CONQUERING THE CONQUEROR

pt.48

It was a busy day in the archives as Gabrielle worked alongside Sara reorganizing some of the writings. She stood below a ladder that the archivist was standing mid way up as she was handed scrolls from the shelves to be set on a nearby table for sorting later on.

GABRIELLE
Wait, this isn't anything like the other stuff I've seen in here.

Sara looked down at Gabrielle who was reading the label written on the side of one of the scrolls.

SARA
Why? What does it say?

Gabrielle looked up at Sara.

GABRIELLE
It says Plato.

SARA
Oh he's known as one of the great philosophers of our time.

Gabrielle eyed the scroll with curiosity for a moment as she spoke.

GABRIELLE
Philosophy? Huh, I wouldn't expect the Conqueror to enjoy reading such things.

SARA
Why not?

Gabrielle shrugged.

GABRIELLE
I guess I just always thought of the Conqueror as a really straight forward woman.

Sara chuckled as she climbed down the ladder to stand face to face with Gabrielle.

SARA
What did you think was stored in here all this time? Nothing but maps, treaties and strategies?

Gabrielle shrugged, feeling slightly embarrassed by her answer.

GABRIELLE
Kinda.

Sara smiled as she shook her head in mock disapproval as she took the scrolls that Gabrielle was holding and sat them on a table  before beganing (beginning) to walk away.

SARA
Come on, let me show you something.

Curious as to what Sara wanted her to see, Gabrielle followed the archivist through the large room until they reached a curtained off area that Gabrielle had seen plenty of times before, but still didn't know what laid (lay) beyond it as she hadn't had any reason to go behind it. That was until Sara pulled the curtain aside and motioned for Gabrielle to step inside.

GABRIELLE
What is all this?

Gabrielle looked around at the large section of books and scrolls that lined two full, tall walls, not too dissimilar to how the rest of the archive was organized.

SARA
This is where we keep what the lord Conqueror would call "the less practical writings and works"

The woman walked over to a shelf and after looking it over for a moment, placed the scroll that Gabrielle had found in its appropriate place as Gabrielle looked at the sheer number of items that lined the shelves with interest.

GABRIELLE
What do you mean "less practical"?

SARA
See for yourself.

Sara motioned to the shelves and Gabrielle looked at the various scrolls in front of her for a moment before picking one up completely at random and opening it to read.