Shadows of Redact

by RG Long

  Casually, Blume reached her hand back out to try to grab the book off the shelf.

  The large eyed librarian cleared his throat.

  “With only the books that are in your possession, miss.”

  Blume looked between him and the book quickly. It was just one more book to add to their collection. They had taken nearly forty or more from the section on wars and Rerial. What hard harm would it do to have this one last book?

  “This way please!” one of the older ladies said as she waved them in the direction of the stairs.

  The others had taken up the same course.

  “This way! This way! The library is closing! This way!”

  Blume do not have a doubt in her mind now they were trying to keep her from the section. She didn’t know why. But as the three of them walk down the steps of the library, Blume knew one thing was very clear to her.

  She needed that book.

  And she would get it.

  20: Chapter

  When Ealrin returned with his father to their home above the hanger, he was greeted with the sight of their dining room table filled with books. Teresa was pouring over them, taking notes and flipping between pages of several tomes that were open all at once. Some of them had maps and diagrams, while others were solid blocks of text. Urt stood in the corner with a rather small book, reading it as he leaned against the wall.

  Before he was able to take much of this in however, Blume ran up to him and began to speak very quickly and waving her hands in the air in the way she did whenever she was excited.

  “Ealrin! There’s a section in the library at the school of magic on runes! It might be what we need to help us understand Jurgon’s old book! Even Holve it said that he couldn’t read all the runes that were in there. Maybe we’ll be able to decipher it and figure out some more what the book’s telling us! About demons and magic and Gilia!”

  Ealrin stuttered a few words before his father stepped in.

  “Well now!” Lord Evan said as he took in the sight of his dining room being turned into a study hall.

  “I’m glad to see that your trip to the school of magic was so profitable.”

  Teresa looked up from the book she was reading with a look that Ealrin couldn’t quite decipher.

  “You were right, Lord Evan,” she said plainly. “People of Rerial really do not like the Skrilx.”

  “Oh?” Lord Evan said. Ealrin watched his face fall. “I hope you didn’t have too much trouble?”

  “I almost got into a magical duel with the headmistress of the school but that’s beside the point,” Blume said waving a hand.

  Ealrin had a hard time understanding how that would be something that didn’t illustrate a point.

  “The librarians stopped us from retrieving a book on runes. I thought maybe your dad would be able to get it for us. He is a Commodore after all.”

  Lord Evan chuckled.

  “I am over fleet of airships,” he conceded. “I’m afraid I have no sway over School of speakers. Besides, Headmistress Cactus is not exactly someone who I would like to be on ill terms with. Her speakers allow our ships to fly, after all. What’s this about a book?”

  Blume began to explain Lord Evan how they had found a book with ancient ruins and followed its markings to find the Everring Tree and detailed a few more of their other adventures.

  Ealrin walked around the table to see what Teresa was reading. Each of the books was about the war between Rerial and the Skrilx. Teresa’s own notes were scattered on several pages over the table.

  “It seems like you’ve had a profitable evening,” Ealrin said looking at one book that detailed the battle between the Skrilx and Rerial that occurred close to the capital.

  Teresa looked up at him.

  “So much of this reminds me of what happened in Thoran. Except this time, it seems like Rerial was able to enslave or kill an entire continent of Skrilx. Until there was an uprising of course.”

  Lord Evan laughed at something Blume had said. Ealrin could see however, that the chuckle did not quite reach his eyes. He moved around her and came over to the table where Teresa was sitting.

  “There’s more to be read there,” he said to her. “It Is a very complicated matter with several unfortunate decisions on both sides.”

  Urt snorted.

  Lord Evan inclined his head towards him.

  “I mean no offense,” he said. “And I make no excuses for some of the terrible things our country did. But like we said, our new king is interested in peace, not war. That’s evident by how he has treated the Court of Three. We’ll be leaving in the morning to retrieve that Skrilx companion of yours and speak about the treaty between our two nations. I believe it will be good for the king to get out of Rerial for a small time. After the excitement today, I’d like to make sure that he surrounded only by his most loyal subjects.”

  “What happened today?” Teresa asked. “We were inside the school of magic for the entire day.”

  Ealrin cleared his throat and opened a book on the table as he spoke his next sentence.

  “I may have saved a king from an assassination attempt.”

  Everyone started talking at once in Ealrin’s direction. He realized that such news would probably seem wild to other people. But for their group of companions, it was more like business as usual.

  “Who was it?”

  “What happened?”

  “Are you OK?”

  At the exact moment all this chaos was happening, several servants walked out into the dining area with heavy laden platters with what looked like a wonderful meal.

  “Let’s discuss this after we clear away all these books and eat some dinner, shall we?” Lord Evan suggested as he clapped his hands together.

  There seem to be a general consensus from everyone except Urt who had a pained expression on his face. Ealrin didn’t have to guess why, but he certainly knew such a look was uncharacteristic of the stoic warrior.

  It must be painful for him to watch his fellow Skrilx be used as slaves. Even more confusing when they were attending him.

