Elissa felt the movement against her shoulder and asked, "Are you cold?"
"No, the opposite actually," he muttered.
Elissa finished the drawing and imbued the book with both her hair and Alarick's, sealing it against all others.
"Ready?" she asked Alarick.
"Yes," he said, drawing his wand for all the good it would do. He couldn't stop the Viking if it went rogue, but having his wand ready made him feel better.
Elissa tapped the drawing with her wand. The Viking rose from the page in a cloud of blue and grey smoke. Marius, who'd been alternately reading and dozing in a chair on the other side of the room, yelped and jumped to his feet.
"What in the holy hell is that?" he asked.
"A Viking," Alarick said laconically.
"Why here?" Marius asked, backing away as the axe-wielding Viking stepped closer.
Elissa giggled. "You wanted to know what a Book Mesmer does. There you go. Just be glad I didn't release a dragon. I doubt its wingspan would fit in here. Plus, it would be a fire hazard."
Alarick touched the book from which the Viking had come, but the Viking showed no reaction. He debated giving the book to Marius, but decided against it. While Marius' terror would be perfect payback for his little stunt with Elissa, it would be a shame to have his best friend beheaded. The Viking continued to stalk around the room, examining the shelves and caressing the blade of his axe.
"Take me to him so I can put him back in the book," Elissa said to Alarick.
Alarick took her hand in his and guided her over to the Viking who turned at their approach. Sharp blue eyes showed mild interest in Elissa, but there was no sense of threat from the berserker.
"He's right in front of you, close enough to touch," Alarick whispered.
Elissa extended her arm and tapped the Viking with her wand. Back into the book he went.
Alarick exhaled the breath he'd been holding. If the berserker had refused to return to the book… But it was fine. They were fine.
"Is that it for tonight?" Alarick asked. "Where are you sleeping? I'll take you there."
Elissa laughed. "Oh, no. I'm not nearly finished. We're short on time and I need to keep working."
"How big is this library?" Alarick asked, looking toward Marius. "Surely it's not all those books in the main room out there. Or even in here," he added, looking around at the impressive collection in this smaller room.
Marius said, "I'll show you. Follow me."
Alarick guided Elissa back to the desk where she began work on the next book in the pile, a minor work about runes that, according to Marius, could do with just a simple protection spell. With her settled, he followed Marius.
Once they were out in the hallway, Marius continued. "The books in the main rooms appear to be regular books. It looks like the Ministry purged this place and turned it into a human university instead of one for us. The confiscated materials are in the basement. I've been bringing them up to Elissa in small piles."
They wound their way through the hallways until they came to a large, open staircase that led to a level belowground. At the bottom of the stairs, more books filled another reading room in front of them. Instead of entering that room, however, Marius turned right and led them to another, smaller staircase. This one led down to a tight, dark hallway. At the end of the hall was a wooden door. Marius pulled it open and used his wand to cast a few light orbs around the space. Dust motes floated in the weak light and dusty footprints shone on the floor. The room wasn't used often, apparently.
While there weren't as many books here as in the main room, or even in the smaller library, there were a frightening number nonetheless.
"This could take her months," Alarick said, quickly doing the math of the size of this collection against the size of his own library back at the Keep. This looked like at least twice as many books. Possibly more.
"Well, we don't have months," Marius said.
"But you only have one Book Mesmer," Alarick said.
Marius shrugged. "She'll do what she can. We can't ask for more than that."
"Have you told her how many books are here?" Alarick asked, trailing around the room and goggling at books from nearly every nation and in languages he'd never heard spoken.
"Only that there are many. I don't want to scare her or make her feel obligated to do every single one. I've assigned a few men to weed through these and prioritize them as best they can.
"Magical histories, textbooks, books on healing and remedies, grimoires, and potion recipes first, followed by books by and about the Ministry. Finally, books about magical creatures, biographies, fiction, and fairy tales. Anything else that doesn't fall into those categories we deal with on a case by case basis."
"Not a bad classification system," Alarick mused. "Educational materials first, frivolous items last. But how are you going to transport this many books? Even using a shrinking spell, it took three men to transport Elissa's library away from Keldon. And that was tiny compared to this."
"I've been giving it some thought," Marius said, "And I think what will be most efficient is a combination of methods. Now that I know you can peregrinate — congratulations on that by the way — we have more options. We can shrink the books down and you can carry as many as you can in multiple trips. We can also send some airborne with those of us who can fly, although not too many at one time since we don't want to leave this place unprotected. And if your witch back at the Keep can also peregrinate a few, that'll help us even more."
Alarick shook his head at the last option. "Margaret is old, Marius. When she first showed me peregrination, she went from the Keep to Paris and back in a few seconds. She returned exhausted. If she did peregrinate, she'd have to rest here for a while before going back, putting her at risk should the Ministry show up. Regardless, her number of trips would be limited."
"Anything will help," Marius said.
"I'll ask her, and I know she'll do what she can, I just hope I can stop her from doing too much. That goes for Elissa, too," he warned. "I won't have you exhausting her."
