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Bradamant snorted ‘My actions were a valid response to the situation’
‘Do you still have the books?’
Bradauess what Irene was about to suggest ‘I do Some of them are rarities, you know They would be appreciated by other Librarians’
‘I have no doubt,’ Irene said wryly ‘You have always had excellent taste But it may be necessary to return those stolen books to their owners in order to secure cooperation’
Bradamant put down her toast very deliberately, and stared at Irene ‘You have no authority to orderto turn me over to your new friends instead?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Irene said, and tried to ignore the mental voice that pointed out that yes, it would certainly convince Vale and Singh that she was on their side And Bradamant could easily escape fro that you were sent by one of our superiors Why?’
‘To find the Grimm book,’ Bradamant answered ‘And yes, let me reassure you: I do have orders from one of our superiors to that effect’
Irene tried not to show her relief Bradamant was still loyal to the Library A number of unpleasant possibilities had just been ruled out Even if there was so on inside the Library about as supposed to be fetching the damned book, at least she didn’t have to worry about Bradaue with Alberich ‘It’s possible that our target is one of those books that’s linked to the whole alternate,’ she said ‘The fact that Alberich’s after it shows just how important it is And you could only know of hly placed Surely these factors ether to find the book and bring it to the Library? Or do you have soers The toast lay on her plate, slowly cooling ‘Certainlythe book back,’ she replied ‘But I cannot see why Alberich should want to kill you It isn’t as if you have the book’
‘And you do?’ Kai put in, his tone highly formal But it wasn’t the formality of junior-to-senior: it was the forht, to a peer in another discipline
From the look on his face, he realized that a second too late
Bradaraced him with a delicate smile, and Irene wondered if anyone who didn’t know her would have recognized the calculation in her eyes ‘If I did,’ she said, ‘I wouldn’t be here now’
‘I think ould profit from a council of war,’ Irene said ‘Or ill all assuredly hang separately’
Bradaain until not even the smallest cruree to that much For the moment’
Irene nodded She turned towards the door ‘You can co if it had been the other way round, after all
Vale opened the door, and held it for Singh to enter Both h more than Vale – but then, Irene re hi you knew everything about secret goings-on, and then finding out you’d been fed a nice plausible h looked at Kai in a hich suggested that he usually got the coh-backed chair from by the desk He cleared off a stack of newspapers, and settled doith a snort, flipping out notebook and pen
‘I have been discussing the situation with Inspector Singh here,’ Vale said He steepled his fingers ‘It has beco Several ht – with Madame Bradamant’s cooperation – ’ he nodded to Brada facts’
‘May I ask what you’ve found?’ Irene said, glancing at Kai, who looked iarded her with the sa towards Bradahts ago, under the Opera House?’
‘I’m afraid I only know the very basic details about that,’ Irene said ‘Was it related to the Iron Brotherhood?’
Inspector Singh nodded ‘It was indeed, madam They happened to meet there, and unfortunately the blast took out a number of their more senior members’
‘Unfortunately?’ Kai said ‘Surely, if these people are crih shook his head ‘Your reaction is understandable, sir, but you must understand that we have infiltrated soree We knoho runs thee We have so to juainst them For the moment,’ he added ominously ‘The unfortunate result of this little affair was that a wo the society The Grand Hammer, I believe they call her And this woman is, shall we say, an unknown quantity I don’t like unknown quantities, Mr Strongrock They don’t fill o to prison as they should’