‘Lord Milton has not seen fit to explain this unusual audience,’ Ivory wagged a finger in Sharra’s face, ‘but I strongly doubt this interview is anything for you to smile about, Sharra.’
The Lesser Library was one of the earliest parts of the Hold. As the Cartographer Halls had grown in size so they had acquired their own wing, but the Lesser Library remained where it had first been built close to the accommodation of the main Hold off the inner courtyard. Sharra had never entered it before, but she knew the huge double elm doors that stood before it well. They were ancient, a legend within the family. Carved into them were trees, tall and spiky with snakes slithering between their branches and wild animals hunting between the roots below.
Sharra hesitated before the doors. Gingerly she traced the outline of the wild dog she had copied for Clem. He’d been only three or four and crying inconsolably at the loss of his pet, so she’d drawn the library dog for him. She’d never thought he would remember.
As she traced the outline the wood warmed beneath her touch. Sharra drew her fingers back sharply. For a tiny moment she could have sworn the dog glowed – that the library was somehow responding to her.
There were footsteps in the corridor behind her. Taking a deep breath she pushed one of the doors open.
She entered into a forest.
For a moment she thought it was real. Inside lay lane upon lane of carved trees; their trunks stretched up to a high vaulted ceiling that gathered into fine carved foliage with birds, and monkeys clinging to the underside. The branches of the trees supported row upon row of shelves and on these were scrolls, books of Maps, tomes and papers. Along the shelves and at the base of the tree ran hedgehogs, mice and even badgers, caught in mid-motion forever by the sculptor’s skill.
Breathless with wonder, Sharra walked down the central lane until it opened out into a small clearing. Her father sat, waiting for her, behind a large, oval desk. The wood on the top had been so polished she could see his reflection dark within it. Neither this nor the actual Lord Milton looked pleased to see her.
‘Father, this is amazing,’ she burst out, even as she sank into a curtsy before him.
Lord Milton motioned her to a stool in front of the desk. ‘It is the Lesser Library. Lesser only to the Central Archive itself. Very few are allowed within its walls.’
Sharra’s eyes shone like stars. ‘It is beautiful.’
Milton’s stern face softened slightly. ‘It is, isn’t it. It dates from before the construction of the True Map before everything was bound.’ He raised a goblet that sat at his right hand. ‘We hold back death!’
Sharra blushed, embarrassed to be the sole recipient of the Great Toast. After a moment her father continued, ‘What did you understand about Harrbourgh?’
She had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that this question meant more than she understood. Without thinking she reached out to her father trying to sense his mood. She found nothing but coldness, and behind that something else . . . could it be fear? ‘Only that there had been some kind of an accident. There was a mistake in the figures Gory was responsible for.’ She swallowed and lowered her voice. ‘That it might be sabotage.’
‘You will forget what you heard. In particular you will forget that you heard me mention Gory’s name.’
‘You’re letting him off because he is a Camden? Do you think he did it?’ She watched her father’s expression. ‘No, you don’t know who is responsible or you’d have done something by now. You don’t think it could be one of our people, do you?’
‘It is not your concern,’ answered Milton sharply. Then he smiled slightly. ‘If only half the boys in the Map rooms had your wits.’
‘Will Jayne be safe with him?’
‘Gory is doing well. It is likely his ambition will carry him to the Central Archive at some point in his life. I doubt this will be well for the world, but it will be good for Jayne.’
‘It’s not the same as being his wife, is it?’
Milton eyed her shrewdly. ‘I think you understand far more than you should.’ He pointed at her necklace. ‘And I think you have already won yourself enemies. That is your mother’s necklace and should not be worn openly. If you are to marry well her story must be forgotten.’
Distracted, Sharra’s hand stole to the pendant. ‘My mother? Ivory gave this to me.’
‘Did she? I expect she meant well, but there are some who will remember. This is the anniversary of her death. You’re growing into the image of her. People will be afraid of you.’
‘Jion said she died a traitor,’ blurted out Sharra.
