Steel and Sorrow (12 page)

“Thank you.” Tobin still found it odd to say the phrase to another Kifzo, but in private with Walor and even recently with Ufer, he did so.

Walor changed the subject, looking uncomfortable by Tobin’s gratitude. “We finally heard back from Durahn.”

“And?”

“He wasn’t happy with you telling him how to run Nubinya. And he’s angry at being excluded from the campaign. He was already bitter after missing our fight against the Yellow Plain Clan.”

“Let him be angry. The farther he is from the Kifzo, the better.”

“I agree. It was wise to send him away when you did. He still resents not being made warleader after the Testing when we were boys. Taking orders from you has to be killing him.”

Tobin grinned. “I hope it is.”

Walor laughed.

“Tobin!”

Activity came to a halt as heads turned to the sound of a woman. Women were not allowed on the training grounds.

A lump caught in Tobin’s throat as Lucia came toward him, smiling and waving her arm. He watched her body move, hips swaying hypnotically with each step. He purposefully refrained from spending much time with her, yet she could still take his breath away. A scowl grew on his face as he moved his attention to Jober who flanked her side.

He tried to swallow the anger rising inside as he became aware of his warriors’ looks.

Odala would never be so presumptuous.

“You should not be here,” he said when she neared.

The edge in his voice caused her to pause, but only for a moment. “I needed to speak with you.”

“Then you should have found a better time. The training grounds are off limits to women.” He eyed Jober. “He should have told you as much.”

“He did,” said Lucia. “But I insisted.”

“Then what is it?” Tobin demanded.

Lucia glanced at Walor and then to the staring warriors. “Can’t we speak somewhere more private?”

“You chose this place, so say what’s on your mind.”

Lucia straightened. “Fine. It’s about Odala.”

Tobin’s eyes narrowed. “What about her?”

“I think things are getting too serious between you two. I don’t trust her and I don’t think you should either.”

Tobin’s voice came out like ice. “Who are you to say that?”

“I’m someone who has your best interests at heart. I’m your friend.”

First you deny me by choosing Kaz. Now you question the woman I found to replace you?

Tobin laughed. “Do you?”

“Yes, of course. Why is that funny?”

Because you want to speak to me about matters of the heart when you loved a monster.

Tobin wanted to say that, but still could not bring himself to be that cruel to Lucia. He hated to admit it, but the woman did hold some power over him. His relationship with Odala had taught him something valuable however.

The less I see Lucia, the happier I am.

“This conversation is over. Never speak to me again about Odala. Now go. You’re interrupting my training.” Tobin glared at Jober. “Do your job and make sure she doesn’t come here again. Is that clear?”

Jober clenched his jaw in displeasure, but nodded nonetheless while Lucia looked dumbfounded.

Good. He has not forgotten his place.

Chapter 8

Large double doors opened inward and a rush of air exited. The slight chill of the dimly lit room reminded Drake of a cavern. He squinted, but could not pierce the veil of darkness.

“Does anyone have a candle?” he asked.

“A candle? You idiot, you can’t bring an open flame into the library. These records are too rare and far too valuable to risk a clumsy boy knocking a candle over.”

Drake recoiled at the outburst and outright disdain in the mage’s voice. Like the other mages who had decided to promote themselves above their skill levels, Lufflin once again wore his older green robes.

“Sorry. But then how do you see what you’re doing?” asked Drake.

“You shouldn’t even be here.”

“Stop it. We were told to bring him here. He has no way of knowing our methods.” Tristan held out his hand and a glowing light formed in his palm. He sent the light out into the gloom where it lit three lamps hanging from hooks on a large stone column.

“But he isn’t a mage.”

“Others who weren’t mages have studied here in the past,” said Tristan. “Besides, if you don’t like it, take it up with Krytien.”

Lufflin sneered. Drake could see that the two mages did not get along and the rift between them had only grown when Krytien had rewarded Tristan’s lone adherence to Amcaro’s ways.

