returned.”

Mercury didn’t stop walking, though it meant passing through Smythe. He didn’t overly enjoy doing that, but Tacey was leaning more heavily against him, and he suspected he needed to get her to the Scholar’s room quickly before she simply collapsed.

“We knew at least some of the prisoners would return,” Mercury said. “This isn’t entirely unexpected.” It was also fortuitous; the Violet Giant would have returned as well.

From behind him, Smythe said, “They have brought with them a Bow Street Runner.”