Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-One - Fortress of Knowledge

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-One - Fortress of Knowledge

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-One - Fortress of Knowledge

This is it, Caprica said. Its not the most impressive of buildings from the exterior, but the library has been a part of Goldenalden since its very founding. It was actually the second building commissioned by my great-great-grandfather after the construction of the royal palace, not that the palace from back then would be at all recognizable today.

I gawked at the library; it seemed like the polite thing to do. The building was, unlike most of the other buildings in Goldenalden, still clearly part of the mountain. Stone rose up around it on all sides but the front, as if someone had turned the mountainside into wet clay and had pressed an entire edifice out of it.

The front was different, made of large stone slabs stacked together, and with a pair of colonnades next to a large doorway. There were windows too, but they were the thin, slitted sort that Id seen on castles before, not the wider windows youd expect to see.

It looks a bit strange, I said. Especially compared to the far more ordinary buildings surrounding it.

The library was built at a time when Sylphfree was still very much plagued by dragons and their offspring, Caprica said. It was designed to be a repository for crucial knowledge, books, maps, and scrolls. I think it served as a school once too, for young nobles.

Was it meant to be hidden? Awen asked. The rocks look like they were moved by a geomancer, maybe. Ive seen places that look a little like that before. The Ostri build huts out in the desert near Mattergrove the same way, though those arent as big.

Caprica nodded. The Ostri are the desert folk, right? I imagine that this is somewhat similar. And yes, the building would be hard to see from above if it werent placed in the middle of the city. Thick stone walls, decent natural camouflage. It was all designed so that a creature flying above wouldnt notice it. I do believe that at the time, the paladins--the order being much smaller four or five generations ago--were skilled with magics that allowed them to hide better as well.

So the library was hidden in plain sight, I said.

More or less. Come on, it should be open at this hour.

We followed Caprica into the library, some of her guards forming up next to the entrance both inside and out.

I was expecting the interior of the library to be fairly fancy. Maybe some big room, with plenty of lighting, but instead it was relatively cramped within. Thick walls and lots of small rooms except for a big stairwell right in the centre where stone steps led up and to the floors above.

A counter to the side had a nice librarian sylph behind it, perusing a big tome that looked like it was filled with names and addresses and the names of books. A system to tell who had taken out which book, maybe?

Hello, Caprica said as she walked up to the counter.

The lady behind it stared with wide eyes. P-princess, she said. Its a pleasure to meet you. How can I help?

Caprica smiled. I have a few guests here, friends from... well, all over, really. We were looking for some information. Ah, Captain Bunch?

If youre a friend, you should really be calling me Broccoli, I chided softly. Then I can keep calling you Caprica, because if Im your friend, then youre my friend too.

Capricas cheeks actually warmed a little, which I found very cute, but I wasnt about to tell her that because it was far too rude. Thank you, Broccoli.

Ah, very well then, what is the captain looking for? the librarian asked.

I leaned onto the counter, a big grin on. I was told that the library here had a sort of record of all the classes and skills.

We hardly know all of them, The librarian said. But we do keep a record of both.

Neat! I got a skill recently that I was wondering about, I dont really know what it does, or even what I did to get it. Could you help me?

Are you looking to merge it into something better, or do you just want to know what the skill does? she asked.

Uh, I said.

The archivists room wasnt too hard to find. Not only did it have a coloured door, there was also a plaque next to it that read The Archivist which was very handy. Grinning, I stepped up to the door and knocked twice. Hello!

My ears twitched as I heard some shuffling on the other side before the door opened. A man stood there, a sylph who was on the shorter side, with frumpled robes and a big scowl on. He adjusted his glasses and fired off a glare at the three of us. Yes? he snapped.

Hi! Im Broccoli, and I was told that we could find the archivist here? For skill stuff?

For skill stuff, he repeated before scoffing. Let me guess, one of you three unlocked some skill youve never heard of in your short, poorly educated lives, and now you think to bother me about it?

I mean, essentially, yes, I said. I got a new skill and I have no idea what it is or does, and I was told that the people here could help?

Then search the stacks, thats assuming youre literate at all? he said.

This man was being very rude, but it wasnt nice to be rude back to someone, even if it might feel better in the moment. I think all three of us are able to read, yes, I said. But if we werent then wed still ask you for help. Its not fair to discriminate against people like that.

Ah yes, because why would I discriminate against a bun and a harpy of all things? he asked.

A hand grabbed onto my shoulder, and I half turned to find Caprica smiling past me while carefully pushing me aside. Hello sir, she said. As I understand it, youre unwilling to assist these two?

The archivist frowned. They hardly look like they belong here, do they? he asked.

I see, thank you for your time then, she said before turning. Come on, the library is technically run off of the royal coffers. Im certain that the head librarian would make time for a quick visit.

The archivist snorted. Are you done bothering me then? he asked.

You wouldnt happen to know if the head librarian is in, would you? Caprica asked.

If he is, I doubt hed want to speak with... he paused to stare at Amaryllis and I. Ruffians.

Caprica nodded, then she turned to the soldier waiting behind us on the top of the steps. Judging by the way the archivist blinked, he hadnt noticed them. Could you inform the head librarian of my upcoming visit? A minutes warning is better than none.

Yes, Princess, the soldier said before doing an about-face and running off.

Princess? the archivist asked, his voice losing some of its surety.

Yes, Caprica said. I was escorting these diplomats around, showing them the great luxuries of Goldenalden when one had a question that we thought an archivist like yourself could answer.

Oh, he said. Well, Im certain I can answer any question, he replied.

Caprica looked very unimpressed. I think youve answered plenty of questions, she said. Captain Broccoli, Lady Amaryllis, if you wouldnt mind following me, Im certain we can get everything sorted out in no time at all. Im very sorry for this entire thing, you dont deserve such treatment.

Its okay? I said as I followed after her. Had that entire thing been... speciesism? I reached up and tugged at one of my ears. Id been told I couldnt do things because I was a girl before, but never because I had big ears and a tail. He was very rude, I said, even though I knew that the archivist could probably still hear me. It felt very... vindictive.

Im sorry, Caprica said. I wish people werent like that. Once we find the head librarian Im sure we can sort everything out.

Its fine, Amaryllis said. I think we expected some level of such treatment on arriving here.

Capricas frown suggested that she was very much not pleased with that answer.

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