Page 81 of Serpent and Shadow

Even after I could hear nothing but the faint whisper of magical flames, and the occasional gasp of air down the corridor, likely from a door or window opened somewhere else, I strained to listen. I waited for someone else to walk this way.

While I waited, I didn’t move.

I scarcely breathed behind my magical shield as I fought to think, to decide what to do.

No one had come for me. They obviously didn’t know I was here. While a relief, the realization surprised me. Wouldn’t Malefic have added something to the chimaeras to look for me? Even if he wanted to lure me here for his own reasons, he’d want to be informed the moment I arrived, wouldn’t he?

And if he had been informed, why would his minions walk through the same area, talking openly of their plans? Why not come get me?

At some point, it occurred to me I’d been standing there for too long.

My legs had finally stopped shaking. I felt relatively clear-headed. No one in the castle seemed to know I was here. I needed to make a decision. I allowed myself a slightly heavier exhale, and leaned my forehead against the stone.

I still desperately wanted to find Bones.

I knew it was probably impossible, but that voice screamed inside me, anyway. It was maddening, knowing he had to be in this building somewhere.

I couldn’t bear not seeing him.

Another thought hit me then, and I felt like a fool.

I had Alaric’s invisibility talisman in my pocket.

I carried it with me everywhere these days, given my situation at Malcroix.

I’d even made a point of making sure I had it on me tonight, before I told the others what I intended to do. The gold snake bracelet Bones gave me was also wrapped around my forearm, but that would be for emergencies only. I had no confidence I could control it, not after what happened with Quicksilver, and anyway, it would be better if I could get away unseen.

For both reasons, Alaric’s gift would be better for this.

There were problems with the talisman, too.

The longest I’d ever gotten it to last was five minutes and eight seconds. By the end of that eighth second, I began to fade quickly back into view, and then I’d have to wait the full minute before it would work again.

It was risky. I’d have to plan my route carefully.

I’d also tested who the talisman seemed to work against, in case there were Magicals immune to its magic. I hadn’t found anyone yet who could see through it, not even Forsooth, or Blackstone. I suppose that shouldn’t have surprised me, given how good Alaric was at object magic, but I’d been a little surprised about Blackstone, honestly.

No, the time issue was the real bother.

That hard, five minute and eight second ceiling made relying on it risky.

Five minutes was generally plenty of time to get out of sight if someone happened upon me unexpectedly in the library, or in one of the college corridors, or even in the gardens or by the lake. Here, though? Could I always be certain I could get out of sight in that amount of time, particularly if I found myself surrounded by a group of dark sorcerers?

There was also the matter of timing.

Five minutes definitely wasn’t long enough to cast complex magic in one of the main thoroughfares of the castle, and either one of the crypt entrances would likely qualify, given the location of their doors.

No, going after Bones still probably wasn’t the wisest use of my time.

I bit my lip, trying to think.

I had to, though. I had to at least try.

But what was my goal in finding him, precisely? To get a message to him? To break him out of the dungeon altogether? To examine his collar so Alaric could figure out how to open it? He might not leave with me even if I asked. He probably wouldn’t, if it went against his vow, or if he thought it would just get both of us killed.

Another thought occurred to me.

Could I find Varya, maybe?