Heart Stone

by J. A. Culican

  Smiling, she gave me a tight squeeze.

  I wished I could protect her with more than just a fervent prayer as we hugged. When I pulled away, I had to press my lips together to hold back more motherly admonitions I knew she wouldn’t appreciate.

  Will tossed me a jaunty salute, skipping down the stairs without a backward glance.

  I watched for a moment as the small entourage descended the long marble steps, then turned and headed inside the Library with my faithful shadow.

  "What? You again?" The gruff sound of Kramson’s disgruntled voice greeted me the second I walked into the Library.

  I smiled as brightly as I could but could tell from his expression, he wasn't any more excited to see me than Luban would have been. To his credit he didn't try to shoo or hurt me, which was kind.

  "I need more information. I was hoping to return to my previous books."

  Kramson narrowed his eyes, causing them to look like small slits in his round face. "As the Library has, for some unknown reason, seen fit to gift you with the privileges of a Librarian, I can hardly stop you. I will, however, insist you keep an apprentice with you at all times."

  He watched me reprovingly, folding his arms across his rounded stomach. I knew he was referring to when I’d left Jarid behind and snuck off to follow the symbols.

  With a delicate incline of my head, I thanked him. "Absolutely. Help would be much appreciated. Shall I wait here for him?"

  Kramson nodded abruptly before disappearing, his long brown robes swishing behind him like an angry cat. I sat in one of the ornately decorated chairs in the lobby while Sel stood silently at my side.

  This version of the Library was decorated almost identically to the entrance in Sunland, apart from a beautiful mural depicting a magical starry night sky on the ceiling instead of the open sunroof in the center. I lost myself in the picture and blinked to find Jarid standing beside me.

  His face was solemn, but his eyes twinkled, even as Kramson glared daggers at both of us.

  "Do a better job this time." Kramson practically threw the words, including him in the glare I’d previously thought special and reserved only for me. "I recommend you avoid anything out of the usual this time."

  He gave the Librarian a deep bow, straightening after a respectful interval. "We shall be extremely proper. I’d hate for Luban to become any angrier with me."

  Kramson gave him another suspicious look, before turning on his heel and stomping away.

  When Jarid bowed to me, his lips curled into a smile. "Thank you for your return business. Where would you like to go?" His words were bland and generic, but his eyes had a warning in them.

  I knew any request could be overheard and stood, politely returning his smile, and answering him in a similar fashion. "If you could, the reading room where we were previously would be acceptable. There are a few texts I wish to revisit."

  He led me back into the twisting, turning halls from the lobby until we were back in the quiet reading room where he’d first demonstrated the marvelous magical volume to find everything I’d requested previously. Once we were alone, however, we dropped our polite façade.

  "Before we move on, I must know. How did things go in the temple?" His eyes were wide with excitement and curiosity, and I smiled triumphantly as I pulled the goblet out of my bag. He stumbled, practically falling into the chair behind him as he held out shaking hands.

  I passed it to him and watched as he turned it over with wide eyes before eventually looking at me with disbelief written all over his face.

  "It's… This is the Soul Goblet! I've only heard of it in legend." He swallowed hard. "I never expected to see it. I didn't think it was real." His voice almost as shaky as his hands, he returned to his reverent caressing of the goblet as he examined every inch of it.

  "True, but you didn't think the globe was real either. And it turns out it was, and here we are. But I know nothing about this object, or why it presented itself to me."

  I looked at Sel, who was sitting quietly beside the door. Although he'd stopped standing guard, he remained alert. I could tell he was listening with equal interest.

  Jarid bit his lip, pulling his magical reference text out. When he opened the pages, his eyes had brightened. "Here. When I thought about the Soul Goblet, it brought up this."

  He narrowed his eyes, lips moving as he silently read the passage again. "Um, huh. Well, how unfortunate," he stuttered.

  I immediately knew what the problem was. "It's in the secret room we discovered, isn't it?"

