The Dark Archive (The Invisible Library Novel) Read online

  praise for the invisible library novels

  THE SECRET CHAPTER

  “Cogman charts the heist with the fluid mix of humor and adventure series readers will expect, while adding new dimensions to fan favorite characters and introducing dangerous enemies.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “The near-relentless mischief and mayhem make for an indulgent read.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  THE MORTAL WORD

  “This is an explosive, tense, and witty novel, full of exciting incidents, cranky dragons, treacherous Fae, and political consequences. It’s enormously fun, and balances humour and action very well.”

  —Tor.com

  THE LOST PLOT

  “Cogman’s fourth Invisible Library novel displays her delightful penchant for witty discourse, perplexing mystery, and ingenious uses of language to facilitate fantastic escapes.”

  —Booklist (starred review)

  “Irene, as always, remains one of my favorite heroines. . . . Cogman has a way of combining a unique idea with intriguing characters into a story you can’t put down.”

  —Novel Knight Book Reviews

  “The Lost Plot is full of life and wit from the start. . . . A pacy to breakneck speed adventure through prohibition, The Lost Plot is a hi-gin-ks read.”

  —SFF World

  THE BURNING PAGE

  “Funny, exciting, and oh so inspiring, this is the kind of fantasy novel that will have female readers everywhere gearing up for their own adventure[s].”

  —Bustle

  “Libraries, Librarians, dragons, Fae, chaos, dastardly baddies, and a Sherlock Holmes–style detective all thrown into the mix equal an excellent read. . . . It’s packed with chaotic and dramatic adventures and is witty, to boot.”

  —The Speculative Herald

  THE MASKED CITY

  “Series fans will be thrilled to learn more about dragon-kind and the capricious Fae, and will be eager for Cogman’s third in the series.”

  —Booklist

  “This witty fantasy also includes a Holmesian detective, a wondrous magical train, some fascinating Fae politics, frequent funny moments, and a very limited time for Irene to rescue Kai, all making for a thrilling and deliciously atmospheric adventure.”

  —Locus

  THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY

  #2 on the Independent’s (UK) Best Fantasy Novels of 2015 List

  On Library Journal’s Best Science Fiction/ Fantasy Books of 2016 List

  “Ms. Cogman has opened a new pathway into our vast heritage of imagined wonderlands. And yet, as her story reminds us, we yearn for still more.”

  —Tom Shippey, The Wall Street Journal

  “A dazzling bibliophilic debut.”

  —Charles Stross, Hugo Award–winning author of The Nightmare Stacks

  BY GENEVIEVE COGMAN

  The Invisible Library

  The Masked City

  The Burning Page

  The Lost Plot

  The Mortal Word

  The Secret Chapter

  The Dark Archive

  ACE

  Published by Berkley

  An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

  penguinrandomhouse.com

  Copyright © 2020 by Genevieve Cogman

  Penguin Random House supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader.

  ACE is a registered trademark and the A colophon is a trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Cogman, Genevieve, author.

  Title: The dark archive / Genevieve Cogman.

  Description: First Edition. | New York: Ace, 2020. | Series: The Invisible library novel; 7

  Identifiers: LCCN 2020037125 (print) | LCCN 2020037126 (ebook) | ISBN 9781984804785 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781984804792 (ebook)

  Subjects: GSAFD: Fantasy fiction. | LCGFT: Novels.

  Classification: LCC PR6103.O39 D37 2020 (print) | LCC PR6103.O39 (ebook) | DDC 823/.92—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020037125

  LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020037126

  First Edition: December 2020

  Cover art and design by Adam Auerbach

  Book design by Laura K. Corless

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  pid_prh_5.6.1_c0_r0

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Praise for the Invisible Library Novels

  By Genevieve Cogman

  Copyright

  Dedication

  My Dear Irene

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To all librarians, whatever sort of librarian you are and wherever you may be.

  My dear Irene,

  What on earth is going on? You’ve reported kidnap and even assassination attempts? And you’ve done your best to make them sound inconsequential, but having half a dozen werewolves try to snatch you out of your cab is not normal. Nor—whatever your friend the detective says—is an attempt to drug and abduct you over supper. His perspective on the subject is severely biased. I’m sure these things happen to him all the time. And while Prince Kai may also shrug at assassination attempts, his family would take a far more serious view.

  Irene, you simply can’t treat these things as normal. I realize the last year or so has been more than a little stressful. However, you’re getting blasé and that’s dangerous. I would suggest you take a vacation—but at the moment you’re very close to being essential, and handling some very important problems on behalf of the Library. (Don’t get smug. Nobody’s totally essential.) If these attacks are due to criminal elements within Vale’s home world, then get Vale to sort them out. And if they’re being organised by someone from outside your posting—by Fae or dragon—then get more information, and fast.

