“But that’s it. The script inside is nothing special, judging from the title that I was able to read. Of course, the rest of the text keeps blurring, which is annoying.”
“That’s magic!”
“That’s a nuisance,” I say, refusing to be intimidated by a voice from a book, of all things. I’m already annoyed and scared that it influenced my brother’s mind, and tried to do the same to Naida, and that we have to undertake this journey to deliver it to the Areon.
So when Olm starts muttering about the beauty of his book and the delicacy of its script, I ignore him.
Is this the sort of monster Naida expects to spring out of such books? If so, we will be fine. Olm doesn’t appear to be anything more than a snooty, immaterial voice. Worst case scenario, he will just annoy me to death.
“Are you ready, sis?” Eiras calls out.
“Almost!”
A change of clothes, hard bread and a wedge of cheese, the two remaining apples and a few pieces of jerky is all I pack. Eiras has pocketed a few of the coins he has brought so we can buy more food on the way. We can forage, Naida made sure we learned what the land and water can offer for nourishment, but who knows if it will be enough?
I’ve never traveled outside of Siris, at least not past the first fields you encounter on the outskirts. I don’t want to admit it but Eiras coming with me is such a relief. He has been journeying for months now, working his way through villages, towns and farmsteads. He has some experience in the matter.
The frown he’s wearing isn’t reassuring, though. And I don’t want to ask if it’s going to be okay, because I don’t want him to lie.
“We’ll pay to ride in a cart.” He slings his own bundle over his shoulder and it’s so sad because he just came back home, only to leave again. And all this because I picked up this satchel with its cursed book. Because he has a little thief for a sister. “I know a man. He usually travels all the way to the last town before the mountains. That should save us time and legwork.”
Grateful, I give him a smile and sling my bundle over my shoulder, too. “Ready when you are, big brother.”
Despite Naida’s quiet instructions and calm demeanor earlier, despite Brogan’s light-hearted teasing, our goodbye is tearstained.
“My little girl,” Brogan whispers, sitting up in his bed and clutching me to his strong chest. “Be careful out there. And come back to us, do you hear me?”
“Yes. I will be back before you know it.” My face is mashed against his chest so my voice is muffled. “You and Naida take good care of each other, okay?”
“Daughter, let Eiras look after you, yes?”
“I don’t need looking after,” I scoff.
“Please. For me. Promise me.”
Biting my lip, I nod and I know he feels the movement. “Yes, Brogan. I promise.”
Then he releases me and getting up, I turn to Naida, opening my mouth to say something, not even sure what it might be.
She hauls me into her arms. “Look out for that book,” she whispers. “I have faith in you, but it’s a dangerous artifact. Don’t anger it, my sweet. And beware of the warrior guardian of the library, if you find yourself obliged to enter. The current one is named Ersil Davara and has been there for a long time already.”
“Why should I be afraid of the librarian?”
“Because in a world of monsters, you need to become a monster to survive.”
CHAPTER FIVE
NO DEAL
ADELINE
The muleteer has a small caravan, his mules loaded with bags and crates, and as promised, an open cart is attached at the end of it, pulled by an old animal with rheumy eyes. The muleteer nods at us and marches to the front of the line, alongside the laden mules, waving a stick to get them going.
Meanwhile, Eiras settles me into the cart, but he doesn’t climb up, instead choosing to walk.
“I don’t want special treatment,” I protest.
“We will switch,” he says. “Later on. We’ll alternate to rest our feet.”
