58

The tower Alvis lives in is one of the student dormitories, but he's somehow negotiated to have several of the upper floors all to himself. You'd call the first room he guides you into a library if you didn't suspect that every room in his lodgings is as lined with bookshelves as this one. Most of it's magical theory, of course, and you recognize most of the titles.

Alvis locks an improbable number of locks on the door you entered. He whirls around, looking more frantic than you've ever seen him—which, given his general level of confidence, isn't a high bar to clear. "What were you doing with Mardas? Why didn't you come to me first? This whole catastrophe, this wasn't you, was it? You couldn't have done it, you're not that…ambitious."

Alvis smiles, and you notice for the first time how tired he looks. "It's a risky gambit, Jun, but I suppose I'm not in any position to tell you about those."

You're not sure if Alvis has been sleeping. He rubs at his eyes, pushing his spectacles up on his forehead. "Right. We need to…Book and Crown, I don't know what we need to do. I've been researching and dodging chancellors all night. I just got back from finally going to see Savva, because I thought she'd be easier to put off than Zaman. She'll take a convenient answer, for now, but they'd want a true one. Anyway. Where's Letha?" He examines the empty air next to you, as if only just realizing she isn't here.

"Wedding preparations," you say, shrugging.

With a snort, Alvis flings himself down into a large plush chair by one of the bookshelves. "Right. And she thinks she can keep that up, does she? At the very least, I hope she'll warn us if Princess Despina starts to suspect. I should be able to work something out."

Of course, Alvis isn't aware that Letha already told Princess Despina everything about your journey without the courtesy of a warning. You probably can't get far without explaining how the princess sent you here. You'll want to be careful how you do it, though—he won't be pleased, and particularly in his current state, he might be inclined to take his frustration out on you.

You were furious to learn what Letha did, and to an accomplished liar like Alvis, you'll likely be more convincing saying something you genuinely believe. You don't absolutely have to be honest, of course. As frustrating as it all is, it might be smoother for everyone if he forgives Letha, as irritated as he's likely to be.