as the group rounded another bend. Ivan and Pikel, after whispering together, rushed past Cadderly and set a tremendous pace, explaining that they planned to prepare a delicious supper this very night.
The sun had not yet dipped below the skyline when they came back in sight of the library, the companions cutting in at the side of the grove that lined the structure's long front walkway. All three skidded to an abrupt stop, Pikel's ensuing "Oooo" pretty much summing things up for them all.
Wisps of gray smoke still filtered from several windows on the southern wing; the smell of burned wood hung thick in the air.
"Oooo," Pikel said again.
Those inner pleas, Chaunticleer's continuing call to Deneir, erupted in Cadderly's mind, shouting for him to flee, but he ran to the doors of the place that had been his home. He should have paused there, should have taken note of the hole in the wood, the hole Danica had kicked when Rufo had cornered her.
Cadderly grabbed at the handles and tugged hard, to no avail. He turned back to Ivan and Pikel, his face screwed up curiously. "They're locked," he said, and it was the first time Cadderly had ever known the doors to the Edificant Library to be locked.
Ivan's tremendous axe came sweeping off his shoulder; Pikel lowered his club into battering ram position and began scraping the ground with one foot, like a bull about to charge.
Both relaxed and straightened unexpectedly when they saw the doors open behind Cadderly.
"Ye're sure about that?" Ivan asked the young priest.
Cadderly turned and eyed the opening skeptically. "Swollen from the heat of the fire," he decided, and with Ivan and Pikel beside him, the young priest entered the library.
All the silent cries that he should flee flew from Cadderly the moment he crossed the threshold. He took this as a good sign, a confirmation that he had overreacted, but, in truth, Cadderly had crossed into Rufo's place, where Deneir could no longer warn him.
The foyer was not badly damaged, though the scent of soot was nearly overwhelming. To the left sat the small chapel, obviously where the fire had been most intense. The place's heavy door was apparently closed, though the friends could not see it, for a thick tapestry had been draped over it
Cadderly eyed that tapestry for a long while. It showed elves, dark elves. Cadderly knew how valuable that tapestry was, among the finest artwork in all the library. It had belonged to Pertelope; Ivan had used its Depictions to fashion the small hand-crossbow that Cadderly now wore on his belt.
What was it doing here? the young priest wondered. Who would think to use such a precious piece of irreplaceable art as a blockade against soot?
"Seems like the fire was contained," Ivan offered. Of course it had been contained, both dwarves and Cadderly realized when they took a moment to think about it. The library was more stone than wood, and there really was very little to burn in the place.
What, then, had caused so intense a fire?
Ivan started right, Pikel bobbing after, for the kitchen, but Cadderly caught him by the arm and swung him and his ducking brother about.
"I want to check the main chapel," the young priest stated, his voice detached. Ivan and Pikel looked to each other, shrugged, then turned curious gazes at Cadderly, who stood still for a long while, his eyes closed.
Chapter Fifteen
He couldn't hear the song of Deneir, he realized. And he could no longer hear Chaunticleer's singing, though the priest was likely closer now than when they were in the mountains. It seemed as if Deneir had flown from this place.
"What are ye thinking?" the always impatient Ivan asked.
Cadderly opened his gray eyes and looked at the dwarf.
"Well?" Ivan prompted. "What are ye thinking?"
This place has been desecrated," Cadderly replied, and it wasn't until he had spoken the words that he understood what he was saying.
"Been burned," Ivan corrected, looking to the tapestry, not understanding what Cadderly was talking about.
"Desecrated!" Cadderly yelled, the word echoing off the stone walls and filtering up the stairway. TTie significance of the word, and the weight with which Cadderly had shouted it sent shivers coursing through both brothers.
"What are ye talking about?" Ivan asked quietly.
Cadderly just shook his head vigorously and spun off, making all speed for the main chapel, the holiest place in this holy place. He expected he would find priests there, brothers of both host orders, praying to their respective gods, fighting to