Page 49 of The Song of Sunrise
But I have a purpose. A mission that only training as a Watcher, a warrior, can accomplish. If I can’t somehow make the Underworld pay for their attack of Goldenpine, then the least I can do is win the Summit. Get the Helios Blessing stone for myself and use its protective charms on the northwoods of Midland. Perhaps, if I win, I’ll have enough sway to convince the Elder Council to invest more in the WatchTowers near the Dead Twins where nomads are starving. No one deserves to live like that.
An odd feeling pulls me from my thoughts, and I realize how far I have walked. I have never been this low in the library. The air is heavy and musty. The spines of the books are barely legible between the darkness and worn lettering.
I run my fingers along the ancient books until my eyes catch on a spine:Creatures of the Elven Tribes.
My heart skips a beat.
“Yes!” I hiss and carefully grab the book. Various animals are hand drawn across the pages with key elements pointed out in fine lettering.
This is exactly what I was looking for! I was beginning to give up hope that there would be anything other than human-focused history and literature. If Elvish information is stored here, maybe there are Underworld books too.
I tuck the book under my arm and muffle a scream as something small—most definitely a rat—scurries across my foot.
I hear Miki hiss as he approaches me, but instead of chasing the rat, he just looks at me, expectantly.
“What?” I ask the cat.
Miki stares for a few more seconds before brushing past my leg farther down in the library, circles in the spot, then sits.
“That’s odd,” I say and walk up the ramp that leads back to the main library above. At least I found this book today. I could start studying the Elven creatures first until I find out more on the Underworld animals.
Miki hisses and I stop.
Incredulous cat. “What?”
The large cat stands up and walks toward the darkness, but his head is turned back, watching me.
I test out my theory a few times, walking toward Miki and away. When I turn away, he hisses.
He wants me to follow him!
“What could possibly go wrong,” I mumble and walk toward him. I suppose I’d rather have a companion this low in the library anyway.
It’s creepy down here.
The shelves become sparser and the library narrows into a small rectangular room. This must be the last room.
I’m not sure how anyone could read in this space, given how dark it is.
Miki crosses the dark room.
“Wait!” I say, rushing to follow.
The cat leads me down an aisle toward the edge of the room where tapestries line one side of the cold stone walls, bookshelves on the other.
I try scanning the titles, but they are in a different language I don’t understand. I shiver from the cold, damp air and continue to scan the shelves, hoping to find something related to the Underworld.
Miki yelps, and I lift my boot immediately.
“Sorry Miki!”
The oversized beige cat only seems to look annoyed as he sits down, managing to stare down his whiskered nose judgmentally. It’s an oddly human look.
I wander farther along the shelves, scanning for titles that could be helpful.
Miki meows.
“What now, cat?”
