Crown of Serpents (Book 1 of the Serpent Bloodline Trilogy)

Chapter 12

Amara sat there for a moment, her eyes searching the floor and the walls. For something. And then they met mine. "What do you think will happen, if you are right? What do we do?"

I lower my head, nibbling on my bottom lip, "I don't know." I say, and it comes out in a whisper.

She takes a deep breath, and the sound all but echoes around the staircase. "We should keep going. If what we need is down here, then we have to find it."

I nod, "I'm trying to find books on Ivarea's and Kharid's history together. If we can find out what has happened before, we might be able to find out what's happening now. Stuff like this is usually caused by mistakes in the past, so if we find that error..."

"We'll be able to stop it in the future," she suggests and I nod."

We stop in front of a large set of wooden double doors, I push them open, and chains clank and a loud rumble sounds through the air. "Do you think they can hear that?" I ask.

She shakes her head, "No. It's only really loud down here."

I purse my lips, not quite believing it but trusting her word. Dust coats the air, and the magic fire that lights seems to be brighter as if the magic is stronger.

Are there spell books down here?

The thought runs through my mind, and I run over to one of the shelves, already pulling books off. I don't care to check if they are in Isisgu or any other ancient language. I just need to find books.

"Hey," I call over to Amara. "Do you happen to have a satchel around here by chance?"

She gives me a look, "No, but I can find one."

When I have a mound of books in my hands, I go over to one of the seating areas and set the books down, coughing as dust explodes in the air. I sit down and grab a random book.

Battle tome of the Insane. No.

Sorcery in the Mind. No.

Blood Grimoire. Hmm.

...

I put the third book to the side, deciding I'll inspect it later.

The End of Our World (The History of Mjaor.)

I gasp, pushing the rest of the books to the side. I flip it open but groan in frustration when I realize it's in Isisgu. Maybe Kyran would know how to read it? He's good with languages. My eyes flick to the bottom of the tome and see Untranslated.

"Hey, Amara, do you know anyone who knows how to read Isisgu?"

"Uh, not that I know of." Well, then Kyran doesn't know it. Maybe Xavier would? I'll ask him.

"Hey, come over here." I hear her footsteps from the other side of the shelf and when I see her, I show her the cover, which, thankfully was in our language.

At least they translated that part. Her face lights up, "Hey! That's good!"

"I know, except. I can't read it."

The shape of her mouth makes an o shape, but no sound leaves it. "I know," I reply, smiling a bit at her expression. "Okay, now I just need a satchel."

"I'll grab one for you." I nod my response and she heads back up the stairs, and then the ground starts to shake a bit. It's only for a few minutes and then it goes still again. I stand up again, tapping my finger on the book spines as I pass by them.

Way of the Spellbound

Treason and Traitors

Future in Magic