Garild held up his hand. “No need to apologize, it was just unexpected.”
“Let’s not forget strange,” Isa added.
Trista nodded her head in agreement. “Even I could feel it, like bugs crawling over my skin. Who is she?”
Rand and Ella exchanged a glance. “Samira is…well… Samira. It’s hard to explain exactly who or what she is,” Ella said. “I think it’s obvious at this point that her power extends far above and beyond anything you’re familiar with.”
“Well beyond. I’ve never felt anything like that,” Garild mused. “Just how powerful is she?”
“We’ve tried to test her powers but, as far as we’ve been able to tell, her capabilities are almost endless. She’s a living wellspring of power, as much a part of it as it is a part of her. She’s an enigma, a mystery we may never solve.”
And there was the matter of the strange crystals he’d seen protruding from her chest. He wondered if perhaps it had something to do with the immense power she could wield, if it didn’t allow her to channel her power differently than they could. There were so many questions he wanted to ask.
“Is she from Sharmir?” Garild asked. It was a start, the first step in understanding such power.
Rand shook his head. “No, she came here many years ago from Korinth, seeking refuge from the brutality of her homeland.”
“And was she always like this?”
Ella held up a hand. “Samira is a woman both formidable and interesting, but her story isn’t for us to tell. She keeps her secrets close and I won’t go spilling out her history just because I can. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask her yourself. Just don’t expect more than she is willing to give. She is fiercely loyal to Sharmir. She’s given more than you know keeping this place safe.”
Despite Ella’s spat with Samira, it was clear she respected her a great deal. As much as he wished to know more about her and her power, it would have to wait. They’d come to Sharmir for other reasons and they needed to see to them. “I understand. We’ve got other matters to attend to anyways,” Garild said, though after Barog’s warning, he didn’t bring up the letter.
“Yes, we do,” Trista agreed. “I’d really like to see if we could help out here. Do you think we could meet with the healer?”
“I don’t see why not. Rand, how about you take Garild and give him a tour of some of our libraries while I take these two to the healer. Perhaps you can find a use for him while you’re at it,” Ella suggested.
Rand gave a curt nod and rose from his chair. “Let’s all meet back here around dinner time. We can further discuss the details of your stay.”
“We can do that,” Garild agreed, rising and stepping around the table to stand next to Rand. Trista and Isa joined Ella and the group drifted from the room, chatting quietly as they went. Rand began leading the way, an uncomfortable silence settling over them. He didn’t seem to be one for unnecessary chatter and without someone to lead the conversation, Garild chose to stay quiet. Instead, he focused on those meandering through the meeting hall, his eyes wandering from person to person.
At the bottom of the staircase, a man stood with a woman. His hair was a cascade of white braids falling to his hips, a stark contrast to his bronze skin. He greeted Garild with a brief nod, a pair of vibrant blue eyes near glowing as they regarded him. The woman next to him was tall and lean, her skin a strange ashen hue. Her features were pointed and angular, her eyes wide and dark as night.
They looked unusual, a testament to the fact that Sharmir was, and always had been, a refuge for those seeking safety and wisdom, a place to preserve and protect the knowledge of the world, no matter what continent they came from. It was a melting pot of different cultures, a blending of ideals and beliefs and for years, such a union of minds had worked. Contrary to the bloody history of the rest of the world, Sharmir had never known war and Garild hoped it never would. The loss of such a place would be devastating. Sharmir was hope, a beacon to the rest of the world that peace could be achieved through a common goal.
As they stepped back outside, Garild was once against struck by the beauty of the surrounding jungle, the tranquility of the sounds and smells and sights around him. Despite the beauty of it all, he could feel a keen aching for home, what had been his home. He wanted to be beneath towering wraith wood trees, to bask in their familiar glow and take in the scent of the damp earth and familiar plants. Beautiful as Sharmir was, it was as foreign to him as he was to it.
“This is just one of many towers to be found here in Sharmir. There is an outer ring of them circling the entirety of the island. These make up our meetings halls and living quarters, workspaces and occupational outlets. It is where we live and work and mend and discuss. Moving further inland, you’ll find several other rings. These are our libraries. At the center of the island lies the inner sanctum. It is where our most treasured knowledge is kept. It is the heart of Sharmir itself. While you are free to visit any of these places, certain parts of the inner sanctum are forbidden from being accessed without being under the watchful eye of the grand librarians.”
Garild soaked up the information like a sponge. “I thought all knowledge was openly shared here?”
Rand shook his head. “Don’t mistake being protected as being forbidden. The knowledge locked away in the inner sanctum is there for good reason. If the likes of the royal family of Taverin were to get their hands on some of the books in our libraries, the entire history of the world could be erased, changed, and reshaped to fit their ideals. We’ve vowed to protect such knowledge. We’ll not have it lost to the fear of a misguided land, nor will it be lost to the good intentions of a well-meaning scholar.”
“I understand,” Garild said. It made sense to keep such knowledge in a safe place. He’d seen firsthand what the wiping away of one’s history could do, what trouble it could cause.
