‘May I visit?’ she asked impulsively before they left.
‘Visit?’ he said in surprise, staring at her with round, round eyes. ‘Why would you want to visit me? Why would you?’
She smiled sadly. ‘Just one of my peculiarities, Galywis.’
He chuckled, and stood on his head. ‘Visit, then, if you insist!’
Epilogue
‘I won’t be coming back.’ Eva stood in the Library, facing down a reclining Limbane. In her corner she had Tren; in his he had Andraly. The atmosphere was tense.
The Lokantor’s response to her statement was a gimlet stare, the sort that probably had young Lokants quaking in their shoes. On Eva, it had no effect at all.
‘You forsake me, then, after everything I’ve done for you?’ said Limbane at last.
Eva laughed. She couldn’t help it. ‘What do you imagine you did for us? You gave us only as much information as you had to, and kept the rest secret. You gave me access to your Library, but only so that you could make use of me and mine. You knew all along what Krays was up to, and never told us. You were never fully honest, not for a second.’
Limbane shrugged. ‘Does it matter? The day was won, one way or another.’
Tren snorted. He stood off to one side, hands in his pockets. He might be leaving the talking to her, but his stare, fixed on Limbane, was unusually cold.
‘Won,’ Eva repeated slowly. ‘For us, yes. Not for you, I think. The idea was never to stop what Krays was doing, was it? In fact you were in favour of his taking back Orlind, no matter what it did to our Cluster. You were going to let him do the hard part, then take the Master Library off him later. Is that not the truth?’
Limbane’s stare didn’t let up for a second. ‘Why does this seem to make sense to you?’
‘Because you wanted it as badly as he did. Both of you were responsible for the destruction of the Master Library and the land around it, because you were fighting over it so hard you lost control of yourselves. Has your desire to be the Master Librarian faded away over the years? Of course not.’
Limbane shook his head, a look of contempt on his lined face. ‘And you imagine I needed Krays to do the work for me? I have more than enough resources to do it for myself, if I’d wanted to.’
‘Probably,’ Eva agreed, ‘but why would you waste your time and resources when you could let him do it? Besides, there was a complication. You knew that Galywis was still alive.’
Limbane froze for a moment when Eva spoke that name, and something glittered in his cold blue eyes. Eva smiled in satisfaction.
‘He still scares you, doesn’t he? Even though he’s out of his mind. He’s the only reason you and Krays didn’t utterly destroy Orlind before. It takes a lot to hold the place together like that, especially with large numbers of draykoni and Lokants fighting over it. There are reasons why he was the Master, and not you.’
Limbane flicked a hand in Eva’s direction, the gesture dismissive and contemptuous. ‘Get them out of here, please, Andraly.’
His granddaughter didn’t move. She was watching Eva with a faint smile on her face.
‘Krays didn’t know about Galywis, did he?’ Eva said. ‘You let him think Galy was dead, because you’d never share information you didn’t have to. But if anybody was going to rejuvenate the Master Library, then someone was going to have to deal with him. Why would you risk yourself when you could get Krays to do it?’ She pointed at the cupboard in which Limbane kept his records, hidden behind an illusion of plain books. ‘Whatever he took from there was information of some kind, probably about Galywis’s continued residence on Orlind, and his mental instability. Krays’s getting in here was a foregone conclusion: you planned it that way and arranged for him to find just the right piece of information. Properly encrypted, of course, but nothing he couldn’t break eventually. You were hoping he’d pull Orlind back into shape and deal with Galywis at the same time - aided by centuries of research and technological improvements, and the deterioration of Galywis’s mind. Then later you would seek to dispose of Krays, and install yourself as Master. Am I right?’
Limbane shot her a cool look. ‘Can you really be surprised? Anyone with sense would have seen the opportunity.’
‘Surprised? No. Not that,’ Eva sighed. ‘I realised some time ago that I couldn’t trust a word from you. You can’t help it, can you? It’s the way your world works. It runs on deception, secrets and intrigue. And power struggles, though that’s hardly unique to Lokant society.’ She smiled mirthlessly. ‘You should have taken us more seriously. If you had, your scheme might have worked out.’
