Peter Pierce

Bookbinder

Chapters 7-14

Chapter Seven

"I can do that," Ian nodded firmly and snuggled in closer to Ben's side. "Where are we going? I'm tired," the boy yawned.

Ben looked down at him, it had after all been a very busy day and torching a vampire would have worn the boy out more than running a ten mile marathon.

"A surprise," Ben put an arm around him. "We're still about half an hour away. Why don't you just nap for a bit. I'll wake you when we get there."

"OK," Ian mumbled but he was already half asleep.

***

Ben disliked suburbs. Way to much technology and it grated on his nerves. That happened to most Fosters over time and no one had ever been able to figure out why. It certainly didn't hurt but no Foster liked anything electronic. Heck, even the car was more of a pain that it was fun to drive like it used to be. Still, technology had its uses, it was just a pity that the place he was heading swam in the stuff.

He eased the car down a winding road that took him past houses he'd never possibly live in. Prefabricated track junk and at this time of year the only good thing was that most of the ugliness was hidden under a layer of snow. 178 Woodbarrow Drive was just another of the endless series of beige yuppy homes and Ben shook his head at the neatly shoveled driveway and walks. The owner must have paid someone.

"Ian," he nudged the boy. "Time to wake up."

"Huh," Came the groggy reply and some rubbing of eyes. "Where are we?"

"A friend's house. Come on," Ben eased him out of the car. Something Ian didn't care for and he snuggled up closer to Ben to keep warm. Ben put an arm around his shoulder and walked them to the door.

The chimes were stupid. Some knock off of Big Ben in London and Ben hit them twice and waited. From the stomping someone was on their way and he wondered what Ian would make out of the owner.

Ian looked up at the man who answered the door and he was suddenly wide awake and his mouth was wide open. The man was huge! He had to be almost seven foot [>2 m] and blocked the door like a big piece of granite.

"Hey, Nicoli," Ben said pleasantly. "Darius is expecting us."

"Yup," Nicoli had a thick accent that sounded like he had his checks stuffed with marbles. "Come. Bring friend."

Ben led the way and Ian followed with his mouth still wide open. Nicoli was certainly impressive. Not however impressive enough that Ian's head didn't turn at the loud sounds of boys and video equipment coming from the basement.

Ben shrugged.

"Go make friends," he encouraged then looked up at Nicoli and raised an eyebrow in silent question.

"I keep an eye on them," Nicoli gave a resigned sigh. "Nobody steal nothing, nobody get in trouble and nobody get in fight."

"Good enough," Ben watched as Nicoli led Ian down the stairs towards the noise and he himself headed for the kitchen. Darius was almost always in the kitchen cooking something up.

And sure enough, a wide range of assorted vegetables and spices covered one counter and his old friend was busily at a cutting board next to a rather large kettle. At first glance Darius looked much like any other athletic man in his late twenties. Dark black hair and eyes, his hair was cut a bit longer than current fashion and the usual t-shirt and jeans. Ben watched him throw in whatever was in his hands and as he did the hair moved out of the way enough for him to see the pointy ears.

"Hail, Da Reaal," he said formally in Elvish.

"Your accent still sucks," the Elf stated coldly then gave a grin and wrapped him in a bear hug. "Did you bring your ward? I'm dying to meet him."

"Down with the boys," Ben told him while returning the hug warmly. "My bet is he and the twins hit it off just fine," he pulled a chair up to the counter. "You cook and I'll fill you in on news. Oh, and you won't believe what Ian just did to a vamp."

***

Nicoli introduced the two other boys to Ian as Kyle and Cory and then butted out to sit on the large sofa in the corner while the boys eagerly latched on to a new player for the wall sized Wii system they were playing.

A half hour later though the video systems were long forgotten and all three boys were huddled in the middle of the floor with their heads together. Occasionally a word would come out in more than a whisper. "No way!" and "That is so cool" were among the most often repeated as well as a good deal of boyish giggling and groans. Nicoli had his mind on whatever book he was reading and didn't look up.

***

"Hey Ben," Ian and the boys walked into the kitchen happily two hours later. "Koriel and Kial said I can bunk with them, is that OK? I'm really tired."

"No problem," Ben told him. "How long did it take before they told you their real names?"

"He figured out we are Elves fast Ben," Kial had one arm around Ian and the other around his brother. "He's wickedly good for a human."

"And he's got a cute accent," Koriel added in Elvish.

"We promised not to steal from him," Kial chimed in and Ben decided they were now officially friends. Kial and Koriel were junior thieves and making that promise was a serious sign of how much they liked Ian.

"Just promise not to stay up ALL night," Darius offered from his spot near the pot. "Ben and Ian are hitting the road in the morning and you two have some thefts to work on."

Ben watched the boys race off upstairs. His own bet was that they wouldn't be sleeping for hours yet.

"So," he turned back to the conversation. "Regina and I both feel that we're in for a war. The Ron know better than to assume we won't fight back. Especially now that they burned a book. Regina already has people working on finding whoever their local contacts are."

Darius took a spoon and took out a tiny bit of broth which he sipped gingerly.

"Not enough salt," he grimaced and reached for the jar. "Witches are a pain in the ass," he observed as he measured out a small amount. "Always mucking around with things they can't control. I've a good mind to take a hand myself," he paused. "Ron Coven?" He seemed to think for a bit. "Something about them, a Council Ruling I think. I'll check the next time I cross over."

"You're not banished any more?" Ben asked skeptically. "I thought Nicoli had firm rules to keep the portal closed for you."

"No, that was just Re'Nea being a jerk," Darius shrugged and added another pinch of salt. "She was mostly ticked that I refused a seat on her Council and that the boys both opted for Thief certification. She seemed to think that I had something to do with them not wanting to be in Court. She is over it and I go back about once a month with the boys to visit."

"Anyone else on this side?" Ben asked.

"A couple," Darius didn't seemed interested. "Always are. Humans do good silver work and you know how much we love our silver. Nobody you know though," he laughed. "You better watch your boy though, I hear he did a Deed and Natty had to get him some Baffin Oil. And you know she didn't buy it!"

Ben grimaced. Baffin was a nice enough place, as long as you didn't tick off the Dwarves who ruled it. Well it wasn't like he was going to be taking Ian through any of the gates for a long time yet.

