I thought: Well, she was lying about that at least.
22
By breakfast, half the school had found a reason to look at me.
First-years’s whispers went quiet too late. Upperclassmen watched over their cups like shamelessness was suddenly a new trend. Faculty spoke to one another without ever quite turning their backs.
I took my usual route to the south side and stopped.
Cosima was at the third table.
In Delphine’s chair.
For one hot second, I hated her for knowing exactly where to sit.
For the next second I hatedthat it worked.
She had my undivided attention, which I assumed was what she wanted.
I sat across from her.
Her gaze moved past my shoulder, taking in the room behind me.
Then she said, very quietly, “Reverie told you about the interrogation?”
“Reverie’s my friend. Of course she told me.”
“I wondered if she would choose caution.”
“You summoned me through a basin before dawn the other day and gave me a notebook that could screw us both if anyone finds it. I don’t think you’re one to talk about choosing caution.”
Cosima lowered her eyes to her cup.
If she was amused, she kept it there.
“The official summons will come late,” she said.
“How late?”
“Late enough that waiting for it would make you arrive breathless.”
I looked at the nearest basin, dark in its wall niche.
“So this is you giving me time.”
“This is me making sure they don’t get the first move for free.”
“That almost sounds almost gracious of you.”
“Don’t insult us both. You know who I’m doing this for.”
She took in the room without turning her head and lowered her voice.
“Listen. You will not speak first. You will not define yourself for them. You will not volunteer names. They will already know more than they should. They are measuring what you protect when they press.”
“What do they press?”
Cosima looked at me then.
