5-29

5-29

Blackbast led them into a vast hall of marble floors and walls. It opened into a ground chamber that soared twenty meters up. It was all of stone and marble and lit by magical lights. Books were everywhere, lying on tables, stacked on shelves, and piled on the floor.

The whole space looked like a gothic city library, complete with statues of leering gargoyles. The floors were a pinkish marble, and the walls were cut from the red rock itself. The shelves and furniture were made of sandy-colored wood, polished to perfection, and intricately carved with patterns. The stacks of books vanished beyond sight down dozens or rows promising long-lost secrets to those diligent enough to search for them.

Books! Heather cried, but before she could rush ahead, Blackbast stopped her.

Be careful as you search in here. I have only looked down the closest stacks. I have no idea what might lurk in the deep recesses of the library.

Are you saying it might be dangerous? Breanne asked.

I am saying this is an abandoned structure in the desert, Blackbast replied. Some caution is wise.

Hmm, I suppose its smart to be cautious, Heather replied and looked into the vast inner hall. I wonder if I can summon skeletons in here.

It has a stone floor, Breanne said. I doubt you or Quinny can summon your minions.

Heather turned right about and went outside, only to return a minute later with six skeletons following along. She had Webster in one arm and her scythe in the other.

Now I am armed and have bodyguards, Heather stated and walked ahead.

Frank and I will wait here, Blackbast called as the girls headed away. Call if you need us.

They crossed a vast dusty hall full of reading tables and chairs. There were books on every table, some open, some piled in stacks. They reached the middle of the grand hall as Heather looked up at the arched ceiling of patterned stone. It was so ornately carved that she wished she could have seen how it was done. Massive square stone pillars flanked the hall, and tables circled them at the base. She blew the dust off a few books on one table, eager to see what they were.

A collection of fairy tales? Heather said as she read the description. This seems kinda silly in a world where fairies are probably real. She set it aside and looked at another to see it was a dissertation on something called hydromancy. Well, that's a school of magic, but not one I am interested in, she said and moved on.

For the next twenty minutes, they poured over every book on the tables until Blackbast arrive to call them into order.

You are wasting your time searching the loose books. You need to get into the stacks and figure out how they are organized. Then you can locate the books you need. Come, I will organize your search, Blackbast added and led them into the shelves.

The shelves were twice Heathers height, and ladders were anchored to them every twenty steps. Blackbast assigned Heather to the lower bookshelves while Quinny was to climb the ladder and look above. Breanne would push her along, and together they would identify what was in each row. Some sections had brass plates identifying what they contained, while others had nothing to go by except the books themselves. Finally, Blackbast left them to work and went back to the grand hall.

The first section was full of books on alchemy, transmutation, and conjuration. There were whole catalogs of magical ingredients and their properties. Beside them were guides on how to prepare and process herbs to get the desired reactions. One book spoke about something called elemental forging, and she spent a moment flipping through the pages. It was a fascinating look into how powerful raw elements could be shaped into magical items. Things she never dreamed of existing were listed in the pages and captivated her imagination. What could a necromancer do with a scythe made of Angellium? Or a bone golem made from bones infused with Astral powder?

Heathers mind reeled with possibilities, but she had so much to learn. The conjuration section opened her eyes to the wide range of things people could summon, from animals to elementals, spirits that were not considered undead, and even outer planar beings. Many classes could conjure mundane things like a chair to sit on or a bucket to haul water. Summoning water and food looked to be a common skill, as was the ability to conjure magical lights. To her surprise, there were fully described spells for minor conjurations. She handed the book to a skeleton to carry, determined to try some of the spells later. She added a few books on alchemy as well to research an idea that was brewing in her mind.

She found a guide on spell preparation and added it to the skeleton's arms along with a book on basic conjuration spells. This hall exhausted, they started on the next, walking the stacks with a sense of wonder.

This next area was less interesting, containing books of poetry and discussions on things like reality. Still, she found one guide that spoke about how New Eden's reality was layered and added it to the skeleton's arms. Quinny added one that was a collection of sad romantic stories, stating she liked a good cry.

