"It was a bone construct," she says. "Gri--Gideon described it, and it sounds horrific, but if it's a skeleton I can take it apart. It's what I do. But I don't know who is controlling it. Someone has to be."

"It killed Baron Tattares in the basement laboratory. Gideon dragged Sir Chatur away, and they took refuge in one of the studies. Gideon held the only key." She sounds... not mournful, or weary, now, but angry. Angry at mysteries.

"They rested for a moment. A moment." She shakes her head. "It could have killed Gideon. As easily as it killed the little girl, it could have--or perhaps it couldn't. Perhaps Gideon Nav really is that hard to kill. When she brought us the body she was incoherent. And Septimus never even woke up until then."

Her eyes are beginning to sting.

"I thought Gideon would blame me, but it's worse. She blames herself. She just hates me. She asked to be released to protect Lady Septimus until it comes for them. As if we're all already dead and we should just pick who we want to be beside when we go."

She presses her fingertips to the fine ridge of her brow, pressing as if it will put her brain back in. "I told her no. And I said a lot of hateful nonsense beside, because she hurt me and I wanted to hurt her. But she is still who I want beside me when it comes, and she obeys me. For now."

"I am meant to be smart. I thought I was smart, and fearless, and ruthless, and unsentimental. I want to be that person I thought I was. I don't want to die. I cost too much." She presses her hands in again, fingertips to her brow, heels of her hands to her cheekbones, and wills her tears away.