Marius held his hands up. "She can rest or quit whenever she needs to. Even if we don't save it all, saving anything out of this pile is a coup."
Alarick sighed. "I'd better get back upstairs and see what Elissa needs."
"You two do make a good team, you know," Marius said. "I wasn't wrong."
"No, you weren't wrong." Alarick sighed. "Your methods are deplorable, however. I was the one who was wrong about so many things. Let me ask you something, though, just so there are no more misunderstandings," Alarick began.
"Sure."
"Do you have feelings for Elissa?"
Marius didn't answer right away. Finally, he said, "Why would you ask?"
"It was something Margaret said after she brought Elissa here. She said she thought you might have feelings for 'my' Book Mesmer. As if Elissa will ever belong to anyone but herself," Alarick said.
Marius ran his fingers through his hair and turned away.
"I could," he finally admitted, turning back to Alarick. "It was part of the reason I left the Keep in the first place. I did the gentlemanly thing and removed myself before the temptation became too great. I could see that you had feelings, too, and I didn't want to get between you two. Plus, I sensed she was beginning to like you, too."
"You might be better for her," Alarick said. "You're not nearly as—" he paused looking for the word.
"Damaged?"
"Yes."
"Don't forget, I lost my wife and daughter to the Ministry," Marius said. "You and I, we're equally damaged, just in different ways. And my damage has me traveling all over Europe, looking for people to kill. That's no life for someone like Elissa. She shouldn't have to tag along while I seek vengeance for the wife I still love. No, you're the one for her, Alarick. Just don't blow it, please."
"I'll try not to. But it's… difficult," Alarick said as he wandered among the bookshelves. "I haven't allowed myself to feel these emotio
ns since Abigail. I don't know how to be with a woman without closing myself off."
"You want my advice? Just be honest. Tell her about your past."
"I already have."
"She's still here, so I assume she took it well," Marius said.
"Surprisingly."
"Then your job is half done. When you feel like it's too much, or you don't know what to do, tell her. Elissa is an intelligent and compassionate woman who won't cast you off for honesty. But pull another trick like you did today? She might not be so forgiving next time, and I may not be here to bail your sorry ass out."
Alarick nodded, feeling trapped. Honesty terrified him more than anything. Admitting his failings was akin to weakness in his mind. But lying to Elissa and risking her anger wasn't something he was willing to do again, either.
He raked his fingers through his hair.
"I'll try," he said.
"Good man," said Marius. "Let's get back upstairs and see what kind of help our Book Mesmer needs."
"Marius," Alarick began as they turned for the door.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Marius nodded. "It's what friends do, brother," he said.
13
The next weeks passed in a haze of work and sleep. Alarick, Elissa, and Marius steadily worked their way through the piles of books. Elissa performed the enchantments, Alarick helped her draw, and Marius and his men shuttled books up the stairs by the armload and prepared summaries for Elissa. Every time the completed pile reached sixty books, Alarick would shrink it to a manageable size and peregrinate the books back to the Keep.
They didn't have to fly any books back to the Keep after all. By keeping the piles small enough and pacing the work appropriately, Alarick was able to transport everything himself, return in time to help Elissa with more, and rest a bit before taking off again. It was hard work, but he refused to worry Elissa and kept his exhaustion to himself. He suspected she did the same.
Margaret bowed out of helping because she was afraid to risk peregrinating with the weight of several books. She feared she might not make a complete trip and end up stuck somewhere. Instead, she volunteered to integrate the completed volumes into the Keep's library. Alarick dropped them off, returned them to their full size, and left her to it. By the time he returned, she'd shelved that pile and was ready for another.
The only problem was that they were fast outstripping the capacity of the Keep's library. One day when Alarick appeared, Margaret said, "We've got to do something. I'm soon going to have to start piling these in the hallways if we don't get some more space."
Alarick thought for a moment and then said, "Step behind me, please."
Margaret did so and Alarick drew his wand. He glanced around the library, looking for the best way to gain more space. The wall at the far end of the library abutted a void that lay beyond the library but above the raised ceiling of the dining hall. If the floor was strong enough, it could work.
Alarick raised his wand, pointed it at the far wall and said, "Deflectatis." The book shelves slid away from the wall and settled in front of the shelves on the adjacent walls.
He pointed his wand at the wall again and said, "Paries," then traced an arch along the wall with his wand. An open archway appeared in his wand's wake. Alarick moved the bookshelves back into position so they flanked the new entryway.
He and Margaret entered the new room. The floor was stone and sturdy. There were a few cobwebs and quite a bit of dust, but a simple cleaning incantation from Margaret took care of that.
"This should work," Alarick said.
"I don't suppose you can conjure up some shelves, while you're at it?" Margaret asked. "Or do I have to haul those up from the basement?"
Alarick smiled at her, pointed his wand at the closest wall and said, "Vadis." As he traced the walls with his wand, floor to ceiling shelves sprang up in its wake.
"Done," he said.
