by Bill Albert
“Lincilara, can you see it? Gallif asked the fairy who was circling above them.
“No,” she said with some confusion. “I could see its trail when it flew and it just ends at Gallif,” she said and zoomed down and hovered in front of her. She took a deep sniff of Gallif and thought for a moment before she continued. “I can’t smell it on you,” she said scratching her head, “but there is a trace of it around you.”
Gallif took a few quick steps away from them and then faced them with her arms spread wide. “Now try it.”
Lincilara closed in on her and sniffed again and quickly said, “I can’t pick up anything this time. The smell just faded out when you moved away. It doesn’t make any sense, but it looks like it’s gone,” she shrugged.
“I hear something,” Luvin said turning to look ahead of them.
The other side of the daimon’s cavern had three different tunnels leading off into the walls. They were jagged and broken but were almost the same size.
“Did you hear echoes of the daimon?” Gallif asked hearing nothing.
“No,” Jakobus said moving to stand next to Luvin. “It’s not a howl. It’s …?”
“…beautiful,” Lincilara finished his thoughts as she hovered between Jakobus and Luvin.
“It’s familiar,” Luvin said nodding. “We’ve heard this before,” he turned to Jakobus.
“Yes,” Jakobus said patting Luvin on the shoulders. “We have heard this before. After we left the school,” he continued as he turned to Gallif. “We were working our way westward but kept getting blocked by larger parts of the mountain. At one point we found ourselves in a dead end where we couldn’t see anything, but we could hear something.”
“It sounded like singing but it was so far away we couldn’t make out any words,” Luvin added.
“Where was it coming from?” Gallif asked.
“I don’t know,” Jakobus shrugged.
“There was so much dust and dirt in the air we couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of us,” Luvin remembered. “It didn’t carry very far and we lost it pretty quick.”
“Lincilara, where is the library?” Gallif glanced to the fairy near her shoulder.
Lincilara sniffed and then darted across each of the opening so fast she was back at Gallif’s shoulder before she knew she was gone. “There,” Lincilara said pointing down the right tunnel. “I can smell it from here and that’s where the music is coming from.”
Gallif started toward the cave with the flame and frost swords ready for anything and the rest followed. They entered the right-hand tunnel and started to explore. Gallif listened carefully but could discern no specific lyrics, just a steady stream of tones instead of a traditional song. At first, she suspected it was just a bunch of random sounds, but she could occasionally hear repetition and she picked up some sense of order. There were no sudden shifts or alterations in the notes, but a steady and methodical drift. It was quite pleasant, she thought, even beautiful. She wondered who else had been in the library other than the elf.
After a sharp turn there was a light up ahead and soon they came out of the tunnel staring in amazement. Lincilara’s excited descriptions had been an understatement. The library wasn’t just beautiful, it was breathtaking.
Outside the tunnel, inside an impossibly large natural rock colored cavern, was a wide flight of stairs leading down into a courtyard. The courtyard from the steps to the cave had been meticulously carved out of rock and stone. The different rainbow colors had been put in place and chiseled to resemble a field of flowers. There were yellow and red rock sunflowers nearby that were as tall as Luvin. The seeds were so detailed it was difficult to resist the urge to pull one and taste it.
There was a patch of red stone roses and a brown rock birdbath. A yellow stone bird sat on the edge drinking the blue marble water with waves etched across the surface. There were small green rock bushes scattered across the lawn with a ruby butterfly gently resting on a branch.
Beyond the courtyard was a tan colored five-foot-tall wall with brown and green rock vines curling up its pillars. The wall was unbroken except for an arch with no apparent gate. Beyond that was the library.
At each corner of the library stood an ancient natural oak tree nearly two hundred feet tall. The trunks were so massive and had been planted so close to the building that it was hard to tell where the trees ended, and the walls began. The walls of the building were flat and smooth and made from white marble slabs three stories high and one hundred and fifty feet wide. The window frames in the top two stories were shiny and, though there was light everywhere, a specific light source could not be seen. There was no glass in the windows, yet they were large enough to see a countless number of books inside. The bottom floor had no windows but massive cathedral arch doors.
There was a definite change in the music, and they could hear singing.
The power that they have
More than any know
The strength to change the world
Or a single thought or tome
No warning for where they come
Nor sound nor sight nor smell
Yet shadows in their wake
That grow even in light
Continue to spread like a fire of wild
Or ripples from the stone in the lake
As strong as day and gentle as night
A tyrant’s army full of hate
Can be stopped with only one
The power that they have
As they stepped into the courtyard they were immediately surrounded with the aroma of flowers and grass. Gallif’s ability to read nature was alive with mixed warnings. Part of her instincts were telling her this had to be cast but her own senses told her they were very authentic. As they approached the center arch in the wall the singing abruptly stopped. They all stopped and looked inside the archway towards the library.
On the other side of the wall, looking back at them stood an elf. She was standing in a light plain gown and holding a book.
A thousand years of racial hatred stirred their blood and their hands went to their weapons. Only Gallif managed to leave her weapons sheathed but had her grip on the swords. Lincilara was just as shocked and grabbed Gallif’s back but kept peeking over her shoulder.
