Page 69 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
“Another dreamer invented those.”
I know about electric lamps and other such inventions that take advantage of a Bolt’s ability, but I’ve never seen any of them until now. Somewhere, there are Bolts supplying the power to keep them running. I’ve heard someone is trying to come up with a way to store their power, so it can be portable and used more widely. That will be something to behold. For now, electric lamps are only used where strictly necessary.
“They don’t want to risk any of these ancient tomes with fire,” Phoebe says, going to a cubby hole in the far wall and retrieving a pile of books. “You can take any of the empty cubbies.”
“I doubt I’ll need one.” Or anyone else other than Phoebe. There are a dozen of them, all empty. “I’ll review maneuvers, I guess. Know where I can find a copy of Arsenal.”
It’s what we callAdvanced Combat Maneuvers: Mastering the Dragon’s Arsenalfor short. I glance around. There isn’t a librarian in sight. It seems the place is self-serve. Phoebe points vaguely toward a nearby shelf, already seated, her nose buried in a tome nearly as large as her.
I quickly find what I’m looking for and, like a good pupil, study for the next hour.
When I’m done, I stretch and glance around. Phoebe stares off into space, her tome forgotten.
“Everything all right?” I ask.
She blinks, snapping out of her trance. “Fine. I was just thinking about my mother. She was so sad when I left.”
“Oh.” I think my father was only sad that I didn’t leave sooner.
“I’m an only child, and we’ve always been close. I think she dreamed I would one day marry and give her grandchildren, but I never wanted that.”
I lean forward, crossing my arms over the table. “Why not?”
“Is that a serious question? Can you imagine embroidering your life away?”
We both laugh.
Then she adds, “I think soaring through the clouds is slightly better.”
We’re still laughing when we leave the library.
Back in my room, I strip off my leathers and deposit them in the maintenance shaft I found by my wardrobe. The leathers have my name on them and will be returned to me once they’re clean. I hear them slide down, down, down, and vaguely wonder where they end up. The thought doesn’t last, however, because the excitement still coursing through my veins burns out as soon as I remember what Zephyros said about visiting my father. The day has been so busy that I nearly forgot—not to mention he soothed my worries, which helped me focus on training. I release my hair from its tight knot, marveling. It’s a damn thing being bonded.
Reaching for a robe, I reach for Zephyros’s mind and find it without effort.
—Will you tell me now? How am I going to get out of Sky’s Edge to visit my father?
I put on a robe and head for the hot spring.
—You need to take a quick shower and dinner, then go to bed.
—Who are you? High Prime Stormsong?
—If you wish to have strength left for tomorrow’s training, you will follow my advice.
I sigh, turn, and head toward the showers instead.
—Why are you being so secretive?I ask.
—You already have enough to worry about, little one. Let me worry about this.
The same soothing brush from this morning runs over my mind, and suddenly, I don’t care that I don’t know how I’m supposed to get out of here to visit my father. Zephyros will tell me in time. He knows what he’s doing. He’s an ancient, wise creature.
I come to a sudden stop, blinking.
—Wait! You put that thought in my mind,I protest.
—I am ancientandwise. Do you doubt it?
