She found her mood suddenly souring, she hated the idea that she was becoming a do-gooder and the fact that she was thinking about Daren after weeks of his absence in her mind. Her blood boiled as she pictured his face and the urge to pick up a weapon and stab everything around her was itching on her fingers.
“Breathe,” interjected a calm voice in her mind, she caught a momentary glimpse of the page in an old book Showl was reading somewhere on one of the upper floors of the library.
Ange sucked a deep breath obediently and let it out slowly, repeating the process till she was calm again.
She looked up at a worried Bolaris and smiled falsely. “Sorry about interrupting, how much longer for today?”
He smiled kindly and bowed his head as he flipped the page of the book on the stone table they were working on in the common room where meals were served.
“Not much longer, we will finish well before dinner, so you can have a bit of free time before eating and your evening lessons.”
Ange nodded as he continued to read from the book, her mind wandered as her gaze traveled around the fairly large room and the long tables and benches. The Bookmen used a form of telepathy to compel fish and other sea creatures into a special chamber under the docks. Outside still within the walls on the far southern part of the island was a large garden where they grew an assortment of vegetables, herbs, and fruits as well as other plants that served more for medical purposes as well as for study. Surprisingly they had a sewer system just like the Dragon Palace, something Ange had been certain only the modern cities had. They filtered and recycled much of the waste for the garden, it was effective if not a bit disturbing to Ange despite the scientific credentials behind the system.
Sometimes the Bookmen would collect goods that floated to the island because of the foolishness of merchant sailors, and once in a long while they traveled to the continent to purchase goods in a small coastal town.
Another hour passed with her attention fairly limited on the subject matter. Her mood wasn’t improving as the urge to misbehave was taking over, break the norms, and fill her with the thrill of doing something others saw as wrong. The more she thought about how she was becoming complacent reading books the more she was convinced she wasn’t being herself, a fact she had been trying to ignore for weeks.
She spent the time trying not to think about what was bothering her and instead wondered about the mystery woman. She decided once the lecture was over, she would go investigate the library once more.
The moment Bolaris closed the book, Ange shot out of the room, leaving him behind bewildered as he was about to cap the lecture.
She raced for the library, and paused startled to see Showl waiting at the entrance of the library, wearing his armor as always only without gauntlets, his long-sleeve white shirt meeting up to his wrists as the white feathers showered his shoulder. He turned a piercing topaz stare on her, his white hair wavy and wild, framing his face as he pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on and walked up to her.
His face always caught Ange’s attention, his appearance was still the most enigmatic to her out of all the dragons she knew even Grace who also had snow white hair.
“So…who’s this woman you keep thinking about?” he asked sharply.
Ange flinched and frowned realizing she hadn’t kept her thoughts in check.
He sighed as his eyes half closed and he shook his head with a small smile and extended his hand out to her. “Shall we go investigate this shelf together?”
Ange stare up at him surprised. There was a twinkle of mischief in his gaze and Ange knew that look, it meant trouble and she smiled at the pleasant difference. She took his hand without a second thought as he smiled crookedly and pulled her into the library and letting her lead the way.
As she let go of his hand she found it pleasantly warm, odd when she thought about the element he was affiliated with then she thought about it more carefully and then rationalized how it made sense considering how fluffy he was as a dragon.
“Fluffy?” he burst out incredulously as Ange laughed at his reaction as he stared at her with raised eyebrows.
“That is not amusing, my little Soulbound,” he chuckled as he walked closely behind her as and leaned over and whispered. “Now, you, noble in white armor and looking as pure as snow…now that’s laughable.”
Ange busted out laughing in complete agreement. She had been dismayed when she had first worn her armor, white was really not her color in her mind no matter how beautiful the armor was. At least she didn’t need to wear it any time soon.
They quickly walked to the section of the library on the first floor as Ange checked around to make sure no one was around.
“No one is here,” Showl assured as he walked ahead to the shelf and stopped in front of it, observing the books carefully.
“Let me guess…you don’t smell anyone around,” Ange stated a bit snarky.
“Nor do I hear or sense any other presence,” he replied emotionlessly and taking her statement seriously as he fixed his gaze on the number under the shelf then the place where there had been an empty book last night.
The book that she took…is back. Ange thought intrigued and mystified as she gazed at the age old spine of the large leather bound book.
“How did you know?” Ange asked as she glanced up at Showl, she was sure she hadn’t thought about the shelf or book all day.
He shrugged as he pulled the old book out. “I am perceptive, you don’t believe that I haven’t been aware of your nightly visits to the restricted archives of the library, now do you?” he asked landing a piercing yellow gaze in her direction.
Ange swallowed a bit nervously by the sharp fierceness in his eyes and scowled, she knew he wasn’t pleased with her attempts to keep secrets from him.
“If you knew, why didn’t you say anything? I was more than positive that you were asleep,” she stated acidly.
Showl frowned as he gazed down at the book as he brushed his long fingers over the cover.