“I am Alejan,” the elf said. “I am the current keeper of the library. Welcome.”
Blinks and Luvin pulled their weapons and moved forward, but Gallif firmly grabbed their arms and held them back.
“Let them go,” Alejan said calmly. “From outside the wall they cannot attack me. Actually, from inside here I cannot attack you even if I wanted to. The casts on the walls will prevent that. Inside here the casts on the weapons don’t work either. It doesn’t remove them; it just puts them on hold once you are inside.”
Gallif released them but a stern look with her green eyes warned them to stay back.
“I will also warn you that there must be at least a single person inside the walls at all times,” Alejan continued. “I am unable to leave right now but I very much want to go.”
“You could have lied to us,” Gallif said.
“I know, but you don’t need another reason to hate me,” Alejan said keeping her eyes on them.
Alejan’s words struck them with the same certainty as an arrow and Jakobus, Blinks and Luvin put their weapons away. Gallif took her hands from her swords and walked forward until she was a single step away from the archway.
“My name is Gallif.”
“Welcome to the library. As I said I am Alejan.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Eighty-one years,” she responded after a few seconds thought. “After a while it gets difficult to tell the years apart let alone the months and weeks.”
“You don’t look old enough to have been here eighty-one years,” Gallif said suspiciously.
“You don’t age like normal in here. The trees continue to grow,” she said pointing to the mighty oaks, “but you do not. It’s part of the
trade.”
“Trade?” Jakobus asked cautiously.
“Yes. Life, as I am sure you are aware, is full of trades. Inside here you just don’t age. You can die, mind you, it isn’t immortality, but you do not grow old. I guess you would say I look quite well for my age.”
None of them were sure if it was supposed to be a joke or not so they did not respond.
“What do you do in there?”
“I clean some, there is a great deal of dusting to do, but mostly I read. Your next question will most likely be how do I read the dragon language,” she said holding up a thick leather-bound book. The cover had gold embossed letters, but the dragon alphabet was indecipherable to them. “I do not. Another trade is that once you are inside the books are readable by everyone. Something which should be true in any library. Do you agree?”
“I do,” Jakobus boasted.
“You are looking at me oddly,” she said to Blinks and Luvin who looked away quickly. “You are not used to an animal that talks clearly and distinctly.”
“I’m afraid we aren’t used to it even though we know the truth,” Gallif told her.
Alejan could not hide her surprise in Gallif’s revelation. She took a deep breath before softening. “That would explain why you are even speaking to me. I’m so used to the reactions I got from those who’ve been through here before.”
“Before? What is she talking about?” Lincilara whispered to Gallif.
“I’m saying that you are not the first to get in here,” she said looking at the fairy. Alejan’s pointed ears were sticking straight up and she smiled as the fairy shivered and hugged Gallif’s shoulder. “Apparently you know more truths than just the history of my race. You are the first ones to make it this far in two years since the daimon was left here.”
“Left here?” Jakobus asked in confusion. “Daimons are not left anywhere. They are expelled from hell and thrust into places.”
“No, I’m afraid you are wrong. There was a very powerful tribe that came here and used the daimon as a guard. They were the last to make it to the library, but their violent and savage ways turned them against each other. The daimon has been there ever since. How did you get past it?”
“Defeated it in combat,” Gallif said.
Alejan again failed to hide her surprise. She looked them over carefully and nodded respectfully at them. “Then it has returned to hell where its masters await. Along with the Galli druids who left it here,” she said looking straight at Gallif’s green eyes for a reaction.
Gallif and Jakobus glanced at each other in shock and she took a step forward to stand with the edge of her toes against the base of the arch. “The Galli? Are you sure?”
“Yes, they bore the orange and green leaf symbol of the druids but were filled with blood lust. So, tell me please, what is it that brings you here?”
“Information,” Gallif said plainly. She nodded for Lincilara to stay back and took a step forward. Lincilara hovered near her but kept her distance. “To remove the curse on the elves.”
“Finally,” she sighed, and all of her pretense vanished leaving sadness in her voice. “How did you know that truth?”
“A dragon was left alive inside Starpoint Mountain by casting the opposite of what you experience. As long as he stayed there he aged but did not die.”
“And now? Has he joined his dragon ancestors?” She waited until Gallif nodded before continuing. “Then I hope the daimon enjoys him.
“Will we be able to find it here?”
“Yes.”
“How do we find it?”
“Once you are in here it will find you. A proper library like this one will not only give you what you want but what you need as well.”
“Will you help us?”
“No. If you want it you will have to come into the library and when you do that I will leave.”
They looked at each other for a long time then Gallif simply stepped through the archway and into the library.
Luvin bolted forward, but Jakobus and Blinks grabbed him and held him back.
“Let me go, damn it,” Luvin yelled.
“No, stay there,” Gallif shouted to try and calm him.
“I won’t let you stay in there alone,” he pleaded.
