Page 356

"No."

"It's a reproduction." I look at her. Something begins clicking into place. Nyra pulls another. Cassian leans over my shoulder. According to the Western Settlement Ledger— Another. Recorded in the village census archive— Another. From an account preserved by the old Varethian librarian— Village.

I look up. Nyra is already looking at me. "Exactly."

Cassian stops chewing. "Oh."

Nyra spreads the pages farther. "The Academy collected information." She taps the first. "From civic records." Another. "Settlement ledgers." Another.

"Village testimonies." Another. "Private accounts."

I stare at the words. These aren't the sources. They're references to sources.

"The Academy copied them." I say.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Most of these records were consolidated before or immediately after the Silent War."

"Before the current Archive system."

"Exactly."

Cassian slowly lowers himself into the chair beside me. "Meaning?"

Nyra looks at him. "Meaning we've spent weeks worrying about getting back into a sealed Archive because we assumed that's where the information exists."

"It is." I say.

"No." Her eyes sharpen. "That's where the Academy's version exists." Silence. Oh. Shit. I look down again.

Varethian Civic Record. Western Settlement Ledger. Village census archive. Old Varethian librarian.

"Where are the originals?" I ask.

Nyra smiles. And I immediately know tomorrow is ruined. "The village."

Cassian points at her. "Be specific."

"The old library." I know it. Everyone does. A narrow stone building near the eastern square. Older than most of the village surrounding it. I've walked past it dozens of times. Never entered. Why would I? The Academy has one of the largest libraries in the kingdom. Had access to one of the largest libraries. Technical distinction. "The village library predates the Academy's modern archival system. Some civic records were moved there when the old administrative hall closed."

"How do you know?"

"My father used it." I blink. Nyra's expression shifts.

Only slightly. "Years ago." I don't push. She continues. "If those ledgers weren't transferred to the Academy permanently..."

"They might still be there."

"Exactly."

Cassian stares at the copies. "So we've been breaking our backs trying to understand censored copies when the originals might be sitting twenty minutes away."

"Potentially." Nyra corrects.

"Right." He takes another bite. "Forgot who I was talking to."