Library of Absolution

by Jennifer Derrick

  The smoke quickly cleared and revealed Mehdi, his face a mass of blue blisters. His eyes were bloodshot and he collapsed to the floor, too weak to stand.

  "Serpenspox!" Tazim cried. "What have you done?"

  "Just imparted a small lesson on your friend," Elissa said.

  "It's contagious and fatal, you fool. You've doomed us all," Kadin said, backing away.

  "No, she has not," Alarick said. "Her curses only afflict those who try to access forbidden books. Only your brother will suffer. You can save him, though. The cure is right here," Alarick said, picking up the book and showing the young man the cure.

  "It's treatable if he gets help immediately. I suggest you get him to the infirmary. And do not bring him back," Alarick said in a deadly whisper.

  He handed the book to Elissa who waved her wand over it, releasing the enchantment so Adil's healers could safely read it. Alarick then shoved the book into Kadin's hands.

  Kadin dragged his brother to his feet and together they made it out of the library, Mehdi moaning in delirium.

  Tazim said, "Was that necessary? They're young and foolish. They don't think before they speak. But you didn't have to give him a fatal disease."

  "We are here as a favor to Adil," Elissa said. "Perhaps it was wrong to be so harsh, but I won't be disrespected simply on the basis of my gender or my blindness. And he did ask what good I could do to protect your library. I gave him a demonstration he will not soon forget."

  Tazim shook his head. "Young and foolish," he said again. "I've seen many things in my life, but never something like what you just did. You can make people ill, just from pictures?"

  "The wrong people, yes. And I can kill them with deadly creatures, cast them into the pit of hell, or bind them into the pages of a book forever. Your friend should think himself lucky that he's only got a mild, curable case of serpenspox."

  Tazim looked from Alarick to Elissa. "How do I help?" he asked.

  "What we need from you are translations of the books you want protected. Not word for word, just enough so I know how best to protect them and what should be drawn in each," Elissa said. "We also need some hair from the people who will be allowed to access the books."

  "None of that is a problem. And we have other scholars who would be better helpers than Kadin and Mehdi. I only asked them along because they were not currently engaged with other work. My hopes that they would rise to this work were clearly in vain. I will pull some others away from their work to help you with yours."

  "Are we protecting the entire library?" Alarick asked. "And are you keeping the books here, or do you want us to take them back to the Keep?"

  "We will do most of the books on the left-hand side, I think," Tazim said. "Those are the books about magic. The right-hand side is mostly human history and science. Things that the Ministry will likely not destroy."

  "Don't be so certain," Elissa said. "They destroy that with which they do not agree. Which is almost everything."

  "Still, we will begin on the left," Tazim said. "And we want to keep the books here, although you are welcome to copy anything you wish and take it with you. We can help with that, too. All of our scholars can write English."

  Alarick nodded. "Excellent. Thank you. Shall we?" he asked Elissa, dropping a hand to her shoulder and squeezing it gently.

  "Let's get to work."

  Over the next week they worked, if not quite as hard as they had in Orange, still tirelessly. There wasn't as much time pressure in Marrakesh; they weren't expecting the Ministry to show up at any moment, after all. Still, the risk was ever present. Tazim found a small army of scholars to help them. Several were dedicated to Alarick, helping him copy anything he thought useful or important enough to take to the Keep.

  Elissa had her own group of helpers to whom she taught her methods. This group did not share the prejudices of Kadin and Mehdi. They were curious about her work and enthralled by her. She, in turn, made fast friends with most of them, even taking the time to animate cute baby animals for them to take home for their children to play with.

  Despite the labor, they were having fun. Actual fun. Alarick couldn't believe it. Each night, after the work was done, Adil or one of the scholars would tell stories, some true, some fiction, around the fire in the dining hall. Alarick watched as Elissa sat rapt, night after night, her face glowing in the firelight, enjoying every moment.