“Luvin, remember, I’m dying anyway,” she said running her pale fingers through her faded hair. She put her other hand on her belly and swallowed several times. She was relieved at just how calm it felt.
Luvin’s resistance faded as he realized she was right. If she didn’t age inside the library than neither would the tarna harvesting inside her. He gave her an apologetic look as Jakobus and Blinks released him and she nodded that it was okay.
“I need your permission to go,” Alejan said facing Gallif. “That way the cast will change from me to you,” she explained. Alejan handed the book she had been reading to Gallif as if it were a fragile work of glass. Gallif embraced it and cradled it in her arms.
“Thank you,” Alejan said softly. “May I go?”
“Yes,” she nodded.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, Alejan stepped out of the library for the first time in more than eight decades. She took a deep breath then walked to the bottom of the stairs while Jakobus, Blinks and Luvin parted to let her through. She turned to look at them as she got to the first step. “It’s perfectly safe for you to go in now. Since she’s released me, and is now the keeper, you are free to come and go as you please.”
Luvin just barely beat Lincilara through the archway to join Gallif. Blinks followed and Jakobus said a silent prayer before joining them as well.
Alejan walked methodically to the top of the stairs before turning and looking at Gallif again. “Page 42,” was all she said before disappearing into the dark tunnel.
Gallif looked at the book and was surprised that she could read the language. She was even more taken aback by the “Eleven Prayers” title. She opened the book and flipped to page forty-two and read out loud.
The mercy of the stranger
Better is nothing
A hand of kindness
From someone then unknown
Or a word of gentle from the shadows
Though origins lost
Or never found
A single life can it save
Do not ask
Or question who
Accepts the same from danger
And remember the blessing as others will
The mercy of the stranger
TWENTY-TWO: WEAPONS OF CHOICE
“I don’t suppose there’s a chance this place has a book on repairing armor,” Blinks said looking at the tattered leather he wore.
Gallif couldn’t help but smile at the handsome blond and said, “You have no imagination.”
“Well, I’m imagining where a book on armor repair would be,” he said as they looked through the entrance into the actual library. “How many books do you think are in here?”
“Millions,” Jakobus whispered in awe. The books were in countless shapes and sizes in rows in every direction.
“It smells great!” Lincilara cheered fluttering up and down. There was a definite spring aroma everywhere and though they could not see a source they could hear water running and something squeaking.
Gallif called their attention and said. “For the time being we are pretty rushed. We don’t know what happened to either Marassa or Acrufix, but we know Marassa is a threat. Keep your eyes open for her. We have to spread out and try and cover as much territory as we can.”
“What about what’s happening inside you?” Luvin asked.
“I feel pretty good right now,” she said despite the fact that her hair was still pale red. “The elf, no, Alejan,” she corrected herself remembering that the elves had individual names as well, “said she’d stopped aging once she was inside. I’ll be okay for now. Get moving and watch out for Marassa.”
“We could take her,” Blinks said confidently. “The elf said that cast weapons lost their effects here.”
/> Don’t forget that Marassa is a very powerful caster. I don’t know what kind of counter casts or curses she knows. It could give her quite an advantage.”
“Great,” Blinks said dropping his shoulders. “Maybe I should just take off my armor now and save her the trouble of having to find me before damaging it more.”
“I’m going to start at the oak tree in the center,” Gallif announced. “Blinks, I want you to start at the elm tree and work your way back here. Jakobus and Luvin, I want you to start on the second layer balcony. Go as fast as you can but be careful,” she ordered them as they fanned out in the proper directions.
Blinks sadly patted his torn armor and started his search. He paused briefly at each intersection and glanced at the titles to get a general idea of the subject matter. Though the sections were not specifically named he could tell he was in the area focusing on animals. An entire row of books six shelves high and fifty feet long were on freshwater fish alone. He grabbed one and read Fictochion Clapper Amero but put it back when he couldn’t tell if it was the name of the fish or the author.
He walked five columns down the next aisle until he came to a dead end. He looked at the books in this section and found there were no titles on either the covers or spines. He looked again and realized they were stacked in different shades of colors. There were four dozen books of various shades of red, thirty-two yellow shaded covers, and hundreds of volumes of green tinted books. He looked at a golden colored book and found a detailed listing of the exact number of gold leaves found on the same trees counted six times a year for a hundred years.
“Knowledge is important, but this is ridiculous,” he gasped and slid the book back to its proper spot.
Blinks walked out of the dead-end aisle and immediately turned down the next. He stopped and gasped at the biggest and meanest bear he had ever seen in his life. It was standing on its hind legs with its fore claws and fangs glistening and sharp. He pulled his broadsword and drew back waiting for the beast to come charging him.
Nothing.
He looked back and waited for it to advance, but it failed to move at him. He took a deep breath and realized that the thundering heartbeat he heard was his own. He took a few side steps and stopped quickly when he realized the eyes did not follow him. He stood steady and waited a full minute before feigning a growl at the bear to see if there was any reaction. Slowly, his muscles tense, he put a hand on the chest of the furry animal. He felt no warmth of a living body but only the hard resistance of a stuffed carcass.