Lufflin huffed, grabbing a lantern and leading the group down a long hallway. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The light from the lanterns cast an odd blue glow over the expansive room that dissipated until just enough remained for the shadows to play tricks on Drake’s eyes. They walked for a distance far longer than Drake thought possible given what he knew about the depth of the wing. Then he noticed the slight decline in the floor and realized they had descended underground.

Drake had yet to see anything that resembled a bookcase or shelf, or even a discarded piece of paper. Only large columns of stone with the occasional set of tables and chairs occupied the space.

They came to a halt and Drake finally saw several rows of bookcases, about twenty deep, on the edge of the light emanating from Lufflin’s lamp. A year ago Drake would have been impressed at so many books in one place, but after looking through the royal library in Lyrosene, he felt disappointed.

It’s barely bigger than the queen’s.

Lufflin wheeled around and glared at Drake. “What are you looking for in particular? As head of the library, I’ll have to help you find it.”

Drake glanced at the rows again. “I think I can find it myself actually,” he said, hoping to get rid of Lufflin. “It shouldn’t take me that long to browse through this.”

Lufflin broke out into laughter, his annoying cackle bouncing off the high ceilings. “You fool, this isn’t the library. This is simply a reference catalog.”

Tristan sighed. “How about you show him where the books actually are? Your braying isn’t speeding this up any.”

“Come this way,” Lufflin said.

Tristan shook his head as they veered to the left. Listening to Lufflin’s caterwauling in the eerie place made Drake hate him that much more.

I wonder if he would laugh that hard with a ballista aimed at him.

They came upon another set of double doors, much larger and thicker than the first ones. Lufflin went through and Tristan gestured for Drake to follow. Lufflin allowed his lantern’s light to brighten enough for Drake to take in the actual library.

Bookcases and shelves loomed above, over fifty feet high, with ladders, walkways, and scaffolding all around the great space. Doors and staircases led up, down, and out to the sides. Through glimpses of the spanning light, Drake noted even more material in side passages. His mouth hung open, but he couldn’t find his voice.

Tristan came up beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “So. Where do we begin?”

That’s a good question.

* * *

Krytien shuffled along the dark hallway, hand aglow in light. A younger mage told him he could use a lantern, but this worked well enough for him. He reached the second set of double doors leading to the actual library and stared for a few moments at the vast horde of knowledge around him. Books, scrolls, sheets of parchment, and even ancient tablets filled the space. Each contained something of value, whether history, science, philosophy or the art of sorcery. Yet despite the impressiveness of such a collection, something about it felt wrong.

Since reaching the school, that same feeling had been with him no matter where he went. No one could ever call the school plain or uninspired. However, nothing resembled the visions he had created for himself, and after decades of familiarity with those hopeful dreams of his youth, he found Estul Island depressing.

High Mage Amcaro’s death hadn’t helped matters. Krytien had never admitted it to anyone, but he used to hang on every word Jonrell spoke about the man, jealous that his former commander had studied with the High Mage. Between Jonrell’s stories and the recollections of his old master, Philik, Krytien felt like he almost knew Amcaro.

Krytien yawned and began his search. He had seen very little of Drake since the boy gained access to the library. Krytien had been too busy dealing with personality conflicts to check up on him sooner. Despite the condescending looks most mages gave him, especially those in black robes, he wished that at least one had maintained a residence here. Perhaps he could then lean on them to look after the dozens of students who had stayed after Amcaro’s death.

After that initial confrontation with the younger mages, many relinquished their self-promotions with little trouble, but Krytien still saw the resentment in their eyes, especially from those who had awarded themselves the red robes.

Lufflin most of all.

Krytien expected to find Lufflin as he turned into an open doorway and descended a flight of stairs. With each step, the air grew more stale. He entered a dimly lit room and walked past several alcoves of books.

Nora fought sleep with her back against a wall as Drake sat with nose inches from the pages of a large tome while reading.

Krytien put a hand on Nora’s shoulder. She jerked her head in surprise. “What are you doing down here?” he asked.