‘He told you that! Then he will leave the Hold tonight forever.’
‘No father, don’t!’ begged Sharra. ‘He thought I must have been told. He thought I was old enough to know. He was saying he was interested in marrying me despite –’
‘So you like this boy? This boy who doesn’t heed a Lord’s command in his own Hold.’
‘Yes, I like him. At least I think I do.’
Milton’s eyes, reflecting the candlelight, grew brighter. The hackles on the back of Sharra’s neck rose. Her skin prickled and her dry tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Her belly, full from the feast, felt suddenly empty. The room swam slightly as dizziness threatened to overwhelm her. It felt like he was looking inside her. As if he would know all her secrets, her drawing, her ambition, everything. Sharra desperately wanted to share her hopes and fears with him, but this felt like having them stolen. She had to make it stop. And worse than all of this she sensed fear from her father, fear rolling out towards her in waves. Her father, Lord of Milton Hold, afraid. It was terrifying. She had to make him stop.
‘Father, you are too serious. I have promised Gareth I will be nothing but a respectable daughter at least for the term of the Settlement. I will cause no trouble. I’ll forget what you said. Forget what Jion said.’
Milton sighed, ‘No, it’s not there. It’s better this way.’
Was that disappointment in his voice? But before Sharra could say anything he continued. ‘I don’t expect you to understand this, but should a woman show talents of a Map Maker it would have dire consequences. You were tested when you were very young and nothing was found, but of late there have been whispers.’
‘About me?’
‘Apart from a natural talent for drawing the greatest Map Makers have displayed an ability to sense the approach of Black Fire, to know when Shift is liable to occur without even looking at equations. They are in tune with the world and the best of them are also in tune with each other. Such great men were in my ancestry and in your mother’s. You come from a very rare bloodline and there was always an outside chance that you might be different.’ Milton took a deep breath. ‘It has seemed to me and to others that on occasion you have been able to sense moods. I am hoping this is only a natural understanding.’
Sharra looked up appealingly at her father.
‘You need to answer me, Sharra. I need to hear you swear by your love to me that you have no such talents. You must trust me when I say it is a good – a vital – reason why this cannot be allowed.’ Milton sighed. ‘This female talent has only shown itself in the last few generations. I fear it is because we are becoming too few, because our families become ever closer knit through marriage. I believe the cartography talent that runs in our blood is becoming corrupted.’
‘Would it be so terrible for a woman to be a Map Maker?’
‘There have been women in our history, very rare women, who have displayed the talents of a Map Maker. In each case such displays have ended not only in their own deaths, but in the deaths of many.’
Her father was watching her closely. Sharra blinked back the tears. She sensed the resistance within him, and with it an underlying anger, a pervading fear and a bitterness she had never felt before.
‘So this is why women are forbidden to draw?’
‘It is believed all cartography talent lies dormant – sleeping within the blood until a Map Maker draws his first Map. There is no
reason to believe it is not so with women. I admit there may be other signs, slight signs. The ability to empathise, to know the thoughts of one close to you, often signal the potential of a male Map Maker. It is thought to be the same with women, but if the talent is never awakened then no one need know.’ He looked levelly at Sharra. ‘I cannot have a Map Maker daughter. It is not possible. So I ask you again, are you sensing my mood?’
Sharra twisted the cloth of her dress between her fingers.
‘Sharra, answer my question.’
Sharra bit her lip. If only he hadn’t been afraid. ‘Coincidence.’
‘Good. Now, we can plan for your future. Should I be re-elected this settlement it will bring a great honour to our family and great advantages to my children.’
‘Ivory wants you to do this for Jayne! She thinks this will make Gory marry her!’