  Speaking of very important problems, your request to take on a Fae apprentice has caused some controversy and has led to a great deal of discussion. I know it was to get the Fae to commit fully to our peace treaty, but some Librarians still don’t like it.

  It won’t surprise you to know that we have had previou
s attempts at this. They all failed. We have no record of a Fae ever managing to enter the Library—meaning that no Fae has ever managed to become a Librarian. In addition, we both know that the Fae aren’t interested in the training you’d offer their candidate (researching, filing, subterfuge, theft, et cetera). They want one of their kind to have access to the Library. (Despite the peace treaty between them, us, and the dragons, everyone’s still looking for advantages.) But equally, a Fae loyal to the Library and indisputably on our side would be an advantage for us.

  As Melusine has pointed out repeatedly, as head of Internal Security, one of our greatest strengths is our privacy. Fae can’t enter the Library at all. Dragons can only enter if brought in by a Librarian. And this has helped keep us safe from invasion in the past. If you—somehow—manage to get a Fae in here, you’ll be setting a precedent that will change our security protocols forever. And if Fae can enter the Library, then what about other creatures of chaos? What about Alberich? He was so chaos-contaminated that he might as well have been Fae.

  By now you’re wondering what we actually decided about your apprentice. It was nearly sent back to committee for another discussion, with a due date of this time next year. However, I’m glad to say that we do have an answer. Or at least, a partial answer.

  You may take this response back to the Fae: The elder Librarians have no record of any Fae entering the Library or taking oaths as a Librarian. However, the Librarian Irene can accept a Fae apprentice for a trial period, if the apprentice sincerely wishes to become a Librarian. Irene shall then do her best to help this apprentice enter the Library. If this proves impossible after two years, then we will negotiate the situation further. They’ll probably want to push the “two years.” You have permission to let yourself be argued up to five years if necessary. Do your best to stick to two, though.

  Unfortunately, we’ll be thoroughly bound by this agreement, without wiggle room. We’re going to have to get a Fae into the Library (posing a security risk to us) or provide unarguable reasons why we can’t. And if we don’t succeed, the Fae will believe we won’t do it, rather than can’t do it. It’s what you call a lose-lose situation. I’m not saying this is treaty-breaking stuff, but it will tarnish their opinion of us and make negotiating future concessions that much more difficult. Blame yourself, Irene; you’ve acquired a reputation as the Librarian who can do anything!

  I’ll have someone bring you our research on the subject of Fae, Entering Library, Failure to. It may give you some ideas of where to start, or at least what not to repeat. (Don’t try to channel lightning from a thunderstorm. That always goes wrong. Yes, personal experience.)

  As when you took Kai as our first dragon apprentice, I need to warn you—absolutely no harm must come to our up-and-coming Fae apprentice. (Do give my regards to Kai, by the way. How’s he doing?) If she gets damaged in any way, you’ll have to answer for it. Keep us informed, especially if problems arise.

  Looking back at this letter, I may seem overly negative. What you’re about to try may be a great step forward, and I appreciate that. But progress can lead to danger too. Please be careful. I do worry about you, you know. (And do something about those kidnappings!)

  With affection and concern,

  Coppelia

  Senior Librarian

  PS—Yes, the cough is getting better. Stop asking about it.

  CHAPTER 1

  The ether-lamps illuminated the wide tunnel with harsh brightness. Irene estimated that they were about eighty yards beneath the English Channel at this point, close to the coast of Guernsey. Fans set at regular intervals in the walls churned the stale air with their burnished brass blades, providing a soft background purr of sound. This was comforting in the otherwise eerie silence. Irene Winters, Librarian and spy, found herself perversely wondering who kept this tunnel dusted. And who polished the brass? But letting herself be distracted was, she recognized, an indication of how nervous she was at being here. She was capable of many things, but she couldn’t hold back the sea or save them from an earthquake.

  There was a heavy brass air lock at the end of the passage, with overlapping petals of iron and glass set into its roughly circular frame. A control pad with a recessed wheel and two huge levers were embedded in the wall by its side. This Victorian technology was perfectly appropriate, though, given that Irene was on assignment in a Victorian-era world. And her companion Vale—private detective and the person who’d requested her help down here—was a native inhabitant. But their dapper clothing had been designed for London society, rather than underwater tunnels. Irene eyed Vale’s top hat and suit wryly, as she considered her own incongruous hat and veil.

