The Master Librarian gaped at the Garin.
I cleared my throat and put my book back as Kon's words prompted a shiver in my groin. “Master Andrei, this is Lord Konstantin, the Garin who's conducting the investigation into the deaths of Lord Timofey, Eva, and Lady Milana. Could you tell us why there are several books missing from this shelf?”
“Missing?” Andrei's scowl seemed permanent. He strode over to us and peered at the gap between books. Then he inspected the book I had replaced. Finally, he took the book from Konstantin—who grimaced at me—and looked that one over. “Nothing is missing. Why do you think that?”
“The space between books,” Konstantin said.
“Lord Garin, this is thegenealogysection—the place where we storebirthrecords. As births continue to happen, there must be space left formorebooks.”
Konstantin was far from cowed. “And why does this book end with the current year, while that one starts in the nineteenth century? Shouldn't they go smoothly from one to the other?”
“No, these are birth records from two different areas in our kingdom. The one that begins in the nineteenth century is the record of births here, at Larch Castle and our village. It begins with the rule of the Lebedevs. The other book documents the births of the village of Frucharen. They are both current.” He opened the Larch Castle records and flipped to the last entry, then tapped the page to show Konstantin the date. “You see? The last birth was in 2011.” He shut the book, carefully shelved it, then looked from Konstantin to me. “Is that all?”
“No, that is not all,” Konstantin said. “Do you keep a record of every Larch birth?”
“Yes, of course. Even the most remote village is required by law to submit birth announcements to us for our records.”
“On the day of Lord Timofey's murder, around,”—Konstantin paused to consult his notebook—“three o'clock in the morning, where were you?”
Andrei's expression took on that of a teacher faced with a particularly slow and impudent student. “I wasasleep.”
“Are you married?”
“What has that got to do with anything?”
“Do you have anyone who can verify that you were in your bed?”
“I do not need an alibi! I am the Master Librarian. My word is good enough.”
“Yes, of course, Master Andrei,” I hurried to say. “The Garin is just doing his job.”
Andrei's lips both pursed and squished into a line. “Yes, well, if you are quite finished, I also have a job to do.”
“One more thing. What is that smell?”
“I beg your pardon?” Andrei lifted both brows.
“You smell strongly of—” Kon leaned in and sniffed. “Is that cedar?”
“Sandalwood.” Master Andrei lifted his chin. “I don't like the scent of old books so I wear sandalwood oil.”
“Isn't that a requirement for someone in your profession—to like books?”
“Am I expected to answer that?” Andrei looked at me.
“No, Sir,” I hurried to say. “The Garin is making a joke.”
“I'm finished with you for now, Master Andrei,” Konstantin said with a smirk. “But I may need to interview you later.”
Master Andrei stomped away while I shook my head at Konstantin. The sharp click of lights going on, then off, seemed an appropriate soundtrack to his departure.
“Lord Ilya,” Konstantin said.
Ilya flinched. “Yes?”
“Is there anything else you can remember? Perhaps a smell or the direction Lord Timofey was staring?”
“He wasn't staring at anything; his eyes were closed.”
