Page 49 of Potions & Pints
“So many lies,” the assistant moaned. “So much death.”
Tan listened to see what the Librarian would say. Surely he would have a solution. He had the wisdom, he had the power of the Library.
“These are dark times, true, but I have seen many dark times. And history is full of them.”
“Sir?”
“The weather, for example, that all traces back to the coup staged by the Daelora. Was it not enough for one family to rule for half the year?”
“I know the history—”
“Without the ceremony to transition the power, peacefully, the seasons cannot change. Without winter to rest for the rebirth, magic grows weak, everything does. Eventually orcs became able to resist the curse.”
Tan and Vir exchanged a look.
“There are still orcs, sir.”
“But they have free thought. They are capable of thinking and feeling. It’s unheard of.”
Tan had heard enough. He was pretty sure whatever was said next wasn’t going to be pleasant for Vir to listen to. Besides, they needed to do something. What, Tan wasn’t sure of. Yet.
“Get help,” Tan mouthed at Vir.
The orc nodded and walked away. He was careful to be quiet. With his giant stride he was down the hall and around the corner in a handful of steps. Tan realized he hadn’t told Vir who to get, but Vir would figure it out.
He can think, and he can feel,Tan thought angrily.
Tan was the one who needed to think now, though. What were they going to do? He stood — casually — next to the Library door. He tried to keep one ear on the conversation and use the rest of his brain to come up with a plan.
The Librarian droned on and on. His assistant muttered agreement and asked questions. More than a couple of the questions made Tan blink in disbelief. Tan himself knew most of the history they were discussing. Surely the assistant, with all his education, knew the answers as well.
Tan was about to give up listening entirely, as no useful information had been conveyed since Vir had gone to seek help. Well, the part about how the elves extracted the moonstones from The Abyss had been somewhat interesting. The only useful part being that Tan realized they really needed to get Pili out of there as soon as possible.
“Great magic always requires a sacrifice,” the assistant murmured. Tan resisted the urge to punch the wall. “Sir, but what should be done, now?”
“Now?” the Librarian said.
“As you have said, sir, power corrupts. The examples from our history make that clear to me.”
Tan doubted this was a new revelation for the assistant. He was just flattering the old man. He must be used to it. Maybe the assistant wasn’t paying full attention either.
“It is clear that the chieftain has become a danger to our tribe,” the Librarian proclaimed.
That was obvious an hour ago,Tan said.
“What shall we do?” the assistant asked.
“I must think on it,” the Librarian said.
Tan muffled a groan, but not loudly enough.
“What was that?” the assistant said.
“What? Nothing. I know what we will do.”
“What?” the assistant asked eagerly.
“Nothing.”