  “Is there some reason why this document’s been sent through private diplomatic channels, rather than just in the mail? Why did we have to come here to collect it?” she asked, feeling suddenly claustrophobic. Her companion had been silent for most of their walk down the tunnel—a brooding, thoughtful silence that didn’t welcome conversation. But the time had come for more information. After all, she thought with some irritation, she was doing him a favour by accompanying him. The four of them—her, the dragon prince Kai, her new apprentice Catherine, and Vale—had come here to Guernsey so that Irene could collect a very specific book for the Library. She’d also wanted to get them away from the recent rash of attacks targeting not only her, but her companions as well. After they’d arrived, Vale had asked Irene to come on this little subterranean excursion with him. She’d agreed, on condition that they get back in time for the book handover. And she’d left Kai and Catherine together for some tea, cake, and quality conversation. “I didn’t ask earlier in case we might be overheard, but surely down here . . .”

  Vale tapped the paved floor thoughtfully with his cane—which, Irene knew, was an electrified sword-stick. It was the sort of equipment that Vale found useful as the greatest detective in London. When dealing with criminals, werewolves, vampires, cultists, and spies, a prudent man took what precautions he could. “I know I was less than forthcoming earlier, Winters. Your new student places me in a difficult position. Catherine is your student and therefore loyal to your Library, one hopes. But she is also Fae, and the niece of Lord Silver. He might be the ambassador from Liechtenstein to the British Empire, but he’s also its spymaster in London and highly untrustworthy besides. The risk of Catherine passing information to him, deliberately or otherwise, is far too high. I simply can’t take chances on this job.”

  “I see your point,” Irene admitted. “But you must have noticed how much she dislikes her uncle.”

  “Precisely the attitude I would cultivate if I were her and wanted to convince you I had no ulterior motives,” Vale replied. He spun the wheel like the tumblers of a safe.

  Irene couldn’t argue with that. “Very well,” she said. “So since we’re now completely alone, and unlikely to be overheard . . . what can you tell me? I should have known you had a motive for coming along, rather than just avoiding our mysterious antagonists.” She softened her words with a smile. Heaven knows she owed him a few favours.

  “I’d appreciate your patience for just a little longer . . . because I would like you to approach the situation with an unbiased mind,” Vale answered. He pulled the nearby lever down with a clang, and the air lock irised open, metal and glass petals retracting into the wall. “When I show you the document—”

  Then they both fell silent. The air beyond smelled of disinfectant—but below that was the tang of fresh blood.

  Immediately on the alert, Irene flattened herself against the tunnel wall, peering through the opening. Vale did the same, their conversation forgotten. The corridor beyond opened into a large room filled with mysterious machinery and radar equipment.

  There was still no sound except for the slow turning of the fans.

  Vale frowned. He stepped through the air lock, cane ready in his hand. Irene followed a couple of steps behind. She didn’t
have a weapon on her, apart from a small knife for emergencies. But she did have the Language, a Librarian’s most powerful instrument. With it, she could command reality with a single word, and that was dangerous enough.

  The chamber appeared to be some sort of control room. Heavy steel and brass switches and toggles were embedded in panels that stretched from floor to ceiling. She could also see lengths of cabling that vanished into ducts in the walls behind. On the primitive-looking radar viewing screens, green circles fluoresced against dark backgrounds. But no targets had been identified—not that she knew what they were tracking. Two rickety metal chairs were positioned in front of the most important-looking controls, but both stood empty.

  “Stand where you are, Winters,” Vale said. “Don’t disturb anything.” He began to methodically search the room, examining the equipment. He paid particular attention to the other two passageways out of the room—also sealed with air locks, though without any security locks of the sort that had blocked their entrance.

  “Were you expecting to meet your contact here?” Irene asked.

  “Yes. This Guernsey monitoring station has a duty staff of six men. There should be two on duty here.” Vale went down on one knee to check something. “And an additional five men somewhere within this complex. I happen to know a submarine is currently moored alongside, and the crew should have disembarked here.”

  “And the only route in by land was the one we came through?”

  “Indeed. And Dickson up on the surface, in the St. Peter Port office, signalled them when we were about to come down. He received authorization for us to descend. That was only twenty minutes ago.”

  A chill ran up Irene’s spine. Someone had known she and Vale would be here—trapped underground. And they’d been met by the smell of blood and the absence of allies. She refused to believe this was a coincidence, given their past few weeks. “This doesn’t look good for us or the staff on this station. But who is the target here?” she wondered aloud.

  “It is imperative that I find my contact—and the document I’m here to collect. But let us exercise extreme caution.” Vale rose to his feet. “The air lock on the right goes to the submarine dock, and the other one leads to the living quarters. I can perceive nothing from the clues here, except that at least one man fell to the ground and suffered a minor injury. There are also some curious scratches, which might or might not be innocent . . . This floor is not conducive to the preservation of evidence.”