"You want to sack out the guest room is ready for you," Darius told him. "I'll be up the rest of the night on this."

"I thought it was dinner," Ben took another look at the pot.

"It is," Darius grinned. "Not everything that takes time is a potion Ben."

***

"So what did you think?" Ben asked as the car wound its way back into the mountains on the way home. As expected there had been plenty of noise and not much sleep from the boys room all night. "You like the twins I take it."

"Yeah," Ian yawned and tried to wake up. "They are really cool. And they helped a lot with my Elvish. I don't think Wendal was very good at it. Book's accent is pretty bad. It's a good thing that magic is about intention and emotion or I'd never have gotten it."

"Actually your book is rather good," Ben replied. "It's the dialect. Darius and the boys are from a different realm. There are seven Elf realms and the accents are all different," he laughed. "And every single Elf you meet will always complain about your accent. Ask Book when you get back and he'll explain it to you," he paused. "Which reminds me, you can certainly talk about this trip if you want but I'd prefer you didn't mention Darius and the boys as Elves. The Fosters know of course but we try to keep it low key. If the bad side ever found out it would mean lots of trouble."

Ian agreed then complained about being hungry, missing his book and needing to pee.

Chapter Eight

Three weeks later Father John sat in his rectory and he was not happy. In fact if it wasn't for the direct orders from the Cardinal he would have had Father William dispatch both of these abominations. He certainly wouldn't be handing them the keys to a Church owned building.

The vampire was the worst. She was arrogant. Sylvia De'Conte.

Felicia Arcon was easier to deal with. Yes, she was a witch but she was also mortal and did not have three hundred years of arrogance. She was however fairly powerful for her kind. Which in itself was a sign of how seriously the Cardinal was taking this.

Personally he had recommended more mundane solutions. Twenty of the Church's special action troops would have been more than enough to storm this heresy and kill the boy. Unfortunately that had been over ruled. In fact it had been directly forbidden. The Church was to have no hand in the actual death.

"I caution you that this is not safe," Father John said firmly as he slid the key over the table along with a printed map of directions. "You are in another Vampire clan's territory and the Book Readers are warned."

"I will deal with the locals," De'Conte almost snarled. "They will step aside when they find out the Ranerii have declared Vendetta."

Father John kept his mouth shut. Officially he was not supposed to have dealings with the Dark. He did however keep up with what he could and the idea of Caleb backing down to anyone was ridiculous. Caleb wasn't an old world vamp. He'd been turned here over two hundred years ago and had founded his own clan and staked out his own territory. He'd also managed to survive the last war with the Book Readers and that had not been the act of an idiot or a coward.

"I'll require a bit of the last Book Reader," the witch told him. "A single hair will do."

"I'll see what I can do," Father John told her. "The bookshop was completely burned as was his apartment but I did have a team go over both."

"It doesn't have to be much," she reminded him. "Just enough to give me a lock. From there was can begin tracing his steps until we find their base. Book Readers always have a base."

Father John nodded and did not tell her that he already knew that it was up in the mountains and that they had known the general area for almost a decade. No, let them work it out. The Cardinal was playing very close to the edge and if the rest of the Holy Inquisition found out they were very likely to order this whole thing shut down. And it would not be good to be seen as working to closely with these tools. Not if they decided to send in the Brothers. He shuddered, the Brothers of Saint Jared were not evil men, they were soldiers in the service of God, unfortunately their weapons were enough to strike fear into any mortal man and dealing with Witchcraft and Vampires was not the worst thing that he would do to avoid them.

"If you need further resources, you will call Father William directly," he informed them. "Now if you will excuse me. I have a mass to say."

***

"Mom?" Tim came in the back door.

"Not home yet shrimp," Karen looked up from a bowl of cereal and a magazine from the table. Officially she was supposed to be reassigned but she and Lynn had hit it off and this was close to her college and better than the dorms. Karen had already done two years of those and had had enough.

"You got people watching the house?" Tim asked and Karen suddenly picked up on his worried tone. "Is the war back on?"

"What makes you think that?" She replied, but she also set down the spoon and magazine.

"Big ass van across the street. It has two guys in it and they have binoculars. I saw them when I came around the corner and ducked in behind Mrs. Kyzak's house to come in the back way," Tim informed her then paused. "They bad guys?"

Karen didn't reply, she was already walking into the living room and taking a casual glance out the window. She kept walking right into her bedroom and picked up her backpack. The one with the pistol in it. With the other hand she hit her cell.

"Regina," came the pleasant voice after the third ring.

"Aunt Regina, Karen," she said briskly. "I think you better get me some help. I'm here at Lynn's and we're being staked out by two guys in a white van."

There was a slight pause.

"It will take about a half hour," Regina informed her. "Do what you have to do Karen."

"Damned right," Karen shut the phone and turned to a wide eyed Tim. "Hey shrimp, you know the combination to your mom's safe?"

"No," Tim said nervously. "No one does but Mom."

"Shit," Karen swore. "I was going to give you her book and we'd make a run for it. Now we gotta play fort."

"Bookburners?" Tim half asked half swore. He took a deep breath and sobered. "I'm getting Grandpa's shotgun out of my room."

"Not a bad idea," Karen told him and flipped her cell again. "Lynn?"

"Yeah," came a cheerful voice. "I'm at the market, are we out of milk yet?"

"And a few other things," Karen told her. "But you can can that. We got bad guys out front and we don't know the combination to your safe. You better get here so we can get out before they decide to come in."

"On my way," Lynn sounded firm. "They are not burning my book again. Make sure Tim is safe."

Lynn hung up, which was a good thing because frankly in Karen's opinion Tim was not safe and she was going to need him if things went bad. The ugly part about dealing with witches was they were human and that meant they liked guns and other bad toys and one pistol against however many were in that van was not good odds.

Correction, she watched four men get out of the van and walk briskly towards the house. Well at least they didn't have assault rifles. Just whatever was under those jackets. She pressed herself against the wall and waited.

Tim however was not waiting. Grandpa had left him his twelve gauge and he'd spent a good share of his time shooting skeet and had it loaded with bird shot in seconds. He'd also seen what those assholes had done to his mom when they burned her book and there was no way he would allow that to happen again. So he came around the corner armed and looking for vengeance just as the door bell rang.

Boooooooom.

