Alice thought Ending’s smile widened a bit. ‘Indeed. The “fairy”, as you call him, is a poison-sprite named Vespidian. He serves another Reader, one of Geryon’s enemies, who wants the book for himself.’

‘Then I have to find him,’ Alice said. ‘He may know what really happened to my father.’

‘That will not be easy,’ Ending said. ‘He is a clever little beast. He has a charm of some kind that renders him invisible to me.’ Her voice took on a rumbling edge. ‘Otherwise, he would never have been able to set foot in my labyrinth without my knowing. But there may be a way to trap him. All we require is suitable bait.’

‘The book, in other words.’ Alice’s mind was racing ahead. ‘If we had this book he wants so badly, we could get him to come to us.’

‘Indeed. And so you see our interests align.’

‘All right,’ Alice said cautiously. ‘But I don’t see how I can help you find one book in a place like this.’

‘The nature of the hiding place prevents me from locating the book myself,’ Ending said. ‘But there must be a way to find it, or Vespidian would not be attempting the search. My first attempt to recruit someone to assist me has not been . . . fruitful. Nevertheless, if the two of you work together, I remain hopeful that you will discover something. I believe you have already met.’

Alice tried to think who else she had met, during her brief time at The Library. Ending could hardly mean Emma, or Mr Wurms, or—

‘Isaac? You asked him to help you?’

‘I did.’

‘Well,’ Alice said, ‘I’m not surprised you didn’t get anywhere. I only met him for five minutes, and he nearly got me killed.’ She paused. ‘That was you, wasn’t it? You led me to where Mr Black was meeting the fairy, and then you sent Ashes to lead me to Isaac.’

‘Clever girl,’ Ending purred. ‘Yes. The paths of the labyrinth are mine to command. They lead where I wish them to go.’

‘Why not just talk to me?’ Alice said. ‘Why stay in the shadows?’

Ending gave a soft chuckle. ‘I suppose that is because that is my nature.’

Alice pictured the library as a game board, with those eyes hovering over it, pushing the little pieces this way and that until she got what she wanted. It wasn’t a pleasant image, no matter how much Ending said she wanted to help.

But if it gets me to this Vespidian . . .

Only, there was a question that nagged at her. ‘What about Geryon?’

‘What about him?’

‘You’re his servant, aren’t you? I mean, this is his library, and you’re its guardian . . .’