Heliopath’s World: Ildieu: The Library

[k_a_webb]

In the center of the neutral zone was the library. Everyone knew it existed, everyone used it, but few really noticed it or the inhabitants. That was most likely due to the fact it wasn’t often used for the function it had been built and had become the sanctuary of those who were attempting to get home after a successful raid on another territory. None of the inhabitants really minded, at least it was being used for something, because they did more than just keep books. Within the library lived the eldest people in town, who kept the history of Ildieu for anyone that might need it.

Calogero wrote down the last sentence of the night. It had been an interesting day, with what had happened in the Grey Gardens, and it could mean that another change was coming. The boy who had escaped had returned a man doing his best to open the eyes of his fellow mages, but it could easily be too little too late. None of it was Heliopath’s fault. Calogero looked at the journals on the shelves behind him. Really, if it was anyone’s fault, it was his, and the other elders, for being too scared of the reaction of the younger generation to what they would say. He remembered being a part of that, once, before he’d managed to find a safe home in the library and it was something he never wanted to go back to.

That was why he’d changed his name, the same way Heliopath had. Calogero chose it when he felt he’d earned it, leaving his old names behind because they were no longer who he was. Living in the library meant he was free, being the oldest person in town meant that no one would remember him even if he did travel back to the territory he had once called home, and having a safe place to live meant he could help others if they came to him. Knowing what had happened gave him new hope that someone would walk into the library, asking the right questions.

Kestrel had once. Calogero knew the girl better than he knew anyone else from the Black Hollow, because she actually used the library. Sometimes it was for homework and at other times it was for her own studies, which was when he let her use one of the private rooms. Falcon wouldn’t approve of what she did, being too terrified of what might happen to her if she happened to make a mistake, but Calogero approved. Instead of wallowing in self pity she made the effort to protect herself. It was just too bad her poisons wouldn’t work on someone who caught her by surprise.

Pulling a different sheet of paper towards him Calogero made a decision. He knew that Heliopath would read any letter that happened to get sent to Kestrel and it was time to do something more than watch what was happening. With careful thought Calogero made it appear he was writing to the kidnapped girl when he was really writing to Heliopath.

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.

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