Chapter 38

Danel embraced each of his classmates who squeezed him just as hard in return. “What happened?” they all asked. Bello ran his hand over Danel’s scalp, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I found the missing truths that are the founding of the Library of Ibados,” Danel replied. “You experienced some of them up here as well.”

“The power, the lights, the air?” Yoodma asked.

“All are fed by the essence of a god who is imprisoned in the foundation,” Danel answered. “Draining the essence is essential to keeping the mad god in his cage. In founding the Library, Master Ibados harnessed that energy for our benefit.”

“The gods cannot go because...?” Geber asked.

“They cannot confidently defeat nor destroy the mad god,” Danel said. “I can only speculate that the gods were harmed significantly when they imprisoned him. They fear him. We, the Librarians are responsible when the incarcerated god stirs. Master Ibados anticipated much, but not everything.”

Yoodma sniffed. “What else did you find, Danel? Something else we’re not going to like?”

Frage stepped forward. “Ibados didn’t create detailed plans for upstairs, possibly not even the top levels of the basement. The next generations designed and built the rest of the Library of Ibados in his memory. Their work is superb, but unlike Ibados, they did not create a master plan for the human organization of the upstairs. They didn’t integrate the two.”

“So, nothing new, but effectively confirmed,” Yoodma said. “We have a daily convocation in three hours. What do you propose?”

When Edel, Frage, and Danel finished explaining their ideas, Gerber raised his hand. “Let me speak out first. I have heard the laments and complaints of our leaders in private. I know what to offer and how to offer it. I do.”

“Will they relinquish their power?” Danel asked with incredulity.

“We offer a different seat of power, a nascent university,” Gerber said. “They will believe that they are ridding themselves of intractable problems and shoveling them into the laps of the young naïve idealists. You know, the gullibles.”

“We gain effective control of the Library of Ibados,” Frage said. She was leaning forward over the table with the fingertips of her right hand pressed firmly on the wood. Her fingers were turning white from pressing hard.

“What’s this ‘we’ crap,” Danel said. “You. You are best to lead.” His head bounced as a hand thwacked him hard from the back.

“You, betrothed,” Aiya in the voice of an angry schoolteacher. “You’re not going to wiggle out of your obligations. You have been marked by the gods and you will lead if I must take you by the scruff of the neck and drag you to your ... er ... throne?”

“Office,” someone supplied.

“Desk,” Yoodma chuckled.

“I want a honeymoon,” Danel said, rubbing his head. “Is that too much to ask.”

“Danel, you have changed and yet, you haven’t changed,” Bello said, and everyone laughed. “Come, the time is quickly approaching, and we need the rest of our presentation in place.”

Discussions and plans began in earnest. The pens appeared and then the sheaves of blank paper. Someone took notes while the others argued over word choices and order of arguments. Counter-arguments were investigated, and responses were recorded.

“It’s time,” Yoodma said. “We have just enough time to reach the common dining hall and make a grand entrance.”

“I think I would rather face a god,” Danel said and then stopped himself. “No, no I would not. Let’s do this.”

Standing before the closed doors of the Dining Room, Danel tried to analyze the rumble of mumbling that came through the thin doors. He could pick out a word or two, innocuous and mundane. What he focused on was the lack of energy in the muted conversations, as if everyone with a word to say was afflicted with fatigue. He was intrigued.

“Come,” Gerber said, “We are neither penitents nor beggars. We come with truth and resolutions; let us act like it.” He pulled open the doors. “Friends, my fellows, I come bearing great tidings. Danel has returned and he is whole.”

A cheer went up with a smattering of applause. “The best news we’ve had since the Day of Troubles,” someone shouted.

Danel was dragged forth by his friends, where he received hugs, handshakes, and pats on the back. As once before, he found himself sitting on a stool before his fellow Librarians, telling his story. However, this time he was prepared, presenting with theatrics and timing, laying the groundwork for the changes that were to be proposed. He took his time, borrowing from every fiction he had read to add color and drama to every discovery Rahim, Janner and he had uncovered. The reveal of the Talurie had everyone gasping in their seats. After the great defeat of the mad god, he added a lament for the death of his bodyguard. Finally, he concluded with his recovery scripted by the guidance of Master Ibados himself.