As the Illuminated Cartographer’s pulse slowed, Bridget looked around at the library. On the surface, it was burned to ash, hundreds of years of history charred and blistered beyond recognition. Maps they could no longer travel through, precious tomes they could no longer go to for ancient wisdom, the past now turned to embers.
But as she looked closer, Bridget could see that not all was lost. There were layers of maps under the burnt ones, where the chaos of the Illuminated Cartographer’s room had protected what lay beneath. Not all the books were ruined in the fallen shelves and even the globe lay on its side, dented, but not broken.
This was not the end. Not on her watch.
She pulled away from John’s hand and her heart almost broke to see the pain in his eyes. He would understand one
