by Adams, David
They made idle conversation while they waited, each knowing they should wait for Adrianna to discuss their true business together. Luke was in the middle of describing the family farm when he nearly choked on his own words. “Holy—,” he said, stopping himself from saying more due to Silas’ chosen vocation.
Seeing the shocked look on the young man’s face, Silas glanced at himself, then smiled with relief. “Back to normal. Though not as lovely a sight to you gentlemen, I’m sure.”
“I’m surprised to hear you talk like that,” Darius said. “You’re a holy man.”
“That is my goal,” Silas answered, “but beauty is beauty and is to be appreciated, especially in these dark days. And I am a man, and not blind. As far as Adrianna, I think I’m only stating the obvious, unless one of you would gainsay it.”
“Wouldn’t think of it,” said Luke. “Can’t lie to a man of God.”
Adrianna arrived just after dark. The rain had slackened to a gentle mist, and they could hear her soft footfalls in the descending dark before she came into view. They were glad to see she had regained her usual appearance—the sight of twin Silases was something they were happy to avoid.
Darius was first to greet her. “Welcome back. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she said, completely composed. “And I think we have some time before my various slights of hand, or Silas’ disappearance, are discovered. I suggest we put some distance between us and Krangstand while we have the chance.” They all agreed and then she added to Silas, “This is yours.”
He took his cross and put it around his neck, taking care to tuck it beneath his robe, where it lay over his heart. In like fashion he returned Adrianna’s ring.
As they started off, Silas asked, “Did you get the better of Greaves, the guard who walked you in? He made a comment that was…provocative, but there was little I could do about it. Apparently you had to pay gold to get in?”
“A small sack of coin,” Darius said with a rueful look. “A shame to give so much away.”
“Would have been,” Adrianna said, her lip curling in that subtle smile they were all coming to admire. “At some point he’ll find it was only a bag of rocks, hopefully when he’s trying to buy something with it.”
“I’d pay to see his face when he finds out,” Silas said.
“Where are we headed?” Darius asked.
“North,” Adrianna replied.
“Where north?”
“Just north.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
Before Darius could open his mouth again, Luke took him by the arm. “Better let it go, big brother, or she might turn you into a newt.”
“Or something worse,” Silas added.
“Men,” Adrianna grumbled.
Chapter 6: Book of Dread
The night hike seemed endless to Darius, the sky black with clouds so that no movement of stars or moon could be seen. As his legs grew weary and his head started to swim from the lack of sleep, he started to question himself and his judgment. He had yet to show the book to Silas, but he knew that moment would be coming soon, and he knew he wouldn’t argue against it at this point. He was growing to trust Adrianna—and Silas because she trusted him—but her abilities frightened him at the same time. He had known the risks, had sought her out, but he felt any control he might have in his own circumstances slowly slipping away. Adrianna was making the decisions, asking him to share the secret of the book with another stranger, and directing their path without so much as consulting him. He reminded himself that he had no alternative to offer, but that didn’t make him feel any better. He glanced back at Luke, who stumbled along at his elbow, and felt even worse. It was bad enough how far things were spinning out of control for Darius, and the fact he had let Luke convince him that he should tag along dropped a weight of pending guilt on his shoulders, should anything go wrong.
When they finally stopped at an abandoned mill, Darius felt the call of sleep heavy upon him. But Silas was anything but tired. “Been cooped up for too long,” he explained. “Feels good to get out and see the world again.”
Luke looked back the way they had come and asked, “You think we’re being pursued?”
“Doubtful,” Adrianna said. “They’ll scout the area around Krangstand, but generally won’t call for a full search. They’d risk their own necks by admitting a prisoner had escaped. No offense, Silas, but I doubt you’ll be missed by any but the inmates and the jailers, so I think they’ve given up by now.”
“No offense taken,” Silas said. “And if you’re saying the king himself won’t be asking after me, you’re right. I was simply put out of the way for stirring up local trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” Darius wanted to know.
Silas answered by closing his eyes and folding his hands in prayer.
“For praying?”
“In too public a fashion.”
“That’s hard to believe,” Darius said, not challenging Silas, but clearly surprised.
“Welcome to the new Longvale,” Silas said. “Now, as much as I appreciate your efforts to reacquaint me with freedom, I believe you had a book you wanted me to peruse.”
“We have to figure out how to crack it open first,” Darius said as he pulled the tome from his pack.
Silas reached to take the book from Darius, but as its weight settled on his fingers, he gave a small gasp and dropped it. Before anyone could speak he held up a finger, asking for silence. With that same finger he reached down and touched the book delicately, tracing its edge and feeling the rough texture of the covering hide and the cold metal of the lock. Finally he withdrew his hand and sat back with a sigh. “Sorry about that. It surprised me.”
“The book?” Adrianna asked.
“Yes. It is a source of great power, and great evil.”
“That fits with what Landri said to my sister,” Darius commented.
Silas nodded. “I can see why he might value it greatly.”
“Can you open it?” Luke asked.
