Born Of Fire And Darkness (Book 2) (16 page)

She glanced around the garden and smiled. “It’s beautiful here. I’d love to come back, if I can find it again. I admit, I wandered aimlessly for some time before I wound up here.” She grinned. “In fact, I’m not even sure I can find my way out.”

He stood. “Come with me. I’ll have a steward show you to your room. If, that is, you want to go. You could stay, have a drink. We could talk more.”

She looked up at the night sky. “I should go. It’s getting late and for the first time in a while, I think I could sleep without nightmares.” With another smile, she added, “But thank you.”

The disappointment on his face was evident, but he nodded. “Very well. This way,” he said, guiding her away.

Chapter 15

The next morning, Korbin and Octavia sat at a long, wooden table in the palace archives, being schooled in the indexing system used there. Four immense hand-written ledgers bore entries designating each work’s age, author, and with coded entries illustrating its origin and whether it was in a bound book, linen or paper scrolls, weavings, or carvings. The curator explained that whatever Octavia and Korbin wished to examine would be brought to them at one of the wooden tables that ran the length of the room. When they finished, each piece would be put away for them. More delicate items should not be touched unless absolutely necessary, and the look on the curator’s face told them he would prefer it not be necessary.

It turned out that the library curator had appointed two scribes and two stewards to help them with Octavia’s research. Only one, the youngest of the bunch, a scribe named Hekare, a tall, lanky lad with unruly blond hair, asked many questions when Octavia outlined what they were looking for. Unfortunately, she had little to go on besides the phrase
Child of Eurmus
and the fact that the phrase also had something to do with the Spirits of Light and Shadow.

Clearly Braetin thought Octavia to be one of these people, but was that simply an old term for
conduit
, or did it indicate something deeper? Perhaps it meant nothing at all.

Korbin was relieved that while explaining what she needed help finding, Octavia kept to herself the belief that the Spirits were foreign invaders into the realm and that they had been expelled by these so-called Children. Although the Kilovian religion was tolerated, blasphemy was still a crime in Talmor.

Octavia appeared shocked at the vast wealth of information all owned by one man. “How could any one person justify keeping so much to themselves?” she asked quietly when the stewards and scribes were busy arranging the appropriate legers.

“He’s the emperor,” Korbin explained. She tightened her lips into a thin line and nodded in a way that signified anything but agreement.

For the first hour of the search, Octavia pored over the list of titles and asked questions about each book’s contents. She compiled a list of the documents she wanted to see first.

Hekare asked a few questions about Octavia’s early reading choices. “These are tomes related to the early days of our understanding of the Spirits of Light and Shadow.”

“Yes? It’s my belief that the phrase
Children of Eurmus
has its roots in that time.”

“And you also believe the phrase to be related to the Kilovian religion?”

“I’ve assumed it’s an old phrase for Kilovian practitioners, but perhaps we should have a more open mind. Eurmus may have been a conduit himself, some kind of leader, but I know of no member of the Sennestelle who bore that name. When we enter the order, we are taught its history and about its leaders of old. So I’m at a loss to explain how he relates to our order.”

“If Eurmus was a
who
at all,” Hekare commented.

“What do you mean?” She looked up from the ledger spread in front of her.

One of the older stewards, a tall, lean man called Lish, shushed Hekare. “It is not our job to speculate on things we know nothing about, Hekare. You are not a researcher. You are merely to write what you are asked to write and fetch what you are asked to fetch.”

Hekare ducked his head, embarrassed. He turned to Octavia. “I’m sorry, Dula.”

“I’m not a Dula. Call me Senne. And what did you mean about Eurmus not being a
who
? I want to hear your thoughts.”

The steward Lish pursed his lips but didn’t say anything.

Hekare shook his head. “It’s nothing, Senne. I was just thinking of a children’s story my mum used to tell me at bedtime. It was called something like Child of Darkness. The phrase
Child of Eurmus
reminded me of that. Perhaps Eurmus means something in one of the old languages, a meaning that’s now lost. Or maybe Eurmus is a place?”