Tim was not waiting for them to shoot first. He put the round right through the center of the door and blew a foot wide hole in it.

Karen's mouth dropped as she watched the squad after them suddenly dissolve and retreat. Yeah they had their guns out and were shooting back but they were obviously more interested in getting back to their van. She glanced over at the door just in time to see Tim put another round out the hole he had made.

"Shrimp," she snarled and realized he had no intention of ducking the return fire. She dropped her own gun and made a wild tackling leap. It caught him around the legs and knocked him down to the floor.

Outside there was a scream of tires and through the hole in the door she saw the van disappear.

"We get them?" Tim asked.

Karen was about to snap an angry reply, one that included a summation of the idiocy of shooting a shotgun through the door like a bad action hero. Unfortunately the tone registered and she look felt the blood on her hand.

"You little idiot," she told him angrily. "Where did you get hit?"

"Arm," Tim was almost out of it.

Karen ripped the sleeve like it was tissue and grimaced. A second later she had her belt off and was tightening the tourniquet.

"Hold that!" She ordered and flipped the cell for 911.

A neighbor seemed to have the same idea and she could already hear police sirens.

"Mom's book," Tim tried to move. "Don't let anyone near the safe."

"I got it," Karen told him and went back to swearing. This was so messed up.

***

Caleb snarled. He was in his own den and he was surrounded by his own people and this jacked up Italian bitch was telling him what to do? Yeah, she was old. So were her two goons, but old didn't mean shit when he had enough muscle to tear them all into very little pieces.

"No," he told her coldly. "I will not help you with the fucking librarians."

Which got a hiss of anger.

"You'd cross the Ranerii?" She snapped at him and showed her fangs. "We'd break your miserable clan in a week."

"You won't be around to do it," he snarled back and his people closed in tighter. Hunting their own kind was rare but the blood of three who were this old would be better than a fresh kill.

"I have immunity as Emissary," DeConte warned, but her two male companions backed up a bit. "You might want to consider what would happen if you broke that law."

Caleb didn't want to but she was right. There were few laws or customs that Vampire clans did not break but even so there were consequences to consider. The last thing he needed was to have one of the Kings take offense. Still, the Ranerii might be old but they weren't Kings.

"You have your immunity… Emissary," he sneered the word. "And if you want to tangle with the Librarians it's your head. I'm honoring my treaty with them and I'm telling them ahead of time that my people won't help you. And if you hurt one of mine, just remember that your Emissary status ends and I'll drain you dry before I stake you out in the sun."

"Tough words," DeConte spat on the floor. "When this is over you'll be dealing with my Clan and a Vendetta."

"Whatever," Caleb raised a hand in dismissal and watched her stalk out then turned to his Lieutenants. "Get the word out. No one helps them," he waited till he saw agreement then reached for his cell. It took longer than normal.

"Yes, Caleb," Regina sounded angry already. Great, just what he needed, a pissed off Librarian.

"You got Ranerii problems again," he told her. "My people are out of it but they have more muscle than I want to tangle with. They brought in at least three ancients. Lead one is named DeConte."

"Thank you Caleb," Regina sounded thoughtful. "I am very pleased with your upholding the treaty and I'll make sure I pass the word that you are not the enemy."

"See you do," Caleb closed the phone down and pondered for a minute. "Twana," he waited till she moved closer. "I got money that says those bastards brought in more witches and the rules don't say nothing about us sucking them dry do they?"

"Nope," Twana gave a toothy grin.

"Just be sure you don't cross the Ranerii bitch when you hunt them," Caleb smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Oh, and I'd really like some Italian to go with the French dinner we had a few weeks ago. See what you can do."

***

Felicia smiled. It had actually been rather amusing. Sylvia was a lose cannon like always but the plan had worked out well so far. It was a good thing Antonio had been wearing his vest as that had been unexpected but the raid had never been intended to be a success. Just a scouting mission to see who showed up and who did what. If she was lucky perhaps they'd screw up and lead her back to their base. If not? Well, everybody dropped a hair once in a while and she'd brought in two specialists with her to do the tracking.

Chapter Nine

Ian looked up from Book and grinned. Book had actually praised him.

"Oh, don't get a big head," it grumbled at him. "All I said was that I was rather surprised you could tell the difference between those three words. It's not like I said you were a genius."

"It wasn't hard," Ian told him. "They are just different. Just because they sound the same doesn't make them the same thing."

"Exactly," Book agreed. "Now what would you do with the first one?"

"Well," Ian concentrated. It really was a hard word to pronounce and it had a lot of parts that meant a lot of different things. "I think I could probably use it to stop myself from falling but it would be really hard. I think the easiest thing to use it for would be to make a lot of noise."

"Very good," Book praised. "And you're right. Using it to break your fall would hurt worse than the fall. The important use is the making noise. Do you remember our conversation about fire?"

"Yeah, of course," Ian wondered what he meant.

"Noise is a form of vibration," Book explained.

"Yeah, wavelengths and stuff. I got that in school," Ian nodded.

"Then it was worth something after all," Book did not have a high opinion of schools. "Now consider what would happen if you made a noise louder and louder."

"I could break glass," Ian offered. "I saw a singer do that on cable. Or I could break someone's ear drum. That happens."

"Keep going," Book told him.

"Well I've seen things vibrate from the loud music," Ian went on. "Can I shake a whole house?"

"Get it perfect and you could shake a mountain," Book told him firmly. "Like the fire word it doesn't matter what it is, it matters what your intentions and emotions are. Sound is a powerful thing, it's what those kids studying music magic work with. You however are a bookbinder and you need to go way beyond working with a few notes. That's delicate work but you need to work with the raw stuff."

"Should I talk to some of the guys in music?" Ian asked. "They might be able to help me."

"At some point that may actually be a good idea," Book agreed cautiously. "I'll talk to some of the music books if you want. It's a specialty I don't work with much. But lets hold off till you're good with the raw power before you get detailed, alright?"

"Sure," Ian shrugged and then grinned. "Can you show me more staff magic?"

"Oh, all right," Book muttered though everyone knew he was secretly thrilled that Ian was into staff fighting. Wendal had been as well and Book was heavily influenced by his writer. "Lets start with that move the oaf showed you… and no not the one with your penis."

Ian blushed. How Book knew about that he had no idea!

