The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer

Author:Caroline Stevermer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

Chapter Ten

Spurred on by the manticore attack, Thalia returned to the damp chill of the Changing room. Now that the existence of another part of her soul had become evident, Thalia was determined to learn to Trade. The brandy she’d consumed might also have contributed to her zeal.

Nell had learned to Trade, Thalia recalled, when she had found a common thread between her two forms. Thalia knew she had to find out what her other form was and how she could cross the bridge between. Her very life depended on it.

The pool in the Changing room had a walkway all around it, broad on the side with the stairs to the nursery, narrow on the other three sides. Thalia found this an ideal spot to pace. Pacing helped her think. Pacing also kept her mind off how cold it felt down there.

Someone knocked at the double door at the far side of the pool. Thalia put her hand on the doorframe. “Who is it?”

“Who do you think?” Nathaniel Ryker unlocked the doors, joined Thalia, and locked them again. “Rogers will let us know when the police get here. Nell is sending for our family lawyers.”

Thalia tried to rub warmth into her hands. “If the police take me in, I want Aristides as a bodyguard.”

“I’ll arrange it.” Ryker was staring at her. Thalia tried to read his expression. His spectacles made it difficult to see his eyes. It was like trying to judge the depth of the pool by looking at the reflections of the gaslight, she thought.

Thalia spoke her thought aloud. “Why are you doing this?”

Ryker didn’t waste time pretending he didn’t know what she was talking about. “I’m helping you because you need it.”

“You’re helping me because I’m a Trader.”

“And you need it.” Ryker looked her over. He seemed to approve of what he saw. “You’re very calm for someone who was recently attacked by a manticore.”

“Am I?” Thalia shivered. “I haven’t had time to think about it. A week ago, I had a career. Even just this morning, I thought I knew who I was. Now I don’t know anything.”

Ryker took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. Thalia was annoyed with herself for noticing how good he smelled. “You’ll learn.”

“Any year now.” Thalia didn’t try to hide her bitterness. “I want my life back.”

“Understandable.” Ryker gave Thalia’s shoulders a little pat, then stepped away. “You are in a devilish awkward situation.”

“I am.” Thalia frowned at him. “How long will you help me?”

“As long as it takes.” Ryker was entirely calm. “It’s all right.”

“It’s all right that I sit here like a cuckoo in the nest for weeks and months and years? It’s all right that you feed me and house me indefinitely? It isn’t all right.”

Ryker’s crooked smile held bitterness of its own. “That, I can assure you, is the least of your worries right now. You are welcome here as long as you need sanctuary.”

“I can’t stay here forever.”

“Forever is impossible, I admit,” said Ryker.

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