“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Cerai responded. “We’re grateful—” she shot a look at the others. “—for any news you can give us.”
“Can we do anything else for you? Bring you some food perhaps?” Jak racked her brain for anything else they could do.
“We’ve already arranged for that,” Gabriel explained. “Danen and I are taking it in turns to bring supplies from the city. In the meantime, we’ll have to figure out what to do in the long term. We’re keeping it quiet for now, but sooner or later someone will let the word out that…Water Fae, as you call them, exist. Who knows what their reaction will be? So we must ensure that they are safe before that happens.
Jak nodded. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”
Gabriel chuckled. “Right now, I need you to focus on your studies young one. This is a matter for those of us with much more experience.”
Jak frowned. He was right of course. He was the more experienced one, even if Jak knew more about the Fae. But she supposed that was why Gabriel had asked her here in the first place. She wanted to know what would happen to the Water Fae, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t keep a low profile and just keep studying.
She thought back on the night before, when she had performed her first stable brand. Moments like that were what she lived for. She’d prefer to just do more of that. More learning. Yes, better to leave these bigger matters to people who knew what to do.
They left the cave and got ready to head back into the city, though not before Jak noticed Gabriel tuck something in his pack that hadn’t been there before. No doubt it was the Relic that had caused all this. She wished she could see it now. She didn’t feel any power radiating from it, not like she had with the Annals of Adam, but that was probably due to the Void brand that Gabriel had placed on its container. And speaking of that, Jak couldn’t wait to get back to the library and research this new brand that she had never heard of.
The trek back seemed even longer to Jak than it had got to the cave in the first place. Estel was quiet, but Jak could see the girl giving her venomous looks now and then. She clearly wasn’t happy with what they had just seen. Gabriel had made them promise to keep their mouths shut, but Jak had a suspicion Estel would probably break that promise eventually.
But ultimately, it didn’t matter to Jak. She could contribute best simply to learning all she could. Who knows, maybe she could learn something that would be useful to Gabriel and these new Water Fae. Jak felt a smile grow on her lips. A third variety of Fae… how exciting was that? Jak idly wondered how many more they might encounter. She desperately wished she could get her hands on that original copy of the Annals of Adam. She knew there had to be more about these races appearing.
Finally, they arrived at the college. Estel said her farewells, sparing a single sneer for Jak as she left. Jak shrugged it off. She was on her way to the library.
Inside the main doors, she and Gabriel ran into Semwei.
“Goodness, Gabriel. You can’t just take the students willy-nilly like that. They’ve got responsibilities you know. This one has barely seen the inside of a classroom yet.”
Jak narrowed her eyes at Semwei. The woman gave no sign of her compassionate side that Jak had seen the day before. Gabriel cleared his throat. “I am indeed sorry, Madame Semwei, but it was a matter of some urgency. She is yours for the rest of the day.”
Semwei pursed her lips. “I hope you’re not wrapping her into your little side projects. She’s dealing with enough as it is.”
Why were they talking about her like she wasn’t there? Gabriel raised a hand to assure Semwei.
“Nothing so dramatic, my dear.”
“Very well,” Semwei turned to face Jak. “You child, I want you reporting to the cook for your chores.”
“But morning chores are over!” Jak felt her face flush. She wanted, no, needed to get to the library. She had no time for chores.
“The morning chores are not over until they are done. And as you have been away all morning, they are still unfinished. You’ll miss your first lessons of the day, but that should teach you that we’re serious about discipline around her. Now hop to it.”
Semwei’s tone held no room for argument, though Jak seriously considered it anyway. Gabriel had come to take her away, it wasn’t her fault that she hadn’t been around for the morning chores. In the end, she turned on her heel and marched towards the kitchens. She would show Semwei. She would finish her chores, attend her classes, do everything she was supposed to do. Then she would visit the library and spend the rest of the day, and every day after that, trying to learn more about branding. And maybe, just maybe, she might find something about the Fae that could prove useful to Gabriel and the others.
6
That evening, she awoke with a start from her seat in the library. Someone had lit the candles, as it was dark outside. But it couldn’t be too late yet, because no one had woken her to inform her about the curfew.
She lifted the huge tome sitting on her lap to try and get a better view in the candlelight. How much time had she wasted while asleep? She couldn’t even remember falling asleep. One minute she had been reading, the next...well she supposed it made sense, seeing as she had almost no sleep the night before, then had traveled outside of the city and back, performed her chores, and went about her day as if nothing had happened. Of course, she was tired.
But something had woken her up so what was it? She peered around the room of dusty volumes.
“That’s a tough one you’ve got there.” A voice spoke from one side.
She turned her head to see. In the dim light, she could make out a man sitting in the chair a few feet away. He was about Naem’s age, but he looked different. At least, different from most people Jak knew. The skin on his face looked almost stretched, and his eyes were slanted. His hair was black but his face...well his face held a smile that put Jak at ease before she even realized what was happening.
“Excuse me?”
“Your book,” The man indicated the large tome Jak held. “A Comprehensive History of Holy Scripture. Not exactly what most people would call light reading.”
