'I'll handle Jazana," said Glass. "When do we leave?" "Well, there's no time to waste. We'll have toleave tomorrow or the next day. But Jazana- 'I told you, I'll handle her," Glass repeated. He was all sobriety suddenly, the same grim man who'd once led the House of Dukes. "You tell Breck and the boy about your decision. I'll tell Jazana."
'When?" asked Lukien.
Baron Glass headed for the door. "Right now, Ryon." "Thorin, wait," Lukien called after him. When Glass paused to face him, he said, "Don't call me Ryon anymore. From now on, my name is Lukien."
Jazana Carr hadn't always been wealthy. She was the only child in a family that wanted sons, a family that struggled until her father had staked his claim to a small diamond mine thirty years ago. Until then, the Carr family had enjoyed very little. Northern Norvor was a rugged place, and the Bleak Territories were infamous for fickle weather and failed farms. Gorin Carr, Jazana's father, had lost his little farm to the whims of a Norvan drought. Finally driven to madness by deprivation, he had murdered the rightful owner of his little diamond mine and used the proceeds to buy protection. It was the first time Jazana had heard the word "mercenary," and she had learned it well. Finally, there had been food on the table and the chance at a future. But there were still no sons.
When Jazana Carr was fourteen, her mother died. Her father, an ugly man by any standard, did not turn to other women to satisfy his lusts. He had a budding daughter at home and that was enough for him.
Jazana Carr didn't know the word rape then, but she learned its meaning nonetheless. She endured her father's bed for three gruesome years, never telling anyone and barely acknowledging the gnawing shame within her. But by seventeen she was a grown woman and had gathered the courage to refuse her father's demands. He had never touched her again, never spoke of it nor apologized nor made good for his acts in any way. She was a daughter, he reminded her, a powerless Jazana paused. Her shoulders slumped and the brush dropped to the ground. "Damn him."
'It's for Cassandra," Glass explained. He had never told Jazana everything about the queen, and was careful now. "She sent a letter for Lukien. She wants him to come back." "After all these years?"
'You knew it could happen someday, Jazana." Glass bent down and picked up the brush. Handing it to her, he said, "We've talked about this. You said Lukien could go any time he wished." "Thanks for reminding me," hissed Jazana, snatching the brush from his hand. She went back to grooming. "After all I've done for him, this is how he repays me. Did you at least try to talk him out of it?"
Glass steeled himself. "I'm going with him, Jazana." This time, Jazana Carr was still as stone. She didn't drop the brush. She didn't move a hair.
'I have to," said Glass quickly. "I owe-She turned like an adder and tossed the brush at him. "You're going with him?"
Glass held his ground. "I am." "You're not."
'I am." Glass didn't blink. "You can't talk me out of it, Jazana. I've made up my mind. Lukien needs me. I owe him my life."
'You owe him?" asked Jazana, flabbergasted. "What about me, Thorin? What about us?"
'There is still us, Jazana." Glass reached out and touched her cheek. "When I'm done with this-"
Jazana swatted his hand away. "When you're done with this you'll be dead! You're an old man, Thorin. And if Akeela finds you he'll skin you alive."
'That's a chance I have to take," said Glass. He tried to smile at her, to make her understand. "I can't let Lukien go alone, not after he risked his life saving me from Woe. I'm a man, Jazana. You can't expect me to ignore my responsibilities."
'Oh, yes, a man," sneered Jazana. "What about your responsibilities to me? What about all we've worked for? I thought you wanted revenge on Akeela. Who else can give you that, eh? Only me!"
woman. Without a man, she was useless and unable to make her way in a world ruled by his kind.
By the age of twenty-one, Jazana Carr was finally free of him. Gorin Carr was dead from a gangrenous wound he'd gotten while hunting, and Jazana was his only heir. The diamond mine was hers, and Jazana Carr squeezed every last gemstone from it. She used her workers like slaves and built a tidy fortune from their efforts, hoarding the small diamonds they chiseled from the earth until she had enough to expand her empire. She brought another mine and then another, and in time she grew wealthy. And in those years she had a string of lovers, men she knew were attracted to her wealth and comely body, butwho never lasted long. They were Norvan men, too proud to bow to a woman. They had tried to wrest control of the gem mines from Jazana, and when she refused they had left her. One by one, they disappeared.
