A Charm for Draius: A Novel of the Broken Kaskea (The Broken Kaskea Series Book 1) by Laura E. Reeve Page B

also fit within the last part of Nherissa’s lifetime. When mankind could use magic, the lives of the practitioners—sorcerers and sorceresses—were extended. Cessina was supposed to have lived several hundred years, if records could be believed. He might even have been present at the making of the Kaskea, albeit as an apprentice.
    She tallied the entries; there were twenty written works by Nherissa and Cessina identified on the first page. She read through the second page, and gasped at the short list on the third page. “These were stolen also?”
    “I said we suffered a staggering loss, Officer. They took one of the shards of the Kaskea left in our keeping, though only our ancestral stars would know why. The tapestry of the last stand between Nherissa and Cessina was, of course, priceless. Irreplaceable. The same can be said for the original Meran Sword of Starlight.”
    She felt a flash of anger, tinged with surprise. These artifacts were part of her heritage. She’d never considered their monetary worth. “Darkness and Fury,” she swore under her breath, then asked aloud, “Why would anyone take these?”
    “When I said the tapestry and sword were priceless, I wasn’t making a joke,” Nokka said. “All the items are valuable, as well as having historical significance. I’m sure buyers could be found for everything except the Kaskea shard.”
    “Why no buyers for the shard?”
    “Not useable by anyone but the King, of course—as if anyone would want to use it.” Nokka shuddered and wrapped his arms around his chest. “All the shards look like common pieces of slate with lines engraved. How would anyone prove their authenticity?”
    “I don’t suppose they can ask the King to hand over his ring so they can compare them.” Lornis made an attempt at humor, but Draius wasn’t amused. Inside, she was building herself up to a cold rage, and rather enjoying the process.
    “So this is how the Pettaja do their duty as caretakers?” Her voice was cold.
    “We’re sworn to protect knowledge , not precious artifacts. These items—”
    “Many of which are supposed to be destroyed. A king requested—no, ordered your ancestors to destroy these items, and they didn’t comply. Am I to assume the thieves took all the documents proscribed under the King’s Law?”
    “Yes, that’s all of them.” Nokka was responding, in kind, to her anger. “But it’s ridiculous to expect a modern library to enforce such ancient and superstitious—”
    “What’s your lineal name?”
    Nokka stopped, shocked at her impertinent question. Even Lornis looked shaken by her bad manners, but she asked again. “Your lineal name, your specific lineage?”
    “Pettaja-Viisi.” Nokka drew himself up to his full height, his mustache twitching.
    Well, well. She was in the process of personally offending the second oldest and most powerful lineage in Tyrra, after the Meran-Viisi. The Royal Library had been formed to keep records of the Meran-Viisi and their rule of Tyrra. The librarian in charge would be the five star lineage, hence the tag of Viisi.
    She pressed on. “You may think this trivial, a minor matter of the King’s Law, but it isn’t. Tell your matriarch that I will avoid reporting this to the magistrates, because this has become a lineal matter. My report will go straight to King Perinon and the Meran-Viisi. After that, it’s up to them.”
    Even though five hundred years had passed, the Pettaja-Viisi had still failed in their duties to the Meran-Viisi King. Nokka’s face paled, and Draius figured he’d run directly to his matriarch when she left. As they walked away from the librarian, down the long center of the library, Lornis was quiet. She had a moment of regret; in retrospect, she could have been more politic. Regardless, it was done. She’d write the specifics up for Perinon and bypass the King’s Law magistrates, something the captain might not approve. As for Perinon, after seeing his reaction to the