The Amulet of Samarkand

At dawn the next day, Nathaniel struggles to overcome Arthur’s and Martha’s deaths. With only his thin clothing, however, the winter cold is fast getting to him in the abandoned library where they settled for the night. Nathaniel bargains with Bartimaeus for a fire. Then, they discuss the possibilities left to him, such as defecting to Prague or hiding among the commoners. Nathaniel wants justice for Martha’s death, despite having none of the privileges of a magician’s station to help him. Bartimaeus, however, wants to be released since he believes that he’s held his end of the bargain by saving Nathaniel multiple times. They bicker over whose responsibility it was that Arthur and Martha were made victims, and as their argument escalates, Nathaniel eventually makes a final bargain with Bartimaeus: If he helps Nathaniel with his quest for justice, Nathaniel will release him before the month is over and the Indefinite Confinement spell takes hold. If Nathaniel places them at undue risk in the process, Bartimaeus is allowed to kill him. With their agreement made, Nathaniel charges Bartimaeus to find food, clothing, and news.