An hour went by before they found the shelves that contained books about specific schools of magic and one with a detailed overview and description of them all. Heather added that to her pile and moved on. She found a book on holy magic and added that one too. Better to understand how the paladin's magic worked to be better prepared for it. She found a small guide that made her smile. It was a guide for inefficient combat classes that included a whole section on flower singers. It went right in the pile that was becoming rather large. Breanne found a guide to shadow magic and added her first book to the collection.

Wandering the shelves, they searched for anything to do with necromancy. Heather was delighted to find a whole three shelves with books written by dozens of authors about necromancy and the whole range of what they called the unholy arts. She tore through books devouring everything she could find. There were books with spells she didn't have and sections on improving undead. Guides to which skills to buy to make them more efficient and tips for arming minions. She began to take every book she could get her hands on and stack them in the arms of her minions. When every skeleton carried five or six books, she took three more herself and led them back across the library.

Did you find anything? Frank asked as Heather walked by with her train of minions all holding books.

Don't be sarcastic, Heather called. There is an entire section on necromancy, and I am taking every book I can carry. I will put them all inside the magic room so I can look through them later.

She returned a few minutes later and led her minions back into the stacks to begin stacking their arms with more books.

Why do you need so many? Breanne asked as Heather worked.

Most of these books are probably useless, but we cant stay here long enough for me to figure it out. I will take them all and look through them as we travel.

Hey, I found a book on zombies, Quinny called and held up a book that looked as if it was clad in zombie skin.

That looks horrid, Heather said.

Its just a book, Quinny replied and handed it to a skeleton.

Heather stacked the last of the books in the section in a skeleton's arms and looked dissatisfied that there were no more. She walked to the end of the row, where a wide hall separated it from even more stacks on the other side. From where she stood, she could see these stacks went another ten meters and ended at yet another hall beyond which were more stacks.

It could take us weeks to search all this, Heather said. I wish we had more time.

You have taken fifty books already, Breanne said.

And I haven't even begun to find the books I want, Heather replied. Do you think there might be special rooms or even secret rooms in here?

Why would they need secret rooms? Quinny asked from the ladder above.

Heather explained that there might be restricted books or books with knowledge so secret they were hidden from the average person.

I suppose there might be, Breanne replied. I could look for some, but it will take hours to search even a small area.

Heather realized they had a dozen more stacks to search in the section they were in, so she focused her attention here. She hoped to find books on the history of the world and perhaps its evolution over time. An hour later, they had added a dozen misc books to the collection, but nothing about the world itself. She grew frustrated as time ticked by and realized they were going to have to leave soon.

This whole section is about fungus, Quinny said as she turned over a book. Why would people spend so much time writing about that?

Hmm, Heather said and turned over one of the books. Is there one about preserving spores?

Maybe this one on how to use fungus, Quinny replied and handed the book down.

Heather added it to the arms of a skeleton and wandered down the row. She peered down the length of the stacks across from them and dared to step into the hall.

Still wondering what might be hidden beyond the stacks? Breanne asked as she walked up behind Heather.

I want to search every section, Heather replied. Who knows what we might learn.

You already have more books than you can read in a year, Breanne said. I am sure we can come back here when time permits.

Heather wasn't so sure there would ever be enough time. That seemed to be one of the hallmarks of her existence. She was always rushing off to get something done, never having enough time to finish anything else. She walked across the aisle into the stacks and ran a finger over the spines of countless books. There were gaps between some books occupied by an object of curiosity. Sometimes it was a statue, other times a work of art. There were skulls from long-dead creatures scattered about and more than a few cobwebs.

Are we moving? Quinny called as Heather wandered deeper into the stacks.

Heather shook her head and turned back but paused when she heard something. It was a muffled sound from someplace deeper in the library. As if somebody had just pushed a chair across the floor. She turned to gaze down the row to the next hall but saw nothing of note in the gloom.

Did you hear that? she asked as Breanne caught up to her.

Breanne followed Heathers gaze but responded with a denying, heard what?

I was sure I heard something, Heather continued and took a step forward. Do you think something might be living in here?

