"Except he did. When your father couldn't cast spells he suspected it skipped a generation. This book caused your grandfather much pain since he read it," Yrak said, putting the book on the table in front of me. I sighed and unwrapped the book exposing the cover. Ana gasped at what looked like a human face in agony on the cover. The entire thing was wrapped in what I would guess skin. I opened the book and inside the pages were also made out of the same leather as the bindings. The text on the pale pages stood out in a deep red. I cracked a small smile, "This book taught that old man blood magic. What a hero."
"He stopped using it as often the more he traveled. Said he could feel bits of what was left of his soul slip away." Yrak said as I thumbed through the pages. After a few pages I found what I was looking for, an envelope with my name on it. I frowned as I inspected it. Still sealed.
"So you were given the book and never read it?"
"No, it wasn't mine to read. He told me which book he had given me and I knew that book held no value to me."
I nodded at his response and I started to open the letter. I could feel Anas eyes burning my hands as I pulled the parchment out and opened it up.
"To my Grandson,
If you're reading this then Yrak has given you the book. This book asks a heavy price from its user. One I paid willingly so many times over my life. If my suspicions are right you're on your way to Greenwater. I have given the next book to another companion of mine who should still be there if I know my friends. Yrak will know what you are talking about. You're just a newborn as I write this and I'll be long dead when you read this. Your potential will get you far in this life of yours. I'm sorry for having you grow up in my shadow. You'll be remembered for all Thyme. Tell Yrak he was a good friend and that I'm glad 2 of my friends stayed here with me." I looked up from the letter and saw Lise and Yrak talking.
"-Mention it. I can kinda see the resemblance."
"I never met him in person so I don't know what he looks like."
"Just imagine him with pointier ears and a stupid grin on his face. Maybe a fuller beard as well." He motioned towards me and noticed I was finished.
"So what words of wisdom did he impart to you."
"Well, that you were a good friend."
"Obviously if I weren't I would have burnt the book." He chuckled.
"No, a good friend would have burned the book and not the letter." Lise quipped back.
"And that he was happy 2 of his friends stayed behind with him"
"By my bow somebody else stayed behind. I wonder who it could be."
"No clue but apparently they're in Greenwater and -"
"Dornan"
"Bless you?" Lise said.
"No, he means Arch Dornan." I sighed.
"Have you heard of him?"
"Heard of him? He's my contact in Greenwater."
"That man is a tricky one for sure but I know no better man to back me up in a pinch."
"So your contact is one of the same people who travelled with your grandfather?" Lise said.
"Apparently it would seem. Another companion the old man failed to mention."
"Dornan is a secretive fellow. More so than I. However, out of the group Thyme and Dornan knew each other the longest."
"Nobody really knew the old man. He hid behind lies, sarcasm and that stupid smile."
"That's true but Dornan helped him out of the worst time of Justins' life. So if anybody really knew him. It's Arch."
"I wonder what that was like?" Lise said. I held my tongue, my Grandfather had written about it but I respected him just enough not to say anything.
"If Arch wishes to tell you, he shall. Greenwater is a few days' travel from here. Stay the night and we shall leave tomorrow." Yrak said standing up.
"Do you need any help with anything, Yrak before we go."
"Thank you but that is not necessary. Make yourself at home. Any kin of my old friend shall be treated as him." Yrak said sadly, smiling. He walked outside and closed the door behind him.
"I like him, reminds me a lot of Louis. I hope he's alright."
"He's fine. The Queen dispatched a relief party as soon as she heard the town was burned down." Amelia said, sitting down at the table with us. When Ana heard her speak she nearly fell out of her chair. I chuckled at the sight and looked at my beloved in her dark blue eyes.
"I'm guessing you were part of this group?"
"Are we not going to talk about her just coming and going like this? Or how she keeps finding us?"
"I was indeed. I talked to the elder and the others. A few were injured but no towns folk were killed."
"Well, I suppose that's something. Any word on Mathios's movements?"
"Guess I'll be ignored then."
"Fine, I'll respond to her. I put an enchanted ring on Koga to track him. It sends a ping to me every couple of hours."
"And you're fine with this?"
"Of course, I am. I travel a lot and teleporting to her is way more conspicuous than the other way around. I'm the most wanted man in the nation right now."
"For being two of the most cold people I've ever met. You sure do have a healthy relationship."
"We just communicate how we feel and maintain a healthy intimacy." I said.
"Besides, we're working towards a common goal." Amelia said.
"Is it ruling the world?" Lise asked. Amelia and I looked at each other and started laughing.
"No, nothing so melodramtic." I said.
"Speak for yourself, Darling." Amelia smiled at me.
"You already have the ear of the Queen. What more do you want?"
"I can think of a few things," I felt her foot touch mine. "Like that book you just got. I'm reading it after you."
"Fine, I planned on that anyway." I said opening the book again.
"That book creeps me out." Lise said, looking at it.
"Understandable, this one isn't for the faint of heart. The old man had notes on all his books. Most were in depth and were vague enough to where you didn't learn what the book taught. Two of them however, were very sparse. This one and the Demonic Binding one."
"Why did he have a book on Demonic Binding?"
"It was part of the set of 10 he had. Well, specifically 9. He wrote the tenth one."
