Chapter 15

Summary

• The chapter opens with Livira, a new library worker, trying to understand the role of a house reader, a person who reads aloud for wealthy families and sometimes translates non-empire language texts.
• Livira learns that the library is a source of truth and power, and that the king's authority is based on revealing the truth of the library's contents.
• She meets Master Jost, a high-ranking librarian who leads expeditions into the library and mixes with social elites.
• Livira learns that the empire has fractured into several kingdoms, but the empire's king, King Oanold, believes he has the right to control the library and therefore holds power over the kingdoms.
• She then has a surprise encounter with Serra Leetar, a wealthy student who has access to the library through an acquaintance, Lord Algar.
• Livira attends a lesson with other library trainees, learning to read and write.
• She hears about Lord Algar again, and she learns he's part of the king's household. This revelation triggers a surprise visit from the Lord himself, who gives them a task of finding a book in two days.
• They face the risk of one of them being kicked out if they fail to find the book. Livira learns that the library is larger than she initially imagined.