The Library of the Unwritten - A. J_ Hackwith Page 0,32
realms, but where would you start looking for the Devil’s Bible, Librarian?”
“I would . . .” Claire hesitated as she appeared to give the question the full measure of her attention. “The angel found us in Seattle, but I suspect that’s because he was chasing any demonic activity. He seemed surprised to find us. That means his leads ran out. No, the pages might be on Earth, but we would have to start with information on how they went missing. You say Bjorn the Bard was the librarian who retrieved it, but . . .”
Both Claire and Andras went silent, and Leto lost his patience. “But what?”
“Bjorn’s not a librarian anymore. Not even in Hell. He did his time in the Library, and his soul found rest. And he was of the old beliefs, so . . .” Claire raised her brows at Andras. “If we wanted to talk to Bjorn, we would have to find him . . . in Valhalla?”
“In Valhalla.”
“Ravens?” Claire was curious.
“Ravens.” Andras was certain.
“Ravens?” Leto was confused.
An unsettling smile, sharp and resigned, tugged at Claire’s mouth. “I thought you were retired from the game, Arcanist.”
Andras chuckled. “I can be induced, for a good cause and a lovely face.”
Claire ignored the flattery. “And to sate your curiosity about a secret, I imagine.”
“Well, now, that would just be a bonus for an old man’s entertainment, pup.”
Claire glanced once at Leto, and he gave her what he hoped was a nod of support. She sighed. “Where do we start?”
“With the raven road, of course,” Andras said.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
A BRIEF ARGUMENT ENSUED, which was settled only when Claire invoked some obscure rule of conduct that Leto had never heard of. Andras threw up his hands and disappeared back into the cluttered shadows of his wing, and Claire resumed her atrociously fast stride up the stairs the way they’d come. Leto found himself winded by the third flight. Librarians were exhausting.
“Miss Librarian? What’s happening now?”
“We’ve drowned together, Leto. You can call me Claire.”
“What’s happening now, Claire?”
“I believe”—Claire gave the gargoyle a pat as they rounded the corner into the familiar maze of halls that led to the Unwritten Wing—“now I am about to become a very bad role model for you. If you really are a demon, this is the point where you should probably be running off to tattle on us.”
Leto reached up to rub the point of one ear. “I don’t think I want to tattle after what Andras said.”
“Me neither, unfortunately,” Claire said with a sigh.
Leto considered the Arcanist and fought back his unease about being around another demon. “You said he was a . . . a duke?”
“Was. Once.” Claire gave a tight-lipped smile. “Before I knew him, he was a high duke in Hell’s court. Very highly respected, commanded legions, and was Lucifer’s right hand. Demon of Confessions, I think. He was ousted in a political coup more than a hundred years ago. Demons love nothing more than their political games; never stand between a demon and a rise to power.”
“Isn’t that where you said the Library is now?”
Claire made a face. “Yes. Aren’t you a fast learner? In any case, Andras survived but withdrew from the court to lick his wounds. He eventually took over the role of curator for the Arcane Wing. He’s a demon, yes, but retired from the court. He’s always been a supporter of the Library. He . . . ah, he helped me out a good deal when I was a new librarian. He taught me a lot.”
A memory, a pain, a regret, all flicked over Claire’s face, too rapid-fire for Leto to comment on. He stared at his hands. One claw had a hangnail. He worried at it. “But I still don’t know what I’m supposed to—I mean, you said we’re going to go after this thing?”
Claire slowed so suddenly that Leto nearly ran into her back. She cast a glance toward the Library entrance, then pulled him to one side. “This isn’t like fetching the hero’s book, Leto. This is going to get . . . complicated.”
“I had a feeling.”
“I’ll be doing something which may upset the rest of Hell. The Library’s always been a bit separate. . . .”
“I understand.”
“But you’re not part of the Library.” Leto’s face fell, and Claire closed her eyes briefly. “I mean, you’re welcome here, but you don’t have to be part of this. It’s going to be dangerous. Even if we manage to accomplish what we intend, when