Page 100 of Bound By Darkness

“The rebels stole something from the library you discovered. It’s why they burned the city down,” Ivan answered.

“They stole something?”

“Correction,” Chiron said. “They stole an artifact known as the Book of Spells. It’s written in the Language of Old, but it contains every spell since the dawn of Cethales. Laias was charged with protecting such a weapon and built the underground library to hide it.”

“Now with the rebels having it in their possession, it poses an even greater threat to Cethales.” Ivan added. “The Book of Spells is not something to tamper with because it requires a cost.”

“What kind of cost?” I asked.

“No one knows. Legend says it differs per person, but it’s crucial it is brought back. Not only to read these pages to decipher your casting ability, but to prevent catastrophe from striking Cethales,” Chiron said. “Without that spell book, there is no telling what type of harm the rebels could achieve.”

“And there’s no way to depict the pages I found without it?”

Chiron shook his head. “I’ll tell you what I’ve gathered, but it is written in code.”

“Then out with it, Uncle. We don’t have time to stand around.”

Chiron frowned, but cleared his throat. “The pages you recovered, Thalia, speak of an ancient Fae god, Arawanee, who cast from the rest. It lived in isolation for centuries for its crimes.”

“What crimes?”

“I can’t make it out without the book. Someone didn’t want us to know. Whatever it is, it can’t be pleasant,” Chiron answered.

Great. Adding that to my mental list of casting difficulties. “What of my casting? Did it mention anything about its powers?”

“Not much, but it did state the Fae god of shadows was granted powers by the Mother herself. Unnatural powers.” Chiron picked up the page and pointed to a symbol. “It also mentioned a counterpart. Eadrom.”

“Eadrom?”

“A Fae god of light who was created by the Mother to balance Arawanee. As to why, it doesn’t say.” His eyes flicked to me. “You inherited Arawanee’s casting. That much is clear based on the symbols and translations I can make out.”

“That’s it?” Ivan asked.

Chiron scoffed. “Thanks would be welcome.”

“Sure, thanks, but that’s all?”

“Without the book, I can’t translate anymore than what I have told you.” He turned to me. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, but whatever casting lingering in your bones cannot be natural. It’s dangerous, especially if it comes from that Fae god.”

My casting originated from an exiled Fae god? A Fae god whose crimes were so horrible they were written in code? My teeth pulled at my bottom lip as I stared at the two Fae males. “Then… then we search for the book.”

“What?” Ivan stated, his eyes glued to mine. “We don’t have the time to search for a book in the midst of this war. And what about the citizens here? We’d leave them completely exposed, and what about Moria?”

“We can take care of ourselves,” Chiron answered.

“You said it yourself,” I added. “If they have access to the book, then it spells doom for Cethales—for those I love most. I need it to understand my casting. To figure out how I got this Fae gods’ casting in my body. If it’s as bad as Chiron says it is, then it’s important we figure this out and to stop the war. I think this is a win win situation.”

“She has a point,” Chiron chimed in, a frown lingering on his face. “Finding that book is more valuablethan guarding this city.”

A smile lit mine at the slight praise from him.

“Are you sure about this?” Ivan asked.

I nodded, my hands splayed on the table. “Yes. Plus, the rebels have Asa. We can get both in one fell swoop.”

“The rebels have Asa?” Chiron turned to me, his eyes wide.

“Fin thinks they do. It makes the most sense as to why you haven’t found her body and why they attacked. They were able to get a healer and the Book of Spells.”

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