"Impressive. I can do a lot of things, boy," Margaret said, "But conjuring furniture isn't one of them."
He peregrinated back to the Université and found Elissa and Marius nose to nose in the middle of an argument.
"I didn't say you couldn't do it," Marius said, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. "I only said I think it's better if you don't. Do you want Alarick to kill me?"
"Of course not," Elissa said. "But you know it's too good of a chance to pass up."
"What's a good chance?" Alarick drawled, striding into the room and gently nudging the two combatants apart. "And why am I killing Marius this time? Not that I care, mind you. I'd just like to know."
"She's got it in her head," Marius said, pointing at Elissa, "That while she's here she should tackle the books in the main reading room. I told her that since we are nearing the end of the confiscated books, she should return to the Keep and rest. You two have been running yourselves ragged for weeks. Do you even sleep? You both look terrible."
"Thanks," Elissa muttered.
Alarick sighed. "I was afraid of this. When you get her near books, all sense leaves her head."
"I'm right here," Elissa said, "And I'd appreciate it if you'd talk to me rather than around me."
"My apologies," Alarick said. "But you know it's the truth. You lose your head around books. We've almost gotten what we came for and by some miracle no one has tried to kill us. We shouldn't be greedy. We should get out while we still can."
"But who knows what's up there," Elissa began, preparing a new argument.
"My men will go through it if you think it's worthwhile," Marius interrupted, looking at Alarick with a look that said he very much hoped it wouldn't be worthwhile.
Alarick glanced around the room. "Are these the last of the confiscated materials?" he asked, pointing at the piles surrounding Elissa's desk.
"Yes," Marius said.
"Here's what we'll do. Elissa and I will work on these and while we do, have your men quickly sort through the books in the main reading room. Have them focus on anything related to magic or our world, first. There probably won't be much, but something may be stuck in there. Also have them pull anything about the Ministry itself. Those might be useful, even if they are nothing but glorified propaganda. Beyond that, we finish what we have and get out."
"But—" Elissa protested.
"Regular humans can take care of their history just fine, Elissa," Alarick said, forcing patience rather than frustration into his voice. "It's our world that's being eradicated; our knowledge we came here to preserve. I know you want to save every book in the world, but we must focus on preserving our works, or perhaps finding something to give us the upper hand against the Ministry. Others will have to fend for themselves. Besides, we're on borrowed time here as it is. The Ministry is going to show up any day. I'd like to be gone before that happens. Remember, it's not only our lives on the line. Marius and his men are in danger every day we delay."
Elissa sighed but relented. "Fine," she said, and Alarick had the feeling she'd be up there in the wee hours of the night picking random books off shelves and hiding them in the piles. How he was going to keep her from working herself to death, he had no idea.
He wasn't wrong. Two nights later, something woke him from sleep. Sitting up on the sofa he'd been using for a bed, he listened intently but couldn't pinpoint what had intruded on his dreams. Unable to go back to sleep, he rose from the sofa and slipped his coat on over his shirt, leaving it unbuttoned. He slept in his clothes these days in case the Ministry attacked in the night.
The halls were quiet as he walked them. Marius' men not on guard duty snored on sofas, chairs, and even the floor. Most of them had no designated sleep space. They simply collapsed somewhere when they had a few minutes reprieve from guard or book hauling duty.
Alarick had been gifted one of the few librarian's offices, as had Marius and Elissa. It was to Elissa's office that he went first. Silently he opened the door and poked his head inside the room, but she wasn't there. He shut the door with a sigh and
headed for Elissa's work area.
Sure enough, he found Elissa at her desk. She'd clearly been working but now she was asleep, her head resting on the open book beneath her. Though she hadn't bothered to light any orbs, the moonlight shining through the high windows illuminated her sleeping form.
Looking at her, Alarick felt a surge of… something. Partly he was bemused. The woman truly had no sense of when enough was enough. Sleep was nothing if books were involved. At least until her body simply gave out, as it apparently had now.
Underneath the bemusement was affection. Alarick didn't want to call it love. That felt too big. But affection was a safe word. Somehow this woman had wound her way into his black heart and made him feel things he believed himself incapable of feeling ever again. It was a bloody miracle. And a baffling one, at that.
He walked over to the desk and ran his hand down her hair, smoothing it away from her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. She stirred, making some sort of incomprehensible snuffling noise. Alarick smiled and bent down to whisper in her ear.
"Come on, wake up."
She lifted her head and turned toward his voice.
"Alarick?"
"Yes, it's me," he said crouching down next to her chair. "We should get you back to bed."
"What time is it?"
"Either very early or very late. Depends on your perspective, I suppose. Have you been down here all night?"
"No," she said. "I went to bed not long after you. But I had a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep, so I thought to come down here and work on a few books. Then I guess I finally got tired."
"Well, come on, then. Let's get you back to bed."
She started to protest, but he simply stood and scooped her into his arms. "No more argument. The books will be here tomorrow."
As he carefully carried her back toward the offices, she said, "But will you?"
"What?" he asked, having trouble parsing her sleepy thoughts.
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