In between exploring everything the bed, pillows, floor, and even the wall had to offer, they talked. At one point, they were propped up on the pillows in the bed, Elissa draped in Alarick's shirt and clutching a cup of tea when talk shifted to their work.
"I didn't get a chance to tell you about the interesting fact I found the other day," she began. "You were too busy dragging me off to be married."
Alarick laughed. "Regret that, do you?" he asked, lightly nudging her calf with his bare foot.
"Not at all. I was merely stating the reason for my silence."
"Go on, then," Alarick said. "What interesting fact have you unearthed?"
"Aziz was reading me pieces of a book about ancient magic and it had a few references to Book Mesmers. Most of it I already knew, but here's the new bit: If a Book Mesmer's blood is spilled inside a library in which he or she controls the books and the Mesmer dies, the library will immediately seal itself against anyone who does not share the Mesmer's blood. The sealing happens so fast that the person who shed the Mesmer's blood will be sealed in as well, entombed forever."
"That's odd. And useless. Why would a Book Mesmer be killed in a library? Or choose to die inside a library? And so what if it seals itself? If the library already has a Book Mesmer, the materials are likely already protected."
Elissa shrugged. "I thought about it and there is a practical use for such a thing. Imagine if someone came for me inside the library at the Keep. Their 'reward' for killing me would be their own death, plus rendering the library inaccessible to anyone other than my descendants.
"Think about it. My work in a library protects books from being read or destroyed, but nothing I can do protects someone from relocating a book. Killing a Mesmer inside a library ensures the books cannot be moved, much less opened or read, unless by a descendant of the Mesmer."
Alarick draped an arm around her and pulled her closer. She dropped her head to his shoulder.
"It's a useless fact," he repeated in a firm voice, tightening his hold on her. "No one is going to kill you in my library, or any other, for that matter. What you do is enough. As long as the books cannot be destroyed, having them relocated is a small matter. 'For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought,' he said, repeating the words Marius shared with him months ago.
"You know Spenser's The Faerie Queene?" she asked, recognizing the phrase immediately.
"Only because Marius brought it up once in reference to you," he said.
"He was right," she said. "My goal has always been to make it so that what we lose may be found one day."
"And you don't have to die to do it, so this little fact of yours is irrelevant."
"I'm just impressed you know of The Faerie Queene," she said, turning toward him and straddling him.
"Hmmm. I must become more literate," he said as she leaned forward and kissed him. "If this is the reward."
He pushed his shirt off her shoulders and held her as she rose up and then lowered herself onto him, settling herself to her work.
"Definitely must read more," he panted, making her laugh.
When she finally slept, Alarick lay beside her, unable to shake the image of her lying broken on the library floor, blood seeping from some unseen wound into the stone and sealing her away from him forever.
17
They only spent four days more in Adil's company. The entire left side of the library was now protected, along with a few important books from other parts of the library. Alarick had amassed a small pile of copied books to take with him and there was nothing else for them to do.
"You're welcome to stay," Adil offered as they prepared for departure.
"I can't thank you enough for the hospitality and the loan of your warm air, but it's time to move on," Alarick said. "Other libraries need my wife's services."
Wife. The word still sounded strange to Alarick's ears, and likely would for years. The wonder of it never failed to make him smile, however.
As their time with Adil wound down, Alarick wrote to several of his friends, all of whom expressed an interest in having the Book Mesmer fortify their libraries.
"Where would you like to go next?" he asked Elissa over dinner on their last night in Marrakesh. "We've had offers from Ireland, Bavaria, Spain, Austria, Naples, Rome, Denmark, and Luxembourg among others."
"Rome sounds interesting," Elissa said. "Who do you know there?"
"The Pope."
"The Pope is not a wizard. Is he?" she asked.
"He is, difficult as that might be to believe. I'm still not entirely sure how Benedict managed to rise to the Papacy, but there he is. Very few people know."
"Does the Ministry?"
Alarick shrugged. "I have no idea. But even if they think he's simply a glorified priest, they still would love nothing more than to destroy the Vatican library. It's one of the largest libraries in the world and much of it is material with which the Ministry of the One Truth does not agree."
"Both on religious and magical grounds?"
"Exactly. The Vatican's collection of religious dogma alone is enough for the Ministry to seek its destruction, but when you add in the historical works amassed from all over the world, some of which contain references to magic and magical cultures, it presents an even greater target.
"Only the presence of a large military force has kept it safe this long. That and I think the Ministry harbors some fear of rebellion if they were to destroy something of such significance to so many people. Eventually they'll get cocky enough to destroy it, as they do everything else, backlash be damned.
"So the question is, do we go to Rome, or would you like to go somewhere smaller, more remote? It's your choice."
Elissa thought for a moment. "I would like to go to Rome, but I think we should set a limit on how long we stay. The Vatican's library is likely large enough to keep us busy for years, but if we spend that much time there, we'll lose other resources from smaller villages or universities. I'd hate to favor one over the other. The problem is, everything is important these days. All of it is worth saving. We have to make difficult choices."