***

"Ian with his book?" Ben walked in to the kitchen and snagged a fresh biscuit off the stove.

"Five more minutes," David looked up at the clock. "And they have both been very good about the time limit this week. Unlike some Fosters I know."

"Project," Ben shrugged. "My book and I are working on a new set of shields and it's rather hard to get through a whole passage in an hour. I'll back off once I get it down, promise."

"Well it is a fighting book," David shrugged and went back to fixing the stew. "And while fighters are much more common than Bookbinders I'd say their books are just as prone to abuse their readers," he chuckled. "Not that you actually put up much of a fight when it's calling to you."

"True," Ben agreed readily enough. He had been a bit of a pain when it came to book limits and he'd been grounded plenty of times. He paused as another thought came to mind. "I'm thinking about taking Ian to the Archives. Too soon?"

David pursed his lips and looked up from the stew.

"For most boys? Yes, absolutely," David replied firmly. "Most boys his age and so new to books would either be unable to hear them at all, or panic and start screaming," he took a deep breath. "It is however one of the calls of the Foster to say when he is ready. And if you haven't noticed Ian has you down as his Forster not me."

"I thought we were both doing it," David sat down at the table and looked concerned. "I'm not a Foster, just in training."

"Oh, I am supervising," David waved a hand in dismissal. "But a boy can only have one Foster and you're it," he smiled slightly. "Doing a very good job as well from what I see."

"Thanks David," Ben blushed.

"Not at all," David went back to his stew. "You've got good instincts and most importantly you know how to love. I'll tell you if I think you're pushing things either to slowly or to fast. For now my recommendation is to do what's right. And if you think Ian is ready for the Archive, then he is."

"What's an Archive?" Ian came around the corner and made the exact same beeline for the hot biscuits as David had.

"A collection of writings that aren't quiet books," David told him as he handed out a mug of milk to go with the biscuit. "We use them for specific notes and research and the Oak Grove collection is rather good. Ben and I were just discussing whether you are old enough for it. It's rather scary at times."

"Is it hard work?" Ian looked concerned. "Book has me on sound words and it's pretty tough stuff. I'm not sure I'm up for more hard work."

"Then we hold off," Ben said firmly and David nodded. "I'll have a talk with your book later and get it to take a break when you're done," he smirked. "I take it sound isn't so hard that you've abandoned staff?"

"No way!" Ian had a huge grin. "Doug wants a rematch."

Doug had made the mistake of mouthing off about Peter's book again and had been soundly trashed by the younger boy. To earn back his bully reputation he'd then proceeded to goad Ian in to a fight only to find himself flat on his butt with sore ribs. Ben had been keeping an eye on the rivalry and Doug had been practicing hard and looking for a rematch.

David had been a bit concerned but Ben had talked to Doug's Foster, Wayne, who had actually encouraged another fight. It seems that losing to two boys both younger and smaller than him had prodded Doug into paying attention and actually working and both his Foster and his book were happy with the change. Humility was a big improvement.

Ian looked up at the sound of the doorbell.

"I got it!" He took off with another biscuit in hand.

A minute later he was back with Regina, who wore her heavy coat and did not look pleased.

"Ben I need you right away," she told him briskly. "David, I'll call you from the road to explain."

Ben nodded and followed her to the door stopping just long enough to grab a coat and give Ian a kiss on the cheek.

***

Twenty minutes later he was turning on to an icy interstate and listening to Regina complain about the speed.

"It won't be better if we end up in a ditch," Ben warned.

"Oh I know," Regina let out a sigh and reached for the thermos of coffee. "But I am rather angry and upset and complaining about the weather is better than fretting," she reached out and patted Ben's thigh fondly. "And thank you for putting up with it. I'm rather tiresome when I'm like this."

"Not a problem," Ben shrugged. "Besides, Tim's a good kid and we're both worried about him."

"A pity no book has picked him," Regina sighed. "I could have sworn all the signs are there."

"We get it wrong from time to time," Ben offered and Regina nodded. Over the years more than one person had asked the question as to why books chose some kids and not others. It certainly wasn't about some innocence or moral virtue. More than a few kids had turned out to be little monsters. Nor was it some kind of latent ESP. But there were patterns. Kids who had had difficult childhoods were the majority and books seemed to take to those who were more independent. Books also had a thing for gay boys and about fifty percent of all the boys chosen were. Lesbians were another matter and there had only been two in recorded history. It did seem to run in some families though and Lynn had more than four people on her side of the family who had been chosen.

"Well book or no book Lynn and Tim are moving to the grove for a bit," Regina said firmly "I know that logically it is not about them. They just happen to be the ones that were spotted and this attack is just a follow up. In fact logically it is good news as it means they probably don't have a line on anyone else. But we are going to get them out of the line of fire."

Ben nodded and drove in silence for a bit. There was something wrong with this attack and he couldn't pin it down.

"Have you considered that this is a trap?" He asked at last. "An attack squad running from a boy with a shotgun? Somehow I don't think so."

"Perhaps," Regina reflected. "But do remember that traps work both ways, if they have us, we also have them."

"True," Ben agreed. And it would be very interesting to see the look on the Ron Coven faces when they found out what Oak Grove fighters thought of their witchcraft.

***

Ian finished the complicated circular pattern. It was hard work and tough on the muscles, especially his biceps but he thought he got it right and he looked over at Peter with a grin.

"Awesome," Peter stated in awe. "That is so cool. Let me try and tell me if I get it right."

Peter hopped down from his seat on a partially fallen tree and took up position in the snow. Regular practices were with the other guys but this was supposed to be a secret where Ian shared what his book had taught him and Peter shared what his book taught from the Elves. In Ian's opinion the Elf forms were a bit to complicated and he preferred the more direct moves Book was teaching him.

"I think you need to lean into that a bit more with your left foot," Ian offered as Peter completed the move. Which had the boy rapidly spinning in the snow as he overdid it. Peter did come up grinning though and joined Ian on the log.

"Hey, we better get back," Peter told him but didn't look to interested in getting off the log. "Book is teaching me some really cool things to do with oak, oh, and I need your staff back again. He taught me how to put an anti witchcraft spell on it."

"OK," Ian jumped off the log now remembering that he had a date with his own book and was missing it badly. "And thanks. My staff must have more stuff on it than any staff in the Grove."