His gaze then locked with her own, sincere and cloudy.
“I told you I would not try to change you, did I not? I know you’ve been feeling out of place, Angeline. I am no fool, I can sense your disquiet growing everyday as you wonder if you are losing yourself to this new life,” he replied quietly as he handed her the book.
She felt uncomfortable about the revelation, in the short time they had been partners it seemed Showl knew her better then she knew him, it didn’t seem fair. She took the book and pensively gazed at the cover written in the dragon language, the only word she could pick up out of the complex symbols was ‘Effects.’
“I was trying not to bother you,” she replied a bit guilty and defensive.
“You didn’t,” Showl reassured. “My mind functions differently and is far more complex, your brain will eventually change to a state close to the way a dragon’s mind operates. For now, all you need to understand is that while your mind can concentrate on one task, mine can do five. So sleeping, dreaming, and being aware of you at the same time is something I can do naturally without much effort. But I was worried too.”
Ange frowned, remembering Amaris mention something similar when she had been teaching her how to block.
“Was my blocking even working?” Ange asked putout as she glanced up at him.
He smiled amused. “It was, for the brief moments you could maintain it.”
A quirk of a smiled pulled at Ange’s lips as she found she was a bit satisfied with the knowledge that all her practice at least had amounted to something.
She returned her gaze to the mysterious book and turned it in her hands, observing it. She noticed as slight parting in the book as if something was between the pages. Curiously she opened the book and stared down mystified at a folded piece of old paper. She glanced up at Showl as he nodded, equally curious by the parchment. He held the book as she took the piece of paper and unfolded it, both of them reading it silently together, the script was elegant and Ang
e was surprised to find it was directed to her…
Angeline thief of Poleuthan,
It seems you have created quite a stir among the Bookmen and my curiosity of you has been peeked since I heard whispers of your talents. But it is not time for us to meet just yet, you have much to learn before we may encounter. Do not let your curiosity ever be sated, it will serve you well in the days to come when you seek to solve the mysteries that Harfang has left for you and your partner.
You have a great destiny laid before you, I could sense it the moment you stepped foot on this island and feel your significance saturate the very air. I am saddened that Ileana has seen fit to seal your gifts, it will only delay the end of this brutal struggle between dragons, but I have confidence you will find a way to overcome this obstacle as well as the others that will undoubtedly be on your path.
Till we meet, seek the imprinted stone brick under the shelf Z23 and read. May the knowledge bring you wisdom and understanding and may the Five favor you both.
A Friend
The letter crumbled as Ange read the last few words.
She stared at the disintegrated dust that ran down her fingers and floated away out of sight. She looked up to see Showl seem just as puzzled.
“Somehow…I don’t get the feeling that the woman I saw last night wrote this.”
Showl scowled as he looked at the book again and opened it up.
“I feel as if I should recognize the handwriting…but I don’t,” he admitted as he began to page through the old book.
“Another Bookmen we’re not aware of? He did use a line like the others greeted us with…”
Showl’s scowl deepened as frustration set into his face. “I don’t know, it’s possible I suppose, yet…that doesn’t quite sound right. The way this person writes…it’s as if he or she knew Harfang personally, no human from that time period could have possible lived this long even with access to dragon blood.”
Ange frowned, recalling how the Bookmen lived so long as Asmanth had explained it to her. According to him, Valtor had left them a reserve of his blood, preserved so they could initiate new members. But the blood did not give them immortality, it lengthen their lives significantly but without being bound to a dragon the effects were not the same as the youth and longevity a Dragonbound experienced. They on the other hand were prone to adverse effects over time and died around four hundred years of age if not sooner. The blood of the specific dragon also determined the length of time and attributes it lent to a human. Valtor had been a tier one dragon, his parents both being one of the original ten, thus his blood was more potent than the blood of a lesser dragon that was several generations apart from the original ancestors its family originated from.
Ange had asked why they didn’t use blood from the original ten, to her surprise, Asmanth’s reply had been grave.
“We cannot use the blood of the originals, most normal people other their dragonbounds’ die immediately once infused with it. The ones that do survive can certainly live for five hundred years or more…but the longer they live the madder, more dangerous, power hungry, and monstrous they become. And we do not know why.”
After hearing that and some of the theories behind the possible causes, Ange began to formulate her own theories. It was turning out that she did like good puzzles and mysteries.
“We should head over to the top floor to investigate this shelf,” Showl suggested, breaking her thoughts as he placed the book back on the shelf.
“What’s that book about?” she asked curious.
He frowned as he answered. “It’s a very old book, predating the existence of the Dragonbounds, I’m surprised it’s up here among the rest of the collection. It covers a range of subjects on the arcane arts, written by Chalybus of Dagda and Sylvania.”
Part of the name sounded familiar as she suddenly recalled it. “Wasn’t Dagda, Valtor’s father?” she asked amazed she remembered.