"That we do, and I think your suggestion is imminently sensible. I'll write to Benedict and tell him we'll spend, what, two weeks, do you think?"
"That should do it. Tell him to prioritize the items he wants protected and have them ready for us. That way we won't need to waste time sorting through the choices," she said.
Alarick wrote to his friend and Benedict replied to say that while he was disappointed they wouldn't stay longer, he understood and welcomed any effort on his behalf.
The next morning, they met Adil in the courtyard after breakfast. Their things were packed and stacked by their feet. Alarick shook Adil's hand and Elissa hugged him.
"Thank you so much," she said. "For everything. I'll always treasure my time here for many reasons, not the least of which is my marriage. In which, if I understand correctly, you were a direct conspirator. I'm forever grateful to you, Adil. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call on us."
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Adil leaned forward and kissed her on both cheeks and then winked at Alarick.
"Your husband is glaring at me for stealing those kisses," he said.
Elissa nudged Alarick. "Stop it," she said, but everyone was laughing.
"Goodbye," they said together and Alarick peregrinated them back to the Keep where they planned to drop off the new books and spend a day or two relaxing before heading to Rome.
When they arrived in the library, they found Margaret and John Lucas entwined on the sofa, engaged in their own romantic moment. Things hadn't progressed past kissing, but appeared to be well on the way.
"We've intruded on something," Alarick said to Elissa, since she couldn't see the scene. "Something personal between John and Margaret."
John jumped at the voices, overbalanced and fell off the sofa, landing on the floor with a dull thud.
"Good grief," Margaret said, pulling her skirts d
own and patting her hair back into place. "Are you trying to give an old woman a heart attack?"
"No, but if your heart is so weak, is it wise to engage in such activities?" Alarick asked dryly as he walked over and extended a hand to help John up from the floor.
Margaret laughed. "Welcome home. We were just shelving books," she said.
"Is that what it's called now?" Alarick asked.
"Well, there are books," she said, waving her hand at a small pile on the desk. "John found them in Cullfield."
"Which has been destroyed," John added. "But we did bring two survivors back with us. They're teenagers. Siblings. A boy and a girl who managed to hide in a tiny cave by the river."
"How awful," Elissa said.
"They're settling in," Margaret said. "How was your trip?"
"Books," Alarick said, dropping the bag containing the new books on the desk next to the pile from Cullfield.
"Wife," he continued in the same dry tone as he draped an arm around Elissa and pulled her close.
It took a second for the news to register but when it did, Margaret and John exploded in cheers and good wishes. Margaret grabbed Elissa's left hand and examined the ring while John clapped Alarick on the back shouting, "Well done!"
"It's happy tidings all around, then," John said. "I wasn't debauching a random woman on your sofa. Margaret and I are married, as well. Just last week."
More congratulations and hugs went around the room.
"I told you he'd get his nerve up," Elissa said to Alarick. "Just as you did."
"He nearly collapsed when he proposed," Margaret said.
"So did Alarick," Elissa said, making both women laugh. The men looked at each other and shrugged.
"They don't realize how difficult it is," John said, "To ask such a terrifying question."
"Bah," Margaret said. "You're just scared of making fools of yourselves."
The four of them settled into chairs and spent the next hours swapping stories of proposals, weddings, and adventures.
"How long are you staying here?" John asked Alarick.
"Only a couple of days. Just long enough to rest, then we're off to Rome. From there, who knows?"
Word quickly spread around the Keep that Alarick and Elissa were married. Later that night, an impromptu party erupted in the dining hall. Both marriages were celebrated, many toasts were drunk, and everyone finally staggered to their rooms in the wee hours of the morning after reaching an agreement to take the morning off from chores and work. The epic hangovers would be remembered for years.
Alarick and Elissa retired to his rooms, having moved her few possessions in during the afternoon. Her old room was now available for a new resident of the Keep.
"Alone at last," Elissa said, as she dropped onto the bed.
"Finally," Alarick said, climbing in next to her and kissing her. "I've waited all day to touch you. I can't seem to stop wanting you."
"I know the feeling. And I feel so greedy because I know you have other things to do, but I just want you to myself."
"Well, we're here now," Alarick said, nuzzling her neck.
"So we are."
Maybe it was the drink, or maybe it was simply pure desire, but there was no gentle exploration this time. Tonight was all about animalistic need. Alarick tore her dress in his haste to remove it and she popped several buttons off his coat and shirt. Their mouths crushed together as though seeking some way to get even closer to each other. He bit her lip and she nipped his ear.
They handled each other roughly, unafraid to show how much they wanted, needed, each other. Alarick took her hard and fast and she gave as good as she got, matching him thrust for thrust. She raked his back with her nails and bit his shoulder to keep from screaming.
When it was over Alarick lay beside her, exhausted. And still he wanted to touch her. He settled for stroking her gently from shoulder to hip. She shuddered under his touch.
"That was something," she said.
Alarick chuckled. "It was, at that."
