He trails off.
“Eiras?”
He’s gazing into the distance and I turn to follow his gaze, only to find he’s staring at… nothing? Or the wall across?
Fear curls around my spine like an icy fist. “Eis? What’s going on?”
“We have to go to the palace,” he whispers, his blue eyes wide but kind of empty. He sets off toward the exit of the alley, moving at a brisk pace. “We have to leave now.”
“What? Eis, no. Wait!”
But he’s already marching away, and I have no choice but to run and keep up with him. “The palace,” he’s muttering. “Yes, the royal library would be perfect for this book. Easier to reach, too. Most definitely.”
“Eis! What in the hells?” I finally reach him as he turns a corner and I push him, knocking him against the wall of a house. Then I grab the satchel strap and pull it with all my might. He tries to resist but he seems confused, as if caught in a daze, so I finally manage to yank it off him.
Stumbling back a few steps, clutching the satchel to my chest, I lift a forbidding hand between us. “Stop right there, Eis.”
He stares at me. Then he glances around him, pale brows drawing together. “Aline? What’s going on? What are you doing?”
“Me? You decided to take the book to the palace! Did it… Eis, did it speak to you?”
He frowns harder. “I heard a voice. It was telling me that taking the book to the royal library would be the best course of action. The librarians there would know what to do with it.”
“Oh Gods.” I can’t catch my breath. The implications are terrible. “We’re not going to find the woman who dropped the book, are we? Either she didn’t want anything to do with it anymore and dropped it on purpose, or the book spoke in her head and told her to leave.”
Olm whispers in my ear, “No, it wasn’t my doing. I don’t know why she left me here. I think she became scared.”
“Of you?”
“I’m not sure. There’s only so much you can figure out when you are inside some moldy pages.”
“Is he talking to you right now? What is he telling you?” Eiras is white as milk. “Aline, talk to me.”
I clench my jaw. “It doesn’t matter. I have to take the book to the Areon.”
Eiras shakes his head. “No, you can’t go. It’s dangerous. We’ve established that.”
“And what other options are there? This book can’t stay here. It will keep talking to whoever holds it, Eis! Using its magic on us, to convince us to take it to the palace, the Gods know for what nefarious reason. Somehow its magic doesn’t work on me, and I managed to stop you from doing its bidding, but imagine if anyone else gets it. They’d take it to the palace immediately, and then…”
“Then what? What will a book do there?” He snorts, though he’s still too pale. “It’s just a book. It can’t grow arms and legs. Can’t wield a sword or a dagger.”
“Keep laughing. You heard what Naida said.” I glance down at the satchel I’m pressing to my chest. My knowledge about magical books is limited, but Naida did say over and overthat they’re dangerous. “What if a monster escapes and eats everyone? What if it eats the fae queen?”
He’s quiet for a while. Then he says, “What if a monster escapes and eatsyouon the way?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That won’t happen.”
Now he’s the one glaring at me and I wince. Yeah, why wouldn’t it? I can’t have it both ways. Either this book is dangerous or it isn’t.
“You’re not going,” Eiras says.
I glare right back. “Yes, I am. Or do you see any other solution?”
He sighs. “Then I’m coming with you.”
“No, Eis. You have to stay with Naida and Brogan.”
“Look, I can’t stay anyway,” he says. “I have to find more work. You were right, what I brought won’t last long. It never does.”
