The Windcaster [Fantasy/Adventure | Featured | Complete ]

Chapter 15: Delectable Wonders

"Wow!" Tia 's eyes widened. She took a few tentative steps towards the centre and peered up, spinning slowly on her heel as she took in the room. "This is–"

"Amazing," Mommu finished for her, breathless. His arms dropped to the side as he stopped fidgeting out of nerves.

Rows upon rows of books were crammed onto every shelf in the large rectangular room. There were two storeys: the floor above had a narrow balcony which ran along the walls of books all the way round. The handles were gilded, glistening in the light. A kaleidoscope of rainbows from the sunlight streamed through the stained glass window, which made up the ceiling. Basking in the spectrum in the centre were traditional oak desks and plush leather seats. Quills, scrolls and unlit wax candles were placed neatly at the sides. Parchments were carefully stacked on several table-tops. The room was silent, like a building for religious prayers. The air was thick with the smell of old paper and rich ink.

"There must be at least a thousand books in here!" Tia said happily, running a finger along the stiff spines of the old books.

"I believe we have over three thousand," Kingu said, smiling. She went pink as her heart rate picked up again, and she immediately started picking books off, leafing through them, muttering aloud to herself. Every now and then she would let out a little giggle or small exclamation of epiphany. Mommu wandered down the aisles, head twitching this way and that as he pondered over the titles.

"This is the Censor's Library, am I correct?" Enlil spoke for the first time. He hadn't moved from beside the Kiramone trainee. Kingu tilted his head to the side. Tia's ears perked up at their conversation as she made steady progress through the shelves down one side of the room.

"It is," he said. "Although most of these are titles the Master has accumulated over his years of travel and gifts from acquaintances. The actual Caster tomes are where your friend Tiamat is, right now."

She picked up another thick tome, her eyes scanning the ancient writing. Most of them were nothing new; she'd seen similar depictions of Casting in the Master's tomes. Pretending to be immersed in the old book, she held the flat of her hand upwards, wondering if she could replicate her new skill.

"Why do you not join her? You have no obligation to keep me company; after all, I live here. I have frequented this room on many occasions."

Enlil hesitated. Tia peeped at him: there was a flush making its way up his neck. His fists were curled and shaking beneath his cloak.

"I am sure an aide such as yourself will also benefit greatly from reading about the arts your Master specialises in."

His ears were turning painfully pink.

"I... cannot read," he admitted in a strangled voice.

"You cannot?" Kingu sounded astonished. "You are the assistant to one of the greatest Casters and scholars in history and you are illiterate?"

Enlil spluttered, struggling to find words in his defence. He self-consciously touched his wrist-guard. Tia slipped the tome back onto its shelf, picked up the two she'd fancied, and made her way back, skipping lightly over the steps and popping up behind the boy.

"Enlil is more like the footman – he does the errands and fixing and stuff," Tia quipped, making him jump. They hadn't noticed her. Her arms were getting tired from holding the thick books. On cue, Enlil offered his hands, palms turned up. She gratefully dumped both thick volumes into his muscly arms. "Thanks, Enlil."

"I see." Kingu didn't sound convinced, but he dropped the subject. Tia watched sweat drip down the back of Enlil's neck where the flush was receding. Kingu turned to her. "What do you think of this place?"