Chapter 10 #4
I glance over at her. 'I explored the Underhill. I did my service to my kind as a soldier. I learned their ways. But I had been a healer before, so, once my time in the Underhill was done, I came to the Light Realm. I traveled around, selling my services as a healer whenever I was needed.'
I hear Morgan scoff from up ahead, and he turns around with a wide grin. 'The way he tells it, Bryn, that's not all he did.'
He waggles his eyebrows, making Bryn laugh.
She gives me a questioning look, and I smile, my cheeks pinkening. 'There may have been one or two ladies.'
Morgan scoffs. 'One or two?'
'We're almost at the gates. No more talking,' I cough, and Morgan chortles.
I scowl when I see Locke's lips upturn just a tad.
When we reach the open portcullis, we keep Bryn in the middle of our group. Despite our arguments, we're at least united regarding our female’s safety. When we go under the wall and enter the city, the guards don't even ask us where we're coming from.
'That was easy,' Locke mutters.
I shrug. 'I suppose there haven't been many problems here since the Breach was closed for good. Why should they worry?'
'Why indeed,' Morgan says quietly.
He lets out an unsatisfied rumble from deep in his chest but says nothing more.
We walk through the city until we get to one of the largest and tallest buildings. Here, a guard does stop us when we try to pass into the Great Library’s courtyard.
'State your business,' he says, barring our way at the tall, pointed arch with thick double wooden doors that look as ancient as the city itself.
'We've come to see the First Scholar.'
The guard snorts. 'Does she know you're coming?'
I look rueful. 'We may have arrived before the bird. But she wouldn't want you to turn us away, and she'll definitely wish to see me.'
I pull a very small oilskin wrapped book from a pouch at my belt that I found while I was in the Dark Realms, and luckily had forgotten was in there since we’ve been back. It’s old and worn, and looks as if it should have been thrown away, not sold for actual money.
Even the guard, who is surrounded by ancient and priceless books every day, looks at it dubiously.
'Very well,' he says after a moment.
He turns toward the door, where I belatedly see another guard standing in the shadows.
‘Take them to the mezzanine, but do not leave them unattended.'
The guard stands to attention and begins walking. The first guard allows us through the great doors to follow. We cross the courtyard and go into the main building, into the library itself.
I look around at the high shelves. They span as far as the eye can see, all laden with books.
Some are tall, some are short, some fat, some thin.
Some look so ancient that I wouldn't want to touch them in case they crumbled in my hands and some age-old knowledge was lost because of me. In truth, I’m in as much awe and wonder as I was the first time I saw this sight.
I glance back at Bryn and see the same emotions in her eyes. I give her a small smile.
We're taken to a winding staircase and told to go up ahead. Locke ascends first, followed by me. Bryn comes next, and then Morgan. The guard takes up the rear, keeping his unwavering eyes on us as if we're going to steal something should he blink.
At the top of the stairs, Bryn gasps at the view from the open mezzanine that’s like an island platform in a sea of books. A great domed ceiling sits above it, made of stone and glass.
'First Scholar,' I defer when I belatedly notice a woman sitting behind a huge desk that dwarfs her.
Bryn’s eyes widen, clearly surprised that a woman is in the most powerful position after the king here.
Vivienne glances up and smiles wide. 'Jak.'
'Surprised to see me?' I ask.
'I am, as it goes,' she says. 'You told me you wouldn't be back for many, many years. And it's been, what, five springs at most?'
'Four, actually.' I glance around. 'Where are your Dark Brothers?'
She waves a hand across the library. 'They’re around about somewhere. They never stray too far at the moment.'
She stands, and I see that she's heavy with child.
'My friend,' I gush, stepping forward and taking her hand. 'My heartiest congratulations!'
The woman strokes down her stomach. 'Indeed. After so many years, it was quite the surprise. I thought I was much past such a thing. Though, longevity is well known in the First City. Many here live long lives, so I should have foreseen it, I suppose.’
She smiles, shrugs, and then looks past me.
‘Who do you bring with you?' she asks, eyes surveying the others.
I turn, drawing our female forward. 'This is Bryn. Bryn, Vivienne, the First Scholar at the Great Library of Kitore. This is Morgan, a good friend of mine.' I don't look at Locke. 'And that’s Locke.'
'Call me Vie, please. A pleasure,' she says, grinning widely at us. 'Fae as well, I see.' Her eyes move over a surprised Morgan. 'And half orc?'
She grimaces. 'If you don't mind… I'm sure you've heard the wards of Kitore are temperamental on a good day, and I can sense your medallions, but they’re attuned to fae blood.