"Nope," Peter offered as he joined him. "Book says that the Fosters' staffs have a lot more. But you have more than most people. When I'm done you'll have the most ever. I promised."

Ian kept his mouth shut. Peter would sulk if he opened it. Besides it was nice to have someone look up to him, even if it was a embarrassing.

"Ever hear of a place called the Archive?" He changed the subject as they hiked back towards the Grove.

"Sure," Peter didn't sound overly impressed. "It's in a big house next to the mill. Full of all kinds of stuff including books you're not supposed to read. They even have a few of the witch's books, but not even Fosters read those."

"Really?" Ian looked confused. "Ben says he wants to take me but it's hard work and he wants to wait till I'm done with the stuff I'm studying now."

"He wants to take you to the Archive!" Peter looked scandalized then suddenly shrugged. "It must be because you're a bookbinder. Scholars are the only kids who ever go there and from what I heard they don't go till they're like sixteen or something. Bookbinders are probably different," Peter paused and leaned a bit closer. "If you go will you tell me about it? I really want to know."

"Sure," Ian promised happily enough. "But lets get hurry. It's almost time for me to see Book."

***

Regina stood by the door with Lynn and tried not to look as angry as she felt. It was a good thing she had brought Ben as he was better at dealing with boys. And right now Tim was in need of some masculine support.

"So he said I'll never get full use of it again," Tim finished sadly. "I'll be able to use it but sports is pretty much shot."

"Maybe, maybe not," Ben sat on the bed. "We'll see about that once the specialists have a chance to look at you. Personally I'm not taking the word of an emergency room surgeon and one doctor on rounds," he gave Tim a very firm look "and they don't exactly have the same doctors here as we use in the Grove either."

Tim looked a bit puzzled but also more at ease with Ben than he had been with his mother.

"You're really taking me back there?" Tim asked hopefully.

"Tim," Ben patted his knee. "Can you imagine the amount of howling Ian would do if he found out you'd been shot by bookburners and I didn't bring you back? They'd hear him at the gates of the Vampire King's castle."

"I have a very nice house only four doors down ready for you," Regina offered with a hand on Lynn's shoulder. "We'll check you out in the morning and drive up. I have Katy and Karen picking up your clothing and essentials now. And don't worry about your house. Karen is seeing about replacing the door and Katy is having a security system installed. They'll both be staying there for a few days as well."

"And the police?" Tim asked skeptically. "They weren't very nice to me."

"Officially you were defending the house against a home invasion," Lynn informed him with a faint smile. "Unofficially they have no idea what happened but will have a patrol car on our street. And I've already informed them that we will be staying with friends till we're over the trauma or they catch the invaders."

Tim gave her a grin. As if anyone would catch them.

***

Josep leaned against the wall and tried to look like he was taking a break from mopping the floor. No one ever bothered the help who did these functions and it had been easy enough to steal the ID and uniform. Who would ever check?

The elevator closed and he picked the mop back up and worked his way down the hall. Yeah they were off and the kid would be released but before anyone got into that room he'd have every bit of DNA he could snag. So far they had struck out. In fact Vincinzo had been rather rudely told off for all the work he'd put into that hair that he'd been oh so convinced had come from the bookstore owner only to track down a local fire fighter.

This one was much more certain. The kid was a definite and wherever they were going to take him for safety the chances were excellent was the Bookreader's base. He made double sure that they were not coming back and slipped quickly into the room.

***

They were halfway down the back road leading to the Grove when Regina suddenly stiffened.

"Ben, pull over. Now please," she said urgently as her hand shot into her bag.

Ben settled for stopping in the middle of the road and waited as Regina closed her eyes and concentrated.

"That was rather rude," Regina looked up at last and her tone was cold. "I'm afraid they located us. Tracking spell and a rather powerful one. I'm afraid they managed a few bits of hair from Tim's room. I imagine they'll try to move quickly."

Ben nodded but said nothing. Lynn tried not to look worried but did put an arm around her son.

"Oh, smile Lynn," Regina told her. "They found us. But do you really think a bunch of witches is going to do more than annoy us?"

"I am more worried about the guys with the guns," Lynn said back and this time Regina had no answer.

Chapter Ten

Ian was thrilled that Tim was at the Grove and horrified that he'd been shot and he absolutely insisted on going right over. Which of course lead to a heads down debrief among the boys, one that soon included Peter and then more and more kids till the room was basically packed. Only nightfall brought Ian home to do his chores and talk to his book and Ben was rather amused at the serious look on the boy's face when he climbed into bed.

"Ben," Ian propped himself on his mans chest to talk. "Tim needs a book."

"I wish it worked like that," Ben told him. "Tim is a great kid and I wish he had a book but unfortunately none has picked him. No one knows why."

"I asked Book," Ian said seriously. "He said Tim is perfectly capable of reading a book but that he's just not into what any of the books here are. He didn't know what that is though," the boy paused and toyed with the hair on Ben's lower body for a moment. "I need to meet some different kinds of books. Something you don't see often. Would that be in the Archive?"

"Maybe," Ben considered. "There are certainly a lot of odd books there but how would you tell? As far as anyone knows you can't pick a book for someone else. It has to do the picking," he paused. "Are you still getting headaches from those sound lessons?" He frowned down at his boy.

Ian decided that the best response was silence.

"I see," Ben sighed and snuggled closer. "Then I think the Archive is out of bounds. And I don't want you near it? Understood?"

Ian rolled over and Ben shook his head, when the boy was angry he could certainly show it. Well, he had to get with Regina and the Fosters in the morning and start planning defense so the best thing would be to let Ian work it out and get some sleep. He spooned up next to the boy and settled down to do so.

***

"This is ridiculous, stupid, uncalled for and I'm going to wake the Oaf!" Book stated as Ian pulled his bathrobe tighter picked up his staff and opened the door.

"No you won't," Ian stated in a angry whisper. "You're my book and it's about time you did what I wanted. I'm going and you can either help me or I'll put you on the shelf and do it alone."

"Oh, all right," Book snapped at him. "Be that way. I have no idea why I get all the idiot genius precocious bullheaded little…," he proceeded to mutter off into Elvish swear words and Ian slipped out the door.

It really wasn't the middle of the night. In an hour it would be dawn and no one had ever told him he had to stay inside at night so technically he wasn't breaking any rules.