  In a matter of moments, the books and papers were cleared away and food was on the table.

  “Well then,” Lord Evan said as he swallowed his first bite. “What do you think we can make about this assassination attempt?”

  Ealrin looked over at his father and then back at his plate of food. It all seemed very strange. He was home, had just performed a heroic act and saving the monarch of his country, and his friends were gathered around him with hopefully more on their way soon. He should feel Happy. Or perhaps at least content.

  “Has it happened before?” he asked.

  Lord Evan swallowed a bite as he nodded.

  “Yes, thus is the risk one takes in being king. The Blackthorn Gang has been a threat to every monarch on the continent. It seems they want to line their pockets with the coins of other nations. What better way to do that than to offer to kill the leader of your rival nation for the highest price?”

  “You think the Court of Three would ask them to do this?” Teresa asked after taking a sip of her water.

  Lord Evan shrugged.

  “Possibly,” he said. “Though Rerial has other enemies. There was talk of rebellion at one point in Rerial’s history. But much of that has been much calmer as of late. I fear more the acts of outside countries and thugs than I do threats from within these days. Commander Polk, however...”

  He took a bite as Ealrin and Blume exchanged looks.

  “The one who was leading the training of the new recruits?” she asked.

  Lord Evan nodded.

  “The same. He sees threats in every shadow and is convinced there is still some talk of rebellion in the country still. His Majesty sent for Headmistress Cactus to convey with him today and talk him down. She’s the only one who can get him to see reason when he’s feeling paranoid.”

  “That’s why she left so quickly...” Blume said quietly.

  “What do you think about it all
Ealrin?” Lord Evan asked. “A bit more exciting than you were thinking today would be, correct?”

  Ealrin let out a sigh. He was just about to answer his father when the door to their home burst open. Everyone at the table turned to look around.

  It was Elise, Ealrin’s sister.

  “Father,” she said with a sense of urgency in her voice. “The king needs to see you. Immediately.”

  21: Sneaking in the Dark

  Lord Evan had excused himself from the table and hurried off as quickly as he could. Elise had joined them at dinner, but had not spoken for most of the meal. Blume still had the impression that she was upset with them for some reason. The specific cause, she couldn’t quite figure out.

  That didn’t matter at the moment however.

  All Blume was thinking about was that book in the library.

  Teresa had reclaimed the table with her books and notes and parchment after the dinner things were cleared away. Urt was dutifully reading beside her. It was the same small book he had taken a look at it first. While Teresa had poured over several books and flipped through many pages in each, Urt it had only been interested in this one.

  And try as she might, Blume could not convince Ealrin of the need to head their way back to the school of magic in the library inside of it.

  “I’m telling you, Ealrin,” she said with her own sense of urgency. “The library has what we need. One maybe, two books on runes and we will be able to figure out so much of the mysteries contained in Jurgon's book! We might even be able to break into new runes and spells of speaking. But we have to get that book to translate them. I’m sure with the three of them we can put something really great together! Maybe even learn more about the demons who keep attacked Gilia!”

  “Sure,” Ealrin said as he looked out from the dining room to the balcony beyond.

  Blume snapped her fingers in his face and spark of energy came from them.

  “Hey!” she said, flustered. “Are you even listening to me?”

  Ealrin shook himself as he turned his attention back to Blume. There was a dazed expression in his eyes and Blume had her answer before he had even processed her question.

  She stood up and stomped her foot.

  “I thought this would be something you would care about,” she said in a huff before she stormed out of the room. She heard him calling after her as she left but she didn’t turn around to check for him. She was very willing at this point to stomp all the way out of the hanger and find a way back into the library herself.

  And she was just mad enough to try it.

  She was so upset that as she was walking down the hall of the magnificent tower, she didn’t see someone walking towards her. She almost bowled him over, but managed to regain her balance just as quickly as he did.

  “Miss Blume!” Jurrin exclaimed as he brushed himself off and looked up at her. “I said your name at least twice. You look madder than a cat. What’s wrong?”

  Blume didn’t stop to give an explanation. She simply kept walking and grabbed Jurrin by the arm.

  “Follow me,” she said.

  “Where are we going?” Jurrin asked. “I just came from the hangar. They’re building fascinating airships down there you really have to see it! I even helped one of these engineers. I smell dinner by the way Miss Blume. I’m awfully hungry.”

  “We will eat when we get back,” Blume said as she marched on. A plan was formulating in her mind. It was reckless. It was potentially dangerous.

  And the thought of it thrilled her greatly.

  Before long they were standing on the same platform Blume had left from earlier that day. Blume was looking over her head at the large glowing rimstone. The attendant had touched a smaller stone on the wall and it has a lit up the larger stone. When the stone was lit, an airship came to their port. There weren’t any attendants to be seen at this hour, but Blume wondered if it would work all the same.

  As the wind went through her hair, she reached for the rimstone on the wall. There were a few stones to choose from. It was hard to remember which one it was. Tapping one turned the stone above them yellow. That wasn’t right. Touching another turned the large one red. That wasn’t correct either.