“No,” said Silas with a shake of his head. “I’m not sure I’d want to, even if I could. It’s dangerous.”
Now it was Darius’ turn to sigh. “So where does that leave us?”
“Well, I can’t open it,” replied Silas, “but I can tell you it is called a Blood Book or a Book of Dread. Some have modified the latter term and say ‘Book of the Dead,’ although that’s not quite right. They are quite rare, thankfully. This may be the only one still existing—or I should say that anyone knows about—in Corterra. They are ancient tomes, better left buried in some dusty pile, forgotten.”
“Or destroyed,” Darius offered.
“That is far easier said than done.” Silas thought for a moment. “I can’t open it, and it is dangerous, but I think what you are trying to do is proper, and I will help you if I can. If Landri was using this book, there is no telling what kind of evil he may have loosed. We’ll know better once we can get a look inside.”
“Do you know what it contains?” Darius asked.
“Spells, most likely, though we won’t know what kind until we can open it. Not magic, like Adrianna’s, but…darker incantations.”
“If you can’t open it, do you have any idea who can?” Adrianna asked.
“Landri, for one, and I’m not being smart. I think those with a bent toward evil have the ability to get past the lock, while those, like us, with better intentions, do not.”
Darius laughed, a chuckle of dismay. “So we just need to find someone who would just as soon kill us as help us, and ask real nice if he’ll open it.”
“It does present a problem,” said Silas, “even worse than you’ve stated. I wouldn’t dare place the book in the hands of anyone who I thought could open it, for fear of what they’d see inside, and the possibility they might be able to use it.”
“This is getting easier all the time,” Luke said sarcastically.
“Worthwhile endeavors frequently meet with obstacles, and you
r quest here is no different. But I do have one other possibility, someone who might have enough magic to overcome the warded lock on the book.”
“Are you talking about Aerlos?” Adrianna asked.
Silas nodded.
“Well, she’s rumored to have skills beyond any other. But even assuming we could reach her, and that’s a big assumption, would she help us?”
“She might,” said Silas with a soft smile. “I think she would, if I ask it.”
“You know her?” Adrianna asked, clearly amazed at this revelation.
“I was much younger then, even had some hair on my head.”
“Then it was in ancient times.”
“Such flattery will get you nowhere.”
Darius cleared his throat loudly, to be sure he was heard. “I hate to break up this little private discussion, but would you mind telling Luke and I who this Aerlos is?”
“Of course,” Silas said. “Aerlos is Queen of the Ice Elves.”
Darius and Luke stared at Silas, dumbfounded.
“Elves and men have not interacted since olden days,” Darius finally managed to say. He looked at Silas and added, “At least I was told.”
“Oh, that’s true, for the most part. One needs to venture to the Far North to meet the elves, and only then if they’ll allow it. The rulers of the human kingdoms have kept to the south and the elves to the north, since olden times as you say.”
Adrianna was ready to get back to discussing how they could reach Aerlos. “This will be a long, arduous journey,” she said, looking from Luke to Darius. “I want to be sure its not more than what you bargained for when you left home.”
“It is,” Darius said. “Far more. But if it’s what needs to be done to protect Sasha, then I’m in. At least we’ll be moving away from Longvale, and away from Landri. I always thought I’d end up trying to lose it somewhere, hoping it would stay hidden. If this Aerlos can’t get past the lock, the Far North wouldn’t be the worst place to try to hide the book.”
“Luke?” Adrianna asked.
Darius jumped in before Luke could speak. “We’ll need to pass through the war front, then through Dalusia—who we are fighting with—and then who knows what perils in the north. And despite all that, anything we say to convince Luke to turn back and go home will be so much wasted breath.”
“You’re smarter than you look,” Luke said.
“I could put a sleep spell on him,” Adrianna offered. “We could sneak off and get a pretty good head start.”
“Very funny,” Luke said. “Then I’d just have to travel alone. Probably end up getting there before you lot.”
Adrianna smiled at the young man’s spunk, while Darius just grimaced and shook his head. Silas alone wore a serious expression, and waited until he had Adrianna’s attention.
“It will be a long journey, and dangerous,” he said. “I want to get Barlow to come along.”
Adrianna rolled her eyes. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“Who’s Barlow?” Darius interjected before the two started having another private conversation.
“A stuffy old man,” Adrianna said with a shake of her head.
“He’s not nearly as old as you,” Silas retorted.
“So which is he, old or not?” Darius asked. He would have placed Adrianna at no more than thirty.
“He’s fifty-nine, if my memory doesn’t fail me,” Silas said. “Past his prime maybe, but not past being useful.”
Darius was so taken aback by the notion that Adrianna was sixty or more that he was struck temporarily dumb. Ignoring the shock on his face and on Luke’s, she answered Silas.
“Well past his prime, if he ever had one, which is debatable.”
“Now, Adrianna, you needn’t get nasty. You know he’s good in a tight spot, and he wants to serve what’s right and just.”
“Why should I admit any such thing? He would say no kind words about me.”
“He respects you. He just doesn’t like your way of doing things.”
“My skills in magic,” she explained for the brothers.
