(Untitled)

[nita_callahan]

The group comes through Nita's door and ends up in Grand Central Station. It's late; no one's around except some guards, somewhere, and probably Rhiow and her team. Nita and her passenger, having energy to spare, handle the translocation spell that gets them into the atrium of the Library itself

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[nita_callahan]

Nita leads the way through the silent library, headed for the Rose Reading Room. It makes sense, she thinks wryly. No better place to hide something than with a bunch of similar somethings.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock follows a little way behind, keeping - is it deliberately? - to the left where the deeper shadows fall. His dusty-dull clothing blends oddly with the darker shadows whenever they pause, fading unremarkably without actually disappearing.

The books look rather interesting, but the assassin resolutely does not so much as glance at the titles they pass on the way. It will not do to be distracted.

[kein_tannenbaum]

Nita’s silent friend is making Filif irritatingly aware of how awkward he still is in a human mochteroof. After a moment, though, he forces his concentration back to Nita and the task of sorting through his stored spells to have several at branch if needed.

[street_sparrow]

Gavroche keeps sneaking glances at the library as they walk.

He's never seen so many books.

[blue_ajah]

The deep blue silk of her dress makes the merest whisper of sound as she glides along with the others.

It is fitting, for a library, and in fact the Aes Sedai herself does not look inclined to speak. Her expression is one of diamond-clear focus.

Moiraine is well beyond exasperated with the actions of the Shadow, in all its forms. There are battles to come in many worlds, it seems. So be it -- this one, she means to see won.

[emptiedstreets]

Ronan trails after the woman in blue, hands jammed into his coat pockets.

"To these ends, in the practice of my Art," he whispers, each word another heavy tread of his boots, "I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life, when it is right to do so--"

His smile is sharp, almost predatory, with a deep and nameless joy lurking about the edges.

[wizard_kit]

Kit's almost hyperaware of everyone and everything, though unlike Filif he finds Havelock's shadowlike presence almost reassuring.

The location is what's still close to the top of his mind - it's almost painfully clever.

Ronan's still the only one who dares to speak.

[nita_callahan]

The wide door of the reading room is in front of them, and Nita takes a minute to talk it open. They pass through an anteroom, and then they're in the Rose Reading Room itself.

Nita takes a few strides into the room, slips her hands in her pockets, and tilts her head back to consider the clouds on the ceiling.

"Okay. If I were the Book, where would I hide? Anyone feel anything?"

She glances at Kit; he's seen it and read from it before.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock doesn't reply, but looks around at entrances and exits, the positioning of tables and chairs, before looking at the bookshelves.

Nothing, so far as he can tell, so he remains silent, to one side.

[kein_tannenbaum]

Filif's looking up, and around; if his berries were visible the peering would be almost comically pronounced. From what he knows of the Book, he thought it would be impossible to mistake-nearly the whole of Demisiv culture is tied up in fire and sunlight, and what is the moon but a reflection of the sun?

"I don’t," he rustles after a moment, half to himself.

[street_sparrow]

Gavroche is concentrating hard, but after a few moments, he has to admit defeat, shaking his head.

"No."

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine shakes her head, infinitesimally, and murmurs,

"I have some sensitivity to the presence of things of the Shadow, but an artifact such as this... no. I do not sense it, nor do I think it likely that I would."

A pause, and she asks,

"Would it respond to some sort of resonance, perhaps? If one could be generated?"

[emptiedstreets]

"Or," Ronan drawls, hunching up his shoulders, "we could use our tuppin' eyes and have a look-round, like. Isn't sense in throwing out power if it can be spared."

[nita_callahan]

"Kit and I used the Book's opposite to track it last time," Nita tells Moiraine, "but we don't have anything like that . . ."

She trails off, looking around. She knows it's here -- she can feel it niggling at the edge of her perception -- but that doesn't help much. Whoever hid it knew what they were doing.

Something catches her eye, back the way they've come -- an inscription over the door. Blinking, she steps closer to examine it.

And grins, slowly.

"They do have a sense of humor. Havelock?" She points up. "You're the most agile -- can you get up there and see if there's any way for the Book to be hidden behind that? Physically?"

[oneman_onevote]

He follows the line from her finger, then scrutinises the carving and the furniture around it.

"Certainly," he says absently, already heading back towards it.

He considers for a moment, brushing the wood and stone to try and judge the textures. After a moment he takes a chair from nearby to make reaching the ridge above the doorway easier, and pulls himself up, bracing his legs as far up in the frame as he can manage before pushing himself further up to examine the carving.

He taps it experimentally, then calls downwards.

"It sounds slightly hollow."

A hand lets briefly go of the frame to pull a thin-bladed knife from his belt, and he levers carefully at the edge. It's held down, but it's also moving enough that he increases his effort, gritting his teeth slightly. It's an awkward position. Just a little...

There. The carved wooden covering lifts, and Havelock carefully puts the knife away before pulling it further out. And underneath...

[nita_callahan]

There's a little space -- but no book, just a panel of slightly rougher wood.

Below him, Nita calls up, "Any luck?"