What does she want?
For a man to pay attention to her and take care of her. Thats the main idea. First of all, she has to see you as a man. Then, you have to show her some attention. Nothing else matters.
Fine. What is a man like that supposed to do with a woman?
Vordius can tell you all about that. He turned to the guardsman with a grin. How are you and Luvia getting along?
The guardsman looked up and frowned. Dont you dare speak lightly of my Luvia! He grabbed Sorgius by the front of his robe and shook him.
You mean you havent done anything yet? Liar! Sorgius shook with laughter.
Luvia isnt one of those girls. We will not have relations until the wedding. That was my decision!
A wedding? Theres a first! No wonder you set your eyes on a nice girl like that. But wait, how many others did you have before her? Come on, share your secrets with your best friend.
See here, Uni Vordius started in, tearing rabbit meat into strips on his plate.
Little Uni! Sorgius reminded him with a sneer.
Thats right, Little Uni. See here, Vordius put down his knife and looked up at his friend. He softened when he saw the conflicting feelings of irritation and laughter that had twisted Unis face into a mask. Uni was actually missing their fourth friend Dag, at whose presence, for an unknown mystical reason, the guys mocked him less. Dag has not yet returned from his trip to the country, and without him their team was not complete.
Actually, I dont think you have time to be thinking about girls right now.
Why is it that you have time and I dont?
Thats not what I meant. Im trying to say that if you want to be successful with women, youll have to change yourself first.
Uni shook his head. I know, I know. I work in a basement and I dont know anything about life. Ive heard that a hundred times.
I dont care what building you work in. See, a man is supposed to have an iron will and make people notice him. Who cares about your archive? And who cares what kind of work you do there? Licisium Dorgoe sold bread on the street when he was a young man, and now hes the Emperors most trusted advisor.
Thats the truth, said Sorgius, leaning back in his chair and scratching behind his ear. Any other man would have made a name for himself in that archive of yours.
How would he do that? Selling scrolls? Or charging for access to closed storerooms? Sorgius, you can be a dishonest piece of trash if you want. Just dont get your dirt on the rest of us, alright?
A dishonest piece of trash? Me? Have you forgotten how you, with that chicken head of yours, lost a scroll of Erido Mortimis prophecies last year? Im the one who went out and bought you a copy of the scroll for three hundred leros. And I see I was a fool to do it, if you think you can
Im sorry, Sorgius, I spoke too harshly.
That you did. Why dont you sit and listen sometimes, instead of telling fairy tales about far-off lands that no one wants to hear.
But they arent fairy tales.
Thats enough! roared Vordius. We drank to our friendship already, but I see that once was not enough. Lets try the fortified wine. Empty your cups!
I cant, Ill get drunk, said Uni, already red-faced. He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his best robe (which he had put on especially to impress Siana).
Eat more and listen, said Vordius, who was enjoying the role of teacher. Do you know what your biggest mistake in life is? You spend too much time gathering abstract knowledge. You need a completely different kind of knowledge if you want to be successful at anything.
Fascinating. I suppose youll tell me what that knowledge is?
How to behave around people, you fool! You run around that archive when anyone calls your name. Why is that? Because youre an idiot and you have no concept of your own dignity. Isnt that true?
Of course not. Its cold calculation Let me explain
To the demons of darkness with your explanations. I may not be that smart, but Ive learned a lot about people over my years of service. You think youre smart, dont you? You think youll let the fools in charge think youre working hard, but in reality youre doing your own thing. Am I right? Well, unfortunately the fool in the story is you! Remember this: nobody cares what youre thinking about. All that matters is how you carry yourself. You took on the role of a humble servant, and nobody will let you forget it. Theyre used to seeing you that way now. I bet youre hoping that some miracle will happen and things will change. There are no miracles in this world, Uni, and the sooner you realize that the more time youll have to build your own future. For yourself. Success takes time, and here you are wasting your best years!
I dont know. Thats easy for you to say youve been big and strong since we were children. Im a different person. I cant just copy you. That would be a ridiculous piece of theater. Uni swallowed a handful of pine nuts.
You dont have to be big and strong. That doesnt matter at all. Look at Sorgius is he as strong as I am? Vordius turned to look at his other friend, who pulled a comically sorrowful expression. Of course not. But if a man knows what to ask for and what to do with it, hell do fine in life, even if hes shorter than all the lovely women of Enteveria!
