Chapter 21 Not Easy
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
NOT EASY
ADELINE
“She’s crazy. And as stubborn as a geriatric mule. She’s a liability and you know it.”
That grave voice belongs to Roane. I’d recognize that deep, bell-chime quality to it anywhere and it sends a pleasant rush through me. I keep my eyes closed, the furs piled on top of me because it’s damn cold inside this temple.
“She should never have come here,” he goes on. “Nobody has come here in decades.”
Wait… is he talking about me?
“That doesn’t change the fact she’s here now,” Ardruna argues.
“Just because she insulted you, saying you stink, you’re annoyed with her,” Talton says. I recognize his squawk. “She’s human, Ro. Her senses are different from ours, but let’s be honest. When was the last time you bathed? Even birds bathe more often than you.”
“Fuck you, Tal.”
A croak that sounds like laughter.
“All I’m saying is, she’ll get us killed with that book unchained and unbound,” Roane says more quietly.
“You’re exaggerating a little,” Talton says.
“Am I?”
“Just a smidgeon.”
“You have a point, Roane,” Ardruna says slowly, as if giving weight to every word, “but I suppose she has one, too.”
“Really? You’re taking her side?”
“Ro—”
“You can’t be serious,” Roane grumbles. “That book is fucking dangerous.”
“We’ll change her mind. Give her some time to rest, get her strength back. Relax a little.” A pause. “We should find her some clothes.”
“Oh, yes,” Talton croaks. “Find clothes! I’ll check the houses. I’ve seen clothes in a trunk somewhere.”
“You’re a weird bird, Tal,” Roane says.
“Hey, I get bored. Only so many things to do in this godsforsaken place, though I do enjoy fighting the goblins.”
“Like I said. Weird.”
Pushing myself up to a sitting position inside the nest, I rub the grit from my eyes and push my tangled hair out of my face.
A sudden silence falls. The three of them are staring at me and I don’t know what to say after everything I’ve heard. I don’t even know what expression I’m supposed to wear, or what I’m supposed to feel. Anger? Defeat? Sadness?
Talton hops toward me, then stops and turns his little black head to fix me with a beady eye. “Are you well rested?”
I nod, although I feel wrung out like a cleaning rag. I pat the bed beside me and sigh in relief when I find Olm’s book there.
“Don’t worry, nobody tried to steal it away from you,” the raven says.
“Why not?”
He crows. “Big scary serpent? Does that ring any bells?”
With a wince, I swing my legs off the edge of the niche. “He won’t do that again.”
“Pinky swear?”
“You almost sound like a human sometimes,” I inform him.
“Don’t insult me. We ravens are far cleverer than your kind.”
Startled, I stare as he flies away through the temple. “What did I say?”
“He’s touchy on certain matters,” Ardruna says. “Don’t mind him and come eat something.”
“You keep feeding me.” I stand up, testing my balance. My head is swimming. “Why?”
“Someone has to, and Roane here isn’t very mindful, is he?”
Roane glares darkly.
“Have some dried meat,” Ardruna says and Roane walks over to the niche and hands me a piece silently.
“Thank you.” I sniff it and almost gag. “It smells weird. Meat of what?”
“I carved it out of my own thigh,” Roane says gravely, “then dried it in the fire of my righteous fury.”
I roll my eyes. “Be serious.”
His gray eyes flash. “I couldn’t be more serious. Eat the funky meat, then give me the book. You can’t refuse any longer.”
“Can’t I? After all, I’m… wait, how did you put it?” I tap a finger against my lips. “Oh yes. Stubborn as a geriatric mule.”
His jaw clenches. “That book is influencing your mind and affecting your judgment.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Olm didn’t try to influence me. He makes sense, that’s all. As for you, you’re insufferable.”
He ignores my statement. “Didn’t he ask you not to leave him here in the library?”
“Well, he didn’t want to come here in the first place.”
“So he did ask you.” Roane rubs at his brow as if fighting a headache. “Listen, it’s magic. He may be whispering in your dreams.”
“He’s not.” I sniff the meat again. “Seriously, what is this thing?”
“Goblin meat,” Ardruna says.
I shudder in revulsion. “It can’t be.”
“You’re right,” she says. “It’s wildcat. Satisfied?”
“Why are you teasing me like this?”
Ardruna’s long teeth flash. “Have you considered we may be kind of angry with you?”
“Why would you be?”
“Because you ignored our advice and put us in danger,” she says. “Because you believe a character’s lies. Don’t you think we have some experience in this matter? We are, after all, the guardians of these books.”
“What if the books are all miserable and that’s why they keep attacking you?”
“So let me get this straight.” Roane rubs his brow.
“You found this book on the street, brought it here, made friends with it and now you’ve solved the mystery of magical books and…
I’m not needed anymore? No need to bind and chain such books or worry about monsters spilling out of their pages? We just need to… talk to them?”
“I didn’t say that,” I mutter, wincing.
“And yet you’re convinced that this book won’t hurt you. Or anyone else.”
“That’s right.”
“Despite the serpent it sent after me.”
I wince again. “What would you have done in his place? You were about to chain him.”
“Him. You still think of this book as a person?” Roane demands.
“He is a person. Fictional or not.”
Roane starts pacing up and down, his long braid flying behind him. “This is bullshit.”
“I thought you would be able to drive that serpent back into the book easily.”
“I told you. None of this is easy,” he grunts, still pacing.
“Sometimes you can’t send the monsters back into the pages. Ardruna said so.”
“Ardruna talks too much for her own good.”
The lioness huffs. Then proceeds to lick her leg, ignoring us.
“Wait…” I say. “Is this how the monsters filled this world? Every time you bind a book, a monster escapes?”
“No.” He stops. “That’s not the only occasion monsters can escape.”
“What other occasions are there? Is it a long story? As it happens, I have time on my hands.” I fold my arms over my chest. “What about those goblins? Did they escape from books? There were so many.”
“Apart from reproducing like rabbits, not all goblins are from the same book,” Roane says. “Some are from a collection of books, or a series—”
“Are you joking?”
He shoots me an annoyed look. “No. Why would I be?”
“Really? Because this is a mess.”
“No, you are a mess.” He approaches to give me the full effect of his dark glare.
“You are gullible and impulsive. You barged into this world without a fucking clue about its workings. Now we’re not only saddled with you but also this godsdamned book you’re lugging around, acting like a child when we tell you it’s dangerous.
Sort out your thoughts and let me do my fucking job. ”