“I knew there were risks,” Alice said. “And we may get out of this yet.” She turned to Isaac. “You should go back. If your master knows you’ve come here—”

“The hell with it,” Isaac said. “There’s no time. If you can convince the other apprentices to go along with your story—to tell their masters that Geryon is still in control—then it won’t matter.”

“And if I can’t, Anaxomander will kill you,” Alice said. “Isaac, please. You have to try to return before he notices you’re gone.”

“I’m not going to leave you alone.” Isaac stepped forward and pulled her close against him. Alice’s heart thump-bumped, and she could smell the ancient fabric of his battered coat. His voice was a whisper. “I lost Evander. I’m not going to lose you too.”

“I . . .” Alice swallowed hard.

“The labyrinthine are here,” Ending said. She let out a roar and slipped away, disappearing into the shadows.

Alice felt the fabric of the labyrinth give a little shiver as new minds took hold of it, closing in on Ending. The great cat could keep moving, but sooner or later they would box her in. In the meantime, the rest of the fabric went calm, quiet and undisturbed. Moments later, she felt the faint quiver that meant there were other humans in the library.

Alice pushed herself away from Isaac, blushing only a little. She looked down at Ashes, who was hunched miserably by her foot.

“What about you?” she said. “Do you want a safe corner to hide in until this is over?”

“No point,” the cat mumbled. “If they lock Mother away, they’ll come for me wherever I go.” He extended his front paws and then stretched, tail curving over his back. “You may as well bring me with you. At least that way I’ll get to see what happens.”

Alice picked him up and set him on her shoulder. “Just get clear if it does come to a fight.”

“Oh, I certainly intend to,” Ashes said.

“You’re not very loyal,” Isaac said as Alice took his hand.

“Loyalty,” Ashes sniffed, “is for dogs. Cats have better sense.”

“Stay close,” Alice said.

She twisted the fabric, connecting here to there for just long enough to step through. They emerged near an intersection of a narrow aisle and a wide one. There was a gap between two of the shelves, and from this vantage point Alice could spy on the broad aisle without being seen. She pressed her eye against it, and Isaac knelt to look as well.

Five people walked down the aisle, sticking together in a tight group. In the lead, Alice recognized Ellen, dressed in worn, cream-colored leather. She was tall and thin, with pale skin and close-cropped blond hair, and the bright light of her halo hovered a foot above her head. Behind her came Dexithea, her dark, frizzy hair tied up in a messy ponytail.