Coldmaker(54)

In that moment, I didn’t need discussion. I needed to look up at the stars.

I needed to figure out how to touch the sky.





Chapter Eighteen


The heavy door swung closed behind Cam and me, sealing out the Sun. I’d never been inside the Paphos Library before, and the sensation was overwhelming. Not only was the room delightfully Cold, but there was a certain sense of awe in the air. As if the building itself knew more than Cam or I ever would, even if we lived a hundred lifetimes.

The Bookkeeper took his droopy eyes from the pages long enough to cast us a sceptical glance, the dim candlelight and bald head making him seem even older than he was. He hunched over further, moving his gnarled finger along lines of text as if desperate not to lose his place.

‘Camlish Tavor,’ the Nobleman said in a gravelly voice.

‘Hello, Humphrey,’ Cam said. ‘I know.’

Humphrey frowned, eyes still on the paper. ‘You never bring Jadans in with—’

‘Thank you, Humphrey.’ Cam took a Shiver out of his Cold purse and plopped it on the desk. ‘Like I said. I know. But I figured, why fight it? Got to grow up sometime.’

Humphrey looked over at the Cold, one barren eyebrow trying to rise, but stuck in a mere quiver. ‘A Shiver is a bit much for a borrow fee. Unless you’re trying to take out some early archives.’

‘No, thank you, sir. But I would like to reserve room six, please.’

‘The Empty room, I see?’ Humphrey snorted and then hawked something slimy into a little basin on the desk. I tried not to think about the poor Jadan who had to clean that bowl. ‘Two Drafts per bell. Two for a candle in your lantern. You’re here often enough to know the rates.’ His eyes narrowed as they swept over me. ‘What are you two planning on doing in the Empty room for three hours?’

‘One hour is fine,’ Cam said, leaning forward and lowering his voice. ‘But the extra is for your discretion.’

‘Discretion for what?’ Humphrey asked with a frown, his face one big question mark.

Cam made a point of looking from side to side, patting his pocket as if he was carrying something important. ‘Let’s just say I’ll also be needing the Vicaress Compendium on Jadan Torture for Truth Extraction.’

Humphrey’s wrinkled face drew into a delighted smile, as he lit a candle in the base of a lantern. ‘I see you’re growing up indeed. So you want to learn about Jadan pain, do you?’ He gave me a toothy grin. ‘Probably good to know how to control your slaves if you’re going to take over the Crest someday.’

Cam gave a gentle bow. ‘My sentiments exactly, my dear man.’

Humphrey sat back in his chair, hands going behind his head. I sneaked a peek at what the old man was reading and recognized it as the Khat’s Gospels. All the books in Paphos to choose from, and he was reading the one he most probably knew off by heart already.

‘Don’t want to practise at home.’ Humphrey tapped a finger against his lips. ‘Is this a surprise for your father? To show him you’re not a boy any more?’

Cam gave another bow, his blond hair tumbling over his shoulders. ‘You may as well be a Tavor yourself with how well you know the family.’

‘Kindly said.’ Humphrey looked delighted and then reached under his desk to retrieve four boilweed sacks. ‘These go on the slave’s hands and feet, to protect the books. Jadan skin is riddled with Sun – Khat Baroques the Benevolt, verse twenty-two – and just so you know, if he touches a book, you buy it.’

Cam threw the little sacks at me, his face turning harsh. ‘What are you waiting for, then? Put them on.’

I nodded, making sure to look properly scared, as Cam had asked before we entered. I covered my hands and feet, feeling rather foolish.

Humphrey gave a modest little clap. ‘You’ll be a Lord yet, young Camlish Tavor.’

Cam bowed. ‘The Cleansing yesterday has got me thinking. These Jadans don’t know discipline any more.’

‘Rightly said.’ Humphrey creaked forward, his bones as excited as his face. ‘I’ve been worried about that myself. What you planning on first. Pressure points? Strangling? Teach it commands?’

Cam patted his pocket again. ‘Blunt objects. I want to see what spots make them squeal the most. And I believe room six has the thickest walls.’

‘That it does.’ Humphrey looked so proud at the declaration. ‘“They shall know pain, for the aches and disease, kept under holy cudgel so the Chosen might step on their backs and rise off the sands.”’

‘Khat Illuminus II,’ Cam said without pause. ‘Verse sixteen.’

Humphrey looked as if his mouth might get stuck in a smile as he took a key off a little rack and tossed it to Cam. ‘Nothing quite like wisdom of the past. Praise be to the Khat.’

‘Praise be to the Khat,’ Cam echoed.

Humphrey pointed to my forehead. ‘And look at the thing sweating. You’ve already got your Jadan scared. Well done, Camlish!’

Cam nodded. ‘I’m sorry to cut our conversation short, but I’m quite eager to get started.’

Humphrey hawked up another something terrible and added it to the slimy basin. ‘Not at all, Camlish Tavor. By all means.’

Cam nodded and slapped me lightly on the back of the head. ‘Follow.’