Page 32 of Siege of Stone (Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles 3)

“Healing spells are always appreciated,” Verna said, “and always useful.”

“It’s just a list of the books, not the actual spells,” Oliver corrected, squinting at the volumes he carried. Though he was young, he had spent so many years poring over illegible writing, faded ink, and crumbling pages that his vision was already waning. “A complete catalog is the first part of understanding the knowledge available to us.” He let out a tired sigh. “We’re working as hard as we can, but Franklin estimates we still have a decade or more before we even complete our list of the titles in Cliffwall.”

“The Sisters will help however we can,” Verna said, accepting the books from each of them. “When I first set foot in here, I looked forward to studying the amazing knowledge.” She paused, then smiled. “Now it seems we may spend years reading mere lists of books and none of the content.”

Oliver said, “Knowledge is one thing, Prelate, but knowing what you know is an overlooked skill.”

“I know what I know,” Peretta said with a sniff. “All memmers do.” She flushed in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound arrogant. My gift of remembering is a virtue, but you all have skills as well.” She flashed a quick apologetic glance at her friend. “Oliver is very smart.”

He responded with a shy laugh. “To me, these books are a great adventure of discovery. Once you learn something, it’s even more important to share your knowledge.” He looked warmly at her. The two of them had spent so much time together in the wilderness that they’d formed a close bond, maybe even a romantic one.

“Unless we know what we know, we’ll never be able to find what we need.” Verna reached into the pocket of her robe and withdrew a small glazed figurine of a toad. It was just a memento, a cute decoration that she had found when searching the ruins of the Palace of the Prophets. The toad figurine had no significance, as far as she could tell, although she thought it might have belonged to Sister Armina back in the palace. Now the toad was just a reminder of better days. Verna liked to have it there, silently watching their busy work.

Amber picked it up, and smiled at the figurine with delight before placing it back on the study table. “I remember when we found this.”

Renn bustled in, looking fresh now that he had rested comfortably for several days. He was dressed in clean gray scholar’s robes instead of his maroon silk garments, which badly needed mending after his long journey.

He strolled up to the study tables piled with books. “I must admit, Prelate, I am impressed with this archive. I’ve always loved books and the knowledge they contain. For centuries I devoted myself to reading the libraries in Ildakar, then reading them again so I could understand the nuances. Beneath the shroud of eternity I had plenty of time! But all these books in Cliffwall”—he clucked his tongue against his teeth—“it is like a river of knowledge. How could I possibly have time to read them all?”

Verna realized that good meals and a polite welcome had softened the blustery, arrogant wizard. “Now that you’ve seen the vast number of books here, Renn, I hope you no longer consider packing them on a mule and carrying them back to Ildakar.”

Renn scoffed. “By the Keeper’s beard, that was never a realistic goal. My city is so far away, I don’t relish making that journey again. I don’t see the point! The cooks and bakers you have here in Cliffwall are quite talented. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that mutton and currant pie they made last night.” He patted his rounded stomach.

Verna raised her eyebrows. “So, Captain Trevor and his nine men are not plotting to overthrow the archive, conquer General Zimmer and his D’Haran soldiers, and steal all the tomes?”

Renn blew air through his lips. “Oh, I think that would be far too much trouble, however much Sovrena Thora might like to get her hands on these records.” He sank heavily onto the bench beside Verna, looking curiously at the odd toad figurine. He picked up one of the books and scanned the titles about legendary succubi. “Hmm, interesting. I don’t think we’ve ever had a succubus in Ildakar.”

He read for a few moments, then glanced up at Verna, more serious now. “Ildakar is truly a beautiful city, Prelate, as glorious as the legends would have you believe, but Cliffwall is a fine place, too. I admire what the people have done, and I’ve never seen anything like those memmers.”

Standing beside the table, young Peretta smiled proudly. “There has never been anything like the memmers.”

