"Forgive me, but women do not enter the library."
"I'm aware."Azul's smile didn't waver."Fortunately for you, I'm not here as a woman.I'm here as the betrothed of the Great Khan Ragnar Valthorne to retrieve books for his leisure.Unless you'd like to explain to the Khan why you barred his Khatun from accessing texts he requires?"
The young scholar's face underwent a fascinating series of contortions—amusement giving way to uncertainty, then to dawning horror as he realised he was not equipped to handle this situation.
"I—Akwaugo—the library has rules.Your snake is also of concern."
"Khatun," she corrected.“The Khan has a very direct way of handling those who inconvenience him."Azul tilted her head, as did the little snake, mimicking its owner."Shall I describe it?I've only seen it once, but the memory is quite vivid."
What had she seen?Perhaps the taut muscles that he wore beautifully.
He swallowed."I believe an exception could be made.For diplomatic purposes."
"How gracious of you."
He stepped aside, and Azul swept past him into the library, feeling the weight of scandalised glares like arrows in her back.
Ragnar's name truly is a useful shield,she thought.I shall have to thank him properly.
Azul had grown up with her father's precious few scrolls, memorising each one until the words blurred.Then when he hired tutors from Kemet, she had consumed his scrolls too.She'd never imagined a space like this—shelves stretching to vaulted ceilings, scrolls packed so densely they seemed to form the very walls, reading tables worn smooth by generations of scholars.The smell was intoxicating: aged parchment, drying herbs used to preserve the texts, and the faint dust of knowledge accumulated over centuries.
Even modern libraries couldn’t compare.
The organisation was, unfortunately, nonsensical.Scrolls were grouped by donor rather than subject, with the result that military treaties sat beside poetry, and astronomical observations mingled with cookbooks.
Host, these scrolls smell good.
Azul looked at her snake, shooting it a warning glare.It had grown quite a bit after eating one man, and since then it had badgered her for more food.The scrolls were naturally off limits, so it shrunk its head back.
Azul moved through the shelves, pulling texts at random, scanning them for anything useful, and replacing them with growing frustration.
"Looking for something specific?"
The voice came from behind her—young, male, and lacking malice or anger.
Azul turned.
The speaker was perhaps twenty-two, with soft hands and an even softer smile.His robes were of good quality but not ostentatious, and his eyes were clear as living water.She recognised him easily, the boy Borji schemed against.
"Yes," Azul said."Information on the Divine Right of Kings, specifically the theological underpinnings."
His eyebrows rose."That's...a rather advanced topic for a casual inquiry."
"Is it?I find casual enquiries are often the most fruitful."
A smile tugged at his lips."True enough.Though I suspect you're not here casually at all."He glanced toward the library entrance, where the young scholar from earlier was still visible, now deep in animated conversation with several older men."You've caused quite a stir, you know.The first woman to enter the library in living memory.They'll be talking about this for aeons."
"Perhaps the next woman who needs information won't have to threaten anyone."
A surprisingly warm laugh escaped him."Khatun.Most women who enter places they shouldn't, apologise for it.You seem entirely unrepentant."
"I have nothing to repent for.Knowledge is mine to acquire as I wish."
"Well said."He extended his hand."I'm Enoch, son of Tobechukwu Obiechina.Junior scholar and amateur theologian.If you're going to be here anyway, I might as well help you find what you need.The organisation of this place is deliberately obtuse—some former head scholar's idea of protecting knowledge from the uninitiated.All it really does is frustrate everyone."
Named after the great Titan.
Azul studied him for a long moment.There was no guile in his face, no hidden calculation in his eyes.He seemed genuinely pleased by the novelty of her presence.
