Page 60 of The Book That Wouldn't Burn

Arpix said nothing. He never did when he was right. It irritated the hell out of Livira because she knew she’d be crowing at this point if their positions were reversed.

“Guess you were right.” His silence dragged the reluctant admission from her.

They moved slowly out into the full glare.

“Wind!” Livira exclaimed. “I’d almost forgotten about the wind!” She turned into it, delighted, her hair flowing behind her. “Come on! Let’s run!”

“Livira!” Arpix scolded. She called him an old woman, but it paid to listen to him however annoying he was.

Together they walked down the mountain path at a sensible pace, stopping to rest their eyes on distances that even the vast chambers of the library couldn’t offer.

“How does it all fit in there?” Livira paused and looked up at the mountain. “I mean, yes, it’s huge. It’s a mountain. But...”

“That’s a question we don’t ask,” Arpix said. “Master Ellis says there’s the map he maintains of the library and then there’s the map the city cartographers have of the mountain, and the two should never meet.”

Livira hadn’t seen Master Ellis’s map. The librarian was too senior to mix with trainees, his rank on par with Yute’s, one of four deputy head librarians. But the layout wasn’t really in question. An endless grid of square chambers. Many of the chambers were inaccessible. Of the fifteen chambers you could reach by passing through three or fewer doors, five had no door that would open. One of those five had been accessed by Livira but none of the librarians she’d told appeared to believe her story, especially when the mechanical raven that she claimed had somehow granted her access could not be found following an extensive search centred on the place she claimed to have left it. Abandoned it, some said. Fabricated it, others muttered.

—

Further down the mountain, as the path broadened into a road, they reached the first houses. Livira’s training had not yet extended to dealing with the public in the library foyer where requests could be made, and so her acquaintance with the citizens of Crath remained limited to the brief journey she had made from the gates to the library years earlier. She remembered how they had looked at her, old women spitting in her path, small boys throwing stones and calling her “duster.” Often, in the time since, she’d stared for longer than she would care to admit into a mirror borrowed from Carlotte, hunting for whatever it was that marked her. She remembered the sting of that word, duster, and wondered if it would be thrown her way again or if the blue robes of a library trainee were sufficient armour.

Livira was so deep in the experience of being outside that she passed Yute’s curious tower of a house without realizing it.

“I nearly didn’t recognise you, child!” A voice from behind her. “Did you think you could just waltz past without a hello?” Salamonda filled the doorway and brandished a wooden spoon in admonishment.

Arpix turned, astonished at being addressed in this manner out on the street.

“I’m so sorry, Salamonda!” Livira started towards the steps then remembered Arpix and dragged him with her. “It’s just—I haven’t been outside in forever, and the sky... isn’t it wonderful! And shadows!” She danced, twirling to see her own. “I have a shadow again!”

“And a skinny one it is!” Salamonda frowned. “Your friend could do with an extra meal or two as well.” She turned back towards her kitchen. “Come on in.”

Livira hesitated. When Yute had dumped her on Master Logaris he’d said that he would come and check on her in a while. She was still waiting. She understood now why the woman who’d nearly hit him with her book trolley had been so shocked. Seeing Yute in the library was a very rare thing indeed. Only the head librarian was more of a mystery. Livira had yet to see her or learn her name.

“Our thanks, ma’am.” Arpix spoke for them both. “But we’re on urgent library business.” He slapped his hands against the heavy satchels at his sides.

“And it’s the library asking for your friend upstairs, sonny.” Salamonda looked upwards meaningfully. “Who do you think had me looking out for young Livira this morning when I had a million other things to do?”

“Yute asked you to look out for me?” Livira was amazed. She’d convinced herself long ago that the man had lost all interest in her and must be one of those people whose attention is always being drawn into something new only to drop that in turn and move on again.

“Come on.” Salamonda went in.

Livira and Arpix followed, taking a few moments for their vision to adjust as they transitioned from blazing sunshine to the relative gloom inside. What struck Livira, before her eyes could see to find the source, was a new and marvellous aroma that filled her mouth with saliva. She still remembered the woman’s stew, but this was not that. This was better.

“You go on up, Livira. I’ll feed your boyfriend some of my butter biscuits. See if we can put some meat on his bones.”

“He’s not my— Butter biscuits?”

“We’ll save you some. If you’re quick. That Yute does like to ramble though. See if you can keep him on track.”

Livira fairly flew up the stairs.

She slowed as she approached Yute’s door. Suddenly she wanted time to marshal her thoughts. She was angry at him for abandoning her, grateful now for his renewed attention, angry at herself for being grateful.

“Come in.” Yute’s voice through the door.

Feeling foolish, she went in. Yute sat in the same chair, just as awkwardly as when he’d waited for her to make her choice from his daughter’s clothes. She knew about his daughter now. Also a trainee in the library. Lost nearly a decade ago on a book search. Her remains still out there somewhere, still undiscovered.

Wentworth was with Yute, coiled in a furry puddle around both his ankles like a living shackle. It was as if the two of them hadn’t moved from the spot since that first day.

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