Clack, another went on along that corridor, even further away.
It loosened my throat enough for me to call out, “Andrei?”
Clack, the next light came on faster.
I began to run.
Above me, the ceiling fixtures displayed our progress; I was just a few feet behind Andrei.
“Andrei!” I shouted as I burst into the main area of the library.
Silence. Emptiness.
I kept running, heading for the entrance. Dodging tables and low shelves, I made it to the library's door in seconds and burst into the corridor. It was empty to either side of me. I chose left and ran. When I reached another turn and found both ways empty again, I had to concede that I'd chosen poorly. Or Andrei ran a lot faster than I gave him credit for.
“Damn it all,” I huffed and headed back to my chambers.
The Master Librarian must have gotten cold feet.
Chapter Thirty-One
I woke the next morning to a pounding on my door.
“Enter!” I called out as I sat up in bed.
One of the errand boys came in as I groaned my way out of my warm blankets. He stopped before me, eyes wide.
“What is it, Arseny?” I asked, my weariness vanishing instantly.
“Lord Mikhail, they've found another body.”
“Fuck!” I ran for my dressing room. “Who is it?”
“Master Andrei.”
I stumbled to a stop halfway to the room and turned to look back at the boy. “Master Andrei?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Where was he found?”
“In the library.”
I swayed.
“Lord Mikhail!” Arseny rushed over and steadied me.
“I'm okay. Thank you. Does the Garin know?”
“Yes, my lord. He's already there. He's the one who sent me.”
“All right. Thank you. Run along now. I'll be fine.”
“Yes, my lord.” Arseny hurried off while I tried to still the trembling that had begun in my legs and was steadily progressing up my torso.
The clack of those lights sounded in my head again. The running feet. That gasp. Dear God, I'd been chasing the killer, not Andrei. If I had caught up with him . . .
I swayed again.
