Page 54 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

The assistant bowed and rushed away.

Caiden clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“We need his help,” she defended. “He can keep a secret.”

“Can he? Because I’ve heard of his penchant for drinking and gambling.”

“He’s not like that anymore.”

“Fine. If you say he’s trustworthy.”

The two waited silently for Grand Master Quail while other scholars shot them questioning looks. Ora shut the book, cutting off the beam. “Best not to draw attention.”

A few moments later, a fumbling man in black robes with a tuft of white hair on his head appeared, sweat glistening on his brow. “Ah, Master Ora, I heard you found something interesting.”

Ora cleared her throat. “Yes, Grand Master. What do you know of this symbol?” She pointed to the mark on the spine of the book.

Master Quail took out a pair of spectacles and placed them on the bridge of his button nose. “Ah yes, this is the mark of the Zylrith Weavers. It’s a knot of magic being woven together. Some scholars think the Trinity tricked the Weavers into doing their bidding, stole their magic, and then eradicated them from the continent. Others believe a certain disease wiped them out. Who can say? They were immensely powerful magus, and now their name is but a whisper in history.”

“Master, did the Weavers build this library?”

“I believe they did, yes.” Master Quail picked up Caiden’s book and examined it. “Where did you get this?”

“My father’s library. Lord Tonin Stormweaver,” Caiden said, leaning back on the desk, arms crossed over his chest.

Grand Master Quail straightened his glasses. “Well, that would make sense.”

“Why is that?” Caiden’s curiosity was piqued.

“An original family would have gotten something like this from the Lady Illya as a sign of gratitude.” The man’s shaking finger grazed over the ancient pages of the book.

“A book?” Caiden asked, cocking his head in confusion.

The Grand Master clicked his tongue. “Not just a book, my child. A history of the land. Of how we came to be.”

“Sounds like a shit gift,” Caiden huffed, crossing his legs over one another.

The old man scowled at him.

“They were numbered. Many are kept here for safety reasons. But some families kept them.”

“So, the Weavers built this library, wrote these books, and then just disappeared?” Ora asked, looking up at the Grand Master like he was a god.

“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Grand Master Quail said with a little chuckle.

Ora tapped her lips with one slim finger, contemplating whether to show her mentor the books or not.

“What is it, my child? Is something on your mind?”

Ora’s eye flicked from Quail’s to Caiden and back again.

“Just show him,” Caiden said with a huff.

Cautiously, Ora opened the book, and light beamed out, connecting the two stars.

Grand Master Quail stared up at the ceiling in wonder. “Yes, a nifty little trick, isn’t it?”

“You mean you knew about this?” Ora’s mouth fell agape.

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