The Farsighted may not have understood the Magister’s reluctance. She nodded vigorously.

Feverishly, Oblique wrote:

—They will admit no one.

Queen Estie snatched her arm away. “They will admit me.” She picked up the book. “I will give them Karsolsky’s System.”

If they accepted it, it might lessen their isolation.

At once, Crayn came to her side. He may not have understood her intentions, but he knew what he saw in her. His firm grip held her arm so that she would not stumble.

Without waiting for Magister Oblique’s approval, the Farsighted rose from her chair. Trembling for reasons of her own, she led Queen Estie and Crayn to the door.

In a rush, Estie left her rooms, hurrying so that she would not hurt anyone by shouting. Bifalt was alive. She had work to do.

TWENTY-SIX

CHARGING IN

Standing outside the door of Magister Avail’s quarters, Queen Estie demanded entrance. She did not waste her time on polite knocking or timid requests. Instead, she used sorcery to insist, forcing both the deaf man and the hunchback to hear her.

As she arrived, she had sent her guide, Joyly, to summon food and drink for the grieved, bitter Magisters. Commander Crayn she kept with her. He carried the book for her. She did not let her demand leak into his mind. It was not for him.

When she had repeated herself twice, Magister Avail retorted, Go away, Queen. There is nothing here for you.

Grinning like King Bifalt when he was determined to have his way, she insisted again.

Let me in. I know what you suffer. I have been betrayed. My father tried to have me killed. Then he tried to kill me himself. Let me in.

Abruptly, the door was snatched open. Magister Rummage confronted her with his teeth as if he wanted to take a bite out of her face. On both sides of his mouth, long-dried tears had left streaks in the grime of his visage. His hair looked torn. Small bald patches of his skull showed red.

Crayn shifted closer, held the book so that the hunchback could see it.

Magister Rummage flicked a glance at it. The angles of his scowl changed. His eyes betrayed a wince.

He could have slammed the door. But he had been with her in Tak Biondi’s room. His attitude toward her had changed. And her manner defied resistance. After a moment, he stepped back to let her enter.

With her Commander, she walked into Magister Avail’s rooms.

They were much like hers: higher in the carved stone of the Repository, closer to the librarian’s workroom, but similarly furnished and windowless. The first chamber was the sitting room. Only Magister Rummage was present.

The room had two inner doors, both shut. No doubt, one led to Magister Avail’s bedroom and bathing room. The other may have connected to the hunchback’s quarters. She did not care which was which.