by Rachel Caine
He was back in his own skin, his own world, and he was achingly, shatteringly grateful.
“Morgan?”
“Yes?”
“How much power do you really have?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He caught his father’s eye. His father, he thought, wasn’t surprised by any of this. It was as if he could hear the conversation. That was irritating, and a bit comforting.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’d rather not know, to be honest. I’d rather just watch over the Great Library,” she said. “It’s what I’m supposed to do. And it will keep me out of trouble, I think.”
“Morgan—”
“We won’t speak again, Scholar Wolfe. Be kinder to yourself. And to Commander Santi, too. I loved you both, and in here, I always will.”
And then he felt her go. Her presence that he’d sensed, however dimly . . . vanished, like mist under the sun.
He ripped the ring from his finger and handed it back to Eskander. Glared at him. “Why did you do that?”
“Interesting, isn’t she?” Eskander said, and put the ring back in his pocket. “She terrifies me. But I think we may need her in times to come. The problem of ending one era of oppression is that we all have to decide what comes next. And we should discuss that, at length.” He started up the long, winding steps. “Come on, then. I’ve made tea.”
“Why me? We hardly know each other.”
“Yes,” Eskander said. “But I think we also know each other very well, Christopher; you and I, we’re far too much alike. Your apprentices have torn up the roots of the world—and I am glad they did. But we’re going to have a job of it if we intend for the Great Library to survive the next thousand years. We have plans to make. Are you coming?”
Wolfe hesitated, and then said, “Yes.”
AFTERWORD
I had the idea for the Great Library a long, long time ago, but it was just too big, too complicated to attempt. I waited ten years to finally try . . . and fail. And another five to try again. The world of the Great Library, and all the characters I loved writing so much, is one that’s rooted in the very real history of libraries, of knowledge, of the battle over who owns it, distributes it, controls it.
In this world today where knowledge is everywhere and yet nowhere . . . I think this story is more timely than ever.
Thank you for being part of this epic journey.
Now go out and build the world the way you want to see it, bit by bit, day by day.
Word by word.
It’s in your hands.
—Rachel Caine
SOUND TRACK
As is my usual custom, I created a sound track to help me through the writing of this book. Each song listed contains some theme or mood that reflected either events or characters within the book, and I hope you’ll enjoy the playlist. Please remember: streaming music services are great, but musicians earn little from them, so if you can, invest in their music and own it for yourself. It helps keep them creating!
“Rise”, League of Legends, the Glitch Mob & Mako (feat. the Word Alive)
“Alone in a Room”, Asking Alexandria
“Every Step That I Take”, Tom Morello (feat. Portugal, the Man and Whethan)
“Mantra”, Bring Me the Horizon
“Dead Man Walking”, WAR*HALL
“For the Glory”, All Good Things
“All My Friends”, The Revivalists
“You Should See Me in a Crown”, Billie Eilish
“Natural”, Imagine Dragons
“Church”, Fall Out Boy
“What If We Run”, Bart Van Bemmel
“Glitter & Gold”, Barns Courtney
“Ashes”, Von Grey
“Burn It Down”, Fitz & the Tantrums
“Hit the Ground Running”, Alice Merton
“My Reflection”, Von Grey
“Friction”, Imagine Dragons
“Nina Cried Power” (feat. Mavis Staples), Hozier
“Poison in the Water”, Von Grey
“Be Legendary”, Pop Evil
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Caine is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including the Great Library series, Prince of Shadows, the Weather Warden series, the Outcast Season series, the Revivalist series, and the Morganville Vampires series.
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