“If they find us, period, we’ll be executed. With or without a book.”
Ace grunted. “Maybe, but let’s not give them any more reasons. Is there anything in there we need to have with us?”
“No.” I closed the book and slid it back into its spot. Someone had placed it in the section for “Endangered Species.” I shook my head. “The librarian had a sense of humour.”
Ace’s chuckle ruffled my hair and sent tingles along my skin. “Let’s keep looking. Maybe there are more hidden gems.”
The next few books didn’t provide any new or helpful information, but then Ace pulled a book from the shelf and hissed when he scanned the pages.
“What?” I reached for the book.
Ace danced out of the way, his eyes still scanning the words hidden from me. “Shh. I’m reading.”
“Ace!” I lunged forward.
He side-stepped me and tapped me on my head.
The audacity.
“I’m reading about how you’ll be our downfall.”
“Ace, be serious.”
He finally held the book out. “I am being serious. I just don’t care that you’ll be the destroyer of worlds. You’ve already ruined me.”
I rolled my eyes and snatched the book from his hands. The book started off like the other, explaining the rift between the phaanons and the galeons. It then shared the same artwork as the tapestry and the accompanying prophesy. So far, nothing new.
What was Ace talking about?
I flipped the page and as soon as I started reading, my heart sputtered.
While many accept this version of the prophesy, it’s important to note the prophesy was originally recorded in the Broken Tongue. A small group of academics disagree with the original translation of the final two lines. These experts believe the final words of the prophesy should be:
But the heir will destroy with ash and flame
The whole world in their mother’s name.
This notably changes the tone and outcome from one of righteous vengeance to one of world destruction. The Broken Tongue is a language predominantly used by traitors and zealots whose sole mandate is to rid Earth of both galeons and phaanons. Is this alternate prophesy ending legitimate, or is it simply wishful thinking of those who would see the world burn? Only time will tell.
“Well, phaan,” I muttered.
Ace leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll let you burn my world, Mouse.”
I snorted and swatted him with the book. “I’m thinking we need to learn more about this Broken Tongue.”
Ace snapped his fingers and spun on his heels.
“Where are you going?” I called out as he disappeared around the corner.
“The languages section. I skimmed through it too quickly. I didn’t think it was relevant.”
I almost laughed, but my gaze snagged on the sign for the “Endangered Species” section. I placed the book back on the shelf. “Wait for me.”
By the time I tracked him down, he’d found a book on the Broken Tongue. He waved it in the air at me. “A dictionary.”
I leaned over his shoulder and scanned the pages. Familiar circles and squares with lines drawn through them stared back at me. “It’s the same symbols we saw by the river and our prison.”
“So now we know the symbols are called the Broken Tongue, and this is the language used by traitors and zealots who believe the heir will destroy the world—or at least all the phaanons and galeons. We also know O’Reilly refers to this group as the Circle,” Ace said as he continued to skim the pages.
