It was all, Alice felt, in extremely bad taste. Her father had told her once, after they’d visited a colleague’s over-decorated mansion, that the fancier the display someone felt they had to put on, the more desperately they wanted to impress you. Even her father might have been awed by the sheer amount of precious metal on display here, but Alice had spent enough time in the world of the Readers to realize that wealth in ordinary, human terms meant nothing to them. There was no point to hoarding gold and gems when in some book, somewhere, there was probably a creature that could create them out of thin air.

By his expression, Isaac had similar thoughts, but Soranna’s eyes were wide. For someone who had grown up in a forest, it probably was impressive. Dex had a calculating look on her face, like a thief sizing up a potential haul.

The front door swung shut behind them, as silently as it had opened. Alice led the way across the polished floor, her boots clattering at every step. They were just coming to the feet of the great statue when the curtain at the top of the steps billowed. Alice halted at once, ready to grab her threads.

Jacob emerged and peered down at them, arms folded. He looked dirty and wan, eyes sunk deep in their sockets and hair wild and unkempt. Alice heard the hiss of Isaac’s breath beside her.

“What are you doing here?” Jacob said, in a voice that boomed and echoed throughout the chamber. It was nothing like the hesitant, halting tone he’d used the last time he’d spoken to Alice. “I did not give you permission to enter my domain.”

“We’re here to help you!” Alice called back. Her voice bounced around the room and came back to her in weird, distorted echoes.

“Here to kill me, you mean, at your masters’ bidding,” Jacob said. When Alice hesitated, he laughed. “I hope I’ve already demonstrated the foolishness of making the attempt.”

“Torment is using you,” Alice said. “Just . . . come down here and talk to us, all right?”

“Don’t be an idiot.” Jacob raised his hands. “I have taken up my so-called master’s mantle. The sooner the other Readers accept that, the better. I should obliterate the lot of you, to make sure they get the message.” He cocked his head. “However, I will show mercy. Leave this place and never return, and you may keep your lives.”

“I . . .” Alice paused, not sure what to say. Isaac stepped in front of her.

“Evander!” he shouted. “I know it’s not really you saying that. You’d never be this stupid.”

Jacob blinked. It was hard to read his expression at this distance, but he seemed uncertain. His hands fell to his sides.

“I . . . Isaac?” The deep, booming voice was gone. “Is that you?”

“It’s me!” Isaac took a step forward.

“You came . . . for me?”