Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices 2)

Charlotte looked up with a pained expression. "Jessamine, there is no need for you to remain if you do not wish to. I must say, I doubt any of us was expecting your help in this matter, and since you have never much applied yourself to your studies, I cannot help but wonder if you even know what it is you are looking for. Could you tell a binding spel from a summoning spel if I set the two before you?"

Tessa couldnt help being surprised. Charlotte was rarely so sharp with any of them. "I want to help," Jessie said sulkily. "Those mechanical things of Mortmains nearly kil ed me. I want him caught and punished. "

"No, you dont. " Will, unrol ing a parchment so old that it crackled, squinted down at the black symbols on the page. "You want Tessas brother caught and punished, for making you think he was in love with you when he wasnt. "

Jessamine flushed. "I do not. I mean, I did not. I mean-ugh! Charlotte, Will s being vexing. "

"And the sun has come up in the east," said Jem, to no one in particular.

"I dont want to be thrown out of the Institute if we cant find the Magister,"

Jessamine went on. "Is that so difficult to understand?"

"You wont be thrown out of the Institute. Charlotte will. Im sure the Lightwoods Will let you stay. And Benedict has two marriageable sons. You ought to be delighted," said Will.

Jessamine made a face. "Shadowhunters. As if Id want to marry one of them. "

"Jessamine, you are one of them. "

Before Jessamine could reply, the library door opened and Sophie came in, ducking her white-capped head. She spoke quietly to Charlotte, who rose to her feet. "Brother Enoch is here," Charlotte said to the assembled group. "I must speak with him. Will, Jessamine, do try not to kil each other while I am gone. Henry, if you could . . . "

Her voice trailed off. Henry was gazing down at a book-Al-Jazaris Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices-and paying no attention whatsoever to anything else. Charlotte threw up her hands, and left the room with Sophie.

The moment the door closed behind Charlotte, Jessamine shot Will a poisonous look. "If you think I dont have the experience to help, then why is she here?" She indicated Tessa. "I dont mean to be rude, but do you think she can tell a binding spel from a summoning one?" She looked at Tessa.

"Well, can you? And for that matter, Will, you pay so little attention at lessons, can you tell a binding spel from a souffle recipe?"

Will leaned back in his chair and said dreamily, "I am but mad north-north- west; when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw. "

"Jessamine, Tessa has kindly offered to help, and we need all the eyes we can get right now," said Jem severely. "Will, dont quote Hamlet. Henry . . . "

He cleared his throat. "HENRY. "

Henry looked up, blinking. "Yes, darling?" He blinked again, looking around. "Wheres Charlotte?"

"She went to talk to the Silent Brothers," said Jem, who did not appear put out of temper to have been mistaken by Henry for his wife. "In the meantime Im afraid . . . that I rather agree with Jessamine. "

"And the sun comes up in the west," said Will, who had apparently heard Jems earlier comment.

"But why?" Tessa demanded. "We cant give up now. It would be just like handing the Institute over to that awful Benedict Lightwood. "

"Im not suggesting we do nothing, you understand. But were trying to decipher what it is that Mortmain is going to do. Were trying to predict the future instead of trying to understand the past. "

"We know Mortmains past, and his plans. " Will waved his hand in the direction of the newspapers. "Born in Devon, was a ships surgeon, became a wealthy trader, got himself mixed up in dark magic, and now plans to rule the world with his massive army of mechanical creatures by his side. A not atypical story for a determined young man-"

"I dont think he ever said anything about ruling the world," interrupted Tessa. "Just the British Empire. "

"Admirably literal," said Will. "My point is, we do know where Mortmain came from. Its hardly our fault that it isnt very interesting . . . " His voice trailed off. "Ah. "

"Ah, what?" Jessamine demanded, looking from Will to Jem in a vexed manner. "I declare, the way you two seem to read each others minds gives me the shudders. "

"Ah," said Will. "Jem was just thinking, and I would tend to agree, that Mortmains life story is, quite simply, balderdash. Some lies, some truth, but very likely there isnt anything in here that Will help us. These are just stories he made up to give the newspapers something to print about him. Besides, we dont care how many ships he owns; we want to know where he learned dark magic, and from whom. "

"And why he hates Shadowhunters," said Tessa.

Will s blue eyes slid lazily toward her. "Is it hatred?" he said. "I assumed it was a simple greed for domination. With us out of the way, and a clockwork army on his side, he could take power as he liked. "

Tessa shook her head. "No, it is more than that. It is difficult to explain, but -he hates the Nephilim. It is something very personal for him. And it has something to do with that watch. Its-its as if he desires recompense for some wrong or hurt theyve done him. "

"Reparations," said Jem very suddenly, setting down the pen he was holding.

Will looked at him in puzzlement. "Is this a game? We just blurt out whatever word comes next to mind? In that case mines genuphobia. It means an unreasonable fear of knees. "

"Whats the word for a perfectly reasonable fear of annoying idiots?"

inquired Jessamine.

"The Reparations section of the archives," said Jem, ignoring them both.

"The Consul mentioned it yesterday, and its been in my head since. We havent looked there. "

"Reparations?" asked Tessa.

"When a Downworlder, or a mundane, all eges that a Shadowhunter has broken the Law in their dealings with them, the Downworlder lodges a complaint through Reparations. There Will be a trial, and the Downworlder Will be accorded some sort of payment, based on whether they can prove their case. "