Soul of the Fire

She had been hanging on every word, seeming to be starved for conversation of things few but the gifted could comprehend.

"Yes, I see your point." She raised a finger. "But by the same token, they could be gone today-vanish as we speak-feeling endless frustration in a world with time, once they begin to find they must function within the alien confines of time and a schedule. The soul they seek, after all, has only so much time in this world. They must pursue and capture his soul while he lives."

"Well put and a worthy consideration, but how long shall we wait? At some point it will be too late for things of magic to recover. Some surely now lie ailing with the fading of magic. How long until they die out forever?

"I see your stargazers wilting out on the path to your home." Zedd lifted an eyebrow. "But much worse, how long until magic such as that of the gambit moth fails? What if the crops now growing are soon tainted?"

Her face, creased with concern, turned away.

Not knowing her well, Zedd didn't bring it up, but without magic, Jagang and the Imperial Order were only that much more powerful. Without magic to aid them, many more would die fighting him, and it very well could be blood spilled to no good end.

"Franca, as guardians of the veil, protectors of helpless creatures of magic, and as stewards of magic's promise to mankind, we must act with all due haste. We know not where the line lies that makes meaningful aid too late."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Yes, you are right, of course. Why do you need to know where the chimes are entombed? What will that help you accomplish?"

"Their ancient banishment, in order to nullify the original conjuring that brought them here, would have by necessity had to again breach the veil. Such a counterspell would itself have had to be balanced with an ancillary spell to allow their return to the world of life. Such a return spell could have been exceedingly narrow in terms-invocation of threes and all that-but it wouldn't matter; the mere existence of a return mechanism was all the balance the banishment spell would have required."

Zedd slowly ran his finger around the rim of his teacup. "From what I know of the matter, I believe the nature of their existence dictates that the chimes can only return to the world of life, once the narrow requirements of the balancing mechanism are met, through the gateway of their banishment. That's why I've had to come here."

She stared off in reflection. "Yes, that makes sense. The gateway, wherever it is, would be open."

"Being as you don't know where the chimes are entombed, perhaps you can be my guide."

Her gaze came back to him. "Where could we look? Do you have in mind a place to start?"

After another sip, Zedd set down his cup.

"My idea was you might be able to help me get into the library."

"The Library of Culture? At the Minister of Culture's estate?"

"That's the one. They have ancient texts there. At least they used to. Since the chimes were banished here in Anderith, the library might contain records or other information so I could find where it took place, and thus the gateway. They might even have other information of use."

"What are the names of the books you seek? Perhaps I know them."

"I don't know what books might be of help, if such books even exist, or if they do, that they are here. I will just have to start looking through those volumes in the library and see what we can find."

She leaned forward. "Zedd, there are thousands of books there."

"I know. I've seen them before."

"And if you find a book that names this place, then what?"

Zedd shrugged in a deliberately vague manner. "First step first."

If he could find no information on the mechanism of their banishment, he had an idea of what he might have to do should he be able to find the location of the entombment. Even if he did find such information and it was a simple matter, without the use of his magic he would be helpless to reverse the problem.

He might be forced to take desperate measures.

"So, what about the Library of Culture? Can I get in there?"

"I think I could help with that much of it. As an Ander, and one known at the Minister's estate, I'm trusted with access. Not everyone is. Those in authority have been altering history to such an extent that those of us who have lived a bit of it don't even recognize our own past, much less trust the rest of what we're told."

She emerged from her private thoughts and straightened with a brave smile. "When do you wish to go there?"

"The sooner the better-."

"Do you think you could pretend to be a visiting scholar?"

"I think I could manage to look like I have difficulty recalling my own name."

CHAPTER 47

"Oh, how kind!" Zedd exclaimed in mock delight as the woman set down the heavy volume in the glow from the tall lamp. "I'm sure of it now. I've no doubt. You can be nothing other than a good spirit come to assist me, Mistress Firkin."

The woman abruptly turned as shy as a teenage girl. Her cheeks reddened as she smiled.