Sword and Pen (The Great Library #5)(106)

Khalila didn’t dare breathe. She heard the hiss of steam, the ticking of the clockworks inside the automaton’s body.

Dario opened one eye, saw the claws looming over him, and flinched.

“Move!” Khalila snapped, and the soldiers stepped away from her. She ran to Dario, grabbed his hands, and pulled him out from under the dead automaton. Then up and into her arms. “What idiocy was that?”

“Heroism,” he said, and gave her a shaky smile. “Pure heroism.”

She only sighed. Then she stepped back, folded her hands together, and said, “Thank you for your bravery, Scholar Santiago.”

He stopped smiling, but she saw the glow in his eyes nevertheless. He bowed deeply. “Archivist. I’ll be outside. Just in case there’s another chance to prove my worth.”

He walked to the door, and a guard looked at her for a nod before he opened it for Dario’s departure.

Khalila caught her breath on something that might have been a laugh, or a sob, or both, and turned to the lieutenant of the High Garda soldiers. “Please see to your fallen man. What is his name . . . ?”

“Reyansh Bannerjee.”

“I will personally inform his family of his sacrifice, and that he gave his life for mine.”

“Yes, Archivist.” The lieutenant signaled his men, and four of them broke away to carry Reyansh Bannerjee—a man she had never known, a man with a life and a family and a reality now ended—away. I owe him my life. I will do him honor every day I must shoulder this responsibility.

She’d only just caught her breath and retrieved her fallen dagger when a knock came at the door. Dario’s voice said, “Archivist? Scholar Wolfe is here.”

“He may enter,” she said. “Members of the Curia, are you all right—?”

“Fine,” Litterae Vargas reported, and helped the older members to their feet. “We’ll continue our business when you’re ready. Personally, I could use a drink.”

Once they were out, Wolfe entered, and once she’d given permission the soldiers also allowed Glain, Morgan, and Dario to join them. Just her friends now, and for the first time she let her guard down. A little.

“You’re all right?” Wolfe asked her. At her nod, he continued. “We were told there was a threat to your safety. We came as soon as we could.” He cast a sidelong look at Dario. “Though I see he managed to get here sooner.”

“I commandeered a carriage, and then I ran,” Dario said flatly. “Like the devil was after me. Where’s Jess?”

“Resting,” Morgan said. “In the old Archivist’s office. He couldn’t make it the rest of the way. We’ll go back for him, but we needed to be sure—”

“I’m fine,” Khalila said, and managed a smile. “And you, Morgan?”

“Yes. I’m well enough. Do you know where Thomas is?”

“No,” Khalila said. “The High Garda’s been on the hunt when they can, but . . . You don’t think something’s happened to him, do you?”

“I think Thomas wouldn’t disappear at a time like this unless he had no choice in the matter,” Wolfe answered. “And he was last seen leaving the Lighthouse, on his way to the workshops—”

Wolfe’s Codex shivered in its holder at his belt. So did Glain’s. So did Morgan’s. And Dario’s.

And Khalila’s, too.

They all opened them at about the same moment. Wolfe was just a fraction faster to the meaning.

“It’s from Thomas. He says the Great Archives are in danger. The Archivist intends to destroy them.”

For a blank instant, Khalila looked at him, waiting for him to give some order, and then she remembered. No. This was her duty, not his.

“Who’s the best expert on the Great Archives available?”

“There are special Scholars who maintain the collection,” Wolfe said. He was already writing in his Codex. “And a special company of guards dedicated to its protection.”

“Summon the Scholars, if they’re not already inside the facility,” she said. “We’ll require their expertise. Do it on my authority.”

She quickly wrote to Lord Commander Santi. I will need your troops stationed at the Great Archives to be under my immediate command. Secure the facility. No one goes in or leaves unless I grant permission. Kill anyone who attempts entry without my approval.

Understood, Santi wrote back. The battle is winding up here. Russians retreating. I will come myself.

She hesitated, then wrote, Hurry. We need you.

Then she looked up and said, “Now. We all go. If the Great Archives are in danger, we can’t wait here.”

Wolfe bowed slightly, and put his fist over his heart. A High Garda gesture. “In your service, Archivist.” She listened for any hint of mockery. But he was completely sincere.

I am the Archivist of the Great Library, she thought. If only for this one night.

But for this one night, the Great Library will survive. At whatever cost.

Insha’Allah.





EPHEMERA



Text of a letter handwritten by Obscurist Alfred Nobel, kept and handed down to each Archivist in turn until the reign of Archivist Khalila Seif


I am writing to give you a burden so great that our minds can scarcely grasp its significance. I am sorry, but you must read this, keep it, and share it only with your trusted Curia and the Lord Commander of the High Garda, all of whom must be sworn to secrecy in this matter.