The Scrollrunners

Chapter 16 | I Can Write My Name

"I have come here today to tell you a story." Talibah projected her defiant voice into the crowd below her as she stood up on the base of the statue of Alexander the Great in the middle of the agora teeming with spectators. "A story about pain and secrets and treason, but also about love and joy and discovery."

The crowd, which had been quite rowdy with anticipation mere moments before, suddenly quieted to a faint hush of whispers and rustlings.

The girl's dark eyes burned through the curious, hateful, loving, hopeful, and unbelieving eyes of all around her. Her purple toga floated behind her and her wild, tangled hair became ever more so in the breeze that seemed to pull her towards the ocean at the city's northern edge.

"I grew up in the Library of Alexandria. For as long as I can remember, I was surrounded by all the world's wonders of knowledge, I dined with its most brilliant minds, and I walked past classrooms hosting seminars and lectures and collaboration in every field. I was exposed to all these things—I was right at the cusp of everything the world has to offer—at a distance. I myself was not allowed to join in this endeavor of learning, I was barred from putting my own mind to the test.

"This should not be a surprise to any of you. However, despite being denied access to a world of possibility because of my gender, still, I learned. I soaked that knowledge in whenever I could. And when listening around corners and sneaking into lectures wasn't enough for me, because it was not enough for me, I took my education into my own hands."

By this point the whispers in the crowd had risen. Some rose in outrage, some in appreciation, some in pure shock. Yet she held her audience rapt. She had to—her fate and the fate of all of Alexandria depended on it.

"Since I wasn't given the opportunity of a formal education, I began to take. I stole and I lied many times. But I will not apologize for that. I'm so glad I did those things. Best decision of my life." At this, her young but wise face broke into a wide smile.

"I can solve long mathematical equations, I can tell you about the stars and planets in the sky, I can quote famous plays and philosophers, I can write myself a story about a girl who rules the desert, I can tell you about foreign lands far across the sea, I can read ancient tomes or the inscription on the statue I now stand upon which tells the story of our great city of Alexandria." Talibah paused, her mouth set in a grim line. "I can also read the laws and restrictions that would forbid me from doing so. I could write my name in big letters in the sand across this agora, if I wanted to. With all this knowledge and ability, I feel like I can do anything. But I guess I actually can't do just anything, can I?

"Neither can your daughters. Nor can your sons if you don't have the wealth for it..." Another pause as Talibah let the weight of her words sink into the people who clung to her every word. If one looked closely enough, they would see the embers in her dark, knowing eyes now sparking with fire. "But what if we could all attend the Library to learn and grow and experience? Think of how much better this already legendary city could be? How much potential would we have to offer the world, if only we were given the opportunity to foster it?"

Talibah's voice was rising now, and her chest was heaving with emotion.

Stay calm. Stay calm. She chanted this to herself, even as she knew staying calm was the last thing she wanted to do. But she had to make them listen to her.

"Illiteracy and denying people the right to an education are the pillars of oppression. It's how those in power keep us down and unable to fight for ourselves, to speak for ourselves, to write for ourselves. But I can write my name. Everyone should be able to write their name, and read it. That is power."