  On the eighth night, she surprised him by volunteering to tell a story of her own. To his surprise, she told the story of the Gloomy Dragon which he had read to her back at the Keep. He was impressed that she remembered every detail of a story she'd heard only once. But then he reminded himself that nothing she did should surprise him. Not when it came to the written word.

  Her listeners applauded when she finished and passed her the jug of wine from which the storytellers earned the right to drink. She took a large swig and praised it as some of the best wine she'd ever tasted, earning her a standing, foot stamping ovation from Adil's residents.

  The laughter and merriment lasted longer than usual that evening, and it was after moonset when Alarick escorted Elissa back to her room. She immediately flopped onto her pillows and Alarick went into his own suite. Although they'd been keeping their distance, they'd also reached an unspoken agreement to leave the connecting door open.

  Alarick told himself it was to hear her if she needed anything in the night, but he knew the truth. Leaving the door open made him feel closer to her. Being able to get up at night and see her resting on her pillows (she eschewed the bed in favor of the pillow festival happening on her floor) in the moonlight made him feel both like a voyeur and awed by his good fortune.

  He dressed for bed and settled down to sleep, but sleep didn't come. After tossing and turning for an hour or so, he got out of bed, slipped back into his clothes, and crept out of the suite.

  The library was his first stop. A few of the scholars were still at work. The library had become a twenty-four hour operation since their arrival.

  "Excuse me," he said, interrupting the work of one man who, Alarick knew, was copying a book of potion recipes for him.

  "Yes, sir?" the man asked. "Is everything all right?"

  "Fine. Can you tell me where Adil sleeps?" Alarick asked the man.

  "He rarely sleeps," the scholar said. "But at this time of night you are most likely to find him outside the gate, on the dune to the northwest of our village. It's not far. It's a clear night. You should have no trouble spotting him up there."

  "Why does he go up there?"

  The scholar shrugged. "It is not my place to ask, sir."

  "Thank you," Alarick said and headed out into the night. Once outside the village walls, he pulled his cloak tighter around himself. The cold night wind, kept at bay by the walls of the village, blew freely out here, kicking sand into Alarick's face. What in the world could Adil find interesting about sitting out here in the middle of the damn night?

  The scholar had been correct. Alarick had no trouble spotting the lone figure sitting atop the dune. He did have trouble climbing to the top. Sand was a foreign substance to him and staying upright as it ebbed and flowed beneath him was a challenge. He soon figured out how to work with it, however, and summited the dune.

  Without a word, he sat down next to Adil who turned to him, only the faintest surprise on his face, as though he was expecting company.

  "Why?" Alarick asked, indicating the sand on which they sat.

  Adil shrugged. "I stopped sleeping through the night years ago. It made more sense to come out here than to fester in my room. Been doing it ever since. Look up," he said.

  Alarick did and gaped at the number of stars and planets above him. Plenty were visible in England, but trees always blocked at least some of the view. Out here, the stars draped all the way to the horizon.

  "Incredible," he said. "And humbling."

  "Exactly. I'd rather come out here and watch this than stay inside and brood. Sometimes I can see a nomad camp or two," h
e pointed to a tiny flicker of light on distant sand. "And every so often I think about running away to joining them. What brings you out here?"

  "Looking for you," Alarick said.

  "I figured you might come. You don't seem like you sleep much either, friend."

  "Not for years. Between the Ministry, the Keep, and now—" he trailed off, uncertain how to continue.

  "Ah. The relationship between yourself and Miss Stone of which, as she said, the exact nature eludes you both. But I think it no longer eludes you?" he asked, turning to face Alarick.

  "I know what I want," Alarick began. "But I do not know what she wants. Or if what I want is the right thing, the best thing for her. I'm a selfish man, but I hesitate to impose my selfishness upon her."

  Adil shrugged. "I was married once, but so long ago that I may not be the best person to give advice on such a situation."

  "What happened?" Alarick asked.

