Legend of the Book Keeper (38 page)

Cody stopped. He felt the warmth of Tiana’s hands as they wrapped around his waist. The hands guided him slowly around. The air around him was pitch dark; all he could see were shadows and silhouettes. “Um, Ti, are you there?” he asked, peering into the blackness. He felt the warmth of breath upon his face, and then the tender wetness of lips pressing against his. “I think Jade can wait a few more minutes, don’t you?”

Cody gulped; his insides were a tangled mess. He didn’t respond—he couldn’t, his parched throat wouldn’t let him. Instead, he stumbled dizzily away, his lips still tingling.

The next thing Cody knew, he was riding the pulley elevator back to the surface. He rubbed his sweaty temples, the veins pulsating in rhythm with his pounding heart.
What just happened?
Everything was a blur. But there was one thing Cody
did
know. Either he was dreaming or he had just experienced the best moment of his life.

The Prince’s Chambers

C
ody’s shoes squeaked against the stone floor as he tiptoed toward his bedroom. He paused before Jade’s door; light still flicked from underneath. She was awake. Cody reached for his door-knob and opened it with a creak; he went to step inside but paused. He stepped back out and closed the door again. Moments later the light from beneath Jade’s door went out.
She was waiting for me to return.
Quietly opening his door again he slipped back inside.

Although, the way his heart was pounding, he did not expect to get much sleep.

“How was last night; exhilarating I suppose?” asked Jade as she casually munched down on a soft piece of rock cake.

Cody buttered his own piece. “It was enjoyable, yes. And yours?” he asked without looking up.

Jade swallowed her bite. “Same. I said goodbye to Sally. She is returning above ground to her post at the café. Foz offered to let her stay until tomorrow, after the execution, but she refused. She said she wanted to be as far away from here as po
ssible. Who could blame her? After that, I returned to my room and slept soundly. I didn’t even hear you return last night.”

Cody risked a look at her, but didn’t push the issue. “What are you doing today? More training? Don’t suppose that blonde-haired Barbie will be able to keep herself away for a whole day. Not now that you’re the powerful Book Keeper,” she muttered with a trace of sarcasm.

Cody stood. “Her name is Tiana, by the way. And she’s not like you think. She’s a free spirit. She’s wild, unpredictable even. We have a lot in common. But yes, I have another training session; although I have something I need to do first.”

“And what is that?” asked Jade defensively.

Cody shrugged. “Not sure exactly, might be nothing. But I have a hunch and I want to check it out.” Grabbing another loaf of the surprisingly tasty rock cake, he left the room. He was glad to be alone. After experiencing a night of Tiana’s
take-life-as-it-comes
attitude, he found Jade’s strictly-scheduled personality draining.

He returned to his room. Shutting the door he quickly fastened the lock and went to his open window. He looked down upon the garden; there was no sign of Prince Foz or anyone else. Cody examined the outside wall. If he had done his calculations correctly, his target should be two stories up and four down from his room.
Cody, I sure hope you know what you’re doing
. He held out his arms like a cross, and taking a deep breath, he jumped off the balcony.

“
Bauciv
!
Gai di gasme!
” Suddenly, he felt the texture of tree bark in his hands. The wood was in the shape of wings. “
Byrae
!” A blast of wind came billowing from below. As it collided with his wooden wings he felt himself soaring through the air. His stomach was suspended in his chest. He held out his arms to steady himself, and then began flapping the wooden wings around his arms. Slowly he began to rise. Grinning, he gave one powerful flap and his body soared through the air toward his target.

Tucking in his arms, he went flying through an open window. With a loud crash he face-planted into the floor and skidded to a clumsy stop against a cushioned chair. “
Gai di gasme,
” he muttered with a groan.
My landings are going to need a bit of work!

Cody stood up to examine the room for the first time. It was spacious, with a bulky bed in the middle, satin curtains draping the sides. Against one wall was a polished oak desk. A grand stone fire-place claimed the other wall. Above the fire-place was a vast painting: a portrait of Prince Kantan.
How fitting.

He didn’t know how much time he had; he needed to work fast.
There has to be proof of Kantan’s guilt somewhere in here!
He went to the desk cluttered with papers and various trinkets. Prince Kantan did not strike Cody as the sloppy type, which meant there was only one reason why his desk would be messy:
He’s still working
.