Lish looked to the ceiling. “A children’s book,” he muttered, clucking his tongue in disapproval. Turning to Octavia he said, “If that’s all, Senne, we will fetch the first batch now.”

“Of course,” she said, her gaze distant.

They went, and Korbin watched Octavia. “What are you thinking? Does that mean something to you?”

“No, she said, “not particularly, but it’s not a bad thought. Eurmus could be a place or some archaic word I’m not familiar with. I must remember to keep an open mind.” She turned to the remaining steward. “Where are old maps kept?” she asked. “I’d like to see some from the relevant time period, before the war at least. But the older, the better.”

“Those are in the map room, Senne, not here in the library. They weren’t part of our instruction or permission. I can inquire for you.”

“Yes, please do that.”

She turned to the other scribe. “What of the main library in the city?”

“Senne?” he asked.

“Well, I assume there are books there about the Spirits, too.”

“Thousands, I would wager,” he said. “Senne, nearly every book on Talmoran society, culture, history, or law will be about the Spirits in one way or another.”

Octavia grumbled. “It’s too much. There’s no way we can go through it all.”

“Perhaps,” Korbin offered, “we should start with a narrow focus. Ignore anything for the time being that is less than two hundred years old. That should narrow it down.”

“Substantially,” he said. “Not many books have survived that long.”

“Then we start with ones that we know reference Kilovian religion.”

“It might narrow us down to nothing,” the scribe said. “Heretical documents are rarely preserved.”

Octavia failed to hide her annoyance, but she didn’t reply as the first batch of books had just arrived. Lish and Hekare laid them out, and Octavia appeared stunned at the size of the tomes. The largest of them had pages an arm’s length across and half again as high. When it was laid out, it covered nearly an entire table.

The library curator hovered nearby, not seeming to relish the idea of anyone actually reading any of the documents in his care. He winced when Octavia opened the book’s cover and the leather creaked. Every turning of a page was supervised with his careful stare.

She glanced up at Hekare. “What would you think about extending our research to the main library in the city? Specifically any documents or books older than two hundred years that also reference the Kilovian religion. Would you mind going to see? Bring anything relevant back here?”

Hekare’s eyes lit up at the prospect. “I relish the opportunity, Senne, but books are not meant to leave the library. I could make a list and arrange for you to visit if you think any of them will suit your research.”

Octavia frowned. “You mean to tell me that if the palace requests books to be temporarily moved here that the library of Durjin would refuse?”

“Well, no, not if you put it like that.”

“Then let’s put it like that,” she said.

He grinned. “I’ll inquire, Senne.”

“What we really should be looking for,” Octavia said to Korbin after the scribe left, “is the earliest references to the One.”

At first, Octavia had declared they could each look in different books to shorten the work, but she needed frequent help with the ornate ancient script and the peculiar spellings of the older Talmoran language, so she and Korbin ended up working on one book together, carefully turning pages and scanning each one for relevant passages.

The others helped as well, but it was slow work, and by the time midday approached, Korbin’s head ached.

Octavia looked up, her eyes bleary. “Nothing,” she said. “Just… nothing.”

“It’s only the first morning,” Korbin said, hoping to reassure her.

“We don’t even know that there’s anything to be found.” She sighed loudly, pushing her chair back. “I need to go for a walk.”

“I’ll join you,” he said.

After a moment of hesitation, she said, “I appreciate the offer, but I’d like to walk alone. Clear my head. We’ll keep going this afternoon. You’re right. It’s too early to be discouraged.”

“Of course,” he said, feeling deflated at her rejection, even though he realized he was overreacting. He turned to Lish. “Can you inquire about lunch in an hour or so?”

“Of course, Dul,” the man replied with a bow. “Perhaps I might suggest taking your meal on one of the third floor balconies. There’s one just off the main corridor that has a lovely view of the gardens and is often enjoyed by guests. I dare say you might welcome the fresh air after a morning spent indoors.”

“Perfect,” Korbin said, wondering if he’d judged the man too harshly before.

“What’s perfect?” came a voice from the door.

All the servants, the scribe, and the curator bowed as Korbin turned to see the emperor standing in the door. Korbin bowed as well, wincing when Octavia simply nodded her head.