Limbane’s eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t think you understand. That Library can’t be destroyed, or it would have died long ago. It isn’t over.’
‘It’s gone,’ Eva said firmly. ‘Galywis believes it, and I trust his word more than yours - but only because he’s not lucid enough to construct a convincing lie. He’s a Lokant too, after all.’
‘Very well, off with you,’ Limbane said, growing irritable. ‘I’m sure you have other people’s dreams to ruin, and time’s wasting.’
‘First, get the tracer out of Tren,’ she said coldly.
‘Fine, fine. Go see my surgeons. They’ll remove the Library access device from your ladyship as well, if you’re determined.’
‘Quite, thanks,’ she said. Then she looked at Andraly. The Lokant woman had sat in silence throughout the discussion, neither agreeing nor arguing with anything Eva or her grandfather said. Her only sign of rebellion had been to ignore Limbane’s command to remove them.
‘Thank you for the note,’ Eva said to her.
Andraly’s eyebrows rose, and real surprise showed in her eyes. ‘Note?’ she repeated.
Eva blinked. She could swear that Andraly’s puzzlement was genuine. That wasn’t saying much, perhaps; Lokants were fantastic at dissembling, and Andraly would never publically admit that she’d worked against her grandfather’s plan - even if her reasons were essentially in his interests.
But some instinct told her that Andraly was speaking the truth. In which case, who had given her the tip about Orlind? Someone else in Limbane’s Library? One of Krays’s people, even? Or someone else altogether?
Eva shook her head in frustration. The endless secrecy and cloak-and-dagger plotting among the Lokants exhausted her. It wouldn’t surprise her at all to find that some other group had been involved all along, without her knowing. Another Lokant Library, even; it was obvious by now that Limbane’s and Krays’s Libraries were only a part of their society.
But she would probably never know the truth.
‘Never mind,’ she said to Andraly. ‘I don’t even... care, really. I just want to go home.’
Andraly offered a knowing smile. ‘It gets you like that,’ she said softly. ‘But someday you’ll start to miss it. And you’ll be back.’
‘I doubt it,’ she said coolly. In her heart, though, she wondered if Andraly might not be right on one level. Could she go back to Glour and forget about her Lokant heritage, and everything she knew about their world? Could she cut that part of herself away, and return to being Lady Evastany Glostrum of Glour, and nothing more? In her disgust and disillusionment with Limbane she felt as though she would like to, but she was no fool. Someday, she would see the Lokants again.
She only hoped that the circumstances would be more favourable, if there was ever a next time.
‘Tren,’ she said, holding out her hand to him. ‘It’s time to go.’
He smiled at her, a smile full of warmth and reassuring affection. ‘It is,’ he said. ‘Time to go home.’
***
When Llan and Pensould finally returned to Waeverleyne, they took the precaution of flying in their human forms, unsure how the arrival of a pair of draykoni would be greeted by its residents. Flying high over the city, Llandry was pleased and gratified to see signs of rebuilding and renewal everywhere. She could see people clearing and replanting the burned and broken areas of the glissenwol woods, men
ding and rebuilding dwellings, shops and halls. Some of those who had fled Waeverleyne during the worst of the violence were now returning, aided by those who had stayed - and survived.
But a considerable area on the north side of the city had burnt down altogether. The forest was blackened and bare, and Llandry saw no such activity taking place there to renew the lost trees and buildings. She guessed, with great sadness, that it was beyond saving.
She found her mother at the council halls. Only basic repairs had been undertaken here, but Waeverleyne’s leadership was managing to operate surprisingly efficiently in their reduced circumstances.
‘We’re getting homes repaired first,’ Ynara said, after she’d finished hugging Llandry so hard that the girl couldn’t breathe. ‘It will take some time, of course. Now tell me all about your adventures, love.’ Llandry told all, submitting patiently to Ynara’s repeated checks for any lasting negative effects. Mamma was silent for a few moments after Llandry had finished, a worried frown furrowing her perfect brow.