Her father frowned. ‘Actually, no. She thinks the strain will be too much for me, but I believe I am up to the task. Ivory has made provision for Jayne and you are of an age when I must think of your future. You do many things right, Sharra. You are kind to the younger ones. You are not overwhelmed by protocol nor, I think, naturally ambitious. If you wish I will speak to Brillington about Jion. Though I think you could do much better for a husband.’ Milton sighed. ‘I feel as if I should apologise for the state of the world to you, Sharra. I know you. I know you have always had hopes that I would bend the rules for you, find a way to let you in to the Cartography Halls. I am truly sorry. I should have conquered these false hopes of yours long ago, but after I almost lost you and then I did lose your mother . . . you were so young, but you loved her so much. I remember your grief . . . the guilt of that . . . those first few terrible years after your mother died you used to follow me into the Cartography Halls, sit at my feet as I drew.’
‘I remember.’
‘It seemed to give you comfort. I couldn’t bear to deny you when you were so small and so sad, but then when I came to my senses, when you were becoming a young woman I knew the damage was already done. I knew you had dreams that could never come true. I have been gravely at fault. Men and women have very different roles to play. The order of things must not be upset. The cost is too high.’
Sharra found she had nothing to say. ‘Go to bed, Sharra. This has been a long day for all of us.’
As the ancient doors closed behind her she knew she had been given a glimpse of another world that she was now forbidden to enter.
‘In trouble again?’ Jion’s voice broke into her thoughts. He was standing in the middle of the long corridor, his cap set at a rakish angle and a goblet clasped in his right hand. There was a faint flush on his cheeks. ‘Where are you headed?’
‘Bed.’
‘Come to the party.’
‘I’m not allowed.’
‘No one will question it if you’re with me.’ He held out his hand to her.
Sharra hesitated.
‘Have they finally extinguished that fiery spirit of yours?’
‘Less than an hour ago you were telling me to behave myself. Have you been drinking?’
‘A bit. It’s a party. A party to celebrate the union of Jayne and Gory! World bless ‘em!’
‘So you do mind?’
Jion shrugged, his eyes hard. ‘Maybe a little. My pride is hurt. Apparently, I’m not good enough for a daughter of Milton no matter how many archives I will inherit.’
‘I’m so sorry, Jion. But she is older than you. It was never likely.’
Jion laughed, mirthlessly. ‘I’ll live. You’re not looking too happy yourself. Fancy Gory, did you? I heard all the Milton girls were hot for him. Can’t see why. Sarcastic string-bean of a fellow. Couldn’t keep count of his fingers and toes without Milton to help him. That’s the problem with . . . Never mind them. What about us? Why don’t we forget our woes together?’ He held out his goblet to her. ‘Fancy a sip?’
Cautiously, Sharra took it in her hands, and drank. A sweet fieriness slid down her throat and into her stomach. ‘That’s a good girl.’ Jion slipped his arm around her waist. Sharra found she was smiling. Smiling for the first time in ages.
‘I never liked Gory.’
‘Me neither. We’re better off without them.’
Sharra had a sudden mental image of her father, hiding in the gloom of the library, surrounded by only his Maps for company. She took another sip. ‘The True Map . . . what’s that but some old dusty piece of paper?’
‘The True Map is the Map that binds our world together. It is the heart of everything.’
But Sharra wasn’t listening. ‘My father is sacrificing everything to get back to the Central Archive. Everything! Even the things that aren’t his!’
‘I have no interest in talking about Milton or his ambitions. Do you want to come to the party with me or not?’
‘Yes. I want to have fun.’
Jion grinned and linked his arm through hers. ‘Your wish is my command, my lady.’
Chapter Four
Sharra woke up and was immediately sick.
Fortunately, she managed to lean out over the side of the bed in time. ‘Here, you need this.’
Sharra forced her eyes open to see Jayne holding out a goblet.
‘It’s water. You need to drink. You need to eat too, but I’d wait a while for that. Sit up.’
‘Can’t. Want to die.’
Jayne pulled her up by the arm. ‘No, you don’t. Drink. How much do you remember?’
Sharra sipped cautiously at the water. ‘I called Gareth an old owl.’ She set the goblet down and rubbed her head. ‘I was with someone, Jion. I was having fun, but lots of people seemed angry with me.’
