“Two of the things that made the Old Empire so strong—so cohesive,” Nimbus told them, “were the Cenzarium and Teshlor Guild. The Grand Council was created from the best and brightest of both. They maintained order and could govern in the absence of a ruler. Until these institutions are restored—until wizards and knights of the old order patrol the roads and visit the courts of distant governors to ensure they are upholding the law—until they guard the borders of Calis and Estrendor, the empire will not be safe or whole.”
“Imagine what a hundred Hadrians and a hundred Aristas could do,” Modina told them. “And you.” She glanced at Myron. “We need a new university. Sheridan is gone. We can think of no one better to lead such a project.”
“But I—” the monk began.
“Think of it as a bigger monastery,” Nimbus interrupted. “Administering to a larger flock. You will teach them of lore, philosophy, engineering, languages—including elvish—and of course about Maribor. Teams can be sent into the old city to retrieve any volumes that still remain there. They can be the seeds that can help you spread knowledge to all who are willing to learn.”
“We will collect all the works and place them under a huge dome of the greatest library ever constructed,” Modina added.
“That does sound nice, but my brother monks…”
“There will be plenty of work for all.”
“I’ve already started laying the foundation for the scriptorium,” Magnus told him. “It’s five times the size of what we had at the Winds Abbey.”
“And the Cenzarium?” Arista looked at the dwarf.
Magnus smiled sheepishly. “The walls are already going up. If you look out there, to the left, you can see them.”
“So this has already been settled on?” she asked, pretending to sound indignant.
“While certainly no one,” Nimbus replied deftly, “least of all those present here—would ever ask any more of you two, and while you have earned a long and well-deserved rest, I was confident you would not abandon your empress, or the empire you fought so hard to establish.”
“Where’s the guildhall to be?” Hadrian asked.
Magnus pointed. “Across the square from the Cenzarium, of course. Just like in the old city.”
“At least we will be close neighbors,” Hadrian said.
“We can have lunches together.” Arista grinned at him.
“And in between them will be a fountain and statue of Alric, Wyatt, and Elden,” Modina explained.
“Well?” Hadrian asked her.
Arista narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “You’re replacing yourself with us, aren’t you?” she asked Nimbus.
“Yes, you are to be the seeds of a new grand council.”
“At least you’re honest. All right,” she said, and then glared at Magnus. “But I will be the one to decorate the interior of the Cenzarium. I’ve seen dwarven tastes and it isn’t conducive to the Art.”
Magnus scoffed and grumbled something under his breath.
The door to the palace opened and Royce stepped out. “Hadrian, do you know where—” Royce stopped the instant he saw Nimbus, a look of shock on his face.
“Royce?” Hadrian asked.
Royce said nothing but continued to stare at the wigged chancellor.
“Oh, that’s right,” Modina said. “You’ve never met Nimbus, have you?”
“Yes—yes, I have,” Royce said. He stepped forward, approaching the chancellor. “I thought you were dead.”
“No,” Nimbus replied. “I’m still alive, my dear friend.”
Everyone looked at them, confused.
“But how?”
“Does it matter?”
“I came back,” Royce told him. “I tried to free you. I tried to save you, but Ambrose told me…”
“I know, but I wasn’t the one who needed to be freed, and I wasn’t the one you needed to save.”
The morning arrived bright and clear. Golden sunlight slanted across Amberton Lee, casting shadows marking the growing city that spread out like a newly planted field of hope. In the valley, a low mist, like a white cloud, shrouded the twisting Bernum River and the air was still and quiet even on the hilltop.
Modina was already up. She wrapped a cape over her shoulders and headed out to the porch. She found Royce sitting there, his feet dangling from the side, watching the girls as they raced down the dewy hillside, chasing after Mr. Rings.
“You realize you’re taking one of my favorite girls from me,” she said.