Thorin Glass knew the sad history of Jazana Carr like an old lullaby. She had told him her tale shortly after they'd met and had been repeating it ever since. It was utmost on his mind when he went to speak with her. He knew she'd be hurt by his leaving; he hoped she wouldn't cry. He loved Jazana but she could be so emotional at times...
He found her where he expected, in the stables with her horse, Wolfsbane, a beautiful stallion that was Jazana's pride and joy. Like a lot of males, Wolfsbane was spirited but Jazana's crop kept him in line. Except for Jazana the stable was empty. Thankfully, Rodrik was nowhere to be found. As Glass entered the stable he found Jazana in Wolfsbane's stall, absently brushing his splendid chestnut coat. She had her back turned to him and seemed to be brooding. Her hand moved over the horse in long, deliberate strokes. A strong scent of hay permeated the air but Glass could still smell Jazana's perfume.
She looked beautiful, even amidst the hay and musty wood.
'I've been waiting for you," she said suddenly, not turning to face him. "When you sneak up on me I know you have bad news. He's leaving, then?"
Glass walked up to her. "Yes."
'It doesn't matter. We can still do those things, after I help Lukien."
'Doesn't matter?" Jazana turned away and drifted toward the stable gate. "Have you any idea how many times I've heard those words from men? Nothing matters to any of you. Not even love."
Glass went after her. "I do love you, Jazana."
'No. You love my money and my body and what I can do for you. If you loved me you'd stay. If you loved me you wouldn't make me beg like this!" Frustrated tears began running down Jazana's cheeks. "I forbid you to go," she spat. "You hear? I forbid it!"
Very carefully, Glass looked at her and said, "Jazana, I'm not your servant. I am Baron Glass of Koth. No one rules me."
'I do!"
'You don't," said Glass, growing angry.
'Dog!"
Glass snapped. His hand shot out and slapped her face. Jazana stumbled back, her face contorting, tears flowing in hot streaks. She looked about to spring on him, but checked herself. Instead she straightened like a monarch.
'Go," she said, her voice breaking. "Be gone by the morning."
'Jazana, I-"
"Go!" she cried. "But know this, Thorin-you're not welcome here ever again. When you're done with your little quest, there'll be no home for you in Hanging Man. And not in Luria, either. I'm going to take Luria someday, and when I do I'm going to find that family of yours. And I'm going to kill them."
Glass couldn't believe her threat. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that."
'Go ahead, Thorin, leave," challenged Jazana. She wiped her tears with her sleeve. "You don't believe I can conquer Luria? You think your family is safe from me?"
'Stop, Jazana..."
'In a year I'll have King Lorn on his knees. And then it's Akeela's turn." Jazana's face turned the color of bruised fruit. "I'll do it just to spite you, Thorin. I'll do it just to prove what I can do!"
There was no arguing-Glass knew she was beyond reason.
now her threats had slammed the door on him. There was no way he could relent.
'I leave in the morning with Lukien," he said. "Don't try to stop us. If you do, there'll be trouble."
Jazana laughed through her tears. "Don't flatter yourself, old man. I can find another lover. One with both arms!"
'And don't you dare harm my wife or children," Glass warned. He stepped directly into her face, summoning all his thunder. "If anything happens to them, anything at all, I'm going to blame you, Jazana Carr. And nothing in the world will save you from me." They stayed that way for a long moment, staring at each other, on the verge of blows. Glass could feel the coiled rage in Jazana, how she longed to rake her polished nails across his face. But she did nothing.
She said not a word.
And Baron Thorin Glass knew there was nothing left for him to say, either. Shaking with anger, he turned from the woman he professed to love and strode from the stable.
'What is?" Gilwyn queried.
Lukien didn't answer. He couldn't explain all that Akeela had dreamed, not even to a bright boy like Gilwyn. "We should get going," he said. "I'm anxious to see Figgis."
He snapped the reins and sent Tempest on his way again, driving the old horse toward the east side of the city. Around them, the old constructs of Koth rose up like bad memories, crowded with people and the familiar accent of city folk. Skirting along the perimeter of Koth was the quickest route to the library, and allowed Lukien a safe view of his former home. In the distance, he could see the ruins of Chancellery Square, now abandoned but for the barracks and headquarters Trager had built. It was garish and impressive, and it frightened Lukien to see all that his nemesis had accomplished. Trager was a general now, leader of the Royal Chargers and all the Lurian military. There were no more chancellors to question his orders. According to Gilwyn, not even Akeela contradicted him. He had gotten what he'd always wanted, and the thought curdled Lukien's homecoming. Had Thorin been with him, Lukien knew that he, too, would be sickened by the sight of the demolished House of Dukes. But Thorin and Breck had left them earlier in the day, heading north toward Borath and the safety of Breck's farm. If all went well, they would meet them there in a day or so with Cassandra.
