Page 80 of Librarian

“You’re a magister.” I recognise the wax seals at the bottom of the parchment. There are seven, six representing an examiner from each family, and a larger, silvery one representing the dean of the Divination department. “Congratulations.”

My tone is level, but my heart does a tiny flip in my chest. He promised he’d do it, and he did.

“Not only that, he aced it,” Lambert crows. “A hundred per cent.”

Sure enough, there in perfect cursive letters is his score. Sixty out of sixty. A perfect ten from each examiner.

My smile becomes a little more genuine. “I never doubted that he would.” I turn my attention to Lambert. “You can ask him for tips so when you take the test, you’re better prepared.”

He groans. “Nope. Jasper is next, not me. He’s already learned master level magic. North and I have years of university to survive first.”

“Hey, dinnae drop me in it.” Jasper folds his arms.

Lambert just grins wider. “You’re already acting parriarch.”

“And Isidora still hasn’t announced a Winthrop vicegerent. Maybe you should take the exam so you can fill the position before she picks someone awful.” Jasper’s words don’t succeed in dimming any of Lambert’s glow.

Honestly, if the suggestion weren’t so unrealistic, I would be pushing Lambert to do exactly that. Unfortunately, he’s nowhere near ready.

“Wehaveto celebrate,” he insists. “I’ll bake something. Salted caramel brownies again? You liked those last time.”

I have a horrible feeling that I’ll have to strap Lambert to a desk and threaten him to get him to a point where he’s prepared to take his magister exams. Even then, he has no desire to become parriarch.

Leo dips his head. “Later. I’m heading back to Whiteabbey. Got to tell the old man he can finally step down. Should make him happy…” His mouth turns down, realising the irony of his statement. “Or as close to it as he can get.”

“You can’t leave straight away,” Lambert protests, eyes wide and pleading. “Brownies will only take an hour, tops!”

“I promised I’d become parriarch and pledge Ó Rinn’s support to the Librarian.” Leo finally shrugs out of his brother’s hold and offers me another nod. “I’ll?—”

SCRRRRREEEEEEEE.

Everyone in the room clamps their hands over their ears as a visceral screech tears through the castle.

It’s unending, high pitched, and agonisingly loud.

A squalling spell.

No. No. This is a distraction. I’ve read about it. An old tactic from the early years of enforcement.

My grimoire flips open on the bedside table, searching for a spell as something inside my ear pops.

I rip my hands away from my ears, screwing my eyes shut against the renewed onslaught as my palm lands on my grimoire.

“Scaellsolinci eriell!” The paper heats as I force as much power as I can into the runeform.

I don’t know if it worked. I can’t hear anything beyond the strident ringing in my ears. My eyes water as I scour the room, searching for all three men. Jasper’s hand lands on the bed beside me, dragging himself up, but I’m already moving.

This was a debilitating attack, but it’s just the beginning.

Then, because things aren’t bad enough, my vision starts to twinkle, the ringing in my ears wavering in pitch.

“Feck you.”

Mathias tuts in my ear.“Always a pleasure, Artemius. Now. Let’s get on with it, shall we? I have an appointment in Scotland, and I really can’t be late.”

Not now. Please, not now.

“Artemius Ó Rinn.” I force out. “Mathias is after?—”