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left, one was Tristan’s—which was less of a chair and more of a cushion because he didn’t like heights—and one was S é verin’s, a black-cherry armchairZofia had custom-Forged so that an unfamiliar touch caused it to sprout blades.
    Tristan barged into the room, his hands outstretched.
    “Look! I thought Goliath was dying, but he’s fine. He just molted!”
    Enrique screamed. Laila scuttled backward on her chaise. Zofia leaned forward, inspecting the enormous tarantula in Tristan’s hands. Mathematicians didn’t frighten her, and spiders—and bees—werejust that. A spider’s web was composed of numerous radii, a logarithmic spiral, and the light-diffusing properties of their webs and silk were fascinating.
    “Tristan!” scolded Laila. “What did I just tell you about spiders?”
    Tristan lifted his chin. “You said not to bring him into your room. This is not your room.”
    Faced with Laila’s glare, he shrank a bit.
    “Please can he stay for the meeting?Goliath is different. He’s special.”
    Enrique pulled his knees up to his chest and shuddered. “What is so special about that ?”
    “Well,” said Zofia, “as part of the infraorder of Mygalomorphae, the fangs of a tarantula point down , whereas the spiders you’re thinking of have fangs which point and join in a pincerlike arrangement. That’s rather special.”
    Enrique gagged.
    Tristan beamed at her. “Youremembered.”
    Zofia did not find this particularly noteworthy. She remembered most things people told her. Besides, Tristan had listened just as attentively when she explained the arithmetic spiral properties of a spiderweb.
    Enrique made a shoo motion with his hands. “Please take it away, Tristan. I beg you.”
    “Aren’t you happy for Goliath? He’s been sick for days.”
    “Can we be happy for Goliathfrom behind a sheet of glass and a net and a fence? Maybe a ring of fire for good measure?” asked Enrique.
    Tristan made a face at Laila. Zofia knew that pattern: widened eyes, pressed-down brows, dimpled chin, and the barest quiver of his bottom lip. Ridiculous, yet effective. Zofia approved. Across from her, Laila clapped her hands over her eyes.
    “Not falling for it,” said Laila sternly. “Golook like a kicked puppy elsewhere. Goliath can’t stay here during a meeting. That’s final.”
    Tristan huffed. “ Fine .” Then he murmured to Goliath, “I’ll make you a cricket cake, dear friend. Don’t fret.”
    Once Tristan had left, Enrique turned to Zofia. “I rather sympathized with Arachne after her duel with Minerva, but I detest her descendants.”
    Zofia went still. People and conversation werealready a cipher without throwing in all the extra words. Enrique was especially confusing. Elegance illuminated every word the historian spoke. And she could never tell when he was angry. His mouth was always bent in a half smile, regardless of his mood. If she answered now, she’d only sound foolish. Instead, Zofia said nothing, but pulled out a matchbox from her pocket and turned it over in herhands. Enrique rolled his eyes and turned back to his book. She knew what he thought of her. She had overheard him once. She’s a snob .
    He could think what he liked.
    As the minutes ticked by, Laila handed out tea and desserts, making sure Zofia received exactly three sugar cookies, all pale and perfectly round. She settled back in her chair, glancing around the room. Eventually, Tristan returnedand dramatically plopped onto his cushion.
    “In case you’re wondering, Goliath is deeply offended, and he says—”
    But they would never know the tarantula’s specific grievances because at that moment a beam of light shot up through the coffee table. The room went dark. Then, slowly, an image of a piece of metal appeared. When she looked up, S é verin was standing behind Tristan. She hadn’t heardhim enter.
    Tristan followed her gaze and nearly jumped when he saw S é verin. “Must you creep up on us like that? I didn’t even