“Both. She wished she could return something she took, and she wanted to apologize to her friends.”
“We’ve already forgiven her. Is there more about what she stole? If I can, I would right that wrong for her.”
“She took a book from your Sanctuary’s Repository. From the Vault, no less.” Crane’s eyes scrolled wildly. “It’s very early Early Middle Ages, more of a scroll that was later bound in leather. Essentially priceless, as it is the only one of its kind.”
“Can you see how she stole it? Was she acting alone?”
“Hmm. Let me go deeper.” Crane was silent much longer this time before responding. “She crafted an illusion, a double of the book, which she left in its place. Thus, as far as the Vault was concerned, she entered with a book of power and left with one.”
“That would take a mighty illusion to fool the Vault.” Jax nudged my arm with his elbow. “Would Zoe have been able to manage that by herself?”
“I doubt it. She was a solid five bibliothecary. Not nearly high enough level for that.”
“But she could tailor well enough to turn dead animals into living ones.” Kerry turned to me. “She could have tailored a lesser artifact to appear as a greater one.”
“Good point. We can have Travis look into that. See if it’s possible.”
“She had no accomplice.” The ghost’s eyes finally came to a halt and stared straight ahead.
“Any idea on where it may be?”
“No. I am limited to her memories.” He shrugged.
“What’s the title of the book?” Gigi asked.
“It is written in Latin. Fortunately, in my day, everyone learned Latin.” Crane shot us a look of superiority, as if it were our faults we’d never been taught the language. “A rough translation would beTheories on Petrification and its Reversal.”
Petrification?Why would a necromancer be interested in petrification?
“Do you know the name of the black magician?” Crane asked. “I may know something more.”
“Khaydari,” Kerry told him, “and he was known for experiments. Usually evil ones. Does that help?”
“Yes. Oh, yes. Khaydari was famous for seeking a way to truly resurrect someone from the dead, not merely raise corpsesas mindless zombies. Some speculate he wished to revive his lost love while others believe he was more interested in the financial rewards if his efforts should prove successful.” Crane shook his head. “Regardless, he was ruthless in his pursuit. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before the Council caught up with him.”
“With your obvious wealth of knowledge about this black magician, if you had to make a guess, why do you suppose he would want such a book?” Gigi smiled sweetly, trying to charm him.
And it worked. The ghost preened under her attention.
“Necromancers have always been interested in petrification. The reasoning is, if one can be petrified and restored to life, perhaps the same spellwork could be applied to the dead. However, encasing a living being in stone suspends life, whereas death ends it. Personally, I do not believe those who raise the dead will ever find success in this way.”
“Shall we discuss payment for my services?” Then the ghost steepled his fingertips and smiled. “Since the information was readily available and only needed to be interpreted for you, the debt is relatively minor.”
“Uh, sure.” I reached for my wallet. “How much?”
“Such things cannot be purchased with anything so common as dollars and cents. Only with word or deed may you pay your debt.”
“What does ‘with word’ mean?”
“An equal exchange of information. That is the coin in which I broker, after all.”
I cut my eyes at Mira. She shook her head slightly and I agreed. Then I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye and looked over to see Jax had put his hand over Gigi’s open mouth.
“We have none to share at this time.” Kerry frowned at the ghost. “What about deeds?”
“Fortunately, I have two errands needing done, so you have a choice. You may deliver a package or free a friend of mine.”
I was suspicious of a courier job which was equivalent to freeing someone, but asked for the details.
