Cast in Wisdom (Chronicles of Elantra #15) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,82

have finished, I believe young Emmerian has further questions for you which he will ask when you leave the library. Now, I would like you to open the book.”

She hesitated.

“Corporal?”

“This is the safest room you have?”

“There is a reason I chose this room. Do you believe the book is dangerous or harmful?”

“It might be meant for Killian. None of us are sentient buildings.” She exhaled. “I’m not sure I can even read it. I wanted to leave it with you, but—”

“You are now thinking of Helen?”

She nodded.

“I do not believe it would be at all helpful to leave it with Helen. Open the book.”

* * *

Kaylin reoriented the book on the table so that its cover faced her, or so that she faced its cover in the right orientation. In the light of the Arkon’s safe room, the cover was indigo, the unreadable word that occupied most of its center, silver. Silver created a rectangular border around the edge of that cover, one that seemed to follow the height of the spine.

Hope lifted a wing to her eyes; her hand froze an inch above the edge of the book’s cover.

Seen through Hope’s wing, this was not a book. It was a tablet of stone or ice—if stone, it was a pale white stone, like alabaster or marble. The word written across the cover of the book were no longer visible. Had Kaylin not received it from Larrantin, she would never have called it a book.

“You couldn’t have mentioned this earlier?”

There are some things that you see because you are Chosen, Hope replied. You do not see them as we see them. You do not see them as your friends do.

“Yes, fine—But—”

And they mentioned that they did not see a book. It is irrelevant.

“Is it dangerous to open this book?”

That, I cannot say.

She wanted to shriek, but given present company, kept it to herself. “Would you open it if you were me?”

“Given the trouble you get into,” Bellusdeo said, “I wouldn’t qualify the question that way.”

“Can you open it?” the Arkon asked, the words shorn of the edge of command or demand.

“I haven’t tried. Larrantin wanted it delivered to Killian, and he asked that if Killian had any advice to offer, I return to him with it.”

The Arkon stared at the block in front of Kaylin as Hope lifted his wing. It became a book again. “You meant to give this to me.”

“You’re the only person I know who collects detritus.”

“Then you should get out of your house more.” His fingers stroked his beard for the first time since they’d entered the library; his eyes were now a steady orange. “Very well. It is possible your familiar is correct. If this is meant to somehow waken or fortify Killianas, opening the book itself might bleed some of the magic or power from it. I am not certain that you should leave it here.”

Kaylin did not stumble in shock. Sanabalis almost did.

“I thought it would be safest here.”

“I am not at all certain that that is the case. I believe if you are separated from it, even the appearance it has to the rest of our eyes will fade.”

“What do you mean? It’ll become invisible on its own?”

The irritable snort he gave, and the look that accompanied it, were pure Arkon, or at least the Arkon she knew. “It will not be a tablet, in my collection. It will disperse. There is, of course, a way to test that—but I do not wish to lose the artifact.” He then exhaled. This time without smoke and the threat of fire.

“You have given me much to consider. I ask that you remain in contact with me for the duration. I will ask to be kept apprised of the situation in Candallar—I believe it likely that you will find Candallar involved with much of the strangeness. And I would ask that you find a way to liberate Lord Nightshade. He will be absent from his Tower, and if you cannot hear him, it is very likely that his Tower will not hear him, either.”

* * *

“I won’t be able to go to work carrying this around,” Kaylin said to Bellusdeo.

“I nonetheless think the Arkon correct.” They had chosen to accept the offer of an Imperial carriage to return home. Probably just in time to change and head out for the day.

“I believe that the Halls of Law can do without you for a day or two; arrangements have already been made.” This was Emmerian. For

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