  "What happens to all of us. It was before we established this refuge. I was part of a small group of magicals living in an apartment inside Marrakesh. We were young and careless, heedless of the threat the Ministry presented. We all believed their reign wasn't so terrible or, at least, we were beneath their notice. What fools we were," he muttered.

  "Sarah, my wife, was caught in the market one afternoon and executed because she was reading a merchant's menu to another woman who could not read. I'm not certain they even knew she was a witch. Just the fact that she could read was enough to get her killed."

  "I'm sorry," Alarick said. "That is essentially why Elissa is now blind. Her literacy."

  Adil shrugged. "It is what it is. If you're seeking my advice, it would be to find out what your lady wants. But you'd best find out before it's too late. Happiness is a rare thing for our kind in this world, and you might find it snatched from you on a sunny summer afternoon. Best grab it while you can. Your Book Mesmer seems to be a woman who knows her own mind. If she wants you, then it's the right, best thing. If she doesn't, well, there's plenty of room on this dune each night, friend."

  Alarick chuckled. "Thank you. Then let me get to the reason I sought you out. Do you have anyone in the village that can make a ring? As you say, it's time to find out what the lady wants. Having no female ancestors worth a damn, I don't have any family pieces to pass along and I certainly don't want to ask empty handed."

  "We do have a silversmith. I'll take you to him," Adil said, standing up and brushing sand from his robes.

  "What, now?" Alarick asked. "We don't have to wake him."

  "You'll find he doesn't sleep much, either," Adil said.

  Alarick shook his head and stood. "Does the whole village stay up all night?"

  "Many of us do, friend. Many of us find that sleep and the darkness bring too many nightmares. Far easier to work than face our demons."

  Alarick, who could not deny the truth in that statement, slid down the dune behind Adil, hopeful that Elissa might be the one person who could keep his own demons at bay.

  16

  The silversmith was, indeed, awake and thrilled at the chance to craft a ring for a happy occasion. Alarick was content to settle for a simple silver band, especially knowing Elissa could not see it, but the silversmith, whose name was Micah, would not hear of it.

  He asked Alarick all sorts of personal questions about Elissa and himself as he mined for ideas. Alarick was uncomfortable at first but found talking to Micah strangely easy and comforting. As Alarick told their story, he became more convinced that what he was doing was right. He only hoped Elissa saw it that way, as well.

  Adil, Micah, and Alarick talked and worked until the sun rose over the village walls. By the time the rest of the residents were heading off to breakfast, Alarick had a new ring tucked into the pocket of his frock coat. He'd tried to pay the silversmith for his work, but Micah refused every form of payment Alarick offered.

  "It will be payment enough if she says yes," Micah said.

  "If she says yes, do come and find me," Adil said. "No matter the hour. I would be happy to witness your vows, should you choose to make a public declaration."

  Alarick said nothing about his intentions all throughout the day as he and Elissa worked in the library. He wanted the moment to be right. When dinner and the night's storytelling finally ended, he escorted Elissa back to their rooms. When she settled on the pillows, he didn't move to go on to his own room.

  "Alarick?" she asked. "Are you still here?"

  "Yes," he said, and his voice sounded weak to his own ears.

  "I didn't think I'd heard your footsteps move on," she said. "Is something wrong?"

  Alarick pulled the ring from his pocket and placed it on his pinky finger, perhaps as a talisman against anything going wrong, or perhaps as a reminder not to be a coward.

  "Nothing's wrong," he said as he moved toward her and sat down on the pillow next to hers. "I need to speak with you."

  She frowned, but nodded. "Sounds serious. You know you are always free to say anything to me."

  He cleared his throat and prayed to any deity that might be listening (even though he believed in none) to help him find the words.

  "These past months with you have been the best of my life," he said. "At first, it was your simple friendship that meant the world to me. That you could be friends with a man such as me was inconceivable. And yet, what I am and who I was didn't matter to you. You extended friendship and kindness in ways that few have in my life. Despite my being a complete jackass at every turn."

  "Alarick—" she began, placing a hand on his knee where it rested next to hers.

