Chapter Text
Jane is sitting on Henry’s desk when he walks in. His jaw clenches reflexively. The sheer speed of the reaction adds some self-disgust to the headache that’s been brewing all afternoon.
“You’re late,” she says pertly.
“This is my office.” He congratulates himself silently on his mild, even tone and settles into his chair.
Her lips thin. “It’s happening,” and she slams a moth the size of her hand onto his desk.
“Do I have to remind you that this is your problem?”
“It is our problem. And they aren’t even at Brakebills yet.”
“Our school year starts at the same time every year. We’ve got eyes on all our prospective entrants.”
“I don’t care when the term begins, get them here now .” Jane bites off the final syllable and inhales through her nose. Perversely, seeing her upset makes Henry feel better. “Train them. Give them something, anything, to help them, in case he finds them.”
“‘In case’,” Henry shapes air quotes with his fingers and scoffs. “You’re still an optimist.”
Her gaze slides away from his. “I have to try. Have you taken what I told you into account?”
“I have. She should be here shortly.”
“Who did it end up being?”
Henry didn’t answer. “You’d better leave. She won’t be easy to convince, but at least she knows me.”
“One more thing.” She lays an elaborate pocketwatch next to the moth. “Just in case.”
“Speaking of time, we’ve got little of it,” he replies, leaning down to retrieve something. “Try not to use the door, won’t you?” As he comes back up from behind the desk, Jane is nowhere to be seen. He sets a bottle of brandy and two glasses on the desk, just as a knock sounds at the door.
Fogg sweeps the moth and the pocket watch into a drawer. “Enter.”
Marina steps in, looking haughty. She looks at Fogg and raises one eyebrow
“Marina. Have a seat. A drink?”
Marina rolls her eyes. “Please, you’ve never offered to share your booze with anyone and meant it.”
He simply removes one glass and pours two fingers of brandy into his own. “I meant my offer to you. You were a promising student, one of our most promising, and if you want to return to Brakebills, I’ve made an arrangement with the board.”
She tilts her head. “Go on.”
“You would be readmitted as a second year student. Your memories would be returned to you to enable you to complete your studies.”
Marina waits. Fogg smiles pleasantly at her. “That’s it? No locking me in my room at night, drugging me so I can’t use magic outside of class?”
“That’s it.” His smile never falters.
“To be honest, I expected something more medieval.”
“I assumed you would feel repeating a year and a half of coursework was punishment enough.”
“I do.” He can almost watch the calculations taking place in her mind. “But the hedge scene is so tedious. Who wants to be head bitch in charge of such a bunch of amateurs? I’ll re-enroll.”
“Glad to hear it,” Fogg responds honestly as he rises from his chair to shake her hand. “We’ll see you at start of term.” Is she plotting to double cross him in some way and take shameless advantage of her renewed access to the campus? Without a doubt. He can only hope her scheming, conniving presence might be the variable that breaks Jane’s impasse.