Library of the Sapphire Wind by Jane Lindskold

Author:Jane Lindskold [Lindskold, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Contemporary, General
ISBN: 9781982125912
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2022-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

The Font’s image faded soon thereafter. The three humans and the three inquisitors stared at each other in shock and horror.

“Well,” said Vereez, obviously trying to keep her voice light and completely failing, “I understand now why Sapphire Wind blames our parents for the destruction of the Library. I’m still not certain what that has to do with us, though.”

Meg held up her hand. “Sapphire Wind is willing to clarify whatever it can, but it needs a means to speak. It has asked me if I will help it and I have agreed—unless that will be too disturbing for the rest of you.”

“It will be disturbing, sure,” Peg said, “but if you agree, and if no harm will come to you, then . . .”

Teg said, “It’s up to you, Meg.”

“Allowing Sapphire Wind to speak through me will be more efficient than charades or show and tell,” Meg replied. “I will be listening, and even be able to ask questions, although not out loud. I feel we need to know more.”

“But, Meg-toh,” Grunwold said, his use of the suffix revealing the affection he’d been careful to conceal, “you’re opening yourself to possession.”

Meg smiled. “When we were attacked, none of you inquisitors hesitated for a moment to put yourselves at risk. How can I do any less?”

“When you put it that way,” Grunwold said slowly. “All right, but if anything happens to you . . .”

He let his threat—which was, after all, somewhat empty, since not a one of them knew how to fight a bodiless magical creation—remain unspecified.

Xerak and Vereez nodded their reluctant acceptance of Meg’s offer.

Without any more fuss than when it had borrowed Meg’s voice before, Sapphire Wind spoke: “Meg wishes to know what happened to the inhabitants of the Library and the associated surroundings.”

“Me, too . . .” Vereez said softly, doubtless dreading how many deaths lay at the feet of her parents and their allies.

“Not aware yet how limited my abilities would be in the future,” Sapphire Wind continued, “I archived those who belonged to the community.”

“Archived?” Teg said. “Can you clarify that?”

Meg’s arm gestured in the direction of the foyer. “I had been given a spell that enabled me to save a person’s life by storing that person within a magical artifact. It was intended to be an emergency measure. At the time—fuddled as I was for reasons I can explain—I viewed this as an emergency. The Library’s staff and scholars reside within the stars of the celestial dome. ‘Reside’ is misleading. They are stored there, asleep. Gently dreaming.”

“How many?” Xerak asked.

“Four hundred and twenty-three: this includes the Library staff, resident researchers, visitors, and those of the support community who lived near enough to the main Library buildings to be at risk of immediate demise. The inhabitants of the associated village were safe from immediate harm. Most of these fled within a few days as the area became too dangerous to safely inhabit.”

“I’ve been wondering about those dangers,” Peg said. “Over and over we’ve heard how dangerous this area is, but really it hasn’t been that bad.

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