Vie takes it from my hand reverently. 'Gods, Jak. One of the oldest accounts of the Breach and the Dark Realms. And a Kismet. You spoil me, my friend.'
I bow my head. 'Perhaps, given my generosity, you might give me something in return, First Scholar.'
'What would you have? If it's within my power, you can have it, of course.'
'Access to the Great Library’s books for a short time?’
‘Granted. And if you have yet to find a place to stay, let me offer the apartments in the adjunct. They’re attached to the library via a tunnel. Very safe. With the festival starting, I doubt you’ll find anywhere else on such short notice. The city is heaving at this time of year.’
‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘That would be most welcome.’
There’s a pregnant pause, and a moment passes where neither of us speaks.
‘My friend.’ Vie cants her head at me, her eyes shrewd and assessing. ‘Were you intending to let me know why you’ve come? For I doubt it’s strictly for the diversion of the festival itself, aye?’
I glance at the others. ‘You’ve had the birds from Halsford recently?’
She nods and gives a shrug. ‘Days ago. They alluded to some vague threat to the Light. I didn’t expect much more information, but if there’s something happening, something to do with the festival, I need to know.’
‘There was meant to be another bird, but it must still be journeying. I wasn’t meaning to keep you in the dark. We’re here because we think there might be some attack on the city. There’s a group in the Dark. They’ve been taking humans from the Light. We think they’re coming here.’
Vie doesn’t look surprised in the least.
‘Talk has reached the Great Library of late. Stories of travelers going missing. At first, we feared the Breach to the Dark Realms had re-opened, and Dark Realm creatures were once again spilling into this land, but there have been no reports of beasts at all. It’s something else.’
‘The Light Realmers are being taken,’ Locke nods.
‘Taken how,’ Vie asks, ‘when the Breach is all but sealed?’
‘We aren’t sure,’ I say. ‘But we think they’re intending to come here during the festival. We’re here to stop them.’
Vie looks puzzled. ‘You think they’ll be able to enter the city through the wards?’
‘From the information we have, it seems to be the case,’ I say.
The witch lets out a long sigh. ‘I should have been made aware of this before, Jak. I alone have access to the ward key.’
‘I know. My apologies. But we only recently discovered that it would be Kitore. I thought you’d have been told by the Underhill, though.’
Vie stands with pursed lips, and waddles over to her desk, ringing a small, tinkling bell.
‘Were other fae meant to be coming here as well?’ she asks.
I nod. ‘But we haven’t heard from them.’
Locke opens his mouth as if to speak, but closes it again just a quickly, saying nothing.
I frown at him, wondering if he’s keeping yet more from us, but now isn’t the time to address what he may or may not know. Vie is a friend, but she’s also a powerful force here, and fae business is fae business. Lia having us leave so abruptly and with no reinforcements doesn’t bode well for the state of the Underhill at the moment, that’s for sure.
‘I think we may be on our own,’ I say.
Vie nods. ‘Then, I will ensure the Library’s forces are at your disposal, but when this is finished, I expect the Underhill to explain why such a mission was sanctioned within Kitore’s walls without informing us. The fae are entitled to their secrets, especially given what happened here, but not at the expense of the city, nor its occupants, Jak.’
I give Vie a nod. ‘Understood. Our apologies, First Scholar.’
‘We’ll speak more on this later, once you’re settled.’
A novice dressed in brown robes appears at the top of the stairs.
