The Book of Forbidden Wisdom Read Online Free PDF Page A

anything about The Book of Forbidden Wisdom or the Spiral City. He burned my upper arm, where father couldn’t see it. But I said nothing. There was nothing I could say.
    So he took pleasure in burning me some more.
    Shortly after that, Kalo left for Shibbeth.
    Now, by the time Silky and I reached Kalo and Father, I was too angry to retreat into formula.
    â€œKalo,” I said. “You ruin things.”
    â€œYou will follow the protocols of greeting,” said my father, who had always found a refuge—­from anger, from grief, from his family—­in formula.
    â€œYou are welcome to me,” said Silky obediently. Father diminished her as no one else could.
    â€œI can’t say the same,” I said. But neither Silky nor I had a chance to say anything more to Kalo before the Arbitrator and his assistants were pushing us back to the house. The Arbitrator dealt with me directly, and he was gentle. After all, until it was proven otherwise, I was a lot of land on the hoof. When we were in the library, we all sat, except for the Arbitrator, who propped open the Land Book and the Marriage Book on my father’s desk.
    â€œMy Lord,” said the Arbitrator to my father. “Is this marriage now null?”
    My father said nothing. He looked as if he were in another world.
    â€œIt is,” said Kalo. “She doesn’t have my permission.”
    â€œI have Father’s,” I said.
    â€œShe does, ” said Silky.
    â€œAnd do you really think our father is still head of this house?” asked Kalo.
    â€œWould you dispute it?” asked my father, and I could see his rage building.
    â€œI just don’t want you to be burdened,” said Kalo. “And I have an even bigger merger in mind. One that will make us all rich.”
    â€œWe are rich,” my father said grimly.
    â€œRicher. Besides, she can’t marry without co-­consent,” said Kalo. And it was true. But he had been gone so long, it hadn’t seemed to matter. And besides, what was there to object to about a union between Leth and me?
    â€œYou can’t just come back and destroy my life,” I said, although I knew in fact he could. He just had. “The match with Leth is a good land match.”
    â€œThere will be a penalty if you renege,” the Arbitrator warned Kalo and my father. “And the Nessons will not be happy if you do.”
    â€œI’ll be able to pay that penalty tenfold,” said Kalo.
    That caught my father’s attention.
    â€œHow?”
    â€œMy land extends far into Shibbeth,” said Kalo. “More than that, I’m Steward and advisor to the greatest of the ‘Lidan Lords. They plant as I tell them, and they reap more grain than they can imagine. They pay me well, and I buy more land and make more gold. It’s a rather wonderful cycle.”
    â€œBe that as it may,” he said, “what’s wrong with Angel’s match?”
    â€œWhat’s wrong,” said Kalo, “is that I have a better one for her with a Lord of Shibbeth.” I recognized the crooked smile on Kalo’s face. He was about to inflict pain.
    I fingered the flowers around my neck; they had already begun to wilt. I took my hand away and reached for Silky. She came willingly to my side. She was shaking. I felt sick, dreading what was coming.
    â€œThrough Angel’s marriage,” said Kalo, “the ‘Lidans will bring untold land holdings and wealth to this family. And they won’t be our rivals anymore.”
    â€œ ‘Lidans,” said Father, “have been known to break faith.”
    And I have none in you, I thought, looking at Kalo.
    â€œI’ve dealt with them for years,” said Kalo. “And I’m going to seal an alliance with them—­through Angel’s marriage. An ironclad alliance.”
    Of course.
    Silky continued to tremble, but I didn’t think she had cause—­not for herself. Kalo