Siege of Stone

CHAPTER 23

In the Cliffwall archive, Verna spent the morning inside a library chamber, drinking hot tea and studying the books that the scholars had delivered to her. Two other Sisters of the Light, Rhoda and Eldine, scrutinized volumes, whispering as they compared notes. Novice Amber cheerfully carried in a stack of ledgers, blowing dust off the embossed leather cover of the top volume.

“Here’s another catalog, Prelate.” She deposited the armful on the table, rattling Verna’s cup of tea. “These refer mainly to maps and descriptions. The scholar archivist is still trying to pull the right listings because many books contain more than one subject.”

Verna looked at the open volume in front of her and traced her fingertip down the lines of titles. Many were written in the expansive hand of Scholar-Archivist Simon, who had spent a decade compiling the catalogs, but the new entries were written by Franklin, whose penmanship was much tighter, more efficient.

The prelate looked up at Amber. “The titles listed here contain legends of magical creatures, abominations that were developed as weapons in the ancient wizard wars. The sliphs, for instance.” Verna shook her head at the long list. “And here, two entire volumes on the dangers of succubi! Those creatures were turned loose in the Old World to seduce and destroy men and thereby weaken armies that stood against the enemy wizards.” She pursed her lips in a frown. “I expect it’s quite salacious reading.”

Amber blushed, and Verna wondered how experienced the pretty young girl might be in romance or sex. Turning the page in the dusty old book, Verna recalled being so youthful, but that was more than a century and a half ago, when she and Warren were the same age, trying to keep a professional boundary around their growing affection for each other. When Verna left the Palace of the Prophets in search of Richard Rahl, she had aged during those decades, while Warren remained as young as ever. Dear Warren … she missed him so much.

She flipped a page back, looked at more listings. “Here, they have three books about the selka, one of them a log from an ancient warship captain.”

Amber leaned close. “The selka?”

“Humans transformed into water-breathing creatures that dwell in the oceans. They could battle an enemy navy from beneath the hulls.”

The young girl gave a visible shudder. “We are far from the ocean, here, Prelate. I don’t think I’d like to see them.” She frowned with worry. “I hope my brother’s all right. He’s still at Renda Bay. Do you think the selka might attack the village?”

“Captain Norcross is building defenses for a much more likely enemy, child,” Verna said. “Lose sleep over Norukai raiders rather than the selka.” She realized her words offered the girl little reassurance.

The young scholars Oliver and Peretta entered the study room. Although they had lived all their lives in the Cliffwall canyons, these two had volunteered at Nicci’s request to embark on a long journey to deliver a report for Lord Rahl. They had found Verna and General Zimmer in Tanimura and led them back here. The two shy, diligent scholars were glad to be back home in their sanctuary, but that journey had changed them. Verna could see a restless glint in their eyes, an appreciation of the adventure they’d experienced. The prelate supposed it wouldn’t be long before the two wanted to explore the world again.

“We brought books on healing lore,” said Peretta. She was a thin, large-eyed girl with a mop of dark curly hair. “I’ve memorized them all, but I thought you might like to have a look.”

“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. “What 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.

Despite the protection of the high rock walls, the narrow canyon entrance, and the isolation of the plateau, Zimmer didn’t let himself relax. He had explored up and down the main canyon, studied the tributaries of streams and side canyons through the high desert. He insisted that his fifty D’Haran soldiers keep their swords sharpened, their armor clean, their eyes alert. He did not intend to be caught unawares.

General Zimmer was young to hold such a high rank, but harsh experiences had aged him well beyond his years. He’d been promoted only because so many superior officers had been slain in the brutal battles against the ravenous undead armies that surged across the Dark Lands, driven by the resurrected Emperor Sulachan. Zimmer had faced death himself, been splashed with the blood of countless enemies, and he had also led vicious commando strikes down in the Old World against the army of the Imperial Order. He recalled his previous commanders, his brave mentors who had fallen under the gnashing teeth of a horrific enemy no one should have had to face.

Now, in the bucolic setting of the Cliffwall canyon, birds chirped in the orchards, and the sun shone in a blue sky. It was easy to be lulled into forgetting the true dangers of the world, but Zimmer never let down his guard.

Trevor, the captain of the Ildakaran escort, stepped up to him, still wearing his chest armor, short sword, and high boots. “My men are rested, General—and restless. Although this is a peaceful place, as we hoped, I don’t want my guards to get fat. They were unprepared for the journey from Ildakar. That’s why I lost three of my men.” He cleared his throat, ashamed. “I’d like to keep the other nine men sharp. Would you allow them to train with your troops? Spar with them? Maybe we could learn from your men, and vice versa.”

Zimmer looked skeptically at him. “It seems to me, Captain Trevor, that only a week ago, your handful of men were intent on conquering Cliffwall.”

The other commander looked away, embarrassed. Trevor appeared much younger now that the mud and dust of travel had been washed away, the stubble shaved from his cheeks. “There’s not much chance of that, General, as you know full well.” He lowered his voice in a conspiratorial tone. “Renn is a wizard of Ildakar, and they tend to begin a conversation with bluster, but that’s all it is.”

Zimmer remained wary. “And by training with your men, you want us to teach you our D’Haran fighting techniques? What if you turn them against us?”

Trevor shrugged. “I could say the same. My men would also teach you our methods of fighting. Surely there’s something we could learn from one another?” He frowned as a thought occurred to him. “Are my nine men prisoners? Are we being held here?”

Instead of answering immediately, Zimmer considered his words. “If you left Cliffwall, I suppose I could let you aimlessly wander the wilderness again.” He raised his eyebrows. “If that’s what you’d really like?”

Trevor coughed and fidgeted. “No, I don’t think that would be necessary. I’d rather make friends than enemies. Ildakar has faced enough enemies in the past.”

Zimmer kept his voice stern. “Then maybe your wizards should learn about diplomacy. It would be remarkably beneficial for both sides.” He looked at the young captain’s face, saw true earnestness there. The other nine Ildakaran guards were relieved to have been welcomed in Cliffwall. He relented and said, “I, too, would rather have Ildakar as an ally than as an enemy. Even I have heard legends of the city, and I’d like to see it someday. Lord Rahl wants to consolidate the Old World.” He clapped a hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “Your city can have its independence, so long as you don’t become aggressive invaders.”

“That doesn’t seem too much to ask for a strong empire and a life of peace,” said Trevor.

Zimmer walked alongside the captain as they went to the line of D’Haran soldiers. “In that case, let’s include your men in today’s drills. Show us your techniques, and we’ll forge a bond that will make us all stronger.”