“Gav. Keep your voice down.” She laid a finger beside her lips.

“Sorry,” he whispered. “You’ve been gone awhile, is all. How have you been? We miss you.”

“I miss you, too, Gav.” She hugged him around the scrolls. He was large and warm and soft.

“Did you come to visit? I’ll get some of the guys. I think Cal has a flask at his desk, I mean, it’s not good booze I think and it’s not much, but we should celebrate.” Gavin wasn’t a drinker, and the word “booze” sounded strangely affected in his mouth.

“I’m sorry, I can’t. Wish I could.” Clicks and spinning gears: the golem librarian turned toward them and the apertures of its eyes irised tight. Still holding Gavin by the shoulder, Kai walked him out past the desk, into the hall where at least the wooden panels would dull their voices. He followed, easily steered, like a two-hulled catamaran in a strong breeze. Easily steered, and just as easily tipped. “I can’t stay long.”

“I thought you were still recovering. Working with pilgrims.”

So “recovery” was how Jace sold her exile to the team. “I need information to seal the deal for this one pilgrim. I don’t want to promise the world only to learn we can’t deliver.”

He nodded slowly. “That happened to me a while back. Someone thought we could make an idol who’d just resurrect things for fun.” He chuckled. “Hard commitment to back out of. But, I mean, here, let me tell the guys, and when you’re done you can come down to the pool and we’ll all hang out. Only the night crew’s here now, and it’s slow.” He pressed the scrolls closer to his chest. “I wanted to catch up on my reading.”

She should have used that excuse, rather than concocting something about pilgrims. “I’d love to. Just…” I’m not supposed to be here at all, and every second I stay is a risk I shouldn’t take? It would hurt too much to sit with friends and talk as if nothing happened? Both were true, and neither would help. “I’m recovering. I don’t want to push it. Maybe you could all come down the mountain and hang out with me. I’d like that.”

He breathed in through his mouth, stuck out his jaw, and nodded. “Sure. I can see that. Most of the guys don’t go anywhere except the mountain and their own apartments, but I think I can swing something.” His eyes widened. “I mean, are you okay? I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Is there anything I can do for you? Should you even be up here without help?”