He turned serious. "I'm sorry, though."
"For what?" she asked, rolling to face him and draping her leg over his hip. His caressing fingers moved to her back, stroking her from the base of her neck to her buttocks and back again.
"The bruises," he said, touching the spots that were just beginning to bloom on her breasts, thighs, and arms.
"Oh. Well, it's not like I can see them," she said. "I probably wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said anything. You're probably sporting a few of your own. Along with bite marks."
"Still. I shouldn't treat you that way. I'm—" she cut him off by laying a finger over his lips.
"Don't you dare apologize again. If I were in any way uncomfortable about what happened, I would have said something. You don't have to treat me like a breakable object. And never be sorry for your love for me, or how you express it. That's how life should be lived, full tilt with no holding back. Never lock yourself away from me, Alarick," she said.
He smoothed her hair away from her face and kissed her.
"I can only promise to try," he said eventually.
Two days later, Alarick and Elissa were on their way again. Alarick was satisfied that John was capably managing the Keep and there was no reason for him to linger. Elissa had cast quick protections on the books John retrieved from Cullfield and there was no other work for her in the Keep's library. Their work lay elsewhere.
Their time in Rome was spent much as it had been in Marrakesh, although it wasn't nearly as much fun. They were assigned a team of scholars to help them translate, summarize and copy the works. Elissa worked herself nearly ragged and struggled to get through even half of what Pope Benedict marked as "Essential." Alarick dragged her away each night and forced her to rest, but she kept pushing harder, unwilling to fail at the impossible task set before them.
The people of the Vatican were cordial, but not friendly. The Vatican was not a relaxed place. It was formal and rigid. Everything moved according to a fixed schedule and protocol dictated all personal interactions. There was very little laughter and camaraderie around the work, no curiosity or wonder at the words contained in the books. Work was work and at the end of the day, Alarick and Elissa went back to their room for meals. There was no community, no socializing, and no late-night storytelling.
The military presence added to the strain. Soldiers watched every move Elissa and Alarick made and searches were frequent. They were not permitted to leave the Vatican, so there was no possibility of seeing the Colosseum or the Pantheon, wonders which the Ministry had not yet destroyed. The security was understandable, but unsettling. Fascinating Rome might be. Friendly it was not.
Neither Alarick nor Elissa were sad to leave at the end of their two weeks. When Benedict begged them to stay longer, and they didn't even entertain the idea. Alarick peregrinated them away without a second thought. Still, they had successfully protected a few hundred books. Not as many as Benedict would have liked, but still an impressive number.
After Rome, they traveled to Walachia, then to Buda, and from there to Vienna. After that the libraries, villages, magical refuges, and personal book collections blurred together. In some places they found friends and welcome, in others only work. Still, there was tremendous reward in knowing that thousands of books were now protected throughout Europe. Alarick's respect for Elissa and her abilities only grew. She was rapidly becoming the legend he knew she would be.
Her fame became the unfortunate side effect of their diligence. As word of Elissa's ability spread and more and more villages and libraries clamored for her help, their renown grew. Soon people were actively seeking them out rather than waiting for Alarick to write. When they arrived in a location, there were often outsiders already there, petitioning for their village to be next on the list.
With word of their abilities and mission spreading, it wasn't long before the Ministry took notice. They offered a reward for information leading to the capture of Alarick and Elissa and posted wanted n
otices throughout Europe.
Alarick laughed at first. The posters labeled them as enemies of the Ministry, subversives attempting to, "Impart knowledge contrary to Ministry values." Whatever the hell that meant. Alarick assumed it meant common sense.
Elissa, in particular, was portrayed as dangerous and people were urged not to touch her lest, "The worms of her words infect your mind, leaving you with permanent, disturbing thoughts." Well, Alarick thought, if it kept people from touching her, then he was all for others thinking of her as some kind of brain-eating worm.
It stopped being funny, however, one summer's day in the tiny Bavarian village of Ammenberg. By that time, Alarick and Elissa had been traveling around Europe and northern Africa for more than a year and a half with only occasional trips back to the Keep for rest and to drop off books they'd been given or copied.
It was a wonder to Alarick how they'd survived for so long and that there were still magical villages to visit. He'd been certain that all traces of magic would have been obliterated by now. And yet… The magical population fought on. Or at least hid well.
Alarick and Elissa arrived in Ammenberg to discover three petitioners from other villages already there. That wasn't unusual. If anything, three was a low number. Alarick knew they were petitioners by the way they were isolated from the rest of the villagers. They huddled in a group opposite the residents, having likely been told to wait their turn.
Alarick and Elissa were greeted with enthusiasm. The village leader spoke to Alarick about accommodations while his wife took Elissa off to greet some of the other villagers who were gathered nearby. As the introductions wore on, the oldest of the petitioners approached Alarick.
"We heard you were coming and hoped you would consider Penrith for your next stop," said the man. "We have a small library in need of protection. It isn't much, but it would mean a great deal if our ancestors had access to our history."
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