Book snorted at his rationalization but he kept moving.

And it wasn't like he was going to the Archive. Ben said no so it was no. Even if it was stupid.

"I would much prefer we were," Book told him caustically. "That I could handle."

"You can handle this," Ian said confidently. "You're the one who told me how Wendal did it. And if he can do it I can do it."

"Wendal was eighty seven and the most powerful Reader of his day," Book replied indignantly. "And he was doing it with less than twenty books and it exhausted him."

"I'm not doing twenty books, I'm doing one," Ian spotted the small bench near the mill pond. It sat basically in the middle of the town and would do nicely. "Well maybe two if we're lucky."

He leaned his staff against the side and settled down into thee seat. It was really cold and he regretted not bringing something warmer. But if he'd changed the chances were excellent that Ben or David would have woken up and stopped him.

"OK. Book, I'm ready," he opened his mind and tried to listen.

Book didn't like this idea at all but he had to admit that if there was a book in the entire Grove that would talk to Tim this was probably the way to find it.

"Wow!" Ian heard the murmur of hundreds of books. It was amazing.

It also hurt and he winced.

"Had enough?" Book asked in satisfaction. "If you wake the Oaf up I'm sure he'd play with your dick."

"Shut up Book," Ian was by now used to the sexual harassment. "I just have to filter out all of the ones who already have readers."

He concentrated and went to work. It was hard stuff, you couldn't just ask each one. That would have taken hours and was part of the reason Wendal had been so exhausted. He finally figured it out and the number of books went down radically. Now to filter out the ones that Tim would have already been exposed to. Music, woodworking, botany, he ran down his list of books he knew people had and watched them wink out of his perceptions.

"Ah…," a silent whisper sounded in his head. "Such power! Speak to me little one. Just a few words. Speak to Mara's poor lonely book."

"Ian!" Book snapped and Ian felt a stab of pain. "Shut HER down NOW!"

Ian ignored Book. If he shut down that horrible smelly voice he wouldn't be able to hear the soft one he'd located. The one that was whispering in words he didn't understand. Except that it wasn't whispering to him, it was whispering to Tim. Just so very faint you couldn't hear.

"That's it little one," Mara's book soothed. "Open your mind. Such a nice mind. So soft."

"NO!" Book snarled and slapped the Grimoire out Ian's mind. Too late, she had a hold and Ian suddenly stiffened and fell out of the bench, Mara's book laughed and retreated in triumph.

***

"OAF!" Ben was sitting up in bed wide awake with his heart racing. "He's been attacked by a Grimoire," Ian's book shot him a picture of the location. "I need you now!"

Ben didn't bother dressing, he ran out the door in his underwear. Behind him Ian's book was waking David.

"He needs a healer," Ben scooped the boy up and was about to run.

"No," Book seemed less panicked. "He needs you to put that staff in his hands. That little woodworker Peter has been loading it with so many defense spells it will take care of that stupid curse she put in his head. Then get him hot tea and into bed."

Ben took the staff and almost shoved it into the boy. As soon as it made contact there was a sudden and rather violent rush of power and Ian jolted.

"I must remember to say something nice to Peter," Book observed. "That was an impressive bit of anti witchcraft work."

David came up a moment later with an arm load of blankets and a worried look.

"How did it happen?" He asked as Ben wrapped Ian in blankets and they walked back. "I have the doors warded and it should have woken me up when one of the kids tries to sneak out."

"Ian is rather good at breaking warding spells," Book said primly. "As for the attack? He was trying to do a book trace and Mara's book got in his mind. I warned him but he was not paying attention."

"I thought that was under guard?" Ben shot a brief glance at David.

"It is," David looked skeptical. "In the Vault under the Archive," he looked over at Ian's book where it rested on the boys chest. "Just how wide of a trace did he do?"

"The Grove," Book answered. "And he came up with a very nice spell to filter his results all on his own."

"You let him open his mind to every book in the Grove," David was furious. "You're on the shelf for a month. Ian can read you once a day for an hour."

Ian opened his eyes and looked up into Ben's face and wished he was still asleep.

"How much trouble am I in?" He asked softly while taking a deep swallow of dread. Obviously just because he'd never seen Ben mad at him didn't mean it was impossible.

"Basics?" Ben stated firmly. "For scaring the daylights out of me and David, sneaking out of the house, breaking David's ward, and trying something that risky without even asking? You're grounded for a month. No staff, no playing with Peter or Tim, you don't leave the house without me or David and you get one hour with your book per day."

That produced the much deserved tears but Ian nodded.

"Now, that's the basics," Ben went on without a hint of sympathy. "Now you get to tell me WHY you were out there doing something like that. Based on your reasons I may either add or subtract from your punishment."

"I'll take my punishment," Ian offered and tried to sit up a bit more. "I deserve it. But can you hold off and give me an hour? I have to go get a book and give it to Tim."

"And that's what this was about? Looking for a book for Tim?" Ben sat on the bed but still looked firm. "I already told you, you can't chose a book for someone else."

"I didn't," Ian protested in a quiet voice. "I guess maybe that's what I was trying to do, and that was really dumb of me. But I did find a book. It's been calling to Tim but it's really really faint and it speaks a language I don't understand."

"I didn't hear a thing," Book protested from the shelf.

"And where is this book?" Ben asked skeptically.

"It's on a shelf in the back storage room of the Mill. The place where they keep the old planes and stuff that need sharpening. Just over the anvil. Not the big one, the little one," Ian said confidently. "It's bound in brown leather and is kind of small."

"I'll be back in a few minutes," David said from the door. "I have an omlette in the oven, feed him a bit of that with the tea."

Ben went down to get the food and Ian sat back to cry. He'd really scared Ben and that look of disappointment was enough to rip his heart.

"That's why you don't hurt the ones you love," Book said with a note of sympathy. "I suggest when Oaf comes up you ignore the food, give him a big hug and cry it out before David gets back."

"Thanks Book," Ian mumbled and took the advice.

***

"It looks like an ordinary book but I can't open it," David handed it to Ian. "I believe water damage has the pages glued shut."

"I don't hear a thing," Book added from the shelf. "A very moldy old book."

