I grin at him. “And yet it works like a charm every time.”
CHAPTER SIX
DARK ENCOUNTER
ADELINE
The world is truly enormous. Having lived all my life in Siris, in the Burrows, I’ve prided myself on my speed and stamina, but I never imagined the time and distance between towns. Never realized how large the plain is.
At least, we have been lucky with the weather. It’s mid-season, and not too warm or cold, and even more importantly, not stormy. The wind coming down from the mountains is cool, though, turning chilly as evening falls, and it’s time to find a place to sleep.
The last town is right up ahead, roofs catching the last light and smoke rising from chimneys, but we won’t make it before the fall of darkness.
Olm has been muttering angrily in my ear all the way, and I’m starting to think I should just bury the book in a hole in the ground, under a bush or something, somewhere nobody will ever find it and be affected by it.
“You wouldn’t,” Olm snaps. “If you try that, I’ll unleash a hungry dragon to eat you alive.”
“A dragon?” I repeat, unimpressed. “Suddenly, you have a bevy of monsters to unleash on me?”
“I’ve always had monsters in me,” Olm says with an annoyed sniff.
“Then why haven’t you done so yet?”
“I’m hoping to change your mind, don’t you see?” he screeches. “I don’t want you dead. I want you to take me to the palace!”
“Or you could kill me with your dragon and get Eiras to take you, as you tried to do before.”
He doesn’t reply to that. I shouldn’t be putting such ideas in his head—if he has a head—but I’m truly curious. He isn’t acting rationally.
He must have realized by now that he can’t influence me, right?
“I don’t believe you have monsters in your pages, Olm.” And on that note, I decide to prod him a little, see how he will react. “Eis, wait up. I decided to bury this book in the ground.”
“What?” Eiras turns around, frowning. “It’s a magical book, Aline. It won’t like that.”
“It doesn’t like me taking it to the Library of Areon, either.”
“Aline, don’t.” Olm sounds breathy. Or out of breath. Hard to tell. His voice seems to be coming from inside my own head, after all. “Don’t do it.”
“Afraid of a little dirt?” I prod him some more.
“I’m warning you. I’ll end you if you bury me.”
“What if I set you on fire?” I muse. “Burn you to ashes?”
“You wouldn’t dare. A storyteller’s daughter knows the value of books, even more so, rare, magical ones.”
“You sound afraid. A magical, dangerous book would laugh in my face.” I open the satchel, take out the book and walk to the side of the road. A thorny bush stands there. “This is a good spot.”
“Aline, what are you doing?” Eiras mutters. “This is a bad idea. Monsters, remember?”
“Your brother is right,” Olm hisses. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Why not?” I demand. “That’s what I don’t understand. Why won’t you hurt me? What are you planning?”
“I only know… I need to get to the palace.” Olm’s voice grows faint. “I can’t remember the rest.”
“Oh, are you playing the sympathy card now? Amnesia, is it? You’re piling it on too thick, Olm.” Placing the book on the ground, I start digging a hole in the soil with my hands. “I’ve had enough of your lies.”
