‘Once I found out which world you were coming to – dear me, you weren’t expecting that bit, were you? I assure you it’s quite true.’ Alberich’s eyes were penetrating again, cataloguing her reactions. ‘In any case, once I knew you were heading here, I came here myself and took a position of authority. The head of the Oprichniki hears all the news, after all. When I received reports of the disturbance at the sleigh-port, I knew you were in St Petersburg. And when that storm blew up so suddenly over the Winter Palace tonight, well . . .’
Irene seethed. In retrospect, she’d left an obvious trail for anyone who knew the signs to follow. Her only excuse was that she hadn’t expected anyone here to be looking for her. But like all excuses, when actually tested, it sounded rather hollow. Her professional pride was stung. ‘I’m extremely embarrassed,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘I had no idea—’
‘Well, of course not,’ Alberich said. ‘Now, as we agreed, a dance. They’re playing a waltz. You can waltz, I hope?’ He offered her his hand.
‘Of course,’ Irene said, taking his hand. Her skin crawled as he touched her, even through the lace of her glove. Further out in the crowd she could see Kai, and the leashed tension in his body. She caught his eye and shook her head slightly. Don’t do anything. Yet. ‘But how did you find out I was coming here?’
‘My dear Ray, you’re far too trusting.’ He led her out onto the floor, and she could feel the stares of the assembled dignitaries.
‘Will I regret agreeing to this dance?’ Fear was spreading again, like ice in her heart and throat, but she met his gaze as she turned to face him.
Alberich paused just long enough for the fear to blossom into terror, then he smiled at her again. ‘Did you think I meant you’re too trusting of me? Well, yes, but not right here and now. I need answers, and it’s difficult to get those when the other person can’t trust you enough to make a deal. Torture really isn’t as effective as they say.’
‘I’m sure you’d know,’ Irene said, keeping her tone as light as she could. All around the floor, partners were smiling at each other as the musicians picked up the pace of the waltz. She set her lips in a deliberately upward curl, gazing into Alberich’s eyes as he settled his other hand on her waist. ‘But then who shouldn’t I trust – what did you mean?’
‘I mean that I was told you were being sent to world B-1165.’ He was ready for the stutter in her gait, and smoothly guided her into the first steps of the dance. ‘Surely you’re not so naive as to think that all Librarians are as faithful to their cause as you are?’
Irene kept the smile pinned on her face, but her thoughts went round in little circles. He’s suggesting someone in the Library betrayed me. But is he telling the truth, or dissembling to stop me suspecting someone else? Or is it a double-bluff because he knows I’ll assume he’s lying . . . ‘Nobody’s perfect,’ she said eventually. ‘Not even me.’
‘So you’ve been thinking about what I said.’ They turned together in the smooth pivots of the waltz.
‘Well, I’m not stupid.’ Unless one counted getting into this entire situation as total stupidity, in which case Irene had already lost that argument – and probably her life, too. ‘But I want to know more about your threat to the Library, before I make any irreparable decisions.’
‘That’s easy enough.’ They moved in a bubble of space amid the other dancers. Nobody wanted to get too close to the head of the Oprichniki. ‘Unless it submits to me, the Library will be destroyed. And unless you give me the information I want . . .’
‘I will be destroyed too?’ Irene suggested.
‘You’re taking this very well.’
‘I’ve had practice,’ Irene said regretfully. ‘Death threats seem to crop up twice a week these days. I’m working on getting past the sheer terror and onto the bargaining stage.’
‘I knew there was a reason I liked you,’ Alberich said approvingly. They negotiated a corner turn stylishly, and Irene took the opportunity to glance across the crowd and spot Kai. He was still there. In retrospect, perhaps she should have told him to steal the book while Alberich was occupied. But she wasn’t sure he’d have agreed to leave her there with Alberich. ‘When we spoke before – well, when you sent me those threatening messages – you said you wanted to know what “the book” said. You meant the volume of Grimm tales, I assume?’ He’d tried to kill her over it, after all. If there was yet another book involved, that introduced a whole new level of complexity.
‘Correct. There was an anomalous story in that edition.’ Alberich must have caught the flicker in her eyes, as she considered claiming ignorance. ‘Come now, Ray, we both know you read it. Anyone would have done so, under the circumstances. Someone like yourself certainly would.’
‘“Someone like myself?”’ Irene asked, playing for time.
‘Someone who’s good at being a Librarian. Notice that I don’t say “a good Librarian”.’ They moved together in the waltz, their steps balanced and precise. ‘Someone who does the job well – not just someone who’s devoted to the Library’s philosophy. That’s why I want to recruit you.’
Irene’s first impulse was a rather stupid pride. After all, how many people were complimented by the Library’s arch-traitor, who admired them enough to want to recruit them in person? The second impulse was sheer revulsion. If he thinks I’d work for him, after everything he’s done, then what does he think of me? But the third impulse, the one that kept her feet moving and her face smiling, was simple, cold calculation. How can I use this?
‘I can’t trust you,’ she said. He’d expect her to be suspicious. ‘Perhaps I should just run for it.’
‘The Palace is guarded.’ He swept her round another turn, his hand warm in the small of her back, gloved in a dead man’s skin. ‘I don’t mean just by casual guards, either. I mean by alert guards, who have been warned about possible revolutionaries – guards ready to shoot to kill and have the necromancers ask questions later. There are even guards on the roof now. The Language can’t outrun a speeding bullet.’
Was he telling the truth? She wasn’t sure. But was it possible? Yes, very possible. ‘And if I answer your questions, and tell you what you want to know?’
‘Then you’ll be kept under arrest here till the Library has fallen. But you’ll live.’
‘And Kai?’
‘He can have the cell next to you,’ Alberich said generously.
‘You’re very certain that the Library will fall.’
‘If I had the least doubt, I wouldn’t be stopping to have this conversation with you here and now.’
Irene would have liked to think Alberich was lying about that, too. But nothing in his voice suggested falsehood or even uncertainty. He meant every word of it. ‘How are you doing it?’ she asked.