Sorgius rolled his eyes and stuck a cheese-filled rice bun in his friends mouth. While Vordius struggled to chew, Sorgius took over the role of mentor to inexperienced youth.
See, what hes trying to say is that it doesnt matter what you do in life. What matters is how you do it and what you manage to achieve. If you have a strong personality, people will respect you in any line of work. That includes women, of course, he snickered. They love successful, independent men. I think youve noticed that.
I have, Uni sighed. Even a fool like me can see that perfectly well.
Now listen, Sorgius went on, resting his chin on his palm and studying Uni closely. You have a way with words, even when youve been drinking. Youd make a good drafter of government decrees and other important documents. Dont you agree, Vordius? Thats where he should make a career for himself!
Speaking of documents, Uni said, brightening, I want to tell you about an enormous piece of luck that just landed in my lap. Manelius Ronko stopped by at the end of the work day. Hes an advisor to the Emperor. He waited a whole hour just to see me. No one knew what he wanted, and they were all in a panic
Sorgius grinned. Waiting for you? How interesting. Is he perhaps unmarried?
Shut your mouth, Sorgius. Now what do you think he wanted? A secret report for the Great Lord! The Emperor needs a detailed description of Virilan and everything we have in the archive on that mysterious country!
I have to say Im not surprised, especially in light of whats been happening, Vordius said, using his brain for the first time that evening. Havent you heard? Some of our soldiers were chasing a band of nomads. They followed them farther into the Wasteland than anyone has gone before, and they discovered a Virilan camp on the plain.
What do you mean? Thats impossible. Virilans almost never leave their own lands. I cant imagine what they would be doing there.
Vordius eyes were shining. By all the demons of the fearsome darkness, I dont know, either. When the men returned and told their officers, the whole thing was hushed up. I just heard some rumors.
Those soldiers were there for a reason, Sorgius interrupted. You two may have jobs that keep you near the palace, but youre like blind chickens without me.
Uni turned to him, Did someone tell you about it? He was starting to feel that he didnt understand anything. Tell me how you know about such secrets!
Maybe I dont know anything. Vordius is right. All the warriors involved in the raid signed oaths of silence. Unfortunately, some of them thought that didnt apply to their wives.
And?
And what? The wives have friends, the friends have lovers
How could they break their oaths? It was a state secret!
Stop worrying, Uni. Its all still confidential. When I was told, I was informed that this is a very big secret. The kind of secret a man could lose his head for telling.
You cant be serious.
I am. Heres one more truth you need to learn about life: the person who plays by the rules always comes in last. Or he doesnt come in at all. Put that piece of free advice in your pocket for the future. And your wine today is free too. So chill. Lets drink!
The friends tossed back their cups of the strong Seregad wine. Uni leaned against the edge of the table and looked around the tavern as if he owned the place. It was a crowd of merchants and low-level civil servants, liberally interspersed with quite a few of the doubtful people of unknown profession who were drawn to the capital from all ends of the broad empire. In his current mood, Uni looked on them as dear friends. When he was sober, he often shuddered at the sound of a rude word or profanity spoken in the street, but now the rough atmosphere could not touch his gentle soul. This isnt a bad place to be, he thought. Not bad at all.
Vordius leaned over and picked up where he had left off. Be sure to use that report of yours for its intended purpose. He belched. As a battering ram. Show them youre the smartest guy in the empire, the only one they can turn to.
Thats what Ive been trying to tell the two of you for the past hour! I have an ingenious plan. And youre absolutely right: no one but your humble servant has the faintest idea about Virilan.
Not true, Sorgius pronounced with skepticism. I know more than you about Virilan. I was just talking about it, in fact.
What about the language? You dont know the language! Thats the important thing, because no outsiders have ever been there!
Sorgius looked patronizing. Please, Uni, do you really believe that you can learn a countrys language and its culture from a pile of four-hundred-year-old books?
Yes, I do. Virilans are an extremely conservative people. Second, we simply dont have any other sources of knowledge. So if you dont know the language, go back to school, little boy!
Back to school, Sorgius, chimed in Vordius as he sucked the last of the meat off a rabbit bone. When he was done, he tapped the bone against his forehead. Fill your head with something more useful than this sour swill were drinking.
