Page 30 of Librarian

Is that wise? Is Benny really on our side? Wait. How much did Pierce tell him? Surely not too much, or the covenant would have activated for real this time.

Benny drags his grandson into his arms, giving him a hug before drawing back and pinching Pierce’s chin between his finger and thumb, pulling the scarred skin of his cheek this way and that.

“It’ll heal,” he says, more to himself than us. “If nothing else, the cosmetic spells required to hide it are easily cast.”

“Kyrith woke up.” Pierce pulls his face out of his grandfather’s hold. “She’s still draining everyone she touches, but it’s less noticeable.”

“Naturally. I imagine Mathias was quite thorough in ripping all the power he could from the Arcanaeum before he was kicked out. Her recovery is our first priority.”

At least we can agree on that much.

I must make some noise because Benny turns his gaze on me next.

“Galileo, you’re looking much better than you did when we last saw each other.”

“Yeah.” It’s a lame response, but I don’t want to admit just how much of a difference a few nights of sleep and several large helpings of Mama Dee’s cooking have made. “I owe you one for helping with the ensorcellment.”

Benny waves me off before I’ve even finished. “Nonsense. However, I will be checking on you while I’m here. Not to question the young McKinley’s work, but Mathias was probably less than gentle when he shredded your magical well to enter the Arcanaeum. There could be lingering damage.”

My mouth twists as I remember the utter agony that accompanied Mathias’s spells. Shredding through my magical well sounds about right.

“Why are you helping me?”

Everyone else hates my guts right now.

Benny pats my arm. “Because you’re not the first young man to be fooled by the lich’s false promises. We can only hope you’ll be the last.”

“I’m probably the only one who was stupid enough to fall for it, even knowing what he was.”

He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure. He can be charismatic, and he’s no stranger to exploiting desperate arcanists. Now, where is Anthea?”

Pierce raises a brow. “In the dungeons. I haven’t bothered visiting.”

“Ah, yes. You’ve never dealt well with guilt.” Benny starts walking like he knows exactly where the dungeon is, and Pierce and I fall into step behind him.

“I’m not feeling guilty.”

Benny doesn’t comment.

A second later, Pierce huffs out a breath. “She asked me to make Kyrith grant her Sanctuary before Isidora set her up. I…I didn’t believe she was serious.”

“Why would you? Your mother has used her to set traps for you in the past. It was perfectly reasonable for you to disbelieve anything that came out of her mouth.”

Pierce’s lips twist, but he doesn’t argue. “She won’t want to talk to you. Apparently, she tried to go after our mother in a blaze of vengeful glory before Dakari knocked her out.”

Eh, maybe he should’ve let her. Anthea is still powerful. She’d probably have put a good dent in their forces and then, at least, there’d be a few less Carltons in the world.

“Ah, ever the drama queen.” Benny’s smile is soft and fond, not an expression I’m used to seeing associated with his granddaughter. “Hopefully she’s calmed down by now. Galileo, would you mind giving us a little privacy? I’m sure Anthea is rather humiliated by her situation, so it’s probably best we don’t make this a group visit.”

It’s a thin excuse, but I take it for the dismissal it is. I leave them with a nod, heading towards the keep. The door opens as I reach the bottom of the steps, and I come face to face with Lambert. Westley is in his arms, wearing a bright blue harness that he’s trying to wiggle out of.

Feck.

I’m paralysed.

This is the first time we’ve been alone since it all happened.

My mouth is suddenly full of sand.