“Good,” Rand said, motioning with his head for Garild to follow. Garild stepped quickly, trying to keep up with Rand’s lengthy strides. It was difficult and his heavy clothing stuck to his damp skin, making him wish for the loose garments worn by his guide.
Seeing his discomfort, Rand smiled. “It seems some new clothing will be in order.”
“I’ll say,” Garild grimaced. “It’s much colder in Taverin and not as...sticky.”
“You’ll get used to it with time. It’s a bit stifling at first, but your body will adapt. A change of clothing will certainly help. I’ll have Ella see to that particular task.”
“I’d appreciate it.” With that, the conversation died and Garild focused on the path they took through the trees. It was hard not to be hyper aware of the life teeming around him. Small lizards, bright green and brimming with spiky scales, scuttled away from his feet. Birds high up in the trees cawed loudly, leaping from branch to branch as they alerted the rest of the jungle to their presence. With smaller prey came bigger predators and Garild wondered what else lurked out in the forest.
Without being prompted, Rand answered. “There are predators to fear, yes. It’s rare that they venture close. They’ve enough out in the jungle to keep them occupied but, on occasion, we do see them. Mostly large jungle cats, but what you want to watch out for are the snakes and poisonous reptiles. I’d recommend that being one of the first things you study.”
Garild felt his mind tingle, the briefest hint of an intrusion. “Did you just…?”
Rand didn’t break stride, just kept his steady pace down a path he was obviously familiar with. “You’ve done a poor job blocking your mind since you showed up here. In fact, you’re nearly projecting your thoughts, overcompensating to such an extent that you may as well be shouting at me. You need to let your natural guard settle back into place. You’ve nothing to fear from anyone here if you use your powers.”
Garild was so taken back by his words that he nearly stumbled. He’d known he’d weakened his guard, lifted it to a point that it’d appear he had no powers at all to someone prying. They’d all been so caught
up in the fear of having their powers discovered that they’d learned to focus on projecting false thoughts instead of trying to maintain their defenses. It’d been weeks since he’d kept a firm lock on his mind. Taking a breath, he focused hard, drawing his power out from where he’d locked it away. It took more effort than he remembered. There was a time keeping up his guard had been as natural as breathing, but now it resisted, fleeing from his grasping fingers like grains of sand. He envisioned a wall in his mind, blue threads winding together to weave into a solid piece. Focus, focus, focus. He felt something click, a firm pressure building on the outer edges of his mind. His mind was protected, his thoughts safely tucked away from prying eyes.
“Better,” Rand said. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“You’ve no idea,” Garild agreed, his steps a little lighter than they’d been moments before. He felt whole again and he hadn’t even realized he’d felt broken. He spent the rest of their trek through the forest dropping his guard and bringing it back up, basking in the ease at which it could be done after a few tries. It was like being back in training, late nights spent trading blows with Kirheen, breaking down their guard only to build them back up again. He quickly shook the thought away. Those were painful memories. Fenir had still been alive. Kirheen had still been his friend. Perhaps there was still a chance to fix things with her, a chance to reclaim the friendship they’d once shared, even if they were hundreds of miles apart.
Through the trees, Garild spotted another tower coming into view, made of the same smooth, white stone as the one prior. It was taller and more enclosed, less open to the elements. He could only assume it was one of the libraries and his heart leapt with excitement. This was what he’d been wanting, a chance to learn the true history of the world, a chance to soak in all the knowledge he could and put it to good use.
Carved mahogany doors greeted them as they approached. Rand opened the right, motioning for Garild to step through. He clenched his hand into a fist, trying to still the excitement coursing through him as he stepped into a beautifully crafted room smelling of old books and candles. Much like the other tower, this one had a pillar taking up the center of the room. Shelves had been carved into the pillar, crammed full of books, more than Garild had seen in his entire life. And it wasn’t just the pillar. Several large, curved bookcases radiated out from the center of the room. Large, earth toned tapestries lined the walls, adding color to the creamy stone. A few scholars in flowing navy robes drifted through the library and they waved to Rand as they stepped into the library.
He couldn’t even tell where to begin. Knowing there were even more libraries bursting with just as many books was overwhelming.
“This is but one of the libraries here in Sharmir,” Rand said softly, his tone almost reverent. “You’ll find general knowledge in these halls. It will be a good place to start. Come, we’ll find you something useful.”
Rand led him towards one of the scholars, a bright-eyed young man who smiled as they approached. He was taller than Garild, his hair black as night. “Greetings, Rand. Is there anything I can help with?”
“We have a visitor from across the sea. He’s here for academic purposes and wished to see our libraries. I thought general studies would be a great place for him to start. If you would, Wilson, will you show him about?”
Wilson bowed his head. He gave Garild a curious glance, taking note of his odd clothing, but he said little on the matter. “Of course. And does this visitor have a name?”
“My name is Garild. It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you as well. If you’ll follow me, I’ll give you a general breakdown of what you’ll find here.”
Rand bowed out of the conversation, stepping away to speak to another scholar. Garild followed Wilson, ogling at the books as he passed. He kept his hand pinned at his side, though he desired to reach out, to trace his fingertips across dusty bindings and aged leather, to feel the texture of each page and know the secrets hidden within.