‘Kicking over the tea urn, jumping on the seats you described as bouncy at the top of your voice and trying to kiss Lord Camden’s eldest son were among your more notable antics.’
‘Oh world. Was I drunk?’
‘What do you think?’
‘Was Father there?’
‘No, fortunately he remained in the library.’
‘Ivory will have told him all about it by now.’ Sharra looked up quickly and the room rocked around her. ‘Why didn’t she stop me?’
‘My mother said you refused to listen to her.’
‘I wouldn’t have thought that would have stopped her having me dragged from the room.’
‘Well, she didn’t. I did.’
‘You?’
‘You should be grateful. You’d just been sick over Lord Brillington’s shoes and it’s said he beats his daughters for laughing too loudly, so what he would have done . . .’
‘I am grateful.’ Sharra hung her head. ‘I should apologise, shouldn’t I?’
‘I think you should stay out of sight.’
‘Is Jion very angry with me?’
‘Jion? Jion!’ Jayne put her hands on her hips and glared at Sharra. ‘You little idiot. He wanted this to happen. He wanted to embarrass Milton. He wanted to ruin my night and you helped him. Or did you think he’d suddenly taken a fancy to you? You know he called you the spotted chick when we were younger on account of your acne, don’t you? He sees you for the silly little girl you are. And here’s Milton trying to make a difference, to gather followers for his campaign and you do your best to wreck it all. After everything he’s done. After everything we’ve all done.’
‘It serves him right,’ snapped Sharra. ‘His wretched balance is all he cares about. He doesn’t care what happens to me.’
‘Oh grow up! He cares about what happens to everyone. He’s a great man, but he has enemies and you’re helping them.’
‘I can’t see Jion being involved in politics.’
Jayne sat down with a thump. ‘I give up. Everything has to be about you, doesn’t it, Sharra?’
‘You’re OK. You’ve got your true love.’
‘What?’ Jayne looked at her blankly.
‘Gory.’
Jayne sighed. ‘I did think him handsome, charismatic even, but I became his consort because my mother
convinced me it was my duty,’
‘You’ve changed your tune. Last week it was Gory this and Gory that.’
‘I didn’t know him as well as I do now.’ She stood up. ‘You should get a bucket and clean that up.’
Sharra caught her by the arm. ‘Don’t you love him, Jayne?’
‘Love has nothing to do with it. Let me go. I’ve packing to finish. I’m leaving in a few hours.’
‘You don’t have to go. You’re not married. If you’ve changed your mind Milton would stand by you.’
‘It doesn’t work like that, Sharra. That’s not how the game is played.’
‘Game? This is your life.’
‘We’re all pieces in the game, Sharra. You should remember that.’
Sharra bit her lip. ‘I don’t want you to go, Jayne.’
‘You’ll visit. I’m only going to Camden. You can come over with Ivory. It would be in everyone’s interests if Camden and Milton began to work together.’
‘Is that why you accepted Gory?’
Jayne shrugged. ‘There were lots of good reasons.’
‘What you’re saying is you’re doing everything to help Milton and I’m doing nothing.’
‘I didn’t mean that. I was angry.’
‘You don’t understand. It’s because they – he – won’t let me be who I am. There are things I can do to help, but I’m not allowed.’
‘Drinking at parties?’
‘No, let me show you. Come with me.’
‘Sharra, I don’t have time.’
‘One last sisterly request? Please, Jayne, please.’
She led Jayne across the courtyard and down the long corridors to the Lesser Library. Not once did Sharra look back to see if Jayne followed. She walked quickly and with such determination that no one stopped them. Outside the great elm doors she hesitated.
‘The doors won’t even open for you. You’re not a Map Maker.’
‘My father invited me here only yesterday.’
‘That’s different. You would have been admitted on sufferance. You don’t belong here.’ Her words were enough to goad Sharra into action. She placed her hands against the doors, and once more they felt warm to her touch. She pushed. In her heart she didn’t expect them to open, but at her light touch both doors swung open easily.
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