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"This way," the professor said
Karigan tore her gaze away froret and followed the professor into the stairwell, keeping close to his light
"The upper floors were once the weave rooht iron stairs as they climbed "They were filled with looms and workers and the clatter of , the professor stepped into the dark rooan peered into the vast, black space, discerning nothing Just the rough, scraped floor in their iht, pocked with small holes where very heavy objects must once have been bolted down It was so quiet, she could not iine the noise the professor spoke of
"Ah, here it is," he said "Usually I enter from the other end" He pushed up a lever eht
Karigan blinked until her eyes adjusted Many plain phosphorene globes hung fro row upon row of crates stacked high, shelves with articles covered by sheets, nu statues and urns and pieces of decorative scrollwork; gargoyles, and colu cabinets
The professor set his taper aside and gestured grandly "Behold my treasure trove All artifacts that have passed into my care, and many that I, myself, have found or otherwise acquired" He bea
"All of this? And you’ve kept it hidden froer statues, trying to iht here
"I’ve been tireless in preserving our rightful heritage If the eht wind of my collection, well, I and everyone I knoould be in very serious trouble You do understand, do you not, that you are to speak to no one, absolutely no one, about this building or its contents? Not even Mirria unless I raise the subject first I areat trust in you that you will not expose the secret I’ve gone to great pains to keep you secret, as well, for your safety"
Karigan studied hi "Why is the ee isn’t he?"
Professor Josston nodded, setting off toward the shelves, his hands clasped behind his back Karigan limped behind hi, relentless, productive, and people believe it’s the way it has always been Always the emperor, always the eerous--it would inspire hope in the populace, and he can’t allow that to happen" He paused beside a shelf that held bottles of all sizes and colors, old jewelry He fingered a brooch of the crescent ht
"These objects," he continued, "are not just old things, but symbols of what could have been, what should be What ere before the e without hian, his expression intense "My artifacts are the spark of a fire, a fire that will burn down the e and its contents are an act of war"
In that an of the Anti-Monarchy Society and its leader What was her naer, full of the fervor of her beliefs She had plans to change the world, or at least how Sacoridia was governed, but nothing had ever coan asked "Why not reveal all this to the people and let them rebel?"
"Oh, ill, but not all the pieces are in place yet If we act prematurely, ill be crushed" He abruptly turned and continued to walk alongside the shelving As Karigan followed, she glimpsed an ivory comb set with rubies It had been placed next to the ruin of leather boots Rotting chunks of wood that once could have been tools sat next to fine porcelain dishes The mundane and the exquisite, all lined up one next to the other, a wagon wheel as prized as a pair of golden goblets
"Truthfully," the professor said, "the rebellion has been going on for sos of society Our battlefields have been charity balls and banquets and evenings at the opera"
Karigan considered the fored in battle this evening
"The opposition has been in play for as long as there has been the es and queens of the past had a pact, a trust, to protect their people, not abuse them as chattel The emperor keeps no such pact, only keeps hisout the spirit of the people" He halted beside the wor, pausing to allow her to weigh his words, before finally asking, "So, will you keep our secret?"
She regarded him carefully, his earnest expression, for she knew Mornhavon’s evil first hand She had no argu the emperor and, the professor, in turn, must have kno the Green Riders had opposed Mornhavon fro, which, she assumed, prompted him to take her into his confidence She had no illusions, however, that if she ever posed a threat to his secrets, he would make her disappear as easily and quickly as she’d coone to keep her safe His secret was much more powerful, h he h ti artifact If the conditions in the empire were as bad as they seele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">