I hadn’t known half the things he mentioned, but I’d learned. Ideograms referred to symbols representing ideas or concepts—like a pig or a sheaf of wheat—and phonetic values meant symbols signified a sound, like in most modern alphabets. I learned the first steps we’d take after putting the scrolls together—how we’d analyze every character, each word, and their placement and frequency. I wanted to know everything. I wanted to have the keys to unlock this ancient secret. I wanted to be the person to turn said key.
“Why do you care so much?” Daziel asked. “You don’t know what’s in the scrolls, do you?”
My parents had asked me the same question, baffled and frustrated by my fixation. I struggled to explain. “There’s knowledge hidden here. History. We don’t know what, but it might tell us about a lost civilization, our ancestors—and the feat itself! Solving this would be incredible.” Flushing, I turned back to the scraps, worried I’d embarrassed myself by being too enthusiastic.
“Interesting.” Daziel sounded thoughtful. I looked up, unsure what he meant. “What you’re doing takes determination and perseverance. I’m impressed.”
I ducked my head. “We’ll see. I’ve only been at this a month.”
He flashed me a smile, sharp and bright. “Take the compliment, yonati.”
I paused at the endearment.
And I remembered something my father had told me once—to be careful in the city of Talum, for there were many kinds of danger.
Five
Even with my friends’ help,I failed to banish Daziel.
“We could go to Madame Hadar,” Jelan suggested after three hours of trying. Well, Jelan, Leah, and I had tried—Gilli had gotten distracted when Daziel asked her to show him how to crochet. Admittedly, teaching someone to crochet looked more fun than trying to banish them.
We’d removed all the mirrors from my rooms. We’d tried capturing Daziel via incantation bowl. I threw a thrift market ring at him, based on lore that rings could capture demons. He caught it and slid it on, smiling. I even spat at him, which was a horrible experience for everyone involved.
“It’s fine,” I said wearily. We were in my living room. Leah, Jelan, and I were exhausted, while Gilli and Daziel chattered about crochet hooks. “I can go to a professor or a rabbi tomorrow. I think if I get something written up, it’ll dissolve the supposed betrothal.”
“You can sleep in my room tonight,” Leah offered.
“Thanks,” I said. “Give me a minute to get my stuff, and I’ll come over.”
After the girls left, Daziel shot me an extremely miffed look. Which was unfair, givenIshould be miffed by his continued presence. I ignored him, stuffing items into my tote.
A minute later, someone knocked. I went to the door, expectingone of my floormates had forgotten something. When I opened it, Élodie and Birra stood there.
My heart sank. I didn’t have the energy to deal with them now, not after a day as long as a week.
“Hi,” I said warily, opening the door a scant sliver.
Which didn’t prevent Daziel from popping up behind me. “Hello.”
Sighing, I opened the door wider and waited for the girls to make up an excuse about why they’d come. They didn’t bother. Élodie nudged Birra, who gaped at Daziel.
“We wanted to introduce ourselves properly,” Élodie said, ignoring me in favor of Daziel. “And welcome you to Testylier House.”
He’s leaving, I wanted to say, but I swallowed the words.
Birra managed a polite greeting too, though it clearly pained her. Then, unable to resist, she shot out, “You’re not allowed to have boys in your rooms after visiting hours.”
My eyes narrowed. Feeling petty and knowing this was a bad idea, I said, “If you’re affianced, you are.”
“True.” Élodie widened her eyes with false innocence. “Where’s your ring?”
Daziel held up his hand, surprising all of us. The ring I’d thrown at him earlier—a cheap band set with colored glass—circled his middle finger, looking wildly out of place next to the signet ring on his pointer finger. The massive stone there definitely wasn’t glass.
“That doesn’t look like an engagement ring,” Birra said accusingly when Daziel pointed to mine.
“It’s the ring my beloved gave me,” Daziel said. “And thus I treasure it.”
Now the girls looked at me like I gave horrible gifts. I glared at Daziel. I hadn’t been trying togivehim the ring, I’d been trying tobanishhim.
