Jin Zhi dissected a cucumber sandwich. ‘Yes,’ she finally said. ‘She wants us to find her a very particular book, in order to demonstrate our abilities. The courtier who brings her the book will get preferment. The one who doesn’t . . . will pay the price. Those who aspire to high office must accept the high risks of failure.’
Irene buttered a scone thoughtfully. ‘I understand why you considered going to a Librarian,’ she said. ‘But I can’t give you a copy from the Library, and there are so many different versions of that particular book out there, in any case . . . I wouldn’t even know where to start looking. You said you knew which world it was from, but I don’t think dragons and Librarians use the same terminology for alternate worlds. Even if we did take commissions . . . which we don’t. I’m not even sure where you heard my name in the first place.’ In fact, that last point was making Irene nervous.
‘A friend of a friend,’ Jin Zhi said, ‘knows Kai, son of the King of the Eastern Ocean . . .’ She stopped. ‘Forgive my formality, but it’s hard to break the habit. Anyhow, I heard that Kai was spending time in this world and that he had a Librarian serving him. I wanted to ask a Librarian some questions. I’m sure you can see my logic.’
‘Absolutely,’ Irene agreed. Her inner alarm was rising to a low boil, but she didn’t show it. Jin Zhi knew far too much about Kai, Irene and the Library. This was not good for Irene’s safety, and might be dangerous for Kai as well.
But why did you visit while Kai was elsewhere? the cynical part of her mind commented. And why didn’t you go to him first? This story does not hold water. It positively leaks.
Irene kept her expression neutral. She couldn’t call this dragon a liar to her face. Dragons were not generally concerned about collateral damage when they took offence. ‘But I’m afraid I’m not actually working for Kai. I’m also surprised that you found me here – in York.’
‘I employed servants to locate you,’ Jin Zhi said with a shrug. ‘I’m not one of those people who tries to do everything herself. I prefer to employ experts.’
‘Like a Librarian,’ Irene agreed.
‘Well, exactly.’ Jin Zhi leaned forward. ‘Now naturally I don’t want to make any sort of arrangement with you. It would be highly inappropriate. I’m glad to hear that you’re so definite about your independence.’
Irene’s danger signals were going off all down the line. Was this some sort of test by the Library, to see how she’d react? No, that had to be too paranoid. But was Jin Zhi skirting around asking for help so that she could claim innocence in future? And if so, what did she want from Irene?
Jin Zhi had admitted that this was the pivot for an internal power struggle in the dragon court – but had avoided saying how important it was. Which suggested it was very important indeed. As such, Irene – and all Librarians – needed to stay well out of it.
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Irene said briskly. ‘Because I really am neutral, the Library really is independent, and we absolutely do not get involved in dragon politics – let alone dragon court politics. I appreciate the tea and sandwiches, but anything more is out of the question.’
Jin Zhi’s eyes narrowed as she sat back in her chair, her mask of civility gone. She picked up a biscuit and snapped it between her fingers, and for a moment her nails were longer and claw-like. ‘How interesting,’ she said, making the word sound like a curse. ‘And I’d thought I was just evening the scales.’
‘I don’t understand.’
The door blew open as a group staggered in from the night, hats and umbrellas drenched from the pouring rain. Even at this hour of the night, past midnight and with the rain coming down and the river flooding, York hummed with activity.
‘I understand that my competitor has already secured a Librarian’s assistance. Apparently not all Librarians are quite as principled as you, Irene.’
Irene shrugged, but a chill ran down her spine. ‘I know nothing about that,’ she said. She didn’t keep track of most Librarians’ schemes. Apart from them all collecting books, of course. That went without saying. But surely no sane Librarian would get involved in something like this? It would mean drawing the Library into dragon politics. And that could make other Librarians in the field easy targets for any dragons with a stake in the situation. As for the Fae reaction, if they found out – or even if they just suspected – that the Library was collaborating with dragons . . . Kai was apprenticed to the Library, possibly the only situation where a dragon–librarian working relationship was permitted. Even so, Irene had been scrupulous about not involving herself and Kai in dragon politics. Anything else would not be tolerated.
‘Really.’ Jin Zhi’s tone was edged metal. ‘Don’t you talk to each other at all?’
‘We probably aren’t as well organized as you dragons are,’ Irene said, obfuscating. She needed more information. ‘And I’m surprised you’re so well informed about your competitor’s actions.’
‘Well, if I fail to get the book due to Librarian interference, I won’t forget it. And I’ll make sure that others hear about it too.’
Irene put down her cup and leaned forward. ‘Are you threatening me?’ she asked gently.
‘No,’ Jin Zhi said, a little too quickly. ‘Of course not. I wouldn’t think of blackmailing you to persuade you to do something unethical. I’m not trying to involve you in this on my side. I’m simply suggesting that you even the playing ground. I want you to make sure that my opponent,’ and her voice seethed with anger for a moment, ‘doesn’t get help. That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?’
She watched Irene from under lowered lids. Piano music filled the silence, with an underlying hiss of rain against the windows.
‘I would need some proof of what you’re saying,’ Irene said slowly. At the moment this was merely supposition, based on Jin Zhi’s story. But if this was true . . . then a Librarian somewhere had just made a huge mistake and had put the whole Library in danger. This would undermine the Library’s hard-fought neutrality, the work of centuries. The average Fae would not overly object to Irene having tea and sandwiches with a dragon, any more than the average dragon would object to her having tea with a Fae – though both of them might sneer at it. But trying to affect dragon court politics? Getting involved in a life-or-death competition for high office, with the possibility of influencing the winner? Taking sides on that level? That would turn the Fae as a whole against every single Librarian they came across. And that could destroy the Library.
‘I can’t give you proof that another Librarian’s involved.’ Jin Zhi opened her handbag and took out some sheets of paper. ‘But these are details of the book we have been instructed to find, and its world of origin. What you do with this information is up to you. I wouldn’t want to be accused of putting any sort of pressure on you. Though no doubt you’ll bear in mind that, now that we’ve met, I’ll be able to find you again.’ Her lips moved in a smile. ‘Even if you’re far too professional to let that affect your choice of action.’
‘I am a professional,’ Irene said flatly. ‘I don’t waste my time on empty threats.’
But she reached out to take the sheets of paper.