‘The Highbrary will contain the formulas for all Librarian weapon antidotes,’ Shasta said, almost teasingly. ‘If you want to cure your friends, it is the place to go.’
Grandpa looked even more eager, but he held himself back. ‘The lad and I will discuss it, Shasta. If we agree to this little endeavor, then you’ll be coming as a prisoner, carefully watched over. That’s the only way I’d agree to it.’
Shasta smiled again, glancing at me. ‘Very well,’ she said, then waved to her guards – as if they were attendants – and had them lead her from the room.
My grandfather looked shaken. He sat down on the stool beside my bed again. ‘That woman . . .’
‘We need to go with her,’ I said. ‘My father can’t be allowed to try to give everyone Smedry Talents. Grandpa, I think that the Talents might be what destroyed the Incarna! I think—’
‘Yes,’ Grandpa said. ‘Yes, you’re probably right.’
‘What? You know already?’
‘I’ve guessed it, lad,’ Grandpa said. ‘And feared it, after you told me what you found in the tomb of Alcatraz the First.’
‘Do you think my father can really do it?’ I asked. ‘If it were anyone else,’ Grandpa said, ‘I’d say no. But your father . . . well, he’s a special man, capable of extraordinary things. Yes, I think he might just be able to do it, if he wants to.’
‘He’s got the only remaining pair of Translator’s Lenses,’ I said. ‘Mine were destroyed.’
‘Ah. I wondered why we didn’t find them on you.’
‘He’s going to the Highbrary. You know what we have to do, Grandfather.’
He looked at me, then nodded. ‘Yes. But let’s at least sleep on it a day and then decide.’
I nodded back to him, and he stood, withdrawing, leaving me to listen to the sounds of the Mokian drums outside. They’d celebrate all day, as per their tradition.
And then, on the morrow, they’d mourn for those who were dead. Celebrations first, sorrows second.
I didn’t have time for either one. Mokia had been a diversion, a distraction, both for myself and my mother. My father, Attica Smedry, had a huge head start, and what he was planning could destroy us all.
The Dark Talent was free, and the entire Smedry clan had lost their powers. An enormous fleet of Librarian soldiers was returning to the Hushlands with tales of what the Talents could do.
I think this is a good place to end, don’t you?