Page 58 of Potions & Pints
“The magic, my magic, I wonder…”
The Librarian looked at Tan so intently Tan looked back over his shoulder to see if something was going on behind him. There was nothing but books. When Tan turned back the Librarian was still staring at him.
“I didn’t steal the magic,” Tan said frantically.
“Pfff,” the Librarian said. “No elf could do this. Not even one known for stealing moonstones.”
“Moonstone,” Tan muttered. “Singular.”
“I need the ladder,” the Librarian said, pointing above Tan’s head.
“We don’t need a ladder,” Vir said. He walked over to the bookcase. “This one?” he asked, pulling one volume part way off the shelf.
“No.”
“This one?’
“No.’
In the end Vir ended up picking the Librarian up. The desired book was plucked from the shelf. Vir set the Librarian down. He scurried over to a table and flipped the book open.
“No,” he said and turned some more pages
“What is he doing?” Vir whispered to Tan.
“I don’t know, Trying to figure out why his magic is gone, I guess.”
“His magic is gone, too,” Vir said, obviously shocked. “I…I thought you were just talking about the chieftain.Allthe magic?”
“Will you two be quiet!” the Librarian snapped.
He pointed his finger at the book and spoke an incantation out loud. Nothing happened.
“Dratted thing!” the Librarian fumed.
“Should we stay? Go?” Vir asked Tan.
“You should be quiet!” the Librarian shouted.
Tan and Vir stood quietly while the Librarian furiously paged through the book. Every so often the man looked up and tried a spell. He threw them at the ceiling and once even at a mirror, directly to the left of where Vir and Tan were standing. They ducked just in case, but nothing happened. Mostly the spells were shot at the book with increasing ferocity.
Finally, the Librarian slammed the book shut.
“What do we do?” Vir asked Tan out of the side of his mouth.
Tan wasn’t sure, but before he could think of anything to suggest the Librarian let out a cry. He threw his arms out at his sides and arched his back.
“It’s back,” the Librarian exclaimed.
He sounded happy about it, but it also sounded like he was being filled with great pain.
“Sir,” Tan said, alarmed.
He took a step towards the Librarian, but just then the book exploded.
“Tan,” Vir cried.
Before Tan could figure out what to do, Vir grabbed him and slid him across the floor. In an instant, Vir was on top of him, shielding Tan with his own body. The Librarian was shouting enchantments at the top of his lungs.
