The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel
Page 24
Tannis, Guardians of Light
Northland
A new thought had popped into Tannis’s head while he ate his morning meal and he wanted to pursue it before he met Markus for the next vision. He didn’t have much time. It took Markus a few days to rest before Noya would allow Tannis to visit with him. Now that he was given permission, he didn’t want to be late.
The few days of physical labor did Tannis good. It helped to clear his mind and allowed him to relax enough that this new idea finally worked its way to the surface. As a result, his spirits were high.
He entered the room where the Guardians of Light stored their records. Jacob, the record keeper, sat behind a desk and had several books open before him. Occasionally he scribbled notes on paper and then referred back to one of the books. He was so engrossed in what he was doing that he didn’t hear Tannis approach.
“What are you doing?” asked Tannis.
Jacob jumped. “Geez! Did you have to sneak up on me?”
“I didn’t sneak, Jacob. Where do we keep our old maps?”
Jacob pointed toward the back of the room with his thumb. “They’re stored in the back room. What do you need?”
“I need to see all the old maps we have of our Northland, the Great Mountains and possibly the red cliffs of the desert.”
Jacob kept his head down as he scribbled a few more notes. “How old?”
Tannis knew they had been searching for the past several generations, and the author of the journal had to have been at least a generation before that, so he made a wild guess. “Maybe one hundred fifty to two hundred years ago.” Or even older, he thought.
Jacob stopped writing and peered over the rim of his eye glasses. “You’re kidding.”
“No. I’m not.”
Jacob shrugged. “It’s going to take awhile.”
“How long? It’s really important.”
“That’s what everyone says. I’ve got this research I’m doing for Sir Markus. There are three other requests waiting after that. Who knows what kind of mess is in that backroom. No one has been in there for years and then...”
Tannis felt his opportunity slipping away. “This is also for Sir Markus. I’m trying to help him find the very thing he has sought for years.”
“Aren’t we all?” Jacob uttered sarcastically.
Tannis searched Jacob’s face. “Please Jacob. I really think I’m onto something.”
Jacob stared at him for a moment and then looked around his desk at all the work that required his attention.
“Pleeeeez,” urged Tannis.
“Well, I suppose if you’re onto something that might make Sir Markus happy, it will help us all. I’ll see what I can find. Come back in a few hours.”
Tannis held the palms of his hands together, as if in prayer, and bowed his head slightly. “Thank you.”