Livia said, “I’m sorry, but for the sort of thing you’re looking to find, this is the most likely spot.” She gently touched his arm, which he found both reassuring and distracting. “My people, as you will no doubt discover, are predisposed to three, no make that four, issues. Glory, both military and commercial, comprise two of the four. The third is self-aggrandizement, for I will confess we are a vain culture. Lastly, pleasures of the flesh, which you would have discovered had you remained at the banquet last night.”

Amirantha tried to appear disinterested. “I’ve been to an orgy before, Livia.”

“As have I, and like you I left before it began, but what I’m trying to say is, if it’s not wealth, war, vanity, or lust, it’s in there.” She pointed to the massive mount of writings.

“So what you’re saying is that Richard and Martin”—he used Pug’s and Magnus’s false names—“are likely to find only officially blessed histories where they are researching.”

“No, they are finding the only histories not fed to the fire. However, there may be one thing or another in this mess that might provide them with a clue or two about what really happened in years past. However, for your research, any discussions of folktales, myths, superstitions, reports of encounters with the gods—not sanctioned by the temples, of course—or anything else you might find intriguing, it’s in there.” She again pointed to the mass.

Amirantha was silent a moment, then said, “I have three requests.”

“What may I do to accommodate you?” she said with a clear double meaning as she studied the still-handsome Warlock.

He smiled his most charming smile and said, “First, could you arrange to have a pot of hot water and some tea brought to that table over there? I will not risk spilling anything on these old volumes, but I do prefer to refresh myself from time to time.”

“Of course. What else?” she asked, touching his arm again.

“Could I have a ladder?” He inclined his head toward the mass and said, “It would be better for whatever is in there if I took the volumes off from the top down. A small ladder, ten feet tall or so, should serve.”

She laughed, and he found the sound of it and her look delightful. “Of course. I’ll have that sent along at once.”

“Could you provide me with a servant, to haul books aside if I don’t wish to look at them, and have him bring along some writing implements and paper or parchment as I wish to take notes.”

“Of course,” she said, though he noticed at once her manner was cooling.