"Friend Mohandar," said Artanis reproachfully, "why have you not told us of such a place as this before?"

"Friend Artanis," replied Mohandar, not using Artanis's formal title, "you had no need of such information. After all, your people have preservers. You have living embodiments of memories who advised your Conclave. We dark templar utilize a technological substitute—one that maintains our individuality. Why would we need to tell you of our Sanctuary of Wisdom when such 'sanctuaries' walked among you?"

A good enough explanation, but Rosemary realized—as did everyone present—that the leader of the Nerazim was cannier than this simple, self-effacing explanation would convey him as. He didn't tell because he had had an ace in the hole. But now the need had arisen, and he had revealed the existence of this place.

"The tenders of this place, the Keepers of Wisdom, will likely be able to assist Jacob and Zamara with the process of transferring Zamara's essence to a crystal. Rosemary, you spoke of a crystal that you and Jacob found in the chambers beneath the surface of Aiur?"

Rosemary nodded, sensing a renewal of interest in her from Zekrath and also from Selendis. "Yeah. Zamara seemed to think we'd need that crystal."

"She may find all that she needs at the Alys'aril, but perhaps not. The alysaar are trained to extract memories from ordinary dark templar, one at a time. We keep them in the Chalice of Memories. A preserver, however, has literally billions of memories. Perhaps Zamara was wise to bring a crystal from so powerful and ancient a place. Regardless, eventually her path will lead her and Jacob there. I am surprised she even knew about our abilities to do this thing."

"She's a preserver," Rosemary said. "She knows a lot."

"Mohandar, I am deeply grateful you have chosen to tell us of this place," said Selendis. "Otherwise I fear we would not have been in time. We can only hope that Zamara learns of its existence as well. In the meantime I will travel there with Rosemary and see if the preserver awaits us. If she does not, we will have to take other measures to—"

"No." Mohandar's blunt response silenced Selendis in midthought. "It is a sacred place to the dark templar. We alone will travel there."

Ah, crap, thought Rosemary. We were finally going to do it and now it's going to get all tied up in the " who gets to go" issue. She didn't bother to even try to censor her thoughts. She'd had it about up to here with protoss red tape and chafed for action.

"The Shelak have long tended the things of the Wanderers from Afar," murmured Zekrath. "And yet we share them with all protoss —even your tribe, shadow hunter."

Mohandar's eyes flashed. Rosemary had sudden confirmation, as if there was any doubt, that this ancient being was far from nonthreatening.

"The xel'naga created us all, Zekrath. All protoss, including the dark templar. To forbid any of us entry to such things would be indefensible and foolish. But this is not of the xel'naga's doing, or of any Aiur protoss. This place we built, we, the exiles, banished from our home that we loved so dearly. It arose from our experiences, to serve our needs. It is nothing of yours. For me to even speak of it, toencourage a preserver to travel there, to aid her—so much is already a great gesture on our part."

"We understand and appreciate the place this holds in dark templar history," Artanis began.

"I am far from certain that you do," Mohandar replied dryly.

"Then come with us," said Selendis. Rosemary whirled to stare at her. She'd have thought the executor would argue this point. "Come with us, Mohandar. Let this be more than a gesture. Let this be a healing, a new beginning. The knowledge a preserver has can serve us all. You have the ability to keep that knowledge from vanishing. You know full well no one in this hall will reach agreement on this if you insist on being the sole protoss to oversee it. If you truly mean what you say, if you truly wish to aid Zamara and Jacob and bring an end to the malice that is Ulrezaj once and for all, then withdraw your sole claim to this expedition."

Utter mental silence fell in the chamber. Everyone was waiting on Mohandar's reply. There was no way to force his hand; he alone knew where this mysterious library was. Rosemary knew that Selendis was right. There was no way in hell this council would agree to let this be handled as a dark templar matter. Mohandar was no fool, he had to know this too.

Mohandar was still for a long time, his thoughts sealed away from them. Finally his eyes half-closed and his shoulders hunched in amusement.

"Well played, Executor. Well played indeed. All right. I would ask you to remember that this place is very important to us. I will tolerate no disrespect."

Selendis stood utterly straight. "My templar will be so informed. There will be no disrespect."

Mohandar turned his gaze to Rosemary, and his thoughts were for her alone.

"I have little love for your people, terran. If I could exclude you, I would. But it appears that you are inextricably involved in this situation. Know this—you may be leaving Shakuras, but you are still being evaluated by the protoss. Your actions may confirm our opinion of terran females as established by Kerrigan, or give us pause for thought."

"Yeah, I've figured that one out by now," Rosemary retorted. "Let's just get this show on the road, shall we?"

Anger, irritation, and amusement all vied within Mohandar for a moment, then he withdrew from her mind.

"It is agreed then," said Artanis. "Selendis may choose whatever templar she sees fit to accompany her. Rosemary, you will yet be of help, I think. Mohandar, we will take whomever you appoint to represent you in this matter. I—"

Vartanil flung himself on his knees before the hierarch. "Artanis, I beg you, permit me to attend as well!"

Artanis blinked. "You have already endured much, Vartanil. Surely you would prefer to remain here, to find friends and family and recover from your ordeal."

"I have grown to respect not only Zamara but the humans she has deemed worthy to accompany her," Vartanil said. "I have done much harm under the influence of Ulrezaj, our enemy. I was his tool. I would redeem myself by acting now for the right cause. Hierarch—I gave my word to Rosemary that I would not leave her side until Jacob and Zamara had been safely recovered. You would not have me be forsworn?"

Artanis was at a loss and looked at Selendis. Both templar were still for a moment, and Rosemary realized that a private conversation was taking place. Finally Artanis nodded.

"Very well. You will have a chance for your redemption. Your desire for such does you credit. But you must swear to obey the executor. Your fondness for the humans must not override your loyalty as a protoss."

Vartanil got to his feet, his eyes shining, his body straight and tall. Rosemary thought that at this moment he looked every bit as noble as any of the templar she'd seen.

"The two are not in opposition. You will see. Serving one serves the other. But yes, Hierarch, I do swear."

"Then go. Make haste. Executor Selendis, while your group ventures forth to Ehlna and the Alys'aril, others will be investigating other worlds. We will prepare for the arrival of the preserver."

Selendis bowed deeply, respectfully. "It shall be done. En taro Tassadar, Hierarch."

"En taro Tassadar, Executor."

And heaven help us all, added Rosemary. They were going to need it.