Keeper of Reign

9. Ancient Book

JULES PEEKED. THE intruder had a walking stick and was tap- tapping the stone floor as his feet shuffled across the library ground. Except for the light from his lantern, a rusty can with a stumpy candle within, the old library was as dark as a cave. He kept his lantern low, making it impossible to see his face.

He and Miranda turned their dragonfly lanterns off just as they’d heard the door creak open as it slid on its tracks. From behind a particularly dusty book, Jules peered at the dark form shuffling and waving his stick as though testing every bit of stone on the floor. Jules felt his nose tingle as the moments wore on.

Then it happened. He sneezed. The muffled explosion wasn’t loud, but in the dead silence of the library with only the intruder’s shuffling feet and the distinct tapping of the stick, it might as well have been a blast.

Instantly, the tapping and shuffling ceased. From almost nowhere the metal tip of a stick rapped Jules gently on the crown of his head. “Come out,” the intruder demanded, voice stern and angry.

Jules could hardly believe it.

“Mr. Saul?” What was Miranda’s grandfather doing there? He slipped out from his hiding spot above a not-so-tall book and landed next to the old man’s lantern, as he turned his own on.

“Where’s Miranda?” His usual gruff voice sounded fiercer than ever. Behind one of the books Miranda said, “How’d you find me?”

“It’s irrelevant.”

Jules said, “Mr. Saul, how’d you know about this place?”

“I know more than you think, boy.”

“Did you see anyone upstairs?”

“Your place’s a wreck, that’s for sure. Where’s Erin? I need to speak with your mother about you kidnapping Miranda.”

“My mother isn’t here and I never kidnapped Miranda. Tell him, Miranda.”

Saul Turpentine peeked over his silver-rimmed glasses and peered at Jules’s face. His smooth bald head seemed to pick up the glow of the lantern and radiate strangely. “If I ever catch you taking my granddaughter for a secret rendezvous like this I’ll make sure your mother grounds you. Indefinitely.”

Jules hated asking Saul for help, but what choice did he have? And how’d Saul know about the secret cellar? “I wish you’d find Mother for us.”

“She’s not here?”

Jules shook his head. “We think whoever wrecked our home kidnapped her.”

Tst Tst blurted, “Jules thinks they stole Mom’s Book.”

Jules may have forgotten many stories from the Ancients but who could forget the warning against Keepers losing their Books? It was the fear most Keepers dreaded. If Mom’s Book was lost, her days, and theirs, too, were numbered. Even in the dim light Jules saw Saul’s face turn ashen.

“Are you sure?” Saul asked.

By now the other kids were hiding behind Jules, looking curious and afraid. They’d heard of Saul Turpentine’s bad temper and his even worse mouth. When he started spewing darts the best defense was to run. Or hide.

Jules said, “I’m not sure about anything. Mom’s not here—that’s for sure. And I don’t remember when I last saw her Book. But Mom should have been home—she made potato soup.”

“Maybe she ran off when she heard the burglars?” Saul didn’t sound convincing.

“Or Scorpents?” Jules said. “You heard about them prowling around, too?” Jules nodded. “Holden swore he saw one, and Mrs. Lacework also warned Mom about birds and we almost—but, but how’d you know about this place?”

Saul turned his gaze toward the bookcases around him. “Your grandpa. Brought me here once or twice, way back, before—”

Miranda said, “Before your fight?”

“It’s irrelevant. What’s important is finding Erin. Let’s hope she had the sense to hide.”

Tippy’s sob startled Jules and he turned to reach for her hand. “It’s okay. We’ll find Mom.”

Jules glanced at Miranda. “Mr. Saul, we need to find my mother’s Book.”

“Book?” Saul said, as if hearing it for the first time.

Gehzurolle was always on the lookout for Keepers and their Books. He made it his life’s mission to destroy Keepers, and those without their Books ran vulnerable. Rumor had it at least one Keeper family was lost for- ever. No one recalled the lineage, nor the Book they once were ordained to keep.

Jules drew a deep breath and forged on even though his mother had warned him not to advertise they were a Keeper family. But Saul knew, even if Miranda didn’t, and this wasn’t the time to keep secrets from neighbors. “Her Ancient Book. Maybe Grandpa told you?”

“Let’s look for your mother first.” Saul looked hesitant.