"Shhh," Ian whispered and cradled the book in his lap. He concentrated and looked up at Ben. "I'm already in trouble for doing things without permission. Can I please fix this book? I'll need a bit of help. Not as much as I did with Lynn's. Promise."

Ben looked over at David and then gave a short nod and cradled the boy in his arms. Ian was already reaching out for the connection and focusing down on the book.

To Ian it wasn't the grime or the water damage. Those he could brush away, someone however had sealed the book shut and it had been done with a very mean and nasty spell. It felt and smelled and tasted like that rotten book of Mara's. He tried to tear it but it just got stronger and fought back.

"Ian, honey," Ben pulled him away physically.

"What?" Ian looked up confused. "I was about to…"

"There is a simpler way," Ben smiled down at him then over at David. "I believe we've been a bit to skeptical of Ian, David. There is a pretty powerful binding curse on the book. Not one I'm familiar with and it won't show itself till you try removing it. You want to take a peek?"

David moved over to the bed and picked up the book. A moment later he concentrated a bit more then looked up in disgust.

"The work of a vile little witch from around seventeen twenty. Rufia Davenport and she was active around the Welsh area. There are a number of ways to break it but the easiest is in the kitchen, I'll be back in a moment," David left the room and Ben smiled.

"David doesn't brag but he is one of the Grove's better experts on witchcraft," Ben whispered in Ian's ear. "In fact if you mentioned his real name to a witch they would wet their pants in fright."

"Ian," David was back quickly. "I believe this may be a good learning opportunity and since you found that poor book I'll let you do the honors."

He sat on the bed and arranged the supplies.

"Rufia worked with what we call Foul Magik. It's a pretty dangerous and long lasting kind of curse and she was very good at them," he picked up a salt shaker. "Foul Magik however runs counter to nature not with it. It is very good at deflecting counter magics but horrible at simple nature magic. For example if we take this salt, a bit of this garlic and some sage, we would normally have a fairly decent seasoning for tonight's dinner. If however you take a pinch of each grind it in the palm of your hand and blow the dust on the book. Well, lets just say you should be fully awake at the end."

David smiled and Ian looked happy. Ben, who had seen this before covered his ears. The boom when the dust hit the book was enough to rattle the windows. It was certainly enough to get a shriek out of Ian who looked both shocked and delighted.

"End of curse," David offered and handed the book back to Ian. "I'm afraid it's still a bit damaged."

Ian accepted the book with a firm look of intent and Ben went back to holding him. This time Ian did little other than open himself up and clean away the damage. Ben was surprised at how confident and easy it came to the boy. Obviously he knew what he was doing.

"Best Reader I have had since Wendal," Book praised from the corner. "Given he's a precocious, out of control little sex maniac of course."

"Shut up Book," Ian mumbled and sat up. Then grinned and looked down at the book. "Hello."

Which was answered with a very long statement that Ian could not understand at all except for the word Tim, but which got both David, Ben and Book all laughing.

"Dwarvish," Ben explained while wiping away a tear.

"High Dwarvish to be exact," Book sniffed.

"Ian," David picked up the book and seemed to be thrilled. "I'd like you to meet Gavendal's Book. Last seen around seventeen ten and how it ended up in the back of our Mill I will be fascinated to find out."

There was a long stream of indignant Dwarvish followed by the word Tim.

"Can't it speak English?" Ian asked.

"It certainly can," Book offered in amusement. "It won't though. Dwarvish books are rather stuck up like that. It did say it is very grateful to you and has promised the usual dwarvish rewards in gold, silver, magical swords and such. It is also threatening to break some skulls if someone doesn't take him to Tim. From what I understand the boy is a perfect match and Gavendal's book has been screaming at him every time he's visited the Grove."

"Can I take it?" Ian tried to get up but found Ben holding him back.

"No," Ben said firmly. "You've had enough adventure for one morning. You're exhausted whether you know it or not and I'm going to feed you then hold you in this bed till ten at the least. David can walk that book over," he smiled. "By this time Tim is probably up and wondering what that euphoric feeling is all about."

"But…," Ian protested.

"No buts," Ben stated coldly. "You are still grounded and will not leave the house without me."

Ian suddenly looked down at the bed.

"Ben," David raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, all right," Ben nodded and waited till David walked out. "In light of the good deed, for which another deed gift will probably be called for, I'm willing to reconsider your punishment."

Ian looked up hopefully.

"Oh not all of it," Ben waved a finger at him. "You broke the ward so you'll replace it before you leave the house again. Plus you knew perfectly well that what you were doing was both dangerous and wrong. Therefore you are still grounded. Other than chores you will remain in sight of this house at all times for one month. You will also apologize to David for scaring him like that. Lastly you will sit down with your book and have him go over all the nasty things Mara's book could have done to you," he paused and then sighed. "I will however allow you to have as many visitors as you like, you may attend staff classes with me and you may visit Peter and Tim's houses with permission."

Ian grinned.

"I should spank you," Ben grumbled and wondered if he'd just ruined his image as an authoritative Foster.

Ian had his pants off in an instant.

"Please?" He looked up eagerly.

Lynn sat with David over a cup of tea watching Tim lean over his new book with a look of pure rapture.

"I thought he was too old," Lynn smiled and watched the joy she remembered when she'd found her own book.

"Fourteen is a bit older than most," David shrugged. "But it has happened to adults occasionally. And while he's busy we should cover the basics. You do realize he needs a Foster."

"Of course," Lynn beamed. "I'm his mother but I know a boy with a book needs a Foster not a mother," she paused. "Any chance you can take him David? Tim will need a strong hand."

David paused then nodded.

"I will speak with Regina," he offered. "I have the room and I'm one of the few who have dealt with a Dwarvish book, they are fairly rare you know."

"I never met one," Lynn admitted while looking fondly at her son.

"I didn't think we had one in the Grove either," David admitted. "Not many Dwarves ever cross over the Gates and very few of those are Book Readers. I did take a moment to have a conversation with it, I'm afraid it's rather typical for its kind. Rather powerful, very opinionated and its main goal in existence is forging and mining. Oh, and its writer had a very odd fascination for gems so I believe your jewelry box will probably overflow soon."

"Anything… dangerous I should know about?" Lynn asked slowly. Some books after all did have arts that were rather unsafe. Her own book had a section on poisonous plants that she shuddered to think about in the wrong hands.