‘Orlind, then, remains a threat,’ she said at last. ‘If this Galywis is to pass on, who’s to contain the island? If his machines fail, the corrupted... amasku, did you call it?... could be upon us at any time.’
Pensould said, ‘Do not fear it, Mother-of-Minchu. The machines are sound and will hold for some time yet. When affairs between draykoni and humankind have settled I will take a party of our strongest and see what may be done about renewing Orlind.’
Ynara smiled gratefully at him. ‘You’re a treasure, Pensould.’
‘What’s become of Papa?’ Llan asked. ‘Is he... is he all right?’
‘Perfectly,’ Ynara said with a grin. ‘He’s building and rebuilding. You’ll see him this eventide when he comes home. That is,’ she added, as if suddenly realising Llandry’s changed circumstances, ‘if you’re going to be here?’
‘For a little while, Ma,’ Llandry said.
Eventide came, and it was pleasant and poignant in equal measure. Being at home again with both her parents, and all her ordeals behind her, was balm to Llandry’s long-troubled spirit. The addition of Pensould to the family circle was strange at first, but once they had grown used to the augmentation it became comfortable. Llandry had the satisfaction of knowing that both her parents had come to accept Pensould, despite their reservations at first. In time, she hoped they would not only accept him but love him as well.
On the other hand, she knew without doubt that this reunion was only temporary. This part of her life had passed beyond recall; while there were some elements of it that she would not miss, she would certainly miss the companionableness of her days and eventides with Mamma and Pa, and the feeling of safety and security she had always enjoyed in her parents’ home.
‘Can you stay for three days more, love?’ Ynara asked at one point.
‘Certainly,’ Llan smiled, ‘but why three?’
‘We’ll be needing you around,’ was all her mother said, and Llandry had to wait to find out what she meant.
On her second day at home, Devary arrived. She greeted him with joy and some surprise, and a hint of awkwardness. It had been some time since she’d seen him.
‘I did hear that you’d gone back to Nimdre,’ she said, smiling at him.
‘I did, but your mother was kind enough to inform me that you were home. Of course, I set off immediately.’
Llan felt touched, until she remembered that Devary never passed up an excuse to see her mother. ‘That’s kind of you,’ she said. ‘What have you been doing in Nimdre?’
For the next hour, Devary told her all about his plans for the rejuvenation of Draetre’s University of Magic and Technology, now that Krays was confirmed dead and his Lokant colleagues had abandoned the institution. His plans were broad, and his enthusiasm for the project was sincere. Indren Druaster was to take a prominent role in the management of the new, revitalised facility.
In her turn, Llandry related everything that Dev had missed about her own adventures. The two of them talked comfortably, but never without the faint reserve and awkwardness that had always dogged their relationship. With regret, Llandry accepted that this friendship was unlikely to be lasting.
On the third day, Mamma made Llandry, Aysun and Devary don their best clothes, though she didn’t explain why. When they left the house, she would not explain where they were going. But it didn’t take Llan long to guess: their destination was the Council Halls. That and their formal attire gave her a feeling of foreboding. What did Ma have planned?
They arrived to find Ori already there, nicely dressed and looking cheerful. He swept Llandry into a tight hug when he saw her, swinging her around in a circle before he put her down.
‘Don’t you look pretty!’ he said approvingly. ‘Peace agrees with you.’
She grinned. ‘You too. You’re getting Looks.’
‘Looks?’ Ori glanced around furtively. They were in the main hall and quite a crowd was gathered, incorporating a number of young women. Most of these seemed to find Ori’s height and bright blond hair very agreeable.
Llan didn’t fail to notice that some of them were looking at Pensould, too. That didn’t please her as much.
Ori turned back with a shudder. ‘It’s that speculative look that alarms me,’ he confided.
‘I don’t think they have anything too unpleasant in mind,’ she teased. ‘Any idea why we’re here, Ori?’
