The Memory of Stone — Michelle West

Novella of 21k words.

The Guild of Makers has long been the most powerful guild in the Empire. Gilafas ADelios, the man who rules it, is therefore one of the most powerful men in the land.

But he has never been confident in his ability as an Artisan, and he is unprepared for the newest entrant into the Guild of Makers -- a young girl from the Free Towns whose is so profoundly talented she may rival the legendary ability of the guild's founder.

On the eve of the failure of the two great artifacts given the Kings centuries past, the fate of the Empire rests on the shoulders of an uncertain man and a girl who can hear the voice of the stone in the tower of Artisans -- if they survive.

This story takes place in Averalaan, in the Empire of Essalieyan, the universe of Michelle West's novels.