“I think she’s ill,” said Effie. “Maybe she’ll be here tomorrow. Someone should drop over to her house on their way home and see if she’s okay.”

“I’ll do it,” said Raven. “It’s not really on my way home but I should practice more on my broomstick. Oh, why are these books so heavy?”

Raven was clutching several books that all seemed to be religious guides or manuals for prayer.

“Where did you get them all?” Maximilian asked her, as they walked through the big university gates and toward its main butterstone building.

“My mum’s account with Rosewater Books,” she said.

“Any sign of your art, by the way?” asked Maximilian. “I was wondering if it was scholar, like me.”

“Yeah, I’ve wondered that too,” said Raven.

“Have you ever tried my spectacles?”

“No, actually. Shall I try them now?”

Maximilian got them out of his bag for her as they walked through the large old stone entrance. Raven took them and put them on.

“Oh no!” she said, after having them on for less than one second. “They’ve made the world entirely red and weird. Euurgh. And they’re burning my nose. Have them back.”

“Worth a try,” said Maximilian. “Effie, do you know where we’re going?”

Effie, as usual, was walking too fast and was now leading the way down a university corridor that seemed darker than a corridor really should be during the day. The Tusitala School corridors were gloomy, but this was different. Here, they almost needed candles. Was there a grayout they didn’t know about? Or was it just the approach of Midwinter?

“Yep,” she said. “Room 108 in the James Tyler Kent Building. I looked at the map. It’s this way, I’m sure.”

“Why exactly are we doing this?” said Raven. “I mean, hanging out with the Diberi . . . What if they attack us?”

“Getting information,” said Maximilian. “Like we were told.”

“They can’t do anything to us here, I’m sure,” said Wolf. “But I’ve got this just in case.” He showed the others the Sword of Orphennyus in the side pocket of his knapsack.

“Well, this is our big chance to find out what they’re up to,” said Maximilian. “And stop whatever it is.”

“I think I might already know quite a lot of it,” said Effie. “But I’ll tell you when we get into the chapel. We can’t be sure we’re not being overheard here. Right. This way, I think.”

She hurried off again.

“So. Not a scholar, then,” Maximilian said to Raven as they tried to keep up with Effie.

“Oh well,” said Raven. “At least I’m eliminating them. I know I’m not a healer—don’t laugh at me, Wolf!—a warrior, either. Maybe I’ll have to eliminate them all before I actually find it.”

“It’ll happen,” said Maximilian. “Just be patient.”