Aeony stood, letting the wind from the open hole in the library wall, ruffle her long dark hair. She liked watching the librarians fixing a temporary cover over the holes where the turrets had been, they looked so keen and efficient.
"I feel we should do something for the entire City." She said. "Something to get the rebuilding organised and the injured healed."
Adamaz snorted at her, he had done it a few times lately. Aeony was tempted to dangle him from the tower roof one night, teach him a few manners. She didn't want to become as cruel as Silsk, but there would be times when some needed to be put in their place.
"Who would do it ?" Asked Adamaz. "The City no longer has a militia. There are a few guards employed by the tower, but their duties tend to be mostly symbolic these days."
"So, we just leave them to muddle by ?" She asked.
"It's what they've always done in the past." Said Adamaz. "They'll repair and rebuild and healers will do their best for the living and those that die will be mourned. Do you know who will do the most good out there in the City ?"
She gave him a smile, knowing he was off on one of his famous rants about the City.
"I'm sure you're going to tell me." She said.
"Podd and the strange foundling child that he took in, to be an apprentice." Said Adamaz. "It'll take them a few days, but they'll collect every scrap of every dead body in the City. Far better than them being dumped in the river, to poison the water."
Aeony found herself nodding in agreement.
"Every city needs a good bone collector, ours probably more than most." She answered. "I will continue to pay him a retainer to clear the streets, though I suspect he makes a good living from looting the bodies of the wealthy."
It was Adamaz's turn to give a knowing smile.
"Good." He said. "Serves them right for dying in the streets, instead of at home in bed."
The dark angel went right to the edge of the hole, looking down at the broken roof below.
"They walked the City last night, ripping off heads and killing at will." She said.
There was no need to say who the 'they' were; Adamaz knew she was talking about the creatures from the far rifts, the creatures who glowed blue in the dark.
"They were seen returning, just before first light." Said Adamaz. "We'll give them two days to settle down before repairing the roof."
Caspian was leaning out at a dangerous angle, so Aeony helped him to fix a strong canvas across half the hole in the wall. She liked Caspian; he was intelligent and versatile and would make a good head librarian, one day.
"Are you going to rebuild the turrets ?" She asked Caspian.
"Probably not, everything not built by Tomma-Goran has gone. Adamaz seems to think it's a warning of some kind." Replied Caspian. "We're likely to replace the windows as they originally were."
"Probably wise." She said.
Caspian didn't seem awkward around her, which pleased her. If half the rumours about his various adventures were true, he was going to be really important to the City. Not Vella though, there was something unsettling about the wife Caspian had chosen. Aeony returned to stand beside Adamaz, safely away from curious ears.
"You picked a good successor." She said.
"Yes, though I still think something needs to be done about his wife." He replied.
"I tend to agree with you, perhaps an accident." She said. "Once the City calms down of course."
"They've been reading about Gorshan." Muttered Adamaz. "Her idea."
So Vella had to be taken care of ! No doubt Caspian had friends as versatile as himself and they might discover secrets in Gorshan, secrets best left alone.
"I was thinking about the scrolls to give rebirth to my sisters." She said. "If it acts as a way to bring the City closer together, then it might be a good idea."
She'd never seen the ancient librarian look so happy.
"Good, good." He said. "I'll see Babaef, assuming he still lives."
"I need to feed." She answered. "I'll go to the Sorcerer's Guild on my way, see if there's any news on Babaef and his friends."
Aeony dropped from the open section of the window, building up speed. Then she unfurled her wings and soared over the City, looking at the destruction below. Very few of the population were out and about and even fewer were involved in rebuilding. That would change though, the City of the Lost God would thrive again. Aeony screeched, proclaiming her presence to all below.