"He wrote one?"
"Of course he did. It was one of the books he kept after he dispersed them. I tried reading it while he was alive but the pages were blank. I remember how it looked quite clearly. It had a dark blue almost black cover with silver flecks scattered along it with a bright golden shooting star across the cover."
"Sounds beautiful. Did he ever tell you what spell it taught."
"No, he didn't, but Koga and I have our theories as to what it was."
"Yes, Amelia. The only thing that he told me about it was that it was his greatest success until he had his family."
"That's so sweet of him to say." Lise said. Amelia made a gagging face and I held back a chuckle.
"Anyway, we leave tomorrow at daybreak. So I suggest we rest, for it will be a trek to get there." I said leaning back in my chair.
"You're gonna read the book aren't you?" Lis said. I said nothing back as I picked up the tome and went outside. Yrak was nowhere to be seen. I walked into the tree line and found a tree with a rock under it. I silently thanked the rock for the seat and the tree for the shade.
I closed my eyes and let the sounds of the forest fill my ears. Birds chirping, squirrels chattering and playing. The rustle of the leaves in the slight breeze. I reopened my eyes and opened the book. The first chapter detailed how living creatures have a connection to a source. As I started reading the sounds started to disappear. First the birds stopped chirping, the squirrels stopped chattering and playing. Then the leaves no longer rustled and the air was still. I was left in complete and utter silence. I didn't notice it at first but soon it became deafening.
"Even the forest fears the power of that book." A voice said behind me. I looked over and saw Yrak holding a load of fire wood.
"You noticed it too, huh? My grandfather alluded to the books having more power than what the knowledge contained in its pages. It's curious to see it in action." I said closing the book.
"Yes Justin never let that library of his out of his sight. He even used it as a pillow more often than not." Yrak said, putting down the logs and pulling out a leather pouch. "Though he trusted us completely and even the thought of taking his most prized possessions never once crossed my mind."
"The people you travelled with, who were they?"
"You know Arch but it was safe to say that was his best friend. Then there was Belwrick also known as Razor. He was a fierce halfling. He never shied away from a fight."
"Wait, you had a halfling with you?"
"Yes, He had been with Justin and Arch a while before I had even met them. They were part of an Adventuring Company called Flaggs Banner. Justin tried to recruit Osmond for our quest, but he was too busy running things."
"I remember reading about his time there. Dreadfully boring, was he put it." Yrack chuckled at my statement.
"Yes, being stuck in a tower would fall under that. So, that was the four of us. Justin, Razor, Arch and myself travelled together in this world for a few years. Most of us fell in love with something about this place. For me it was the land. I had no home to go back to and this place suited me enough to stay. Arch, well I'm unsure. You would have to ask him. Justin stayed because of Ellie."
"His journals said as much. Out of all the women he's loved and left. Grandmother was able to make him stay."
"She was different. From the moment he had laid eyes on her, he said she was gonna make an honest man out of him. She rejected him at first. Pushing back at all his advancements. When we were in this town. We stayed a week at least. Granted there was work so we had a steady income but we stayed so he could be with her. Then we'd leave and not come back for a couple of months and everytime we kept going, she's married by now. He rejected that notion. She was married alright, married to him and she didn't know it yet. After the 3rd or 4th time we stopped in the town, he had gotten a date with her. He was over the moon. Paid for food, drinks, lodging. He's usually a stingy bastard so we knew he was in a good mood. Well, he disappeared for 3 full days after he left to go on that date. When he showed back up we started yelling at him but it quickly stopped because of this grin on his face. We never got the full story on what he was doing in those days but we joked about it for the entire time we were together. From that moment on whenever we came back to town. Justin would disappear and so would she. After a few times of us coming back he announced he was marrying her."
"He never told me the full story on how they met. Just how he had to work his charm the longest he ever did so he could be with her."
"Oh, he did. He was himself through and through when he was with her. Like he was able to be with Arch. Razor didn't notice but I did. Justin always had a wall up but not with Arch and now not with Elly. So they married and he had enough money saved to build a cottage."
"It's more of an estate now. He got more wealthy after his travels."
"Good for him. So he moved her and his unborn son to that cottage and promised her this was his last year of leaving her for a very long time. That was also the day Justin gave his spare Arcana to her so they could always talk. The year came and went and we accomplished what we needed to do and Justin went back. After that he told me bits and pieces when he visited when he dropped the book off."
"She really did make him a better man."
"She did, and the world sorely needs more women like her. The one who was hiding in the shadows in the cabin reminds me of her."
"Wait, you noticed Amelia?"
"So, that's her name. I figured she was with you. I was right then not to call her out right away. That could have ended badly."
"It would have, she gets a bit… defensive about me." I say chuckling.
"Elly was the same way. If she could help Justin in defending himself she would. She would also be the first one to take a swing at our favorite lovable sorcerer." Yrak joined in the laughter.
"So we're all set to leave tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'm anxious to see my old friend again."
"I'm anxious to punch his lights out."
"That is an acceptable way of feeling that way towards Arch. Either you want to hug him or punch him. No middle ground."
"Lets get back to the cabin. I'm done reading for the day and should get some food and sleep."
"Fantastic, grab these logs and help me get everything ready to make dinner."