“We hope to,” Angelique grimlysaid.
Benigna nodded and tottered off, disappearing behind the books. She reappeared at the other end of the desk and rang a silver bell that tolled loudly in the quiet hush of thelibrary.
A young man and a young lady appeared within moments, both wearing aprons with pockets that burst with papers, writing materials, and cleaning rags. “Pages,” Benigna wheezed. “These patrons need to see theHeartCollection.”
The duo’s expressions shifted to shock for the merest moment before they correctedthemselves.
“This way, please.” The young man strode off, heading to the back-right corner of thelibrary.
The lower level was walled off with paper screens, hiding it from view. The books that were so carefully arranged on the shelves either gleamed and were stiff with the newness of their binding, or were so old the fragile papers were nearly translucent around theedges.
There were scrolls as well, and Angelique espied a few elven-bound books tucked in the corner—obvious from the gold elvish lettering on the spines and the dim light their creamy pages seemed toshed.
Benigna shuffled past the shelves, grabbing seemingly random books and passing them off to the librarypages.
The pages then circled around to the single table in the area—a slanted desk raised for convenient reading and a bottom rail for the books to sit upon—and carefully unloaded theirburdens.
When finished with her selection, Benigna made her way over to the desk and set a gentle hand on the books. “These tomes contain all known references to Foedus,” she said in her paper-dry voice. “Pages, locate these sections…” Benigna rattled off a list that had the pages scrambling to locate the proper books, though they handled them with great care as they methodically paged throughthem.
Angelique watched, masking her elation.I thought this research project would take several days, but with Benigna narrowing the search so much for us, we should finish far faster. I don’t believe she has a reason to try to hide any information from us, and I think Firra and Donaigh would have said if she wasn’t trustworthy. This might be the easiest mission Severin has sent meon!
The pages finished finding the ordered sections. “Anything else?” the young ladyasked.
“No, that is all. Off with the both of you. Go back to bookmending!”
The pair bowed and made an efficient exit, slipping around the screens and hurryingaway.
Benigna squinted at Angelique, making her sharp, pale blue eyes swim in wrinkles. “I imagine you don’t mean to merelylook?”
Angelique cleared her throat and held up the saddlebag she carried. “Prince Severin requested we makecopies.”
Benigna briefly pressed her lips together. “Unfortunately, permission to copy the Heart Collection must be given by King Giuseppe himself.” She coughed. “It is because of my great trust in Mages Firra and Donaigh, however, that I shall leave you to your work.” She winked with such obviousness; her entire body leanedprecariously.
She may be elderly, but she’s a sly fox. She waited to ask until the pages were gone, and if King Giuseppe hears wind of this, Benigna can’t be heldculpable.
“How very generous of you, Benigna.” Firra patted her hand and gave her a slygrin.
The old woman chortled, then began shuffling for the entrance. “Leave the books where they are when you finish. I’ll send the pages to reshelf them.” She paused just outside the screened section to give them a measuring look. “Youwillhandle these priceless volumes with the care and respect they deserve,” she stated more than asked. “For I willknowif something isdamaged.”
“You have my word that no harm will come to these books while we use them,” Angeliquesaid.
“Very good.” Benigna’s cheerful smile was back, and she waved as she ambled off, her slight frame weighed down by her heavyrobes.
Angelique waited until Benigna’s footsteps faded before she opened her saddlebag and began pulling out the necessary paper and writing utensils. She was more than a little surprised when Firra swiped the firstset.
“We’ll help,” the fire mage said when she noticed Angelique’sgaze.
Donaigh tipped his straw hat at her. “We’re a long way out of the school room, but I’d like to think our handwriting is decent enough that the prince will be able to read ourcopies.”
“Excellent.” Odette nodded approvingly as she eyed the stack of books—which was smaller than Angelique liked—and selected one. “With this many hands at work, we ought to finish before King Giuseppe even learns we’rehere.”
Angelique bit the inside of her cheek. “Yes…” She paused behind Firra—who was already hard at work transcribing one of thebooks.
It was a short paragraph that gave a cryptic description of the magical dagger and described several of its most famousowners.
Nadia and Misha briefly disappeared, then came back carrying a small table, upon which they spread their recording materials. They also chose a book each, then began the painstaking task of recording thesections.
Angelique waited until everyone was at work to announce, “I’m going to speak to KingGiuseppe.”
