“We got something for you, too,” Bade said to Kudorin, glancing at Orinakin.
“It seemed like an unworthy gift at the time, although it has more significance now,” Orinakin said.
“We found a bound collection of all of Heir Voe’s books.” One by one, Bade lifted them from the trunk, stacking them on the table before Kudorin. By the end, they made a hefty pile. “We thought of giving them to Selorin, but Orinakin felt pulled to give them to you.”
Selorin had to admit, he wanted those books, but he was sure that Kudorin would let him read them.
With a slow breath, Kudorin stared at the books, hand hovering just above them. Murmuring to himself, he breathed again, his fingertips lightly stroking one book’s cover.
“What in the world did he write about?” Rini asked. “What is all of that?”
“Most of them are about his inventions and discoveries,” Bade said quietly, as everyone watched Kudorin. “He wants everyone to know what he knows, and to understand how he reached his conclusions. A few of them are more abstract, about the greatness of Jacacea and imperial pride. I think there are one or two on Soracism.”
“It’s in here,” Kudorin said. “What he thinks. How he thinks. How his brain works. What he cares about, who he is.” His thumb traced the edge of a book’s spine. “Thank you, Orinakin, Bade. This is a treasured gift.”
“He has to be in there somewhere,” Selorin agreed, eyeing the pile.
“Guess you’ll be up all night,” Talin said. “And if you don’t learn about Xio Voe, at least you’ll be really well informed on,” he glanced at a title, “human anatomy.”
Rini frowned at Kudorin through his binoculars. “When’s the last time you actually read a book?”