Showl nodded. “Chalybus was Valtor’s half-brother, they shared the same father but while Valtor’s mother was Fenera, Chalybus’s mother was Sylvania, Regina of Metals.”
Ange mused for a second, wondering how family worked among dragons. “If it predates the Dragonbounds, how come it’s so…well, small? I’m sure dragons didn’t make a habit of writing tiny letters with their huge claws,” she stated baffled as they began to walk for the stairs.
Showl chuckled. “No, little thief, we didn’t make a habit of writing books in small print. It isn’t the original book, besides, many humans transcribed book for dragons in those days or were rewritten after the bonding for easier use.”
“Oh,” Ange echoed as they took the stairs to the top most floor. They quietly climbed the spiral stair case up the twenty story tower, their curiosity growing with every step and impatience made them hasten their steps.
They climbed the last few steps and found themselves in the last rotunda floor of the tower. The shelves systematically ordered as the walls were broke between ten giant glass stained windows. The tops of the story windows met up to arches, filtering the lights in warm pastels, earthy greens, and the softest of blues.
Ange had only been on this floor a few times, considering how many stairs there were. There was an elevator but she hadn’t found it yet and Showl was too preoccupied to have considered it. They moved around the tall shelves, scanning their identification numbers till they found the right one.
It was against a wall between the ornate glass windows, filled with old tomes, both wide and thin in volume.
Showl peered down at the shelf’s base. Ange scrutinized the fifteen foot tall shelf and its ten foot width, wondering how they were going to move such a tall obstacle.
“Step back,” Showl commanded.
Ange gave him a pointed look as she stepped back.
Showl squared his shoulder as he lightly skimmed the wood with his fingers, his eyes analyzing it carefully as if he was looking for imperfections that could delay their goal but also as if he was seeking some kind of familiarity.
He grabbed the shelf with strong and sure hands, his muscles bulged as he lifted the shelf by its edge with apparent ease and gently moved it a few feet in a pivot. He displayed no effort with his inhuman strength, Ange shook her head at the sight.
Ange quickly went around him and began inspecting the floor, a large stone slab with an impressed rune caught her eye immediately.
She knelt down and stared at the symbol perplexed. It was a snowflake similar in design to the one she and Showl bore on their skins and within its five points was the head of a dragon with majestic horns in complicated designs.
“It can’t be,” Showl whispered kneeling next to her and rubbing the mark with his fingers, his yellow eyes dazed.
“You recognize it?” Ange promoted, hoping the mark would trigger some of his memories. He had hoped to find answers in the library but had found nothing in the months past that would help unlock his sealed memories of Harfang.
“Yes,” he whispered awed. “It was Harfang’s personal crest.”
Ange touched the crest, wondering what could possibly hidden beneath the stone. As her fingers came into contact with the cold stone near Showl’s fingers, the crest glowed in reaction as the sealant around the edges crumbled.
Ange and Showl exchanged a look before he gingerly removed the stone slab, old dust showering from the disturbed stone as they peered curiously into the shallow crevice.
A white velvet bag was surprisingly well preserved and lacking any dust as if it had been protected from the passing of the years. Showl picked up the cloth enveloped object and gently tugged the string, as the material fell away it revealed an elaborately decorated book of the softest blue with white filigree with the same crest at its center.
“A book?” Ange asked though she wasn’t surprised, the letter had mention reading whatever was under the stone brick.
Showl gazed at the book sharply and quietly murmured. “No, a journal…that I don’t recall, yet…seems familiar,” his fr
ustration was growing more apparent on his face as he stared at the old book.
Ange hovered over his shoulder as he snapped open the strange lock and flipped the pages…
“It’s blank,” Ange stated flatly completely baffled.
“No…” Showl said carefully. “The writing is simply hidden. A spell is keeping us from seeing its contents.”
Ange glared at the journal then Showl. “How can you tell?”
“Here,” he passed her the book, “do you feel the energy inlaid into it?”
Ange frowned flipping the book over in her hands and then opening it to scrutinize the pages, hoping if she glared at it long enough the words would reveal themselves. The cover was made of cool and smooth material, the pages where like any parchment and Harfang’s seal didn’t glow when she touched it.
“No. I don’t feel anything, if feels like any normal book,” she stated flustered.
Showl frowned troubled. “Your powers have been truly tightly sealed away just like the words in this diary,” he observed quietly with an edge of frustration as he took the book back. “We need to be careful with items that may be saturated with mana around you since you cannot sense it anymore.”
Ange snarled equally irritated. “This is so stupid. I never even learned how to ‘sense’ anything. Sure I could feel other people’s power for a while before the sealing… Will I be screwed if I touch another Aeterna Vas?” she wondered, considering the implications.
He glowered pensively. “It’s possible,” he answered honestly and disturbed after a moment.
“Great,” Ange hissed.
Her temper was flaring and she needed some fresh air, she turned away from Showl and climbed the last stairs up to the peak of the tower. Mentally she fumed and imagined throwing daggers at Ileana’s face before reaching the top.
Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1) Page 34