“Were you spying on me while I was sleeping?”
The man held his hands out in a gesture of surrender. “I’m merely observant.”
There was that smile again. Jak couldn’t quite tell what it was about it that seemed to disarm her.
“Did you want to read this one?” Jak asked.
“Oh no, I’ve read it. Twice. It’s mostly modern propaganda, promoting a rather specific view on the Annals of Adam. I didn’t think it held anything of lasting value.”
“You don’t believe in the Annals of Adam?”
“Oh, it’s an inspired book. But for a long time, it was in the hands of gatekeepers who fed only the things that benefitted them to the general public. Now, it’s mostly accessible to all of us, but the damage has already been done.”
Jak leaned in. There was something very interesting about this man’s view. “What exactly would that be?”
He sat up in his seat. “Imagine if you had a book that was passed down from generation to generation. Eventually, you would need to make copies, and then copies of those copies. And what if, as you were making the copies, you decided to eliminate pieces that didn’t line up with what you thought was right, essentially molding the book to your own viewpoint.”
“But that’s horrible. Why would anyone do that?”
The smile wavered on the man’s face. “It’s just a thought, sorry. I can get carried away.”
“No,” Jak realized suddenly that the man was right. Why else would the original copy of the Annals of Adam have whole sections that were not to be found in other editions? “It makes sense, I just... you’d have to be pretty corrupt to do something like that intentionally.”
The man laughed. “Indeed. Well, I’m glad we’ve had a chance to talk about theological politics. I can think of no better way to introduce oneself.” He smiled again, then ro
se and put his hand to his chest in a traditional greeting. “I’m Seph. And to whom do I have the pleasure?”
“Uh, Jak.” She almost forgot what to say, putting her own hand to her chest. That smile though. “My name is Jak. I…” she broke off and stared at his left hand. “You don’t have a brand!”
Her voice was so shocked that Seph began to laugh. “No, I decided several years ago I would not have one.”
“But... but... everyone has a brand!”
“Not everyone, only those who can afford it, and a few others like myself.”
Seph’s face darkened just a bit, but Jak barely noticed. She brought her hand to her chest a second time, showing off her Gifter brand.
“Maybe one day I could give you one. I’m a new student here.”
“I gathered as much, given the Gifter brand and the fact I haven’t seen you here before. And if I ever change my mind, I’d be honored for you to perform the Branding.”
Jak felt herself blush but instead calmed her face. “So, do you always wait around watching young girls like myself in the library?”
Seph’s mouth quirked. “Like I said, I’m just observant. Plus you…” He cut off for a moment as if deciding what to say. “You intrigued me with your choice of reading. I thought I could at least stick around until you woke up. You made me wait for over an hour.” He winked at her.
“Well, I’m so sorry to waste your time,” Jak said through rolled eyes.
“Oh, it wasn’t a waste. I finished the book I was reading.” He held it out for her to see. A Catalog of Ancient Relics, Volume Three.
“You’re reading a catalog? And you thought what I read was dry?” Jak didn’t exactly know why she said that. She had planned to start reading through that same catalog eventually. Who didn’t want to know more about the Relics?
“I try to learn all I can say about Relics, they’re the closest thing we have to true scripture, unmarred by several generations of corrupt theologians.”
“You really don’t like religion, do you?”
“Ah, now that is most definitely not true.” He said with a knowing smile. He looked like he was hiding something. “I just know that many precious things were removed from the state religion over time.”
So, they were back to this subject. Something tickled Jak’s mind. “Could you tell me exactly how you know that? Do you have any evidence?”
“Hmm… of a sort,” he said, thoughtfully. “Not necessarily something I get into with total strangers.” He flashed a smile at her again.
“We’ve introduced ourselves, we’re not strangers anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” he broke his eye contact. “I’m just not accustomed…”
“Well, I can prove what you say.”
His grin vanished, and he looked back up at her sharply. “Come again?”
Hang it all, Jak. Why did you say that? “Ah, yes. I... may have come across an original copy of the Annals of Adam while I was in the Hollow Peaks.”
“The Hollow Peaks, whatever were you doing there?”
Jak withdrew. “You know, I shouldn’t have said anything. We only just met and…”
“Well, it’s like you said, we introduced ourselves which means we’re not strangers.”
She hesitated. “I don’t know…”
“Please, Jak.” His voice dropped to a whisper, and he leaned closer to where she sat. “This may be more important than you know.”
Kind of dramatic of him. But at that moment, staring into his eyes as they bore into hers, she found herself trusting this strange man.
So, she started at the beginning. This was now the third time that she had related her experience with the Annals of Adam and the Fae since entering the city. The first time, she had felt interrogated, the second time she had felt mistrusted. This time, however, something was different. Seph hung onto every word of her story, and they had to stop several times for him to ask a clarifying question. He seemed particularly interested in the differences that she read between the Annals of Adam that they all knew, and the copy that the Shadow Fae kept in the Hollow Peaks. He really believed her, she could sense it. She didn’t exactly know why.
