Strong of Heart

CH.5 Knowledge is power

Henri kept a tight hold of the silver watch and note that the brigadier had given him. Perhaps it would have been better to tell his valet Planchet to get him to the National central library in one piece rather than as fast as possible, barely older than himself Planchet had a style of driving at best described as reckless but more accurately as Dominicidal, Planchet was the nephew of his father's valet Servewel who had been told to assign the under-butler to Alex as part of the ruse that he was still the heir. Planchet had been looking to take the role of first footman if Henri hadn't needed a valet himself, the young servant had managed to find himself as the person closest to the heir of the household and didn't even know it. He was going to be very powerful among the servants one day if he didn't kill his charge before then.

A squeal of rubber and henri's thoughts where interrupted by being thrown bodily to the floor by the deceleration. By the time he'd got his bearing's Planchet was standing by the open door.

"National central library, in record time if I might say so sir" The huge grin on the teenagers face at his automotive prowess started to slip as he noticed his employers glare.

"Next time Planchet I expect to still be seated when I arrive and not in such a state, if anyone saw an Armstrong rolling on the floor of their car what would they say" he took his valets proffered hand and exited the car.

"Sorry sir I'll be more careful next time." The pair began the walk from the kerb to the stairs at the front of the library, a pair of guards stood at the base of the stirs holding a rifle apiece and identical board expressions, the library held many sensitive records so there presence wasn't unexpected but henri had been expecting more given that many of the alchemical texts in the building in the wrong hands could untold amounts of damage. Their journey continued until they reached the main enquires desk. The old woman on the desk gave them a small smile.

"Can I help both you young men, if you're looking for the fiction section it's on the second floor?"

"No thank you madam" Henri placed the watch and note on the desk and watched the smile drop from her face. "I am here for this list of books" The little old woman slid her right hand off the top of the desk and under it. A moment later four soldiers emerged from a side room with weapons drawn

/

Henri walked down the steps of the library a full four hours later after a rigorous bout of questioning and a phone call to the brigadier that the library staff finally accepted that he hadn't stolen the watch, Planchet carried a small wooden crate with all the requested books, arriving at the car Henri took a book from the top of the pile.

A Trysteese on Weather patterns and there affects on the flight of birds.

It was ridiculous the level some alchemists would go to encode their works, checking the stamp inside it had been almost fifty years since this work had been archived. Why was no-one interested in atmospheric alchemy? Such a powerful branch of alchemy was stagnating because of the skill and power necessary where so high.

First thing was to get home and decode these works.

"Home Planchet. Fast as you can"

A moment later he slammed back in his seat, book tumbling from his hand.

"PLAAAAAAAAANCHEEEEET"