Xenograg stands amid the shelves of the Tower of Courtesy's library. He is looking for a particular passage attributed to Kalfyi San, but cannot remember which book he read it in. So here he stands, opening each scroll and codex within the section devoted to the wisdom of the great philosopher.

"Ah, here it is!" he exclaims at last.

"Shhh!" comes the woman librarian's rebuke. Xenograg gives an abashed smile and a nod of apology. He carries the scroll to an open table and sets it down. Setting two cloth-rapped paperweights to hold the scroll open, Xenograg begins copying the desired passage down in his workbook. As with most such tasks, Xenograg must translate Kalfyi San's lesson into his own language, despite both being written in pictographic scripts.

Xenograg finishes his transcription. He pockets his workbook then rolls up the scroll. The librarian comes and take the scroll from him — perhaps not wanting to risk Xenograg mis-shelving the document.

"Thank you, madam," is all Xenograg says. He walks out of the library and the Tower of Courtesy. The midmorning air is still chilly. Summoning the wind, Xenograg flies down to Jenli and his stabled pony. With luck, an uneventful ride out of the mountains will have him outside the Barrier before nightfall.