  He exhaled slowly. "Yeah. The room Luban also currently has under twenty-four-hour guard by direct order." He bit his cheek, drumming his fingers in a rapid staccato on the large reading table. I could see his dilemma.

  "If you’d rather, I can go by myself." I didn't want him in any more trouble.

  His words echoed my thoughts as if he’d read my mind. "No, I'm supposed to stay with you and make sure you don't get into any trouble. Besides," he added, pointing at the chain around my neck, "you’ve been granted Library access and have a key. According to what I understand about the Library, which granted is nowhere close to everything, it should give you full access. Regardless of what he’s ordered, I don't think the guards can keep you out. Heck, I don't even have a key yet. At the rate I’m going, I probably won't ever get one."

  A dry, humorless chuckle escaped him, and I couldn't help but feel responsible. Probably because I was responsible.

  "Jarid–"

  He stood, slamming the book shut. "Nope. I don't want to hear it. You did nothing wrong. You merely followed your conscience and did what the Library allowed you to do. As a Librarian apprentice, technically you get to tell me what to do, even without being a guest. Therefore, we're going back to the secret room." This time, the smile reached his eyes as he paused with his hand on the door. "Besides, it's not a secret anymore. With guards present full-time, we no longer have to make it through any trials to get there. The Library has decided the secret room is back in service."

  I raised my eyebrows. "Really? Is that common?"

  We were walking now, once again in the long hallways. As promised, the route was easier and more direct.

  "Not really. To my knowledge, it has happened a few times. But only when the Library wishes. There's also been a few times where common rooms have disappeared or moved to another location entirely."

  We carried on somewhat more briskly along the path.

  I watched for any sign of ur’gel, unable to keep from flinching at normal sounds, even though it was a short, easy trip compared to the last time. When we arrived at the guarded door, I nervously displayed my key to the large men standing on either side of the stone door.

  They moved aside immediately, either not recognizing me or not questioning my presence because of the key. It had been far easier than I could've dreamed, which made me worry more. I expected an interrogation. Easy made me nervous.

  As we entered the room, the pedestal with the book Jarid had defaced was again in the center of the room. My gaze slid past it to the tablet wall which lit up and made me question the accounts we’d learned of the Dark War in other records. It was quiet, and I thought perhaps it had told me everything it wished to for now. My eyes were drawn back to the round wall from where I’d taken my own contraband volumes and hope swelled as I set to work.

  Surely, I’d find the answers in here somewhere

  Chapter 2

  I rubbed my eyes. They were gritty, and for a moment I couldn’t figure out why. Then I realized it wasn't just my eyes. My entire body had seized. During the time I’d been reading, I had ended up slumped on the floor beside the bookshelf. I'd found several interesting texts and gotten carried away with my research.

  Jarid had gravitated back toward the pedestal book, and a quick glance in Sel's direction demonstrated his high intelligence, and I thought he may be smarter than both Jarid and I put together—he was napping.

  I stretched, allowing a yawn to escape.


  This caught Jarid's attention and caused Sel to startle awake, blinking as he looked around for any threats.

  I smiled and finished stretching. I couldn't believe how much time had passed. It always seemed to be like that when I got into a book. Part of me thought I should be careful here, though, because it was literally possible to become captured in a book.

  "It's almost dinner bell." Jarid stepped down from the pedestal, a reluctant look on his face. "As the Library has gifted you with the key, you’re entitled to join me and the other Librarians and apprentices in the dining hall."

  My eyebrows shot up. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, Luban and Kramson haven’t been overly enthused about my presence."

  He shrugged. "Good idea or not, the others won't be waiting for us to eat. With the amount of reading we anticipated you’d want to do … I gave my notebook to Will. They can contact us if needed. We rather expected you to want to stay as close to the Library as possible until you figured out what to do with the goblet."

  "Huh. Well, I can't argue with your logic. In fact, it almost sounds as if you know me as well, or better, than I know myself." I gave him a wry smile.

