With a quick toss, the tube flew across the room toward the animal cages.The moment it struck the far wall, a loud pop rang out.The animals went crazy.In moments, several dozen chickens had knocked their doors open and were flapping wildly around the far side of the kitchen.The initiates all stopped their cooking duties and ran over to wrangle the loose chickens, yelling as they went.
With everyone distracted, I raced over to the rightmost opening and ducked inside.I was in a shaft about two shoulder widths apart.Above me, it rose into darkness.A wooden slab suspended by a rope kept me from falling.I wasn’t sure what I would find, but I began my ascent up the shaft, hoping to reach the clock tower.
The shaft was constructed from stone blocks and mortar, making the ascent relatively easy, although my robe hung awkwardly, making everything more difficult.I stopped every few stories to rest my arms and legs, but I didn’t pause for long—at any point, the platform might start rising.Soon the ruckus of chicken squawks and calls of alarm from below faded until all I could hear was the wind whistling up the shaft.
As I climbed, I considered what I might face when I reached the top.How would the clock tenders react to a thief in their supply shaft?If the rumors were true, the tenders were trained in combat, ready to defend the clock with their lives.And even if I made it past them, I wasn’t even entirely sure what I was looking for.
After what felt like tens of stories, a faint light shone above.I quickened my pace, eager to be done with this climb, ready to face what was next, be it friend or foe.
Soon I reached an opening.Although the shaft continued upward, my arms and legs ached from the climb.I needed the rest and was eager to see where I stood.Garrick’s maps of the lower library were thorough, but none existed for the tower.I was exploring blindly.
I hopped out of the shaft and into a small stone room with only a single door.I expected a fight and was ready for armed resistance, but to my surprise, the room was empty and quiet.The silence provided little comfort, as a surprise attack could come at any moment.
I approached the exit cautiously, taking each step with care.The door opened easily and had no visible lock.Outside, a stone corridor extended in either direction with beams of light pouring in through small slits in the outer walls, just wide enough for an archer to shoot arrows out of.Each slit revealed a streak of blue sky and a small slice of Analon far below the tower.
Down the corridor, a flickering light came through an open doorway.Inside was a large room lined with bookcases filled with books of varying shapes and sizes.Sturdy-looking tables and chairs occupied the middle of the room, all adorned with elaborate carvings depicting forest scenes with wolves, bears, and other woodland creatures.Hanging in the middle of the room was an iron chandelier with a dozen or more small tubes pointing upward, each containing a flickering candle-less flame.
I took a moment to inspect the books’ spines.The library included such titles asEmberborn History: The Middle Years, A Comprehensive Guide to Embers, Emberborn Royal House Lineage, and many other books that appeared to relate to Emberborn lore.Mrs.Crowe had said that King Tarnasau had wiped out the entire history of Emberborn, but it appeared that a slice of their—ourhistory was preserved in the clock tower.Despite the fact that I’d only understood my Emberborn roots for a short time, pride bloomed within me.
The sharp scent of ozone and citrus assaulted my nose.I was struck with the same sensation I’d felt in the alley when Darion had disappeared.Time broke, disjointed from reality, just like in the alley.Was Darion here?Surely not.
In a flash, an arm was around my chest and the cold, sharp steel of a blade was pressed against my neck.Soft but deadly, a woman’s voice said, “Say the pass phrase or die.”
Chapter twenty-one
The Clock Tower
Thebladecutthroughthe top layers of my skin.My dagger was within reach, but I knew I couldn’t beat someone with this Ember, and even flinching could mean a slit throat.I considered mentioning the parchment I’d found in Queen Amara’s tomb but decided against it until I knew more about what I was dealing with.
So I spoke the truth.“I know of no pass phrase.But I know you’re Emberborn.I could sense when you used your Ember.I have a friend who can stop time like you.”
The woman’s blade quivered for a moment, taking another layer of skin.“You have Veilsense?”she asked, sounding shocked and impressed.
“I do.”
“And you’re here for the Emberlight Trials?”
“I am.I have a parchment that was stashed in the queen’s tomb.”
“Then you should know the pass phrase,” she said.“You would have encountered it along your path.”
I thought through each step of the Trials that had led me to the clock tower.I recalled the details of the Bleeding Oak, the Royal Catacombs, Queen Amara’s tomb, and my journey through the Citadel Library.
Oh!The engraving on the queen’s tomb.I pictured it in my mind:Here lies Queen Amara, the last of the royal Emberborn race.May her wisdom extend beyond the hands of time’s embrace.Now it made sense.Her wisdomcould mean this library, andthe hands of time’s embracemust mean the clock tower.
I repeated the phrase.
The woman withdrew her blade from my throat and stepped back.
I spun around, hand moving instinctively to the hilt of my dagger.
A middle-aged woman with dark skin and short, curly black hair speckled with gray stood before me wearing worn leather garments like those of a craftsperson.Her warm brown eyes spoke of a wisdom beyond her years.
She assessed my defensive stance.“No need for that.You said yourself that you’re familiar with my Ember, so you should know that if I wanted you dead, you’d be dead already.You are my guest here.”
She was right—I was powerless to stop her if she wanted to kill me.I moved my hand away from my dagger.
“And you have a note for me, I assume?”she said.