“Hello, your highness,” she said, sounding much brighter than she had a moment before.

“Hello,” he replied with a grin. He turned to Korbin. “So, what’s perfect?”

“Lunch on the third floor balcony in an hour or so,” Korbin said.

“Ah, that does sound nice. I wish I had time to join you.”

“It would be an honor,” Korbin said, noticing that the emperor had his eyes locked on Octavia.

“Perhaps another time?” the emperor said, seeming to address only her.

“You’re busy all day?” she asked.

“I’ve spent the morning with the senate and I have another meeting in a little bit regarding trade negotiations.”

“Then come walk with me,” she said, sweeping over and taking the emperor’s arm. “Surely you can spare a few moments to walk.” Korbin stared at her. So much for her being too tired for company.

“Very well,” he said. “And you can tell me what you’ve found here today.”

“Nothing much,” she admitted. “I have young Hekare over at the library in the city looking for more, but so far, I’m mostly reading about the regulation for temple construction, troop movements during the war with Kilovia, and supply routes.”

“Sounds dull,” he said with a sympathetic smile.

“It is. I was hoping for something about the gods themselves, the origin of the Talmoran religion.”

The emperor looked thoughtful. “I suppose we all take it for granted that the Spirits of Light and Shadow have always been and always will be.”

Despite his irritation at the abrupt switch in Octavia’s attitude, an idea sparked in Korbin’s mind. Perhaps they should be looking for was the first mention of the Spirits themselves. It wasn’t specifically what Octavia said she wanted to know and perhaps had nothing to do with the Children of Eurmus, but now the emperor’s comment made him wonder what had Talmor been before the Spirits arrived, assuming Octavia was correct and they truly did not originate in this world? Knowing that would go a long way to proving to himself that her idea was correct.

He realized then that Octavia had spoken to him. “I’m sorry?” he said.

“I just said that I’d see you after lunch.”

“You aren’t coming to eat on the balcony?”

“No,” she said, then smiled. “You weren’t listening.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I was just thinking where we should look next. You’re not eating?”

“His highness invited me to dine with him now.” She turned to the emperor. “If you’re sure it’s no trouble to have another place at the table on such short notice.”

He chuckled. “It’s kind of you to ask, but no, it’s no trouble. Shall we?”

Octavia nodded, then shot Korbin a smile that looked a little apologetic, but happy.

He stared after her as she left on the emperor’s arm, unable to believe what had just happened. He’d definitely missed something. When the two of them left, Korbin sat heavily at one of the research tables.

Lish cleared his throat. “So, do you still wish to dine on the balcony, Dul Korbin?”

Korbin started to decline but then sighed. “Yes. I need a break,” he said, suddenly feeling very alone in this strange place, almost wishing he was back in Vol. Even being a senator would be better than this, he thought bitterly. Octavia didn’t need him here. He had little to offer and even his “lessons” on protocol were falling on deaf ears. The scribes here were more useful. Maybe he should return to Vol.

Chapter 16

Graiphen sat in his private chambers at the temple of Braetin. Although he had an office in the palace, he preferred to do much of his work here where he felt more at home and had many priests, acolytes, and servants at his command. He visited the palace daily, but this was his own domain.

Like every place bearing the Shadow Spirit’s name, the room he’d been assigned was hard, bleak, and uncomfortable. The floor was cold and bare and the hand-sized windows were surrounded with iron spikes. His tall, straight-backed chair faced the door, and his visitor gave a polite bow.

“Ultim Qardone.” The stout man’s legs had a wide bow to them, and the paunch of his mid-section made him look like a fat bird. His beak-like nose and small eyes only added to the appearance.

“Qardone Eng,” Graiphen replied. “I trust the journey from Vol was uneventful.”

“It was four nights and three days of fast riding. But when the Mistress demands…”

“We obey.” Graiphen’s frown deepened. The priest must have ridden like a demon night and day, changing horses several times along the way, to cover the distance in so short a time. No wonder he looked as though he might collapse at any moment. “So tell me what demands the Mistress would make of me through you. That is why you came, is it not? Tell me, then you can take the rest you have earned.”