Cody frantically began pushing aside papers until one caught his eye. Stopping, he picked it up and began to read. It was a letter. The ink was still setting—it had just been written. As Cody read, his hands began to sweat. It was exactly what he had hoped to find. It was perfect. Folding it carefully, he stuck it into his pocket.

Suddenly a noise sounded from the hallway. Cody’s body became rigid and unmoving. He held his breath, but heard nothing more from the corridor. At last, assured that the coast was clear, he exhaled.
If I get caught I’m dead! I better hurry.

He quickly opened the top drawer of the desk. Reaching in, he pulled out a serrated dagger. The razor sharpness of the blade pricked his finger, instantly drawing a bead of blood.
Ouch!
As he returned the knife a glimmer caught his eye. His fingers wrapped around a small, smooth object. He pulled out a glass vial containing a colorful object of blue and orange.
I think I’ve seen this before, but what is it?
He didn’t have time to ponder. He slipped the vial into his pocket alongside the letter. Turning to leave, he stopped. His eyes fell to the bottom drawer of the desk. It was the only drawer to have a thick deadbolt fastened to it. As Cody looked closer he realized that the bolt had not been locked and the drawer had been left slightly open.
He must have just been in there. Why only lock THAT drawer?
Cody wondered.

Drawn by his curiosity, he swiftly returned to the desk and drew open the drawer; the lone object inside was a framed picture. Lifting it out Cody realized that it was a painting of two people. On the right was Kantan, although he looked much younger and there was surprisingly no trace of his stern demeanor. Instead he was flashing a boyish grin. Cody hardly recognized him with such a foreign, jubilant appearance. On the Prince’s left was a woman. She was beautiful. Her face was plump and merry with long, frizzy blonde hair. Her expression was warm and inviting. She too had a playful smile on her face. Her hand was intertwined with Kantan’s. The bottom of the painting had a simple caption: Kantan and Arianna.
Who is she?

He froze. His ears perked up: the soft pattering sound of footsteps approached. Somebody was coming. The sound was getting nearer. Cody flung the picture back and pushed the drawer closed. The door-knob began to jiggle.
Oh, no!
In horror, Cody saw that the blood from his finger had left blaring smears all over the desk.
Nothing I can do about it now!
Grabbing his wooden wings he dashed across the room. There was a soft creak as the door opened. Without hesitation, Cody dove headfirst out the window.

The air pounded against his face as he freefell like a boulder. He opened his mouth but no words came out.
Oh, no.
He opened it again—nothing.
What’s the creation word for wind!
His mind had gone blank. The earth rushed rapidly toward him. Cody flapped his arms desperately as he plummeted to the ground. He squeezed his eyes shut.
Thud
.

Yanci’s Pub

P
ain. Excruciating Pain. Cody felt every square inch of his battered body throbbing in unbearable pain. “OOOUUUCCCHHH!” He screamed again—and again; each time attempting to somehow one-up the previous scream in level of anger and anguish.

“Good heavens, what in the name of all that’s holy happened to you!?” came a raised voice. Cody felt his body being turned over.
Oooouch!

Foz stared down at him with a look of utter bewilderment. “My gosh, Cody, it looks as though you’ve had a mountain fall on top of you.”

Or dove out of a third-story window into a face-plant
. He cringed; even thinking somehow made his body ache. “I’m fine. Just doing some . . . practicing. I better get going though, nice to see you again, Foz.” With a grunt Cody pushed himself to his feet and headed toward the street.

“Gelph, have you seen Dace?” Cody asked impatiently as he came across the beggar.

Gelph fell against the wall in a fit of laug
hter. “Tell me again, son, how’d your face get so purple and puffy like that? I mean, you look worse than me and
I’m
the homeless one!” he laughed again as he turned and headed on his way without answering Cody’s question.

Cody heard another noise—the sound of shattering glass followed by jeering and laughter. Cody took off jogging. Why had he even bothered asking where Dace was? There was only one place he would be—Yanci’s pub.

Cody turned the corner and entered into the heart of a brawl. The front window had been shattered and Cody didn’t have to look hard to see why: the limp body was draped over the ledge. Cody ducked as a bottle of ale soared over his head. He scurried across the street, hoping to escape the fight entirely.

A thick hand slapped him on the back. “Well, looky here, if it ain’t our new Book Keeper.” The large bodies of Hex and Sheets blocked Cody’s path. “Take a look at this here, Hex, the boy’s gone and gotten his face turned into a plum! I think Wolfrick is rubbing off on the boy!”