Page 100 of Daughter Of The Ninth Line
Vox’s expression was his usual shuttered mask. “Doesn’t matter who. You can’t do anything about it.”
I hated that he was right. “Why?” There was no good reason to brutalize anyone like this, let alone someone who was your flesh and blood. The why didn’t matter, but I had to know.
“I had the audacity to agree that everyone got the outcome they desired from today’s Conclave.”
My teeth ached with how hard I was grinding them. His father. I hated that fucker. “We’ll go back to Boellium tonight. I don’t care if I have to manufacture drama to make it happen. Fuck it, I’ll manufacture a whole damn Line war, if it means you don’t have to come back here.” I gripped his face again. “Never again, Vox.”
He shook his head slowly, defeat curling him in on himself. “And when our time at Boellium is up? You can’t keep that promise, Hayle, but I appreciate the thought.”
There was a knock on the door, and we both froze. I moved between Vox and the doorway, my eyes narrowed like I had X-ray vision. In my head, I called for my hounds, who were close by. They’d tell me who was out there and if they were a threat.
They sent me back an image of the Librarian.
I walked slowly up to the door, opening it just a crack. I didn’t trust anyone in this place, except my father. “Can I help you?” My voice was haughty. Obviously, I was channeling Vox’s normally cool demeanour.
The Librarian was of indeterminate age. I suspected mid-thirties, but she had fine lines around her eyes that could’ve been from the passage of time or from squinting while reading tiny texts. “Such a loaded question, Heir Taeme. But in this instance, I believe I can help Heir Vylan.” She lifted a jar of healing balm. “From the supply of traditional healing medicine that I regularly order from the Twelfth Line. It will stop the bleeding and aid in reducing the swelling and pain.”
How could she possibly know about that? Did she have this room under surveillance? “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She shook her head at me, like I was an errant child. “Undoubtedly. However, it is my job to know all things. It was my Goddess-gifted purpose in life.” She stared at me, until I felt about three inches tall. “I promise you that my intentions are honorable.”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to look for the deceit. In my experience, nothing came for nothing, especially not here in Fortaare. “In exchange?”
She shook her head again. “No strings. But if you’d like to exchange favors, I have a parcel of books that need to go to thelibrary in Boellium. If you could take them with you on your return travels, I would consider it a fair trade. I believe Librarian Enora might be in need of them soon.”
I hadn’t realized the Librarians had names. I mean, obviously they did, but we never called them by anything other than their honorific.
I could take some books back with me. In fact, it might give us an excuse to leave. Everyone was wary of the Librarians. There was power in knowledge.
“Sure, we can do that, in return for your discretion.”
The Librarian gave me a determined, if somewhat sympathetic, expression. “The library is a place that prides itself on the gathering and safekeeping of knowledge, Heir Taeme. But we also value privacy and the right for people to research topics without political backlash.” She gave me a look that saw far too much. “Your secrets, and that of those you hold dear, are safe in the library.”
To the wrong ears, her words would be considered treasonous. That was enough of a reassurance to me. “Thank you, Librarian.”
She gave me a soft look, not quite a smile but something warm, before folding her face back into severe neutrality. “The answer is always in the library, Heir Taeme. It’s a valuable lesson that I believe that Ebrus has forgotten.” She turned and walked back toward one of the many darkened corners of the library. “Collect the parcel of books from the front desk on your way out,” she said over her shoulder, not waiting for my response. She disappeared into the rows of shadows and began shelving before I could reply.
Clutching the balm in my hand, I turned back to Vox. The Librarians really freaked me out.
chapter sixty-one
Avalon
Master Proxius was personally teachingour History of the Line Systemlecture, which was new. One of the instructors had been called home for a family emergency, and apparently, Master Proxius had volunteered.
“As you can see from the maps, not all of Ebrus was populated until after the Line system was introduced by the Vylan family six hundred years ago, when Hopus Vylan was at the family’s helm. The most powerful family of elemental wielders, they held a great amount of control over the running of Ebrus, even prior to the Line system. In fact, they could have set themselves up as a monarchy, rulers of the country, yet they didn’t. Does anyone know why?”
The silence around the room was deafening, and Master Proxius looked vaguely disappointed. I’d read about this somewhere, but I didn’t want to answer and be wrong. I already had too many eyes on me.
Still, no one else answered.
Finally, I raised my hand. “Because he wanted the country to be united, and believed in every person having a say in a democratically run system.”
Master Proxius gave me a proud smile. “Excellent, Miss Halhed. Yes, Hopus Vylan believed that we were stronger together, and that no one person should exercise absolute power over the lives of others. Does anyone know why this was?”
This time, I had no idea.
“No, I guess this one might have been struck from your school’s teaching materials. It was because Hopus Vylan was in love with—and would later marry—Aurelia Hanovan. The Vylan and Hanovan families had feuded for generations, but the marriage between Hopus and Aurelia heralded a century of peace. The Line system was set up, giving all the major families a place at the table when it came to issues governing the country. Trade routes were opened, with Lines moving freely across the country for the first time in memory. It was an age of prosperity, and many of the great cities were built in this time. Fortaare, Hamor, and of course, the war college, although the Dome and atrium were already here.”