  “What’s all this for?” Jurrin asked, pointing at one that was in a different position than the others. “What about that one?”

  Blume looked at the stone he indicated and shrugged her shoulders. She touched it and the Rimstone above them illuminated orange. That was a color she needed. She turned around expectedly and was surprised to see an airship pulling up within moments. It looks very familiar as well.

  “Well we meet again!” the pilot who had taken them earlier said. “I was just on my way home. I didn’t think anyone would be traveling between the towers at this hour.”

  Blume put on as winning of a smile she could manage.

  “Sorry if it’s an inconvenience,” she said. “But I forgot something over at the tower of speakers. Lord Evan requested I bring it back before the night gets too late.”

  The pilot swelled with pride.

  “Just got done taking Lord Evan over to his Majesty's tower. I’m not normally allowed over that way. Special circumstances he said. I normally just fly between the ground in the hanger. That makes all three towers in one day! What a feat!”

  Blume nodded her head she pushed Jurrin inside the small aircraft and took a seat in the same place she had been that morning. She tied her own rope around her waist and then did the same to Jurrin.

  “No vests?” he asked as the pilot settled himself in the chairs ahead of them.

  “No vests,” Blume said as the same familiar falling sensation over took them both.

  22: Unhelpful

  Jurrin loved flying. Riding with Ealrin and the rest on the ship was exhilarating. He wasn’t sure he enjoyed flying in something so small however. The airship twisted and turned in ways Ealrin’s trusted craft would never have been able to manage.

  In the Sky Dart, whenever they had to take a sharp turn, the ship only pitched slightly to the side. This little craft had Jurrin nearly sitting on the wall more than twice. He kept constantly checking his ropes to make sure they were tied down tightly.

  He was more than grateful when they finally reached their destination. His legs felt wobbly as he stepped off of the ship and onto the platform. There was a moment when he thought there something wrong with the floor. Was it moving on its own?

  “Need me to wait out here?” the pilot asked as he followed them out of the airship.

  “That would be wonderful,” Blume said happily. “If it’s not too much of an inconvenience.”

  “I’ll tinker around on the Red Fire here just a bit. Please just don’t take too long. My wife will start to worry if it gets too much past dark and I’m not home.”

  “We will be quick!” Blume said assuredly before she turned on her heels and marched off inside.

  She grabbed Jurrin’s hand and quickly escorted him inside the tower. He wished she would slow down. There were so many amazing sights to see. Miniature airships flew all about as well as orbs of Rimstone floating in the air. The kingdom of Rerial was certainly a magical one and Jurrin was enjoying every moment he was able to spend in it.

  “What did you forget in the tower? Miss Blume?”

  They continued to walk quietly as they went deeper into the halls of the school. Their footsteps echoed through the emptiness of the large space.

  He had to ask her a second time because she seem to be so intent on her mission.

  “What did you forget Miss Blume?”

  “Quietly,” she said to Jurrin. “I’m not exactly sure if we are supposed to be in here.”

  Jurrin felt surprised by this.

  “Not supposed to be in here? Weren’t you here earlier today?”

  “Yes,” Blume said in a whisper. “But the librarians ushered us out before I could get a book on runes. It might be something to help us understand Jurgon’s book.”

  “Really?” J
urrin asked, now fully curious in what was taking place. “Why didn’t you just asked librarians if you could take it?”

  Blume didn’t answer his question. He had a feeling he knew what that meant.

  “Follow me,” Blume said.

  Jurrin could hear the scattered talking of people above them. He wondered how many students attended the school of magic. He had heard that Thoran’s school had nearly a hundred students when they had left. If the country of Rerial depended on speaker is to fly their airships, there must be hundreds upon hundreds here learning how to keep an airship afloat.

  Blume was darting from column to column and statue to large stone planter, trying to do her best to sneak around wherever she could. Being stealthy was second nature to Jurrin. He just hoped nobody was up and keeping watch tonight. For Blume’s sake. He could hear her steps even though his own were silent.

  “Don’t you have a spell to conceal us a little better if you don’t think we’re supposed to be here?” He asked cautiously.

  “I don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to us,” Blume replied. “Most people who would be in the halls could be able to feel the magic.”

  Jurrin nodded.

  He knew that speakers could sometime sense magic happening. If anyone in the hallway wasn’t paying attention, they may not see two people sneaking around. The students of the school of magic would probably be able to feel a magical presence, however.

  They continued to sneak around until Blume pointed out a tall doorway to Jurrin.

  “That’s the library,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s locked or guarded but that’s definitely the door.”

  “Hold on a moment,” Jurrin said confidently. “I’ll go check.”

  The halfling snuck as quietly as any of his race was capable of. A pair of students who were talking closely to each other walked passed him as they made their way to another door down the hall. A third student ran up behind them and they all spoke in hushed tones. Whatever they might be up to, they weren’t heading to the library. Jurrin waited a moment more for them to pass before he walked up to the door.