Or so Cedric had always thought. So everyone knew. What would become of him if word about this got out? What did it say about him?
The fact that he hadn’t been able to do more than summon a few sparks to his fingertips since he’d left the Sanctum was immaterial.
Tristan scoffed, though a layer of his typical mirth flowed over the words when he said, “I suppose we’ll simply have to agree to disagree.”
More minutes passed in silent perusal.
“This can’t have all been for nothing,” Cedric muttered, closing yet another book and setting it aside.
Tristan’s expression turned serious. “Ric, if the information can’t be found in Paideus...”
He didn’t need to finish the sentence. If the greatest library in Havensreach didn’t have what they were looking for, it didn’t exist.
“I know,” said Cedric. “Which is why we must be missing something.”
“Right. Like the whole stars-damned truth?” Tristan’s tone was sharp, and again, a shush echoed from the surrounding stacks. “Oh, youshh!”
Cedric clicked his tongue. “You would be wise not to enrage the magisters, Sir Hale.”
“The magisters would be wise not to enrageme, Sir Victor.”
Cedric rolled his eyes at his friend, who knew full well just how little he appreciated being addressed as such.
“Ahem.”
A shadow fell over the table, and Cedric lifted his gaze to see the hardened expression of Magister Yvan, long gray robes pooling around his feet.
The grind of wood against stone hit Cedric’s ears as his chairscraped against the floor, both knights jumping to their feet and bending at the waist in an awkward bow. The magister’s sharp eyes flicked between Cedric and Tristan before he added another small stack of books to the table.
“Still at it, are we?” Yvan’s tone fell somewhere between amusement and disapproval as the knights took their seats once more. “I have to wonder if the king’s errand has you intending to comb through every page held within Paideus.”
“Youhaveto wonder, do you?” Tristan grumbled under his breath, and Cedric coughed to cover the laugh that spawned in response.
Yvan arched a white eyebrow. “Your dedication is admirable, I admit, and far be it from me to discourage the pursuit of knowledge. But given that the rest of your party returned to Kingshelm days ago, I alsohave to wonderhow much longer you intend to grace us with your presence, Sirs.”
“I didn’t realize your hospitality had a time limit, Magister,” Tristan said.
At Yvan’s answering frown, Cedric was quick to add, “I bade the rest of our group return to Kingshelm to assist in preparations for the welcome celebration, but Sir Hale and I have yet to locate the information we seek. We fully intend to exhaust all options in pursuit of this goal, so I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with us a little longer.”
“What can we say? We are determined.” Tristan offered the magister a polite smile that didn’t meet his sky-blue eyes. “They don’t call me ‘Tristan Hale, Academic’ for nothing, you see.”
“Mmm, quite.” Yvan inclined his chin at the pile he’d placed on the table. “Well, perhaps ‘exhaust’ is an apt choice of words. This is the final collection of books we have pertaining to anything having to do with Queen Daephinia’s reign or the Lost City. And I warn you they are not in good condition.”
“I see.” Cedric’s shoulders sagged as he scanned the small, worn stack, containing riveting titles likeCastle Lumin Staff Records, A - GandA Guide to Sylvan Accommodations, 2nd Edition.
“As you can see, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel here. I doubt what you’re looking for lies amidst ancient castle records.” Yvan paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his wizened face. “Then again,who am I to judge? The truth has a way of hiding in the spaces between what is written.”
And with that cryptic remark, the magister turned on his heels and strode off, robes whispering against the floor.
“Helpful as ever,” Tristan muttered.
Cedric exhaled a chuckle, though it felt hollow. He grabbed a slim book from the stack Magister Yvan had dropped off and began thumbing through it. A groan fell from his lips when he turned the final page some minutes later. More nothing.
“So, the welcome celebration,” Tristan said cautiously, breaking the long silence.
Cedric’s jaw tightened. “What of it?”
“If we linger much longer, we will miss it entirely.”