If it is, we are better off not encountering it, Breanne suggested just as they both heard a thump.

Heather looked back as Breanne nodded; she had heard it that time. Heather motioned to Quinny to join them and then explained the noises they heard. They sat quietly, listening for a minute more, but nothing else was heard.

Maybe there are mice or something, Quinny suggested.

Mice? Heather repeated as if the idea were silly. Slowly she crept down the row with Quinny and Breanne following. At the next hall, she peered around the stack to disturbances in the dust. Something had passed two rows down, leaving a trail that could be clearly seen.

Something is here, Heather said and pointed out the disturbance in the dust. We need to go back to Frank and Blackbast.

Are you alright? Breanne asked Quinny as she let her go.

I'm fine, but those suckers have teeth in them, Quinny replied.

Its too fast to fight in these tight spaces, Frank said. I cant keep up with it.

Lets just get out, Heather said as she looked around to be sure Webster was still with them. She snatched him up and held him tight as she ordered her skeletons to run out of the library with the books.

What about the ones that were dropped? Quinny asked as they started to run after the skeletons.

I don't care about them, Heather said. Frank's right, that thing is super fast and can fly over the stacks. We can't fight it here. She swallowed and looked over her shoulder at Quinny, who was trotting behind. Are you hurt? Do you need a heal?

It can wait; I'm only bitten in one place, Quinny said. My armor blocked the rest.

Heather nodded as they neared the end of the row as the books suddenly began to fall like an avalanche. She managed to stop just as the shelves came crashing down to reveal the beast on the other side pushing them over. They fell with a crash and a cloud of dust, crushing a hapless skeleton and blocking their escape.

You are costing me books! Heather yelled before pointing her scythe and chanting a few words. The area all around the beast was bathed in sickly green and yellow clouds, and it howled before darting away.

Dont go after it, Breanne said to Blackbast. Those clouds rot anything that is living.

Blackbast turned to Heather, who was growling in frustration.

Let's double back and go down another row, she said in annoyance.

I can probably lift these shelves, Frank said. It will take a few minutes.

And that thing will leap at us from behind, Breanne said. I could carry you all across one at a time, but whoever was last would be terribly vulnerable.

We stay together and go back, Blackbast said. That creature can wrap victims tight. It would be unwise to split up.

Frank took the lead and headed back as the group looked up and around, desperate to see the creature. Finally, they made it to the back hall and skipped a few rows in the opposite direction before heading to the front entrance. As they crept along, their assailant was strangely quiet, leaving them even more unnerved as the time ticked away.

Should we make a run for it? Heather asked as they neared the midpoint of the aisle.

No, Blackbast whispered back. That thing wants us to panic and separate.

We might have to kill it, Quinny added. It seems like its trying to keep us from leaving.

To kill it, we will need to slow it down, Breanne said. And lure it into the open like the entry hall.

If it shows up again, I am grabbing hold of one of those arms and holding it in place, Frank said. I will focus on keeping it from running. You guys put it down.

Heather nodded when suddenly books began to rain from above. They saw the arms reaching over the stacks with coils of books that it used to bombard the group. Frank used his height to jump in an attempt to grab an arm, but they darted away in a flash.

It knows where we are, Breanne pointed out as she leaned into the stack, her head passing through to the other side. Its already gone from this aisle.

It is trying to frighten us, Blackbast said. Keep moving. I would rather fight it in the open.

At least you got a good hit on it, Heather said. Youre the only one thats managed to his it so far.

Breanne landed one of her spells, and you burned it in your cloud, Blackbast reminded. It isn't so hard to defeat; it is just using the confined space of the library to its advantage.

And that speed, Quinny said as something suddenly moved behind them.

They turned just in time to see several rope-like arms twist around Breanne and fail to do anything but swipe the air. The creature let out an annoyed burble and rose high into the air as Breanne smiled and pointed a finger, filling the air with darts of shadow.

It can't touch her, Heather said excitedly. However, her expression changed as the beast suddenly turned and came racing down with arms flailing.