Once he began asking her specific questions about the Fae’s powers, often guessing facts about them correctly, she decided she had said enough. “Okay, I’ve told you a lot, it’s now your turn. Why are you so interested in the Fae and the Annals?”
Seph paused to consider that for a moment. He considered Jak, and she got a distinct impression that he was deciding whether to trust her. Finally, he seemed to come to a decision.
“Well, you see. I’ve already heard a lot of these things. In another book.”
He fished in a back pocket and took out a worn, small volume. It was brown and rough around the edges, but Seph placed it carefully, almost lovingly, in Jak’s hands. It bore one word on the cover, a name: ‘Illadar.’
“What is Illadar?” Jak asked, leafing through the book. “And what do you mean that you’ve already heard what I told you?
“I discovered this book in my country, many leagues east of here. The details are not important. Illadar, as it says on the cover, is the name of a place. The book is one large prophecy you could say, of a place where a chosen few will gather and form a great nation, perhaps many nations. It will be a place of sanctuary for many... races. And if what you’ve told me is accurate, your Shadow and Bright Fae will be among them.”
Jak looked down at the book in her hands with new interest. “How...how did you come by such a book. Why isn’t everyone talking about it?” She looked back at Seph. “Who are you? Really. You look like an outsider, but your accent is perfect. Start at the beginning.”
“Well, I’m part of a small church, not affiliated with the Church of the Holy Relics, or anyone in their organization.” Seph crossed his arms. He didn’t seem hesitant anymore like he had already made up his mind about what to tell Jak. “We meet on High Morning, like the rest, but we believe a few things that... shall we say, don’t line up with what people are taught from a young age to believe. That book that you’re holding there, it’s the key…”
“What is going on here!” Jak whirled as Semwei entered the room, her face flushed. “Have you any idea how late it is girl? It’s high past curfew.”
Jak quickly hid the book around her back and stood straight. “Yes, madame Semwei. I’m sorry, I lost track of time.”
“Did you not notice that none of the other students were here?” She looked at Seph. “Oh, and you’ve been talking to that one, have you?”
“Lovely to see you, Madame Semwei, as always.” Seph’s smile was back, and he was on his feet, bowing to the headmistress with a flourish.
Semwei stared down her nose at him. “I don’t want you filling the heads of my students with your nonsense.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, my lady. And I apologize for the late hour. I take full responsibility for keeping Jak awake.”
“Hmm... very well. The library is closed, see yourself out.” Semwei tilted her head at the staircase.
“At once.” Seph kept smiling and turned to say goodbye to Jak. She still had the book hidden behind her back. Seph met her eyes and mouthed, ‘keep it.’ Then he turned on his heel, placed a wide-brimmed hat on his head, and marched down the stairs.
“Well!” Jak jumped as Semwei barked at her. “Get to bed child. You’ll be rising with the rest of them on time tomorrow, and I don’t want you thinking that you’ll receive any special treatment. You’ll respect the curfew, or I will have your backside paddled until you can’t sit for a week. Understand?”
“Yes, madam.” Jak lept into motion, barely managing to keep Seph’s book out of view as she hurried down the stairs.
Once she found her room, she closed the door hard and leaned against it. Semwei had a way of making you feel like you were being chased by a demon. Jak was breathing hard and almost wanted to open her door a crack, just to see if Semwei had followed. It was almost like the woman had forgott
en what happened to Jak at the church, and the moment they had shared.
She collapsed on the bed, feeling her exhaustion return, despite the nap she had taken earlier. But there was one thing she had to check before she went to bed.
Lighting a candle, she ran her fingers across the leather embossing on Seph’s book. Illadar. It was a beautiful name, and from what Seph had said, a hopeful concept, though she doubted that any such paradise was anything more than superstition. Still…
She opened the book and began reading on the first page.
“Hello,” it began. “To whomever reads this, my name is Abel. As I write this, I am on the run from my brother, who I believe means to hurt me. He’s been this way ever since my father chose me to pass on the birthright, giving me ownership of the artifacts we have created. The discoveries my father has made through science and... something more, they are precious to us. But my brother is hot-tempered and seeks power for himself. It didn’t take my father long to realize that he would not make a great leader. And so, he passed the responsibility to me, the younger brother. While I fear for my life at this moment, both from my brother, and my other brothers, sisters, and nephews who follow him, I have a responsibility to posterity. May you find these words comforting in a promising future.”
Jak felt a mixture of feelings. If this was true, this sounded like one of their ancestors, perhaps one of their earliest ancestors, the ones who created the Relics. But it seemed too good to be true, which made her doubt its veracity. Her father used to tell her: “If you want it to be true, it probably isn’t.”
Yet, she could not stop reading. This Abel, whoever he was, she had never heard of him before from any other scripture. But as she read she realized just how everything she read seemed to fit. It spoke about future races, in similar language to what she had read in the Annals of Adam. It talked about the elusive Illadar, a spiritual sanctuary that would allow all races to dwell in harmony together. It was all a bit much to take in, and she found herself going back and re-reading large portions of the text.
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