Elantris - Brandon Sanderson [197]
“It did,” Galladon said. “Not brightly, but when my father walked into a dark room, you could see his outline.”
“Well, the Dor was behind it,” Raoden explained. “Every Elantrian’s body is connected constantly to the Dor. The same link existed between Elantris itself and the Dor, though the scholars don’t know why. The Dor infused the entire city, making stone and wood shine as if some quiet flame were burning within.”
“It must have been difficult to sleep,” Karata noted.
“You could cover it up,” Raoden said. “But the effect of the lighted city was so spectacular that many Elantrians just accepted it as natural, learning to sleep even with the glow.”
“Fascinating,” Galladon said indifferently. “So, what does this have to do with slime?”
“There are fungi and molds that live on light, Galladon,” Raoden explained. “The Dor’s illumination was different from regular light, however, and it attracted a different kind of fungus. Apparently, a thin translucent film grew on most things. The Elantrians didn’t bother to clean it off—it was practically imperceptible, and it actually enhanced the radiance. The mold was tough, and it didn’t make much mess. Until it died.”
“The light faded …” Karata said.
“And the fungi rotted,” Raoden said with a nod. “Since the mold once covered the entire city, now the slime does as well.”
“So, what’s the point?” Galladon asked with a yawn.
“This is another string in the web,” Raoden explained, “another clue as to what happened when the Reod struck. We have to work backward, my friend. We are only now starting to learn symptoms of an event that happened ten years ago. Maybe after we understand everything the Reod did, we can begin to guess what might have caused it.”
“The slime explanation makes sense, my prince,” Karata said. “I’ve always known that there was something unnatural about that grime. I’ve stood outside in the rain, watching waves of water pound against a stone wall without cleaning it a speck.”
“The slime is oily,” Raoden said, “and repels water. Have you heard Kahar talk about how difficult it is to scrub away?”
Karata nodded, leafing through the tome. “These books contain much information.”
“They do,” Raoden said. “Though the scholars who wrote them could be frustratingly obscure. It takes a great deal of studying to find answers to specific questions.”
“Such as?” Karata asked.
Raoden frowned. “Well, for one thing, I haven’t found a single book that mentions how to make Seons.”
“None at all?” Karata asked with surprise.
Raoden shook his head. “I always assumed that Seons were created by AonDor, but if so, the books don’t explain how. A lot of them talk about the Passing of famous Seons from one person to another, but that’s about it.”
“Passing?” Karata asked with a frown.
“Giving the Seon to another person,” Raoden said. “If you have one, you can give it to someone else—or you can tell it who it’s supposed to go and serve if you should die.”
“So, a regular person could have a Seon?” she asked. “I thought it was only noblemen.”
Raoden shook his head. “It’s all up to the previous owner.”
“Though a nobleman’s not likely to Pass his Seon to some random peasant,” Galladon said. “Seons, like wealth, tend to say in the family. Kolo?”
Karata frowned. “So … what happens if the owner dies, and hasn’t told the Seon who to move on to?”
Raoden paused, then shrugged, looking to Galladon.
“Don’t look at me, sule,” Galladon said. “I never had a Seon.”
“I don’t know,” Raoden admitted. “I guess it would just choose its next master on its own.”
“And if it didn’t want to?” Karata asked.
“I don’t think it would have a choice,” Raoden said. “There’s … something about Seons and their masters. They’re bonded, somehow. Seons go mad when their masters are taken by the Shaod, for instance. I think they were created to serve—it’s part of their magic.”
Karata nodded.
“My lord Spirit!” called an approaching voice.
Raoden raised an eyebrow, closing the tome.
“My lord,” Dashe said as he rushed through the door. The tall Elantrian looked more confused than worried.
“What is it, Dashe?