  When the two boys exchanged smirks however, my humor turned to irritation.

  "Fine. I guess you'll show me the way then. If we’re going to be eating here, maybe we can get more reading done this evening."

  Jarid nodded, ignoring my surly tone, and we followed him to a large dining hall. Once again, the Library surprised me. Although it appeared roomy on the outside, the depth and breadth of the place astonished me, with this single chamber easily as long as the Library on the outside.

  We turned the corner and he opened the right side of a large wooden set of double doors. As we entered a cavernous room, with row after row of long tables, I halted. Each table looked as though it could seat at least a hundred guests. The tables themselves were covered in a variety of foods, many of which I didn't recognize, but as we headed for an empty spot near the back, several of my favorite dishes appeared on the table in front of us.

  I couldn't contain my amazement and was positive my eyebrows were so high the potential for them getting stuck in my hairline was a real threat. I knew my suspicion was correct when he gave me a knowing smile.

  "Yeah, fairly sure I looked like you the first time I was allowed in here as well. Unlike Will, who has a family, I grew up in a variety of orphanages and spent some time on the streets in Sunland and bountiful foodstuffs weren't on the menu for me. I came here, and basically all my dreams had come true. There's nothing quite like a table anticipating your every food desire when you’ve spent half your life hungry."

  I narrowed my eyes, considering his last statement while I tried to avoid him thinking I pitied him in anyway. It was heartbreaking thinking of him being a young, hungry street rat, but I kept my face as neutral as I could.

  He waved a hand in denial. "Okay, not quite everything. Most things. At least those which are culturally acceptable in the areas where the Library dwells."

  I cocked my head. "Where the Library dwells? Do you mean there's different foods for different parts of the Library?"

  "I've never tried to ask. Let’s just say depending on where the apprentice or Librarian comes from, the food on the table changes. In my case, it’s been normal human fare. But some of the other people from well, let's just say more remote regions, can have more peculiar tastes."

  "Interesting." My voice trailed off as I sat down at an empty spot and began to reach for the food, before stopping and looking at him again. "Do I need to wait for something, or can we help ourselves here?"

  I realized with a fair amount of surprise just how accustomed I’d become to being on my own. It hadn't even occurred to me to wait for a servant or prayer, or formality of any kind. Traveling and the road had really rubbed off on me, undoing a lifetime of expectations.

  "No, people come and go from here depending on their projects. Which means we generally eat on a rotating schedule. And yes, you're expected to help yourself." He sat across from me as Sel snagged a spot beside me and we all loaded our plates.

  Sel was already halfway through his second helping when another apprentice approached us, his long brown robes rolled up at the elbows as he crossed his arms and planted his feet shoulder width apart. He arched one arrogant eyebrow at me and gave Jarid a condemning look.

  "What are they doing here? You know better. Only Librarians and their servants are allowed in here."

  Jarid closed his eyes and gave me a suffering look, almost as if he’d been expecting this, then pushed himself back from the table to stand and face the judgmental apprentice. He gestured to us, speaking mildly while maintaining a calm expression.

  "She's a new Librarian, and he is her servant. I've already cleared everything with Kramson. Not that it’s any of your business." His tone remained neutral the entire time, but I winced the moment he added the ‘none of your business’ part. In my experience, those words were generally followed by trouble.

  Something about the way the other apprentice looked at me, his gaze hardening when he’d spotted my ears, also led me to believe he was a human who detested elves as much as many elves detested humans. Rolling my eyes, I prepared for a showdown with a narrow-minded bigot.

  "I don't care who you talked to. I have seniority, and I’m telling you they don't belong here. If you know what's best for you, you'll take them, scram, and not bother coming back."

  Jarid exhaled slowly and I could practically see him counting to ten as he faced the other apprentice. Although shorter by a few inches, the other boy was broader in the shoulders. I couldn’t help but fear for his safety.

