Page 44 of Legends and Librarians
Jade’s face reddened. “Get the salt.”
The two bulky adventurers behind her pulled salt out of their packs, using it to draw a large circle around us. When the circle was complete, it glowed bright white for a moment. Was it actually going to contain the story spirits?
I glanced around nervously, but then the Demon Lord bent down to pick up some salt, sprinkling it on my marshmallow before taking a big bite. Jade’s mouth dropped open as Mochifollowed suit, salting everyone’s marshmallows with the spelled salt. The panda handed me another marshmallow too since mine had been so rudely devoured.
Jade blinked, apparently at a loss for words, but Oren just laughed as he finished toasting his own marshmallow.
“They’re pretty tasty,” he said, holding the sweet treat out to her. “Wanna try one?”
Roan burst out laughing, but tried to stop when Jade cuffed the back of his head. “Sorry, but you should see the look on your face right now. Nyssa, Oren, and the story spirits make this library a wonderful place. If you’d stop hating me for a second, maybe you’d see that.
“You’re part of the library too, you know.” I stood up, shoulder bumping against his. “An important part.”
His eyes widened, but Jade cursed loudly before Roan could say anything.
“Get the damn sealing books,” she shouted, “we’ll bind them to the pages.”
Okay, that one sounded less fun and a lot more dangerous. The story spirits came from books, so binding them might actually work. The Demon Lord’s shadows swirled again and the knights had completely forgotten about their marshmallows, letting them burn to a crisp over the candles.
“Wait a minute,” I started, but Jade grinned.
“Scared?” she asked. “I knew I’d find something that worked. I should have tried the books right away.”
Roan stepped forward. “Come on, you know they’re not ghosts. They passed your tests already. Ghosts wouldn’t be able to eat salt or hang out having fun inside a protective barrier. Let it go already, because honestly,we both know why you’re really here.”
I frowned. Was this because of what Roan said earlier, about how Jade always tried to outdo him? Or maybe about the wholeguild master thing?
“Maybe he’s right,” one of the other adventurers said. “Let’s just head back. There’s nothing dangerous here.”
Jade shook her head. “No way. These spirits might have tricked Roan and all of you, but I won’t let them trick me. I’m better than that.”
Roan snorted. “Right, of course you are.”
“Roan,” I said, “maybe we should—”
“Just get out of here, Jade,” Roan snapped. “Your issue is with me, not them. If you leave, so will I. Then you won’t have any reason to show off, right? You can just let the library live in peace.”
No! What was he doing? Was he really that eager to leave...or was he trying to protect us?
Jade shook her head. “Oh Roan, you never know when to quit, do you?”
Then she took one of the books from the adventurers behind her and started chanting, holding it in front of the dragons. Their bodies flickered just enough for fear to clamp around my heart as they flapped their wings harder than usual, as if something was trying to drag them back.
Jade was really going to seal the story spirits.
One of the dragons cried out, a horrible sound that tugged at my heart. I had to help them, but I didn’t know how. I tried to knock the book out of her hand, but the two muscle-bound adventurers moved to stand between us.
The Demon Lord growled. “Enough.”
His shadows latched onto the shadows of the adventurers. They couldn’t move, couldn’t run, couldn’t finish their ridiculous chant that was absorbing the dragons into that book. I let out a breath. Good.
Jade struggled to move, frozen by her own shadow. Sweat dripped down her face as fury and betrayal distorted herfeatures. We were supposed to be making peace, not deepening their hatred.
This had to stop. It wouldn’t help anyone.
“Stop!” I shouted. “Just stop. This isn’t the way to solve anything.”
But both sides were too upset to listen. I glanced at Roan, who was also pinned in place by his shadow. Really? The Demon Lord didn’t trust him either? What was I supposed to do now?
