The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses #2) - Cassandra Clare Page 0,116
gaze found Magnus, over to his right.
“You,” said Ragnor, “are a terrible fool.”
Magnus cocked his head, unsure what this statement said about Ragnor’s current evil-or-not-evil status. He did note that Ragnor’s horns were back to their normal size. His eyes and his teeth, also, seemed more familiar.
“You had the power of gods in your hands,” Ragnor said. “They spoke to me. You could have wielded them in any number of ways against Sammael. And you wasted them on, of all things, un-thorning me.”
Magnus laughed, unable to stop himself. He leaned over and grabbed Ragnor into a tight bear hug.
“I assume,” said Magnus after a moment, “that you’re tolerating being hugged for this long because you are suffused with your love for me as your dearest friend and also your savior, and not because you are too weak to get away.”
“Think what you like,” said Ragnor.
Magnus pulled away and examined Ragnor’s chest from several angles. The thorn scars were, as far as he could tell, completely gone. Unfortunately, so were the swords.
Ragnor drew himself up onto his elbows. “The Black and White Impermanence,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Where in all the realms of this universe did you get them?”
“You’ll forgive me,” said Magnus, “if I don’t say. I’m only around seventy-five percent sure you’re no longer under Sammael’s thrall.”
Ragnor shook his head somberly. “It was the wrong call, Magnus. Saving me. You’d have been better off using the power of the Heibai Wuchang to stop Sammael, or even to delay him or change his plans. I’d be better off left behind here. I told you, I’ve done too many things that cannot be atoned for.”
Magnus held up his two palms and mimed balancing a scale. “No salvation for evildoers. Those who atone, be at peace. I’m sorry, Ragnor, but the death gods have decided, and they say, be at peace.”
“Do you believe everything death gods tell you?” said Ragnor sternly.
Magnus helped him to his feet. “Are they gone, do you think? Did I… did I use them up?”
Ragnor said, “You can’t keep a god down, Magnus. They are Black and White Impermanence. You know, impermanent. After a time they’ll re-form in Diyu, I’m sure.” He looked around at the temple, as though he’d just noticed how dilapidated and grimy it was.
“Ragnor,” Magnus said, “was stealing the Book of the White absolutely necessary? Did Sammael demand it?”
Ragnor looked over at the Book on the table and started, as though he had forgotten it was there. Then he turned back to Magnus and barked a laugh. “No. It was Shinyun’s idea.”
Magnus’s eyebrows went up. “He doesn’t want it?”
“Well, no, he does,” Ragnor allowed. “He wants us to use it to weaken Earth’s wards, the ones put in place after he tried to invade the first time. So he can get back in.” He gave a wry look. “But Shinyun was very committed to the idea of retrieving it.”
“Because she wanted to come visit me?” Magnus said.
“Not everything is about you, Magnus,” Ragnor said sternly. “Although yes, Shinyun has… complicated feelings where you’re concerned. But I think she wanted the Book for her own purposes. She may be Sammael’s favorite pet, but I know her, and she definitely is playing her own game, separate from Sammael’s.”
“That’s exactly what I said!” Magnus exclaimed, gratified. “I said those exact words, ‘playing her own game.’ So, what game? A hedge against the possibility of his failure?”
“Setting the stage for her own success,” Ragnor said. He stood up. “My stars,” he said, “I can’t believe I accepted this kind of accommodation just because I was willing to serve Sammael. What a dump.”
“I can’t promise it’s any more comfortable,” said Magnus, “but let me take you back to Saint Ignatius. Well, Reverse Saint Ignatius. All the Shadowhunters are taking sanctuary there.”
Ragnor hesitated. “I suppose I must,” he said. “Atonement has to begin somewhere. And Sammael isn’t going to just let me go back home.” He looked a bit lost. “My home…,” he said. “I can’t return there anyway.”
“Let’s go,” Magnus said. “We can discuss your future when we get there.”
Ragnor retrieved the Book of the White. He pressed it into Magnus’s hands, and Magnus took it. He didn’t feel like he was finally receiving one of his possessions back; he felt like this was just the latest laying of this burden on his shoulders. Nevertheless, he carefully shrank the Book down to a manageable size and tucked it away in his pocket.