The Butcher of Gadobhra

Chapter 107: Heavy Reading

Ben envied Ozzy's ability to sit quietly and calmly as Leroy blatantly presented his twisted version of what had happened. It annoyed Ben beyond words that he was getting away with any of this crap. He retreated from the courtroom before he said something stupid.

There was a lot of work that could be done, but he was ill suited to the heavy lifting. Instead, he made himself useful for a few hours helping cooks distribute food, running errands for Jorges, and fetching beer or water for thirsty workers packing half ton blocks of stone. Finally, exhausted, he retreated to a small empty room he had found on the second floor. With most of Sammy's crew gone, there was room for all the workers in the barracks. His current belongings amounted to two blankets, a straw pallet, and a pillow.

And a book detailing some rather nasty bugs.

A book he didn't remember taking out of his courier ring, but there it was, sitting on his bed. Harmony had warned him about these things wandering around and following their owners. Seeing the book made him happy, because it reminded him that he might be part of something larger. It also reminded him of Harmony.

But he was annoyed with great uncle Damien. If he was going to bequeath him with an enchanted book, at least let him read it. A book on beetles and cutworms didn't seem like great reading material, but it was the only book he had. He turned the heavy volume over and eyed it from all angles.

He tried again to pick the two heavy iron locks that held the book shut. Ben had been much better at picking locks in other roles. The emperor didn't seem to think his couriers needed that skill, so he was relying on what he knew from before he'd entered the game. The locks were frustrating, seeming to lack any parts he could manipulate. Rusted shut? Enchanted to not move? Why give someone a book they couldn't open?

Each lock seemed the same, except for markings on the rivet just above the keyhole. The rivet on the left had a small '+' inscribed onto it. The one on the right seemed to have a '-'. Perhaps a mark put there to remind his old uncle which key to use on which lock? Books obviously didn't have polarity.

...or did they?

Ben put one finger on each stud and concentrated on the spell he had learned when he took the Storm Aspect of magic. A slight electrical charge came from one finger, hit the left-hand stud, and arced to the right-hand rivet. With a small click, the locks snapped open.

Ben opened the book, and realized the family had vastly underestimated great uncle Damien. He wasn't hiding secrets about flies and chiggers. The book was a fake, disguising a hollow interior with several partitions. Two of those partitions held journals. One was titled ElectromagicalTheory and Experimentsand the second,Taming the Heavens Without Losing All Your Hair.

Both were written by hand, with copious notes in the margins, sketches, diagrams, and references to other books he had written. Enough reading material for a thousand sleepless nights.

Nestled into its own cavity was a signet ring of heavy gold. The shield shaped signet was silver with a diagonal red slash. A stylized 'F' was centered on the red with golden phoenixes above and below. The other quadrants held red dragon heads. He'd seen this coat of arms before, on Harmony's scabbard and belt. The ring smelled strongly of magic and ozone. Hesitantly he put on the ring, and turned it around to look at it from different angles. It fit him perfectly.

A sudden electrical pulse from the ring caused his muscles to seize up and he toppled onto his bed, nearly unconscious.

Franklin Bloodline detected and accepted. Attunement complete.Storage is 90% full.