Septimus Heap, Book Six_ Darke - Angie Sage [79]
And so he replied, “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
“Good.” Marcia looked pleased.
As Beetle and Marcia walked up Wizard Way, the Safety Curtain lighting up the night behind them, both were occupied with thoughts of who might be marooned in the Palace inside the Darke Domaine. Beetle’s thoughts led to his terrifying afternoon—and it was only then he remembered the book he had snatched from Merrin’s grasp.
He fished it out of his pocket and handed it to Marcia. “I forgot. Merrin had this. I snatched it just as he was doing the BeGone. I’m sure you’ve got a copy but I thought you’d be interested.”
Marcia stopped in her tracks, which happened to be under a torch post. She stared at the unprepossessing, sticky little book in her hands and let out a long, low whistle. Beetle was a little shocked—he didn’t know Marcia whistled.
“Beetle, I most certainly do not have a copy—there is only one of these,” said Marcia, turning over the dog-eared book in amazement. “I have wanted to get my hands on this for years. It is the index—the key to the secrets—of a very important book.” She looked at Beetle, her eyes shining with excitement. “Beetle, I cannot tell you what a relief this is. I have to confess that what I saw at the Palace tonight frightened me and frankly, I wasn’t at all sure we could get rid of it. I was afraid we might never be able to use the Palace again—that it would be Quarantined forever.” Marcia shook her head in dismay.
Quickly Marcia flicked through The Darke Index. “Amazing . . . just wonderful. This is the real thing. Beetle—you have saved the day!”
Beetle grinned. “Gosh,” he said. “I didn’t realize it was that important.”
Marcia turned to him. “It is pivotal. You see, now—for the first time for hundreds of years—we can use the Paired Codes. They are our protection against the Darke but we have been unable to read them ever since this disappeared along with The Undoing of the Darkenesse. I found that moldering in the Marram Marshes, but it’s no good for the really important stuff without this.” She waved The Darke Index triumphantly. “Now we shall be able to get rid of that nasty little concoction of Merrin Meredith’s down at the Palace with no trouble at all!” Marcia looked at Beetle with a broad smile. “I do hope it will be all right if I borrow this tonight?”
Beetle was quite taken aback. “Oh . . . yes. Of course,” he said. “In fact, I’d like you to keep it. Something like that should only belong to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard.”
“Very true,” said Marcia approvingly. “But thank you all the same, Beetle.” She put The Darke Index into her most secure pocket. “So now,” she said, “we shall pay a visit to the Manuscriptorium. There is something there I need to collect.”
Bother, thought Beetle.
The door to the Manuscriptorium was locked but Marcia had a key. This was a source of great indignation to Jillie Djinn but there was nothing she could do about it. ExtraOrdinary Wizards always had a key to the Manuscriptorium for use in emergencies—which Marcia considered this to be. She turned the key in the unwilling lock and the door swung open without the usual ping. The counter was disconnected every evening before the scribes left the building.
Reluctantly Beetle followed Marcia into the scruffy front office. He had been there too many times that day for his liking.
“It’s not my favorite place, either,” Marcia said in a half whisper. “But I need to collect the Manuscriptorium half of the Paired Code. Of course we have the Wizard Tower half of the Pair, but unfortunately the Manuscriptorium half is somewhere here in a place known only to the Chief Hermetic Scribe.” Marcia sighed. “I just wish it wasn’t this Chief Hermetic Scribe, that’s all.” She looked at Beetle hopefully. “I don’t suppose you happen to know where it might be?” she asked.
Beetle shook his head. “I’ve no idea what a Paired Code even looks like,” he said.
“The Manuscriptorium one is a small silver disc with lines radiating out. I think