The waiting area has several comfortable seats and a view of a winding track leading to the mountain library. The ceiling is lower here, the floor covered in a patterned rug. Erabi sets me on the windowsill.
“I’ll be right back,” she says.
I doubt it. This place is massive. I bet there are stairs and corridors to navigate. Where will they put me to work if I get the position? Will I have access to the lower levels? What if I can’t get ta where I need go? What if I fail to find the knowledge I need?
Madame Spider sent me ’ere for a reason, and I know that reason is connected to Leela. To saving her. Somehow, that spider lady knew my Leela would be in trouble.
A shiver tightens my spine, and my fur stands on end in warning. I tense and slowly look up, biting back a squeak at the sight of the huge spider clinging to the ceiling. It’s not as large as Madame Spider, but it’s at least three times the size of me. Which is pretty fecking huge.
My brain itches, and a soft sibilant voice fills my mind.Mother said you would be coming.
Mother? “You’re Aserathiin’s child?”
Mother said to show you the below. You’ll come with me now. I’ll take you, and I will bring you back.
“Okay, but how—Argh!”
The thing drops toward me, mouth yawning wide, multitudes of eyes gleaming.
Darkness swallows me.
Wake up,little mouse. You are where you need to be.
I jerk awake, a squeal trapped in my throat, and oh feck, I’m all wet and covered in gunk. Oh…Oh gods.
I scramble onto all fours, alert, ready to bolt.
The eight-legged beast crouched in front of me on flagstone watches me with its many beady eyes. The air’s musty and heavy, gloom pressing in, but I gets the sense of old stone and ancient depth. My fur quivers, fighting the slimy residue covering my body as it attempts to warn me of danger. There’s movement around me. Above me. Behind me.
We’re under the library, and we’re not alone.
You are safe, little mouse.
“Rat. I’m a rat.” A rat who’s surrounded by spiders of all sizes. I’m in a fucking spider nest. Stay calm, Blue, you’ve got this. “Did you swallow me?” Feck, why’d I ask that? Why talk about being swallowed? It’s way too close to being eaten.
Aserathiin’s child makes a strange hissing, scraping sound. My stomach contracts. Is it laughing at me?
I held you within me. Brought you to where Mother said you should go. We welcome you here.
We, as in all the other spiders? Are they all Aserathiin’s children? “Your mother said there was something I needed to see down here. Books and scrolls.”
But this chamber’s nothin’ but bare stone. There’s a low arch leading off into the darkness to my right…Could the books be in there?
There are no books and scrolls here.
“But Aserathiin said there were?—”
Did she? What were her words to you?
I cast my mind back to my conversation with Madame Spider.The knowledge you will need will be found deep beneath…Not books or scrolls butknowledgeand what else had she said? Something about ask and they shall speak?
“Look, can you please show me where I need to go? I don’t have much time.”
Another voice blooms in the dark, soft, weary, and ancient.
You have time enough, little one. As much time as you choose to give yourself.
The spiders around me skitter and scuttle, moving away from me as a series of thuds shake the chamber. The dark archway to my left blooms with presence, and then a multitude of red eyes fills the space, pushing into the chamber. Thick, hairy legs the width of a person come through next. Fecking hell, my heart feels like it’s about ta explode.
