A crash echoed from the Library, followed by guttural roars. The shadows flinched as one. “Boars in the Library,” the second shadow continued, sounding shaken. “They were forbidden to enter centuries ago. And the City would never allow them to destroy its books. I fear—”
There came a splintering crack from deep within the Library, and a howling scream.
Saskia ripped away her cloaking shadows. “Emma’s in there. We have to help her.”
But Nancy pulled her back, pointing a silent finger. Boars stood at attention before the doors, pikes sharp against the sky. The outlines of tusks and weapons glinted behind every window.
The Sister gathered the fox maidens around her. “We must tell the Night City. The Boars chose a clever time for whatever devilment this is. With the Court so wrapped up in the Midsummer revels, it’s the Night’s own chance that no one’s heard what’s going on.”
“We can’t interrupt the revels. They’ll string us all up.”
“We have to try. Hurry, to the Court.”
Saskia’s mouth was set in a mulish line. “And leave Emma alone here?”
“We must. If Emma is inside, the best way to help her is to bring assistance. We must trust that she is clever and strong enough to hold out until it comes.”
The Boar flung her like a rag doll. Emma barely had time to register that she was flying through the air. To throw her hands around her head—
Her body skidded across the stone floor. The air exploded from her lungs. All she could make were little squeaky gasps.
When her eyes came back into focus, the Boar was already standing over her.
“Look, a little fox.”
Above her was a cliff face of chest crossed by gold bandoliers. Small, cold eyes stared down. Eyes she had seen before, on a dais. In a ballroom.
“Come to join our game?”
Emma’s eyes flicked round at the surrounding soldiers, then back to the Boar commander. “I am a citizen. The Night City wouldn’t want you to hurt me.”
Squealing laughter ran around the room.
“You think we answer to the Night City now, little fox? No, we think it is time for stronger leadership. The City has forgottenhow to respect power. Look at this Library. One of its great centers of magic, left empty and open for any to seize? Careless. Yet the City and its Court are too wrapped up in their Midsummer revels this night to notice. They choose to debauch themselves blind: We choose to take our chance. For once this Library burns, the City will be weak. And then there will be a new rule. Our rule.”
She heard satisfaction warm the grating voice. “We will make things right. We will bring order. True discipline.”
Emma imagined a world ruled by Boars, and shuddered.
Two soldiers dragged the Librarian across the floor and cast him down next to Emma. She felt for his hand. The old man was shaking.
“You cannot do this.” His pale eyes blazed up at the Boar. “You cannot destroy these books.”
The Boar commander picked one book off a stack and squeezed. Taloned nails punctured the leather binding.
“Oh yes,” he said, “I believe we can.”
He tossed the book backward. It hit the bonfire with a sizzle.
And the air exploded. The shiver knocked Emma flat on her back. She gathered the Librarian to her, trying to shield him. A snarl shook the timbers of the bookcases. Whispers cascaded out: a hissing torrent of rage.
It was not something behind the shelves: Itwasthe shelves. At the first contact of book to flame, the Library had come to life. And it wasfurious.
The Boar commander, leering overhead, was yanked back. He fell on his stomach, scrabbling at the floor.
Emma pushed herself up. Snakes of darkness had him by theankles, dragging him into the shadows between the stacks. Emma saw blood well around the shadows’ grip, as though they bit into the flesh. The Boar screamed, high and horrible.
Emma had been right, earlier. The Library darkness was thicker than usual. Now she saw it leaking from the space between books: a living tide of hungry fingers sliding across the floor. Emma pulled the Librarian closer, but the darkness did not touch them. It only nosed at their feet and streamed on.
