Page 82 of House of the Raven
“Did you tell her I’m all right?”
“Of course. I know how to lie like the best.”
When we reach the top of the stairs, we hurry down the corridor, passing several people with their noses buried in thick tomes. At the end, we enter a section in which each bookshelf is labeledFae Studies. Underneath that title, there are smaller ones such as: Fae History, Fae Religions, Fae Philosophy, Fae Languages, and more.
Jago puts hands on hips and regards the shelves as if they’re his enemies. “Are you sure we need to do this?”
“There’s more to life than leisure, sex, and parties, Jago.”
“Maybe, but books?”
“Quit complaining and let’s take a closer look at all the sections, so we can decide where to start.”
We walk up and down the aisles.
“Here is a section markedFae Magic.I say we start here.” Jago calls from two aisles down.
“Shhh,” the rebuke floats from across the way.
“Sorry,” Jago says.
“Shhh,” once more.
I walk around to where he stands. He’s about to say something else, but I press a hand to his mouth and shake my head.Quietisn’t something Jago does well.
Nodding at the books, I grab a stack. Jago does the same, and we find a place to sit in a corner outfitted with a round table and cushioned chairs.
Sitting, I make myself comfortable and start on a book titledEnchanted Realms: Fae Magic Unveiled. The leather-bound tome is as thick as Jago’s head. I turn the pages and run a finger down the table of contents: Spells and Rituals, Faerie Beasts and Creatures, Riddles and Challenges, Fae Artifacts and Relics.
I immediately jump to this section.
“No pictures?” Jago whispers as he looks over my shoulder.
“Why don’t you grab one of those books and help me?”
“Nah, I think I’ll take a nap. Your bird woke me up early today, pecking at my window like his feathers were on fire.” Jago takes a seat, slumps back with his arms crossed, and closes his eyes. “Let me know when you need more books.”
I shake my head, knowing I wouldn’t trust him to read everything thoroughly anyway.
Eagerly, I begin to read, perusing through the different books, carefully examining the relevant sections. It takes me one hour to go over three of the books in the first pile.
Jago is snoring lightly, looking content while I’m starting to get a headache from squinting at the tiny script.
As I pull a new book closer, I realize I need to hurry or it’ll take me days, if not weeks, to get through a small fraction of these books. I finish the next three books in half an hour. Still not fast enough, but if I move much faster, I’ll likely miss what I’m looking for—if it’s to be found here at all.
I thump Jago on the forehead. His eyes roll as he struggles to wake up.
“I need more books,” I tell him. “You can put these ones back.”
He drags himself out of the chair, picks up the books I’ve finished, and returns a moment later with another pile. He looks at his pocket watch and frowns.
“I take it you haven’t found anything of interest,” he says.
“Not yet. It’s so frustrating. Why is the necklace so important to everyone?”
“I told you that trying to find knowledge here would be a waste of time.”
“Where else can I look?”