“As Rand mentioned, this library contains very general knowledge. You’ll find everything from basic world history to the vast flora and fauna to be encountered here in Sharmir,” Wilson said, gesturing to the bookshelves as they passed. “Considering over half of the plant species here are harmful, it would be worth reading over. Nothing like brushing up against the wrong fern and being covered in oozing sores for a week. Not recommended.”
Garild grimaced. “Noted.”
Wilson grinned. “Such is the price of living in such a beautiful place.” Reaching out, he plucked a couple thin books from the shelf to his right. “These will be a good start. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you interested in studying?”
“Religion and history, particularly those of Taverin,” Garild explained.
“An interesting choice,” Wilson mused. “Aside from just the basics, you won’t find a whole lot here on those particular subjects. Don’t worry though, you’ll have plenty of time to browse to your hearts content.” He plucked another book off a nearby shelf, adding it to the growing pile. He spun, holding the stack of books out to Garild.
Garild stared at the pile of books, his fingers curling into a fist. He’d only be able to carry a few. He took the top two books and tucked them under his right arm as best he could. The other books he took with his remaining hand, balancing them carefully while he hugged them against his body. Wilson’s eyes wandered, finding the answer to the question he had been prepared to ask. He gave an apologetic smile but said nothing and for that, Garild was thankful.
“That’ll be a good start for you. Though you are more than welcome to skip out on learning about Sharmir, I would advise against it. As I said, it’s wise to learn what you can about this place. Better to be prepared for the dangers.”
“That I can understand,” Garild said, scanning the library.
“Good. I’m afraid there isn’t much else to show you. You’ll have to browse and find what interests you. If you need help finding anything, I’ll be around. The next level up has some comfortable places to rest and study, if you desire to do so.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll do that.”
Wilson gave a polite bow and swept around the corner, humming to himself as he did. Garild was left alone for the first time in what felt like ages. The journey from Taverin had been cramped and crowded, a constant bombardment of sound and smells. This was peaceful, just the faint shuffling of scholars moving throughout the library. He took a deep breath, basking in the scent of the books, the faint smell of dirt carried on the breeze from outside.
He took to the stairs, hugging the books against his body tightly for fear of dropping them. At the top of the landing, he was greeted by a few curious glances from those occupying the room. Such glances were becoming common place and didn’t make him as uncomfortable as they had when they’d first arrived. He knew he looked out of place. His clothing spoke of someone from faraway lands, the signs of travel and wear still evident.
He shuffled to a nearby table and let the books drop from his arm, hoping he didn’t draw too much attention with the noise he was making. He set the other stack down and took a seat. It felt good to relax, to be able to focus on something useful.
He grabbed the first book off the stack, a rather drab looking brown volume with gold lettering. A History of Sharmir. He set it aside. It wasn’t the history of Sharmir he was interested in. The next book was thick and sage green. It proved to be more interesting, containing the wide array of plants and animals willing to cause injuries and death should he come into contact with them. He flipped through, amazed by the great variety of plants in the first section. Taverin had its fair share of plants and animals but Sharmir was color and life and curiosity. Flowers seemed to exist in hundreds of different shades, ranging from small dainty things to large, beautiful behemoths, giant pink petals speckled with white spots.
There was an even stranger variety of animal life. As he flipped through the book, he could see no less than twelve varieties
of frogs, great jungle cats with fluted ears and fur of the deepest blue, a dizzying number of birds, some as large as dogs with massive claws designed to shred and tear. As peaceful as it was, Sharmir was brimming with danger, one simply had to know what it looked like. He spent a good hour studying. Starting with plants, he worked his way through each chapter, feeling at home once more in the pages of a book. Having been confined to Sanctuary for the better part of his life, his own ignorance had come as a slap in the face, a rather rude awakening that his knowledge of the world was minimal at best. He wanted to change that, to learn what he could so he could one day make the world a better place, to make home a better place, wherever that happened to be.
His comfort faded with each turn of the page. There was a sensation blossoming in his head, a low humming driving his attention away from the book. It was starting again, that gentle siren song, so faint and distant. He could feel it pulling him, luring him away from the comfort of the library. It was impossible to ignore.
Stacking the books on the end of the table, he stood and took a few hesitant steps towards the stairs. This is stupid. It’s not like she’s intentionally calling you, fool. Sit back down and read until Rand fetches you. The song couldn’t be ignored. He lurched forward on unsteady legs, taking the stairs quicker than he should have.
Wilson was putting books back on a shelf, absorbed in his work, but the sound of footsteps broke his focus and he looked towards Garild. “Is all well?” he asked, book laden hand floating in front of a shelf. “Need help finding anything?”
Garild shook his head. “Uh, no. I’m okay. Just need a little fresh air. I think I might take a stroll.”
“O-oh. Are you certain? It can be a little confusing getting around here at times, especially being so new to the island,” Wilson explained, his concern evident in every word. “Would you care for a guide? I can fetch you one, it wouldn’t be a problem. Do you need to find Rand?”
The Allseer Trilogy Page 45