'I think you should put Teku in your lap," Lukien cautioned. "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
'Don't worry," said Gilwyn. "No one knows me around here."
'No? Even with that monkey with you?"
Gilwyn shook his head. "I don't really get out of the library much." He coaxed Teku down into his lap.
"The only people I meet are scholars, and they don't stick around or talk to me."
'Now that is a shame," said Lukien. He hadn't talked much to Gilwyn himself the last few days and was starting to regret it. "A boy your age should get out and be with friends. Run and play."
Gilwyn turned and frowned at him. Lukien felt his face flush.
'Sorry," he offered. "I forgot." Then he studied Gilwyn's clubbed hand a moment more, adding, "But you seem to get A .fter four days of ceaseless travel, Lukien and Gilwyn finally arrived in Koth. The homecoming left the Bronze Knight speechless. It was nearing dusk and the city was darkening.
Shadows grew in the avenues. Lukien scanned the skyline of his forlorn home, awed by it. It had changed in the sixteen years since he'd left, but it was unmistakably home.
'Koth," he whispered. From the confines of his cowl he could barely see Gilwyn in the wagon next to him. The disguise had done a good job of keeping away the curious, and Lukien suspected that no one would have recognized him anyway. During the four day ride north they had stopped only once to speak with other travelers, and Lukien had hidden from them behind his hood, pretending to rummage through the wagon for supplies. But the biggest test was yet to come.
'Look there, Lukien, on the hill." Gilwyn pointed toward a tor in the distance, a huge overlook dominated by a single, remarkable structure. "See it?"
Lukien saw it easily. The great library was like a beacon, shining on its hill for all to see. Even in Norvor Lukien had heard stories of the place, but he had never seen it. It had been one of his greatest regrets about leaving the city, that and losing Cassandra. Now he stared at it, unblinking. Akeela's great dreams of the past rushed at him.
'What a shame," he whispered.
out of the wagon with some effort as the boy favored his bad foot. Lukien watched but offered no help. Something told him Gilwyn preferred to do everything himself.
'I hope your master is expecting us," he said as he got out of the wagon. Around him, the sounds of the city filled the emptiness like the buzzing of insects, but there was no sound from the library. He went to the door and tried to pull it open. "Locked," he said, dismayed. 'I have a key," said Gilwyn, which he produced after rummaging through his pockets.
'Why's it locked?" asked Lukien. "I thought the library was opened to everyone."
Gilwyn fit the key into its hole. "It is, usually. But it's been closed since Akeela found out about Grimhold. I told you, he's had Figgis working like a madman."He turned the tumbler until it clicked. As he pushed open the door he said, "Try to be quiet. We don't want to run into Delia." "Delia?"
'The housekeeper," Gilwyn said. "Nice lady, but nosy." He pushed open the door, and Lukien instantly forgot his questions. The beauty of the main hall rushed at them, revealing a shimmering interior of torchlight and polished wood. A barrelvaulted ceiling hung overhead, decorated with stout beams and iron chandeliers. Lukien looked down the tunnel of the hallway to the vast chamber beckoning beyond, a field full of bookcases stuffed with countless manuscripts. He followed Gilwyn over the threshold and into the hall, his breath catching at the awesome sight of so many books.
'Amazing..." Slowly he scanned the distant shelves. "I didn't think there were this many books in the world!"
Gilwyn laughed and closed the door behind him. "That's just some of them. There's a whole other wing."
'And you know them all?" asked Lukien incredulously. "I mean, you know where everything is?"
'Figgis has a catalog that keeps everything organized," said Gilwyn. "But yes, I remember a lot of it.
All the books are specially arranged, you see. Subject, dates, that sort of thing." along very well, even with your problems. And that shoe... did Figgis make it for you?"
'Yes," said Gilwyn. "How did you know?" "Who else would make such a thing? Your mentor is a genius, boy."
Gilwyn nodded. "I know. I miss him. I hope he's all right." "I just hope he has good news for us," said Lukien. From their place in the street he could see only the tops of the buildings in Chancellery Square, so he didn't know if Trager's army was still on the parade ground. Perhaps they'd already left for Jador.