I'd hate for the city to turn on you simply because of your orc side.
Would you mind dreadfully if I worked a tiny conjure on you, just so that the wards see you as friend, not foe? '
I nod. 'Let her, Morgan. She knows the wards better than any living human. Vie is a powerful conjurer.'
She rolls her eyes. 'A witch is what I'm called in the Light Realm, but if I was from the Dark Realms, I'd be something fancy, like a mage. Well, I suppose, technically, I'd be a slave as a human, but that's by the by.'
'Of course,' Morgan says, glancing at Bryn who doesn’t seem at all perturbed by the other woman’s words.
All it takes is a small flick of her fingers. 'There. Much safer.'
She tilts her head at Locke. 'And a mage. Did you by chance study at Dead City?'
She sounds intrigued.
Locke nods. 'I did.'
'Gods, you're so lucky! I was hoping to come by one of those trinkets you fae carry around, just to have a flying visit, but now,' she gestures helplessly to her belly. 'One day, perhaps.'
She finally turns her attention to Bryn.
'And a human,' she says.
But then she frowns, and her face alights in a tremulous smile, and she crosses the room, as quickly as she’s able, to Bryn.
'Oh, Jak,' she breathes, glancing over her shoulder at me. 'It can't be so. You've brought a Fate Touched.'
She reaches out, folding her hand into Bryn's and urging her forward. Bryn lets her with wide eyes. She looks awestruck as Vie brings her to the large table and pulls out a chair for her.
'May I get you some refreshment?' she asks. 'Some wine or tea, some food? We have chefs here. Anything you like.'
'No…no, thank you,' Bryn says, glancing at us.
We all look as surprised by this development as she is.
'But, thank you.'
Vie sits at the table with Bryn, her eyes bright, her lips turned up into an excited grin.
'I don't understand,' Bryn says.
'I'm sorry. Gods, you must think me some addled fool!’ Vie finally tears her eyes away from Bryn and shakes her head a little as if to clear it.
'It's just…a Kismet. A human Kismet. Here. It's an omen that foretells good fortune as well as Fate’s favor.'
I quirk a brow. She must not have had the bird from Lia yet, or she wouldn’t be saying we were here to predict anything good, that’s for certain.
'The Kismet isn't the only thing I've brought,' I say with a chuckle, deciding to get the pleasantries out of the way before we ruin my friend’s good mood. 'Though perhaps I should have given you this first.'
I pull out the book I’ve brought and Vie gasps loudly.
'No!'
'I found it in the Tenth Circle in a tiny market. I told you I'd find you a copy.'
Vie takes it from my hand reverently. 'Gods, Jak. One of the oldest accounts of the Breach and the Dark Realms. And a Kismet. You spoil me, my friend.'
I bow my head. 'Perhaps, given my generosity, you might give me something in return, First Scholar.'
'What would you have? If it's within my power, you can have it, of course.'
'Access to the Great Library’s books for a short time?’
‘Granted. And if you have yet to find a place to stay, let me offer the apartments in the adjunct. They’re attached to the library via a tunnel. Very safe. With the festival starting, I doubt you’ll find anywhere else on such short notice. The city is heaving at this time of year.’
‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘That would be most welcome.’
There’s a pregnant pause, and a moment passes where neither of us speaks.
‘My friend.’ Vie cants her head at me, her eyes shrewd and assessing. ‘Were you intending to let me know why you’ve come? For I doubt it’s strictly for the diversion of the festival itself, aye?’
I glance at the others. ‘You’ve had the birds from Halsford recently?’
She nods and gives a shrug. ‘Days ago. They alluded to some vague threat to the Light. I didn’t expect much more information, but if there’s something happening, something to do with the festival, I need to know.’
‘There was meant to be another bird, but it must still be journeying. I wasn’t meaning to keep you in the dark. We’re here because we think there might be some attack on the city. There’s a group in the Dark. They’ve been taking humans from the Light. We think they’re coming here.’
Vie doesn’t look surprised in the least.
‘Talk has reached the Great Library of late. Stories of travelers going missing. At first, we feared the Breach to the Dark Realms had re-opened, and Dark Realm creatures were once again spilling into this land, but there have been no reports of beasts at all. It’s something else.’
‘The Light Realmers are being taken,’ Locke nods.
‘Taken how,’ Vie asks, ‘when the Breach is all but sealed?’
‘We aren’t sure,’ I say. ‘But we think they’re intending to come here during the festival. We’re here to stop them.’
Vie looks puzzled. ‘You think they’ll be able to enter the city through the wards?’
‘From the information we have, it seems to be the case,’ I say.