"Then I will see his tower during the next time I visit," he says confidently, "pass those trials, and devour those texts myself."

Then he drains his tea and turns his sharp, glittering gaze on Mia. "Do you remember what you said about the lute? I don't know if this argument would work with him, but a book, like an instrument shouldn't be kept under lock and key. The knowledge was gathered with the intent to share it, and expound upon it. What better way to preserve the words on a page than to impress them in the collective memory of a people?"

He traces the rim of his cup with his thumb. "It's cyclical, you know? The knowledge of people create books, and vice versa."