Page 52 of Potions & Pints
“I will,” he replied. “I know you will too.”
The Librarian nodded back and the two of them waited in silence then, turning toward the door and readying themselves for whatever might come.
25
“Now what?” Tan said.
“We wait,” the Librarian said.
“He’ll come?”
“He will.”
“And then?”
“A binding spell. I will wait for just the right moment. Be patient.”
Tan grunted. Patience wasn’t his strong suit, and he wasn’t thrilled about relying on magic either. The Librarian settled into his chair. Tan sat across from him. The Librarian raised his eyebrows in disapproval, but Tan didn’t care.
It must be nice to have all that power,Tan thought.
Using the stolen moonstone had been exciting, but also somewhat nerve wracking. Now the moonstone was spent, useless. Tan hadn’t been planning on using it again, but he thought if he ever had to, it would have made sense to try to improve his skills before they were needed in an emergency. Unfortunately, a depleted moonstone wasn’t even good for practicing.
“He comes,” the Librarian announced.
Tan stood up as the chieftain entered. He looked past Tan at the Librarian.
“What? What is the emergency?” Pili—and Idrulo’s—father asked. “Why did you summon me back?”
“For him,” the Librarian said, pointing to Tan.
A confused look crossed the chieftain’s face, but he recovered quickly.
“What?” he asked Tan. “What is so urgent? It must be important if you were able to convince him,” he indicated to the Librarian. “To send that message.”
“I know,” Tan said.
He said it quietly, but the rage was rising inside of him again. The chieftain looked even more confused. This time he didn’t bother to try to hide it.
“You know? What do you know? Spit it out, boy. If I had to come all the way back here, it is so important, don’t keep me waiting any longer.”
“I know you paid the assassins. I know you planned the whole thing,” Tan said. “Idrulo, your own son and his wife. How could you?”
The chieftain crossed his arms and studied Tan. Then he scratched his chin.
“Say something!” Tan shouted.
“Don’t you dare address me like that,” the chieftain said.
“You had Idrulo killed and Pili—”
“Silence,” the chieftain yelled.
He flicked his finger at Tan. Tan went to speak, but couldn’t. It felt like his tongue was expanding in his mouth. He gurgled desperately and clawed at his mouth.
“Had enough?” the chieftain said.
Tan nodded furiously. Another flick of the wrist and Tan’s tongue returned to its normal size. He gasped in relief.