Sorgius banged a hand on the oaken table. When Vordius tossed his rabbit bone at him, Sorgius jokingly slid from his chair onto the floor.
Uni, my friend, how do you say death in Virilan? What a pity! There was so much more I wanted to do in this life!
Vordius leaned back and laughed. Enough of that. You paid the bill and youre free to die. He turned to Uni. Well, do you know what to do? Ready to get to work?
Uni stood up from the table resolutely. All of a sudden, he realized that his body was lagging significantly behind his mind. I thought the main difficulty would be concentrating after several cups of wine. I was wrong. The difficulty will be getting back through the gate on my own two legs!
Uni imagined what he would look like crawling through the palace late at night, past the fearsome guards, holding his pass in his teeth. He laughed, hiccupped, and buried his face in Vordius giant shoulder.
Sorgius was ecstatic. Tell the truth! Havent you always dreamed of doing it? Uni realized that he had been thinking out loud.
Not a bad idea, Vordius growled. Lets help our friend up the career ladder. He grew up without a father. Who else can show him the path to take?
Youll carry him into the palace at night? I want to watch. What will your Luvia say? Arent you afraid to leave her alone at night?
Shut your mouth, peon, Vordius laughed. Holding Uni by the shoulders, he led the friends out of the tavern.
Chapter 3. Career Down the Drain
A large, blue fly dove down and scurried along the luxurious tile mosaic under Unis feet. The young archivist was so afraid to stir that even the insect sensitive to the most minute vibrations in the air took him for an inanimate object.
I do see what you are saying, young man, but I would still like to have a clearer explanation of what happened last night. Archive master Margio looked up at his employee with such a sullen face that Unis last hopes of a positive outcome were completely dashed. Do you have any idea what you have done?
II am very ashamed, Enel Margio. Honestly, it never entered my mind that things might end up this way. I dont even know
No, I see that you dont. The older man sighed. Uni, you have had the honor of working in our august institution for four years. For four years, you have served the government and had a unique opportunity to make a modest contribution to our work of accumulating and multiplying the contents of this great storehouse of our Empires knowledge. It was Saptius Astoldo, if you recall, who said that the essence of knowledge is wisdom, power and wealth, but it is also a heavy burden. You, Enel Virando, it pains me to realize, were not ready for the burden that we bear as the most educated people in Dashtornis. And to think you made such an excellent start. Assistant to a department master at twenty. And not just any department, but the Foreign Manuscripts department! That is one of the most difficult and respected areas of our work. And you had such a promising future. Just last month I was speaking with Enel Barko, and he quite seriously told me that you could rise to the post of senior assistant master in just a few years. After that, in another ten years, when Enel Gerzio departs for his much-deserved retirement, you could have been a bibliographer. But no, you destroyed all of that. Leveled it to the ground. Would you be kind enough to tell me what on earth brought you to the archive last night?
Thats what I am trying to explain. I asked Master Barko if I could work at night for a while.
You had his permission?
Well, I was going to ask him.
I see.
This isnt the first time Ive done it, honestly
Are you saying this isnt the first time you have broken into a closed government office inside the palace grounds while in a state of intoxication? I say nothing of your friends, who behaved like wild barbarians and used their official positions to try and cover up this awful misbehavior.
I apologize. I did not realize how it would look
Of course, you could not see. You couldnt even walk on your own. Your two friends carried you in. One of them displayed his imperial guard officers badge and physically threatened the sentries. Your other friend had no pass at all, but he threw handfuls of coins around in the most disgusting manner, which caused incredible inconvenience for the cleaners this morning. Because of this unpardonable behavior, I was forced to close down the building and crawl around on my own hands and knees to seize all of the unlawfully distributed currency. Im sure you understand that I will be providing a most detailed report to the Emperors chancery today. The chancery will identify the guilty parties and send letters to their superiors. As for you, young man, Im afraid we must part ways with you forever!
Enel Margio leaned back on the carved back of his wide, wooden Torgendam chair and stared off into space, as if the red and white vase in the corner (which featured a pictorial description of the stages of preparing parchment) interested him much more than the pitiful young man in front of him who had violated the tranquility of his institution.
I sincerely regret the time that we spent on your training. We have been too naïve in our belief in mans essential goodness, he said, his voice full of feigned sorrow.