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‘Don’t waste that on my hands,’ Irene mumbled She hadn’t even realized that she’d picked the book up She let Bradamant ease the book out from under her arm ‘I need a drink’

‘Miss Winters!’ Vale exclaimed

‘Make that two healthy drinks I’m in shock Give me brandy’

‘But your hands,’ Vale protested ‘They need immediate care’

Irene didn’t want to look, but she forced herself There were deep cuts across both pal loose, and she thought she could see bone She looked away before she e up The skirt of her dress ith her blood Sheeven more than it already did She’d never hurt herself this badly She wasn’t even sure if it could be fixed ‘There are people in the Library who can deal with this,’ she said fir to herself Her words ca out, quick and professional, a distraction frohtness of her tone Her speech sounded as if it was co of little birds very far away ‘Mr Vale, thank you for your assistance, and I’ed into this Bradamant, please can you check the door – the inner door, the Library ingress – for any traps?’

‘I don’t think there could be any alien influences, after you invoked the Library inside this place,’ Bradaently

‘Oh’ She ht, then Kai, please helpher to her feet Under other circu on him, but at the mo on hiue It was only sensible

His clothing was disarranged, but still there So turning into a dragon didn’t nificant, and she filed it away so she could ask questions later ‘Are you sure about this?’ he asked in an undertone

‘I think it’s best that we’re out of here before any questions need answering’ That piece of wisdom was drilled into all Librarians very early on

‘Ahem’ Vale brushed at the trickle of blood on his collar, rather pointlessly, considering his generally dishevelled state ‘While I a this up, I would also be interested in finding out o, Miss Winters, all of youcan you tell me about the last story in that book?’

Brada to be No, and so were all the rest of them