Esprit Abbey

Chapter 5

Entering the library Mother Isa found Lucan at the top of the ladder, eagerly searching through books, and muttering to himself. "Lucan?" She asked, questioning his unusual activity.

Lucan looked down from his perch, aged dust and dirt covered his face and beard. "Oh, hello Mother."

"What are you doing up there?"

"Looking for a book."

Mother Isa rolled her eyes at his annoyingly obvious response. "Please come down. There's a discussion we all need to have that you should be involved in."

"In a minute," Lucan responded, resuming his search.

Mother Isa had the soldier help her collect chairs from around the room and place them in a circle. Shortly thereafter Ava and Cailean entered the library and joined the others at the circle. Ava sat between Cailean and the soldiers. While he understood their traumas and reasonings, he remained apprehensive.

"Ah ha!" Everyone looked up and saw Lucan excitedly pulling a book from the top shelf. He climbed down the ladder, placed a piece of paper under the front cover, and walked over to join the circle. "Alright, Mother. What's this all about?" Lucan asked.

"A rather serious situation has been brought to my attention." Mother Isa said. "I'll let our visitors explain. Cailean, will you start?"

Cailean recounted his experience to Lucan, focusing mainly on Adria and the tasks she'd given him. Next, the soldiers took turns offering their perspective of the events, validating, and placing additional emphasis on the severity of the situation. Lucan had a stone face as he intently listened and absorbed the information he was provided with. With everyone fixated on Cailean and the soldiers; no one noticed the pair of eyes peering at them from behind one of the free-standing bookshelves.

Lucan had forgotten that Chandler was also in the library. He was helping him sort through the many transcripts that may offer additional information regarding the book Chandler had found earlier. Lucan was unable to locate the remaining piece of the translation scroll that he thought had been in his room. Enlisting Chandler, he began scouring the library; the only other logical place it could be. It was during their hunt that Mother Isa interrupted with such troubling news.

Chandler strained to hear the conversation, as they were speaking at a near whisper, despite thinking they were alone in the library. Chandler debated trying to get closer but feared being banished from the room if they became aware of his presence. This was far too interesting to miss out on; however, his curiosity got the better of him, as it usually does, and he decided to risk it.

There was a large globe on a rotating stand about half-way between him and the group. It was surely large enough to hide him, he thought to himself. So long as no one was paying close enough attention to notice his feet below it.

Slowly he crept around the far side of the bookshelf and made his way to the globe. He crouched behind it, careful not to spin the green and blue sphere by touching it. He smiled as it was far easier to understand the conversation from this location.

"What are we going to do?" Asked Ava.

"Your only choice is to give them the artifact." Cailean responded. "If you're not going to defend yourselves."

"First we need to figure out what it is." Ava said. "You really have no idea what they're talking about, Mother?" Mother Isa sat holding her chin and lost in thought. The same position she had held for much of the conversation. Ava's eyes then drifted to Lucan, the features on his face were also stringent.

"This is supposed to be some big legend, how has no one who actually lives here heard of it." Cailean said.

"Someone must know something," Ava said her voice trailing off.