  "Wait. Please let me finish."

  "Okay," she said, pulling her hand back.

  "When friendship moved on to love I thought, no, I knew it was too good to be true. I knew somehow it would all be ruined. That I would ruin it. And yet, once again, you've stayed with me despite my inability to show you the kind of love you deserve. Your devotion both humbles and terrifies me. I don't deserve it and yet you freely give it.

  "I know you promised once to stay with me until I ask you to go. But I'm hoping for a more formal arrangement than that."

  Alarick reached for her left hand and tucked it in both of his.

  "I know neither of us is terribly religious, religion having been so corrupted by the Ministry as to be a mockery of itself. But I think commitment can exist outside of religion and I want to ask: Will you marry me?"

  When she didn't answer immediately, he rushed to fill the breach. "I'll understand if your answer is no. I realize I am hardly an ideal husband and these are not ideal times. But even though I am damaged and not the man I once was, or might have been, I'm yours if you will have me."

  "Hush," she said. Tears ran down her cheeks, although she was smiling. "I can't answer if you don't shut up."

  Alarick did as he was told.

  "Alarick Brandon, nothing would make me happier than marrying you. Nothing."

  Gobsmacked, he sat stunned on the pillow for a moment before leaning down and kissing her thoroughly.

  "Thank goodness," he whispered as he rested his forehead against hers. "I couldn't have stood it if you'd said no."

  "There was no danger of that."

  "I do have one more surprise, if you're up for it."

  "More than asking me to marry you?" she asked.

  "We can be married this very night, if you wish."

  "Tonight? Isn't it too late? And are you sure you wouldn't rather wait until we're back at the Keep where your friends can celebrate with you?"

  "It isn't too late. That much I know. Adil is my co-conspirator in this and he assures me no hour is too late. As for waiting, I'd rather not, but I understand if you might wish to."

  Elissa thought for a few moments. "No, you're right. We should do it now. Who knows how much time we have left. We may never make it back to the Keep. We should cherish every moment we might have together."

  "Exactly what a wise man reminded me of when he agreed to help me with this," Alari
ck said.

  "When we return to the Keep, we can have a celebration," she said. "And if John Lucas ever makes his move, perhaps we can celebrate two weddings."

  "You know about John and Margaret?" he asked.

  "Everyone knows," she said. "There are few ways of hiding love and affection, Alarick, particularly in a confined space like the Keep. You should know that by now."

  "I do know that. And I know I was foolish to try. Shall we go find Adil?"

  "Of course."

  He took her hand in his and guided her out to the dune where Adil sat, just as he had the night before. This time, however, a small group of people sat with him. At a distance Alarick couldn't tell who they were, but as they approached he saw the friendliest of the scholars. Most were the ones who adored Elissa, although some of the men who'd worked primarily with Alarick were present, too. A few had brought their wives, as well. All total, there were probably thirty people on the dune.

  Micah the silversmith was also there, standing and looking in their direction. He waved excitedly when he saw them and turned to inform the rest of the group. Everyone stood and waited for Alarick and Elissa. As they approached the group parted, forming an aisle that led to Adil.

  When they reached Adil, Alarick asked, "What if we hadn't come tonight?"

  "Then we'd have had a lovely evening stargazing as a group," Adil said. "But I had every confidence that your courage would not fail you and you would ask and Elissa would say yes. Which is what happened, yes?" he asked.

  Elissa nodded and Alarick smiled and said, "For some odd reason that I cannot fathom, she did say yes."

  There was a small cheer from the assembled group.

  "Well, then, that only leaves one thing. I'm not a minister or priest so I cannot offer you a religious ceremony. Although religion isn't common among our kind, so I don't know if such a thing is important to you," Adil said, glancing at Alarick for confirmation.

  "It's not important," Alarick said. "All we want is for good people, friends, to witness our commitment to each other."

  Adil stepped forward and gently turned Elissa so she faced Alarick. Alarick took both of her hands in his.