  I stood quickly and came around to his side. Sel continued to eat, but he watched the situation intently as he chewed. I knew if anything happened to me, he would do his best to protect me. Which meant I needed to diffuse the situation immediately, before anyone got injured.

  Before I could speak, Jarid crossed his arms and leaned into the other man’s space. "Franse, you know, as well as I do, you’ve got no authority or seniority over me. What exactly do you think you're going to do in front of everyone?"

  Franse narrowed his eyes, practically sneering now. "Well, I've never liked you, so why don't I start by making sure your nose doesn't go back to the same ugly shape when I've finished rearranging it? I'll see what I’m in the mood for once that task is complete."

  I looked around at the other tables, noticing we were fast becoming the center of interested gazes, the same way we had when the slaver eyed up Gwen and her wolves.

  I sighed, stepping in front of Jarid and held my hand out for Franse to shake. When he didn’t accept, I dropped it and spoke blithely, as if nothing was amiss.

  "I'm sorry, we haven’t been properly introduced. My name is Rhin. I’m visiting from Cliffside. The Library has seen fit to give me a key of my own to facilitate my research. From what I understand, a key means I’m allowed within this facility. Your friend had been assigned to me previously by the head Librarian, Luban, and again today by Kramson. If you have any concerns with this, you are welcome to bring them up with either of those gentlemen."

  His face went positively purple as his eyes bulged out. I watched a vein in the right side of his temple begin to pulse. It was easy to see he was inappropriately angry given my polite tone and matter-of-fact statements.

  As someone used to dealing with diplomacy in the elf world, I was surprised at the intensity of his reaction to my little speech. Obviously, the bad blood between them went deeper than I understood. Which meant, of course, it was unlikely he would leave us alone.

  His next words exploded in a shriek, almost tumbling over each other in the speed they were uttered. "How dare you speak to me? A dirty elf. I can't even believe they let your filthy kind into a place like this."

  His rant took off from there, but the moment he began name calling I tuned him out. It was obvious I wasn’t dealing with an entirely sane man, so I considered my next move.
If he couldn’t be reasoned with, we needed to be ready to act. I began listening again in time to hear him casting aspersions on not only my parents, but my entire lineage.

  I held up a hand, stopping him dead. "All right. It appears to me I am speaking to either an idiot or a madman. I do not know you well enough to decide which, but it’s clear you aren’t worth my time."

  As Franse filled up with air and fury, I took the biggest chance I’d yet taken. "Library? Can you do something about him? This apprentice does not seem to value the sanctity of your space as he should."

  I wasn't sure if anything would happen, but I was curious. If the Library listened to people when they spoke to it, perhaps if I asked it directly to help me something might happen. Otherwise, I would be the one looking like an idiot, not him. I only hoped if the Library didn’t answer my unconscious fighting skills were still hanging around to help me out.

  A small crowd had formed around the three of us by now.

  Sel remained seated, but he’d placed his fork down while he watched attentively. He seemed ready to leap over the table at a moment's notice.

  Jarid’s hands were tight fists and he rocked slightly back and forth on the balls of his feet.

  Franse still looked as if his head would explode.

  In fact, his face was so purple I was worried he’d explode from pressure. I blinked, and the next moment his fist was flying toward my face. I ducked, blocking with my hand.

  When I opened my eyes, he was kneeling on the floor at my feet, whimpering as I gripped his fist in my left hand. I let go, stunned as he shuddered and wept holding his crushed hand.

  As my wits returned, I quickly pretended I'd known what would happen all along. "I think we have proof. The Library has spoken."

  I spoke in a voice loud enough to carry, trying to fill it with the same grandeur I’d heard my father use for announcements. "I will be passing details of this altercation along to the head Librarian now. Perhaps you can reconsider your animosity toward others who aren't the same as you."

  When I recalled Luban's reaction to the wolves and Loglan, I knew it was unlikely for Franse to experience an awakening about the wisdom of judging people as a group. At least he left quickly, shooting scared glances back at me as he stumbled past benches to the door.