Page 83

Something within Fern crackled into bright, frustrated life. Lady Covington was right—Carthanewasa place for knowledge but not a place for criminal activity or the violation of international arcane law.

Lautric spoke before Fern could open her mouth. “Perhaps we ought to.”

Soft and thoughtful: a suggestion, not a remonstration. Fern was reminded of that instance in the Sumbra Wing where she had mocked Lautric’s idealism. She’d dismissed it as a lie, another subtle manipulation, but now, she wasn’t so sure.

Lady Covington did not seem in the mood to consider his words. She raised an imperious hand.

“Finis coronat opus,” she said. “I suggest you think on those words, Mr Lautric, Miss Sullivan. That’s all. We shall now deliberate your results—you may leave.”

Fern turned and walked away, an itch of displeasure rippling underneath her skin, a sudden unease.Thoughts crawled in her mind, unspoken words crowded her throat.

The back of Lautric’s hand brushed hers: a quick, light touch, almost ephemeral, yet warm and reassuring. Fern’s shoulders relaxed, the tension melting gently away. For the first time since being paired with him, Fern admitted to herself that she was glad for his presence.

Chapter thirty-nine

The Token

Baudet was the lastcandidate to complete the second assignment. He returned to the narrow antechamber outside the Grand Mage Hall, where the other candidates waited in silence. He was alone; Vittoria had not reappeared. And Fern, who had found the way into the Astronomy Tower without being able to pass through it, was no longer even sure she was still on the young woman’s tracks.

Fern wasn’t sure of anything anymore, and the uncertainty of everything all made her stomach churn.

“Are you alright, Raphaël?”

It was Lautric who spoke from where he sat at Fern’s side, his elbows resting on his knees, his long fingers interlaced.

“Spare me your pity, Lautric,” Baudet snapped.

The easy charisma of his first night in Carthane was gone, whittled to a sharp point like a bone stripped of flesh. Fern could not blame him.

Although she was still determined to find a way into the Astronomy Tower, Baudet could not know that shewas indirectly looking for Vittoria. To him, it must appear as though nobody cared about Vittoria’s disappearance.

Fern had felt the same way about Josefa.

Before Lautric could say anything else, the door into the Grand Mage Hall opened, and the candidates were all summoned within. Fern exchanged a glance with Lautric, but neither spoke. The twins were first to stand and go through, Edmund handing Emmeline his elbow with a flourish, Emmeline taking it with a small, satisfied smile.

Once the candidates were gathered in front of the Grand Archivists, Dr Auden stood, his expression grave.

“Thank you all for your hard work during this assignment—your results will be posted to you shortly. In the meantime, we find ourselves forced to make another announcement. It is with great regret that we inform you that Miss Orsini’s candidacy for the post of Grand Archivist has been terminated.”

No murmur of surprise followed this announcement. The room was oppressively quiet. Fern turned her head: Baudet was staring fixedly at the Grand Archivists, motionless and unblinking. His Abyssal cross was clutched in his right fist, the intricate chain dangling like a rivulet of gold blood towards the floor.

“With two of our candidates gone and a number of worrying incidents unfolding recently, including some criminal matters, my colleagues and I have reflected long and hard on what must be done. We invited you all in the great hope that we would add to our numbers, choosing from some of the most promising selection of candidates we’ve had in over a hundred years. We allknew the risks involved in bringing so many of you here, and now we begin to fear we may have been too reckless with our decision. Carthane remains, and shall forever remain, our priority. It’s not the most important thing to us—to us, Carthane is theonlyimportant thing. Some of you already realise this.”

Dr Auden did not fix any candidate in particular with his eyes. On the contrary, his gaze was stony and unfocused, as though he were staring at nobody in particular, addressing nobody in particular. But Fern could not help but think of Edmund’s words, which had sounded so ugly to her ears.

We cannot all succeed. Let those of us who cannot withstand Carthane leave it.

Dr Auden continued.

“So it is with heavy but determined hearts that we have come to the decision to amend the terms of your candidacy.”

Fern’s heart faltered at his words.

“From now on, we will only seek to appoint one new Grand Archivist. When Carthane is threatened, we close ranks and stand firm. We have done so before and always shall. We need new Grand Archivists—Carthane must never be allowed to stagnate—but we have learned this must be a slow, careful process.” He raised a hand. “Rest assured, this decision will not affect you as candidates, and our decision-making process remains unchanged. We will proceed with the assignments as a way of short-listing our finalists, who will then prepare and present their thesis. In the end, only one will be selected.”

His grey eyes swept over the candidates like the indifferent wave of a northern sea, his icy austerity discouraging questions.

“The third assignment, based on the Arcane School of Elemency, will be announced soon. On behalf of all my fellow Grand Archivists, I wish to remind you all that you came to Carthane without the intention of leaving. I urge you all to carefully considerwhyyou came here, and why it matters. Only eight of you remain—one of you will succeed, all else will fail.Consider all your decisions carefully.Thank you all. You may go.”