Perhaps they were too late to warn the Jadori. He took solace in the coming darkness though, knowing that even if Trager were around, he wouldn't recognize his old captain. "Tell me something, Gilwyn-is this where you saw the witch of Grimhold?"
'No, that was on the other side of the city," said Gilwyn. "Koth has some bad areas now. I probably shouldn't have gone." "But she saved you," Lukien mused. "Curious." Gilwyn didn't answer, for just then another wagon crossed them in the street, coming close enough to overhear. Lukien hurried Tempest past them, toward the waiting library. As the road gradually rose, the crowds thinned and the shops grew farther apart, until finally they were alone on an avenue of trees and wildflowers. A breeze stirred the leaves and the cowl of Lukien's cloak. Up ahead loomed the library, its twin doors of dark wood shut tight. There were dozens of windows to the place, but only a few rooms in the main tower were lit, rooms that Lukien supposed belonged to Figgis. Yet even in dusk the library was not an eerie place. It was beautiful, full of charity. Lukien wondered for a moment if he'd ever seen such a lovely structure, for even Lion-keep was marred by its status as a fortress. Not so the great library. There were no ramparts or battlements or dentate gates, only sweeping arches and clean limestone and a gracefully turned tower, all constructed to invite learning. It was just as Akeela had promised, just as he'd envisioned before his dementia.
'Where now?" Lukien asked. "Those doors?" "That's the main way in," Gilwyn replied. Tempest came to a dutiful stop at the doors, and Gilwyn and his monkey climbed Lukien was awestruck. He drifted toward the waiting books, but was suddenly startled by a figure rounding the corner.
'Oh!" cried the woman, putting her hand to her chest in fright. Her eyes darted between Lukien and Gilwyn, then suddenly relaxed. "Gilwyn! I thought I heard someone come in. Welcome home!"
'Thank you, Delia," said Gilwyn. He swallowed nervously. Lukien froze, trying not to seem conspicuous. The old woman looked at him, confused.
'I just got back," Gilwyn continued. "The door was locked so I let myself in."
Mistress Delia stayed focused on Lukien as she asked, "Were you able to find the books Figgis wanted?"
'Oh, yes," said Gilwyn easily. "No problem. They're out in the wagon." 'And you've brought a guest, I see." The woman smiled, but Lukien couldn't tell if it were welcoming or not. "Shouldn't you make introductions, Gilwyn?"
'Yes, absolutely," fumbled Gilwyn. "Mistress Delia, this is Ryon."
'From Marn?" the housekeeper asked.
'Marn?" replied Lukien.
The lady looked at Gilwyn. "You did go to Marn, didn't you?"
'Oh, Marn," said Lukien. "Yes, I'm from Marn. Well, around Marn. The outskirts, actually."
Gilwyn hurried to change the subject. "Um, is Figgis around? I'd like to see him, show him the books we brought back."
Mistress Delia was still studying Lukien. "I must say, you don't look like a scholar."
'Ah, you must get all sorts here, dear lady," said Lukien with a smile. "And I must admit I look atrocious from the road. Forgive my appearance."
'Oh, yes, the road. Terrible." Gilwyn took Lukien's arm and led him away. "Mistress Delia, is Figgis in his study?"
'He's-" Mistress Delia stopped herself with a smile. Ahead of them, Lukien saw another figure drift into the hallway.
An old man in wrinkled clothes stood there, staring in disbelief. Lukien knew at once it was Figgis. He looked older, grayer, and more withered than ever, but the eyes betrayed the old wisdom and the face was decidedly friendly. Lukien grinned, stepping toward him, but was immediately cut off by Gilwyn.
'Figgis, hello," said the boy suddenly. "This is Ryon, the scholar I told you about."
Figgis didn't miss a beat. "Greetings, Ryon," he said with a smile. "I'm glad you could make it."
Lukien gave his old companion a secret smile. "Me too."
'Uh, Mistress Delia, do you think you could make us some tea?" Figgis asked. "It's been a long ride from Marn and I'm sure Gilwyn and Ryon are tired."
'Of course," said the housekeeper. "Welcome to our home, Ryon. We'll try to make you as comfortable as we can. Will you be staying long?"
'No, I shouldn't think so," said Lukien. "But thank you, Mistress Delia. You're very kind."