Darius finally found his voice. “Why is that a problem? Does it frighten him?”
“Percival Barlow,” Silas said, “is a paladin. He sees most magic, at least when used by humans, as being derived from the dark arts, with the exception of that used to do God’s work. I think perhaps he has softened with age on the point, but he’s too stubborn to admit as much.”
“You obviously don’t see things that way.”
“No. I know nothing of the origins of magic—the arts themselves or the source of the power that makes a spell work—but I’ve known those who wield it for good, and those who wield it for selfish reasons or for evil. It is what is in the heart of the caster that matters.”
“You should try telling that to Barlow,” Adrianna said.
“I have tried,” Silas said, his open hands at his sides in a gesture of helplessness.
Darius sighed, thinking that yet another stranger was to be let in on their secret. “Can we trust him?” he asked.
“Of course,” said Silas.
“No offense, but I was asking Adrianna.”
She grimaced, looked at Silas, then grudgingly said, “Yes. That much I’ll give him. If he agrees to go along, he’ll be true. You needn’t doubt that. But I’m not sure he will, if I’m part of the bargain.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Silas said.
“So where is this guy?” Luke asked.
“He lives in seclusion, a few miles from New Bern.”
“At least that’s north,” Darius noted. “Not really out of our way.”
“Great,” said Silas. “Then it’s settled.” He did his best to ignore the dour and uncertain looks of his companions.
*
Landri sat on his throne, inwardly fuming but doing his best not to show it. If he was honest with himself—and he rarely was—he would admit that his ability to hide an inner rage was basically non-existent. Like a thermometer on a hot day, the red color would move up his neck and then to his face, and all those around him backed away as best as they were able, knowing he was ready to blow. Such was the case now, and he had given an angry wave to his court and advisors, clearing the room of all save one. It was the lone remaining man—or rather the all-knowing smirk on his face—that was infuriating him so. “If you have something to say, Kaelesh, then be out with it. You tire me.”
“I only wish to serve my king,” Kaelesh said, in his usual too-smooth tone.
“Spare me the fawning words. I wish the night watch was as attentive to what goes on as you have been to my every move these last few days.”
Kaelesh replied as if he was being complimented. “You have been troubled. And what troubles you, troubles me. But I can do little to aid you if you keep the problem to yourself. Have I not gained your trust?”
Landri laughed, a short, hard bark. “I trust you, as much as you trust me. Ours is a relationship born of chance and circumstance.”
“Has it not been beneficial? If you wish me to go, release me from your service.”
“You know I won’t do so. You know I can’t.”
Kaelesh said nothing.
“Are you just going to stand there and fix me with that maddening stare of yours? What do you want?”
“Only to he—”
“Only to help. Yes, I know. All for me. Fine. Help me by telling me what it is you think I am troubled by.”
“As you wish.” Although the room was empty, Kaelesh stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I think you’ve misplaced the book.”
Landri felt like a trapped rat. Kaelesh’s eyes seemed to bore into his very soul. “That’s ludicrous,” he said. He had to make a conscious effort to avoid wincing at how unconvincing he sounded even to himself.
Kaelesh went on as if Landri had admitted the book was lost. “If you think the book not being in your possession changes things between us, you are wrong. But I fear it falling into the wrong hands
. That could be a very, very serious problem.” As he said this he leaned so close that Landri could feel the heat of his breath,
Unable to bear Kaelesh’s gaze any longer, Landri turned his head. “I’ve always kept the book’s location my own secret.”
“Of course. But I believe someone has stumbled upon it and taken it.”
“Even if that were true, what could be done about it?” Landri asked in a dismissive way, even as he allowed a small bloom of hope to blossom within himself.
“I can find it, if you wish it.”
“How?”
In reply to this Kaelesh only smiled, a smile so cold and cruel it made Landri shudder.
Chapter 7: Two Farms
The sun was just rising over the horizon, and its first rays lit Luke’s face, but didn’t yet wake him. Darius looked past his brother and saw the light play on a spider web wet with morning dew. He didn’t care much for spiders, creepy, ugly little creatures that usually gave him the chills, but there was a beauty to their webs that few could deny. He marveled at how strong and delicate the web could be at the same time.
So lost did he become in admiring the web that when Adrianna nudged him he gave a start. He collected himself, smiled an embarrassed smile, and took the peach she offered. Glancing around, he asked, “Where’s Silas?”
“Morning prayer, I imagine. He’ll be back shortly.”
When the cleric arrived a few minutes later, he found his companions all awake and finishing their modest breakfast. Luke held a peach out toward him.
“No, thanks,” Silas said. “Already downed a few berries I found. But I brought you something.” He held up two sturdy looking sticks, and tossed one to Luke. “Your brother has a sword, and Adrianna… well, she doesn’t need weapons such as we do. However, as you and I are short-handed, I thought these might be of use.”
Luke looked at the stick with a smirk and a shake of his head. “This might be of use against a rabbit or a pig, assuming it was slow-witted. If you want to use this on a man…maybe if he’s asleep?”