Distractedly, Renn picked up another volume. “Rather than hauling so many fragile and ancient books on a rigorous cross-country journey, it would make far more sense if I just brought a few scholars and memmers back to Ildakar with me, so they could at least convey the extent of the knowledge here.”

Brightening, Oliver glanced at Peretta. “That could be arranged. And I’d like to go along.”

“I would definitely like to see Ildakar,” Peretta added.

Surprised at their eager reaction to his offhand suggestion, Renn raised a pudgy hand. “Oh, I’m not suggesting that yet! I will need much more time to recover from our arduous trek.” He looked away. “And I’d want to be careful, since I am not entirely certain what Sovrena Thora might intend with this powerful knowledge. I’m a duma member, and therefore loyal to Ildakar, but the sovrena did many objectionable things. She turned my beloved Lani to stone.” He paused for a moment. “And all her bloodworkings, how she treated the ungifted, her scorn for those weaker than her. I was ashamed of what Thora did.”

Verna closed the volume in front of her and sipped her tea, which had grown cold. “Good thing Nicci and Nathan are there to keep her under control. I don’t believe either of them would suffer a tyrant.”

Renn chuckled at the thought. “Yes, I’ve seen the lovely Nicci, the flash of anger in her eyes, so blue! The wizards of Ildakar did grow complacent over a millennium and a half, but Nicci challenged their daily assumptions. I don’t expect Thora likes it.” He sighed. “Ah, I wish Nicci had been there when Lani battled the sovrena centuries ago. If they worked together, those two could certainly have overthrown Thora.”

Amber looked confused. “And you want to give the sovrena all the magic in this archive? Why would you do that?”

“Now, now, it was what she ordered me to do, but maybe it’s high time I stop listening to everything Thora says.” He sniffed, looked at the toad figurine again, and slid it aside. “Ildakar was a beautiful city. Lani and I had a good life together. You should have seen her call the songbirds. They would flock around her, chirping, singing.” He sighed. “But eventually, when Thora executed a slave for stealing some jewels she knew her own son Amos had taken, Lani couldn’t tolerate the injustice. She challenged the sovrena.”

His eyes filled with tears and he turned away. “Lani was powerful and dear, but compassionate, while Thora was ruthless. She defeated my poor Lani, petrified her, and then kept her statue in the ruling chamber for all to see the price of defiance.” He wiped a hand across his eyes and distracted himself by opening another book, squinting down at the words. “W

hat is this? An entire list of cures for flatulence? Is that vital magical lore?”

Verna said, “If one suffers from the affliction, the cure would seem very important indeed.”

“And the person’s family and neighbors would appreciate it as well,” Rhoda commented from the adjacent table, eliciting chuckles among the scholars.

Renn returned to his ponderings, ignoring the studies of intestinal maladies. “The sovrena always doubted me because I cared so much for Lani. Yes, I was the weakest gifted duma member, and she always held a threat over me. I knew she’d petrify me too if I didn’t support her cruel rulings. I should not have agreed, but I didn’t have any choice.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “I now suppose she sent me on this wild and pointless quest just to get rid of me. She never expected me to find Cliffwall, maybe never believed it even existed. She gave me only a dozen escort soldiers to fight all the dangers we might encounter on a long and arduous journey across unknown lands.” He shook his head. “I suppose Captain Trevor and I could find our way back to Ildakar, but why would we want to?”

“I would like to know what Nicci and Nathan are doing,” Verna suggested.

“You have a point, but let’s wait a little while longer, shall we? I’d like a few more nights in a dry bed with a warm blanket.”

* * *

General Zimmer and his fifty men camped in dozens of neat tents erected in the pastures alongside the stream. The Cliffwall farmers tended fields of grain, families weeded their vegetable gardens, shepherds watched their flocks near orchards of nut and fruit trees. Though far from home, the D’Haran soldiers were relaxed, feeling safe after their long journey from Tanimura.

---