Bab 23: Chapter 23: Sorting, Part 4

He bent over and picked the objects up, ran his thumb over the already-flaking paint on the cheap little charm. Setting it on his pillow, he traced the fancy lettering on the cover of the book. Beginning Manners and Etiquette for Young Persons of Quality. He wasn't certain what baffled him more: that High City folk needed books to learn manners, or that this was a beginning book.

Curious and grateful for any distraction from the pain, Rath flipped the book open, frowning when it stuck and wouldn't open. He ran his finger along the pages and swore when it scraped over metal unexpectedly along the side. A catch. The book locked? Why in the Fates…

He caught the tiny catch with the edge of a ragged nail and flipped it up, then finally opened the book—and dropped it in shock, sending pennies rolling and scattering over the floor.