Frank rushed to intercept the attack, the plates of his armor easily absorbing the toothy ends. The monster made the mistake of lashing at him with too many arms as Frank grasped wildly to get a hold of them.

I think I got it! he cried and tugged at two arms only to have several more lashed at his face. The monster tried to pull away, nearly dragging him with, but Frank pulled back with all his might.

Blackbast leaped into the battle, her whip leading the way. Several arms reached for her, forcing her to dart to the side as the monster slammed into a bookcase, causing a hail of books. Quinny rushed in, cutting at the arms as Breanne continued to fire bolts of shadow. Unfortunately, none of them connected as she had to struggle to avoid hitting the others.

I cant risk a wail with you all in the way, Breanne shouted as the monster finally dragged Frank a few steps down the hall.

Heather had the same problem, her spells having to be aimed high to avoid hitting her friends. She set Webster down and took up the scythe with both hands, and ran in. She had to jostle beside Quinny as the beast flailed and dragged Frank some more. It slammed him against the shelves, and he lost his grip allowing it to fly free.

Oh no, you don't! Heather called and raised a hand. A wall of bone appeared above them, floating just above the shelves. Heather laid the wall on its side, creating a ceiling, trapping the monster inside. It slammed against the barrier and struggled to find an escape as a shadow bolt finally connected.

Its trapped, Quinny called as she cut one of the arms.

The monster suddenly darted low, nearly sweeping the ground as ropes raced out, tumbling Quinny but finding Frank an immovable object. He stamped on an arm and started to walk his way up it, closing on the body as more arms wrapped about him. A sudden slash from Blackbast's whip causes a wail as another arm was injured. Heather rushed in with her scythe, finally making a cut that mattered and severing another arm. The beast pushed at Frank, but he continued to walk up the arm, pinning it in place. He reached the main body as the monster wrapped Frank up but ghoul might mixed with levels of strength boosts won out. Frank plunged his claws into the round body and began to slash at the monster. Purplish blood splattered the books.

The creature attempted to roll away, but Blackbast was there to lash it again, causing it to turn back into Frank. He pounced on it as Quinny began cutting the ropes off him. Moments later, Heather was at his side, and it was clear the monster had lost.

That was disgusting, Heather panted as she finally stepped away from the bloody mass. Why did we have to stab it so much to make it die?

It must have had a lot of health, Frank said.

Health? Heather asked in shock. You were punching holes in it.

I have explained this before, Frank replied. If you have enough health injuries will only be minor until you get low enough to make them critical.

Yeah, remember that arrow I took in the eye? Quinny asked.

Heather sighed and checked her dress to see it had speckles of blood. She tried in vain to wipe them away but only succeeded in smearing it.

Lets get out of this mess, she groaned and then took a moment to look directly at Frank. Do you need any healing?

I'm fine. The armor really is effective, he replied. That thing couldn't get through it anywhere. Heather could see he was fine but coated in purple blood all up his arms and down his legs. She nodded and looked for Webster to find him waiting where she put him down.

They quickly stumbled out of the aisle and into the outer hall. In silence, they headed for the door and carefully picked their way down the narrow tunnel out.

Hey, you made it, Legeis called from outside as Heather appeared. Everything, go, alright? He began as Frank quickly followed, still coated in blood.

Fine, Heather grumbled and was grateful several of her skeletons lived to get outside.

You dont look fine, Legeis countered as he looked down from his armor.

We found something to fight inside, Quinny replied as she stumbled out with Breanne and Blackbast. It was a cool flying rope thing.

Ah huh, Legeis replied and looked to Umtha, who was sitting on a rock nearby.

Waste time, Umtha called as Heather set Webster into the Palanquin and then started picking up books to carry them inside.

Unless you want to start volunteering information, I will have to get it from books, Heather called back.

The three girls worked to load the books into the magic room before Heather stepped over to the mountain home to change. When she came back in her blue dress and hat, the others were ready to go.

With Blackbast reclined on the back of Legeis's armor, they set out again, heading out of the canyons and onto the glass. The sun moved from noon to afternoon as they headed into the open wastes, ever hopeful this journey will be short.