Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 236 of 619

By second morning the barracks addition stood chest-high. Bran drove his crew hard. Kael carried two blocks at a time. Torren set corners square. Ajax walked the line at dawn and counted the courses. Twelve rooms taking shape. His own room framed at the south end. The library roof was closed, the hearth flue rising through the shingles. Chalam met him at the library door with his satchel over one shoulder. "I want to ride to the port," Chalam said. "One day. Back the next." "Why?" "A man there. A scholar. He held my spell book for me two winters. He’s the scholar we need." Ajax looked at him. "You want him sworn?" "I want to offer. He reads what I can't. Old script. Bindings older than the ones I've cracked. He'd earn his room." "Take Tucker and Marco. Marco will read him." Chalam nodded once and went to find Tucker and Marco. They rode out at midmorning and returned the next day at dusk. Ajax was at the library setting a shelf when he heard the horses. He walked out to the yard. Chalam swung down first. Tucker looped the reins on the rail and stood back with a small grin. A third rider dismounted between them. He was tall, fit, grey coming in at the temples. His tunic was dark green with gold stitched at the cuffs and collar. A satchel hung crosswise on his chest. He looked at the walls, the gate, the smithery chimney, and said nothing for a moment. "This is Aldric Thornwick," Chalam said. "You know what we do here?" Ajax asked. "Chalam told me on the road. Bindings. Seats. A woman who is now ash.” Aldric's voice was pleasant and even. "I've spent thirty years chasing pieces of what you've done. I have manuscripts that could use protecting behind strong walls." "Terms are the same as the others. Wages. Share on rides. A room. Vault tithe.“ "Agreed." Ajax nodded to Marco at the wall. Marco came down and stood a pace from Aldric. He watched him for a long breath, then looked at Ajax. "Clean," Marco said. "No collar. No mark. He wants books and scrolls." "He'll get books," Ajax said. "Library's dry. Shelves go up tonight." Elara added Aldric's name to the ward at sundown. He crossed the threshold without a spark. Twelve names on the roster. One slot left. Ajax stood at the library door and watched the scholar unwrap his first book by lamplight. The house was filling faster than he had planned.