The girl yawned. “Lufflin asked me to give him a break. He said he needed to get some rest and didn’t want to spend another night with Drake.”

“Don’t you have other duties to tend to?”

“I took care of them already.”

“Then don’t you need your rest?”

“What does it matter to you how much I sleep?” she said, growing defensive. “I could have told Lufflin no.”

But you chose not to. I recognize a crush when I see one.
“Go get some rest and in the morning I’ll talk to Lufflin about this.”

“You’re not going to punish him, are you?” she asked. Her voice took on a pleading note.

Krytien shook his head. “No.”
Not yet, anyway.

“What about Drake?”

“I’ll watch over him.”

“Sounds good to me.” Nora left.

Krytien looked over to Drake. No more than twenty feet away, the boy had barely moved since Krytien arrived. Drake turned a page and his eyes drifted up to the top of the open book.

Good to know he’s still alive at least.

Krytien cleared his throat. Nothing. He cleared it much louder, causing a slight echo. Drake jumped.

“Krytien! You scared me.” Drake looked up with puffy, red eyes. His expression changed to one of confusion. “When did you get here?” He looked around. “And where’s Lufflin?”

“What do you say you take a break? You’ve been up for a day straight. And before that, I heard you only slept for a couple of hours. You can’t keep this up, even at your age.”

Drake rubbed his eyes. “But there’s so much to learn. They have everything here. I can’t go to sleep now.” He swayed slightly in his seat.

“Even you will never be able to read everything in this library, especially not in the time before we leave the island. Kroke and I should be finished with preparations tomorrow. We plan to leave the day after.”

Drake hung his head. “So soon?”

“Yes. Might I suggest you cut down on the reading and studying for now and instead compile a list of the texts we’ll need to take with us.”

“Lufflin said that Amcaro never allowed these documents to leave the library, let alone the island. He felt they were too valuable to risk.”

“Well, Amcaro is dead and the queen has issued a command that we are obligated to uphold. Besides,” he said, patting the boy on the shoulder, “you’ll be in charge of their care and I have no doubt you’d rather die than see harm come to them.”

Drake chuckled. “Lufflin still won’t like it.”

“I have a feeling he won’t like a lot of things in the coming months. Let’s get to bed. I’m not nearly as young as you and my old bones are aching.”

“Alright.” The boy stood and Krytien steadied him. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”

They started walking and Drake went on about all that he had discovered. Krytien let him ramble, finding some pleasure in the youth’s excitement.

A wonder he’s maintained such an attitude after all he’s seen.

“. . . .besides the books Kaz and Elyse both asked about, I also grabbed a few others that I thought might be of value. I hope they won’t mind.”

“I’m sure they won’t. Elyse did give you discretion to make such decisions.”

Drake nodded. “There’s a few that I thought you might enjoy too.”

“Oh?” Krytien had never been one for books.

“They were written by Amcaro. It’s some of his personal thoughts on mastering sorcery, intended for his more accomplished students who—”

Krytien cut him off. “I was not his student Drake.”

I was not meant to be some great mage that would live on for centuries. I proved that in Asantia. I don’t know what Phillik was thinking when he suggested I study here.

“I know, I just thought . . .”

“I appreciate your consideration, but leave those books here. I’m a mage of a different breed.”

They continued in silence.

* * *

The ship had yet to leave the small port and Drake already sat at a desk in a secluded part of the cabin Krytien secured for him. He slid a book from its oiled wrapping with care and delicately set it down. He read the worn cover.

Strategies of War by General Victus
.

Drake learned the day before that Victus had been a famed military commander-turned-emperor of the Quoron Empire. Lufflin told Drake that they thought the text had been lost and that it was Drake’s dumb luck to discover it while searching for something else. Drake had noted the young mage’s emphasis on the word dumb. He sighed.

With Krytien keeping them busy above, I should finally have some peace from him.

A quick pass of the tome’s contents back in the library had led Drake to several other older texts that he also packed up for the journey. He hoped that after he had a chance to examine their contents, they might be of some use to Kaz in the coming months.