He looked surprised. ‘We’re guests of honour. Didn’t you know? There are thank-yous and rewards and other burdens to be bestowed.’
‘What?’ Llandry paled. She may have come a long way in the past few moons, but the prospect of being put on show before the crowds could still turn her knees weak and her hands shaky.
‘None of that, miss,’ Ori said sternly. ‘You’re a braver girl than you think. Here.’ He gripped one of her hands and Pensould took the other. Llandry suddenly realised that everyone had taken seats, and Elder Shuly had stepped onto the podium. He was looking at the three of them in a meaningful way that did not encourage her.
‘Don’t let go of me!’ she begged. ‘If I faint, I’ll need you two to keep me on my feet.’
They promised, guided her to a seat and kept to their word admirably as Elder Shuly went through a long speech about recent events and plans for the renewal of the city. To her embarrassment, he continued with an only slightly shorter speech about the contribution of their own draykoni, the need for peace between the two races and the arrangements that were underway to secure a lasting alliance. To her immense satisfaction, the Elder announced that control of Iskyr was to be surrendered to the draykoni in exchange for a peace agreement. She could only approve of the idea.
She was more alarmed when the Elder went on to talk of the practicalities of forging, and maintaining, such a peace; she found these were to involve her closely.
‘Who better to serve as envoy between our two nations but those who have roots in both communities?’ he was saying. ‘The Council has therefore voted - unanimously - to bestow the title of Lord Draykon and Lady Draykon respectively on Orillin Vanse and Llandry Sanfaer. This will henceforth be recognised as a position of high respect in Glinnery, carrying with it the responsibilities of assisting to maintain peace between Iskyr and our home. It is our means of thanking these two young people for their extraordinary bravery in protecting our fair realm, and also of ensuring the future of Glinnery.’
Horrified, Llandry was obliged to get up, thread her way through all the seats in front of her and make her way to the dais. Elder Shuly winked at her as he shook hands, which made her feel a little better. She’d known him since she was a child, but for a little while he had seemed distant and formidable.
In spite of her discomfort, she was gratified. It was evident that the title was largely symbolic, similar in importance and relevance to the medals and other decorations that were being distributed among those who had defended Waeverleyne. But it was personal to her and to Ori, and it was an honour; and if the prospect
of entering a political career of any sort at all was enough to set her heart quaking with apprehension, she had confidence enough, now, to feel that she would grow used to it in time.
‘Avane should be here,’ she whispered to Ori as they sat down again. ‘And what about you, Pense?’
Pensould grinned. ‘They tried to honour me in similar fashion but I declined. I am not, after all, a citizen here. As for Avane, I suspect she is receiving a similar elevation in Glour. Ayrien is to be surrendered to the draykoni as well, and they, too, will need envoys.’
Llandry was a little surprised to learn how easily the Seven - or Six - Realms had agreed to hand over the Off-Worlds. But on reflection, she realised that they had never really owned them, and they knew that. Under the draykoni’s rule, the two Off-Worlds might be wrought into something beneficial to both sides. Though she hoped very hard that the character of the two places wouldn’t change too much.
Well, she was in a position to influence that now.
‘Why did you have the option to decline?’ she said, mildly affronted. ‘Nobody even warned me about this, let alone asked me if I wanted it.’
Pensould tweaked one of the plaits in her hair. ‘I believe they knew you would refuse, just to avoid the ordeal of having your hand shaken in front of the great-and-good of Waeverleyne.’
Llandry blushed, unable to deny it. If her mother had told her about the proposal, and about the ceremony, she might not have had the courage to go through with it.
Or, she thought, perhaps she would have. But it would have made for a thoroughly unpleasant few days of apprehension beforehand. And if she was honest with herself, it was an honour she didn’t wish to refuse. She wished to see peace between humans and draykoni with all her heart, and it suited her to help bring this about.
Pensould was to make his home in Iskyr. He had always lived there before, and Llandry knew that he would never feel comfortable in Waeverleyne. He wasn’t even comfortable in his human form, not really, despite his attempts to become so for her sake.
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