"Specifically? No," David smiled. "Oh, he's going to be swinging a hammer and his upper body is going to get a work out. He'll also spend every dime he has on a gem that takes his fancy. He'll also grow a beard the first chance he gets and he'll have a rather violent hatred of wolves. Oh, and I'd keep him away from ale for a bit," he laughed. "At least those are the stereotypes, no one ever absorbs Everything from a book in his character. Though I did cross over the Gates twice as a teen and I must tell you that I rather liked most Dwarves."

"I'll take that as a positive endorsement," Lynn laughed and glanced at the clock. "Now which one of us lays down the law on time with Tim while the other one deals with his Book?"

***

Felicia Arcon looked into the brass bowl of blood and shuddered. It was the third conjuring and it read the exact some way as the others. She glanced down at the body of the sacrifice and motioned her assistants to take it away. They'd dump it someplace safe where the police would report another gang related murder. Young aggressive males worked best for this kind of thing and thankfully the ghettos were full of them.

"Well?" De'Conte snarled from her place in the shadows. It was high noon and even the glimmer coming through the crack under the door was making her irritable.

"It's complete," Felicia confirmed and gently set the bowl to the side. "We were to late. They have the elf and the dwarf, the fighter and the scholar. All four books and all four readers and they are all in the same place," she shrugged. "The best we can hope for is that they don't realize what they have and there is no major event forcing them to work together. We need to get out of here."

"I am not running from Books," De'Conte sneered. "There is a Vendetta."

"And one was declared on us," Felicia replied simply. "It's not like the Readers won't be looking to follow up on it. But we can't risk pushing those four any closer together," she paused. "If you want to pursue vendetta so badly then spend some time before we leave with this Caleb."

De'Conte snarled then gave a short his.

"We are bound by my Emissary status," she stated coldly.

"King problems?" Felicia asked sweetly.

De'Conte just glared. It was well known that the Clans would go to great lengths to keep the Kings in their Castles. A fact that had let the Ron Coven keep a bit of balance in their relationship.

"And the Church?" De'Conte changed the topic to one that made Felicia frown. "They will not be happy."

"They will also not burn us alive," Felicia replied and sat back in her chair. "And the Inquisition knows perfectly well how many priests and bishops and nuns we have our tentacles in to. They won't be happy but there is nothing they can do if we pull out. In fact the problem falls into there laps where it rightfully belongs. After all it isn't vampires or witches that this prophecy threatens is it? It's them."

De'Conte paused and took a step out of the shadows her face suddenly thoughtful. The Inquisition was after all the oppressive master and the idea that it was going to be distracted would raise opportunity.

"Pulling out to quickly would not be politically wise," The vampire said sweetly. "And we would certainly look bad if we left after a fight with Caleb. Perhaps a small battle, something we could point at as an attempt. Then we point out the readings and our fears," she paused. "Perhaps a Summoning?"

Felicia caught her breath. That would be dangerous. Very dangerous. And it would take time and bodies, yes, quiet a few bodies. Still, yes, it would certainly prove they had made the attempt and having the Cardinal as the man ordering the attempt would help as well.

Horrible man. So pious, such a hypocrite. He knew perfectly well what he was protecting and what that prophecy stated. And he would be in the city in the summer, just a pastoral visit my ass, he was coming to make sure things were the way he wanted them. She frowned, it was now March and the snow was finally melting, he would be here in June. Time and enough, and if he happened to die with a few Readers? Well, that would be a pity the rest of the Inquisition wouldn't mourn to badly wouldn't it?

***

"How's the arm?" Ian asked as he and Peter hoped up onto Tim's bed.

"It hurts," Tim complained. "Especially when two jerks jump up on the bed."

He was grinning when he said it though and Ian grabbed a pillow and tossed another to Peter.

"My book says he thinks the Doctors are idiots," Tim said happily. "He says he's seen worse bee stings and that all I need is a few days with a hammer and an anvil to work out the muscles."

"My book says I've been lazy and I should learn Dwarvish," Peter grumbled. "I was perfectly happy working with that new oak technique. Dwarvish is a pain to learn."

"I'm in the same boat," Ian sighed. "And Book won't let me slack off on Elvish or anything else. He says I'm at risk of growing up to be a knave whatever that is."

"When do you get out of bed Tim," Peter asked hopefully. "We need to show you around town and introduce you to people."

"I can walk around now if I don't bump the arm," Tim answered then looked sheepish. "I'll need help with my pants though. I can't even put on underwear."

"No, problem," Ian shrugged. "It's just dicks and dicks are cool," he grinned and the other boys laughed. The fact that Ian and Ben were pretty much a couple was an open secret. Ian did end up frowning though as they made for the door. "Uh, guys. I forgot. I'm grounded. I got to stay within sight of the house."

"But showing Peter around is work," Peter insisted. "I bet if we ask Ben you can get an exception."

***

Which sounded very logical until they walked in to find Ben, David, Regina and half a dozen other Fosters in the den. Which was rather intimidating and Ian was all for not asking and just going up to his room. Ben however had seen them come in and walked out into the hall.

"No," Ben said firmly. "Peter can introduce Tim just fine. You are still grounded young man," he looked at the clock. "In one hour I'm teaching staff practice. If you want out of the house you can go to that. If you want out now you can go to the mill and help Cynthia, from what I hear David was less than impressed with the state of the forge in the back and she needs hands to clean it out. Something about a boy who found a Dwarf book needing a place to work."

Which had three boys grabbing staffs and rushing out the door and Tim commenting that he was looking forward to punishment Grove style.

"You spoil them," Regina offered to general smiles around the room.

"He actually makes them work rather harder than I do," David chuckled. "And he is sneaky. Do you know he had a word with all of their books and has them taking Dwarvish in addition to their normal work."

"Dwarvish?" Wayne shook his head slowly in admiration. "I wish I could find a way to motivate Doug to tackle something that challenging. Wonderful boy now that he's done with that silly bully phase, but hardly challenged. I'll have a word with you later if I may Ben."

Ben nodded but Regina was clearing her throat for attention. This was after all her meeting and they were holding it here only because Davids den was bigger.

"So, to finish," she called them back to the work at hand. "It is agreed that we won't know how far they are going to push until they decide to act. We will however assume they will act on the tracing spell they put on our location."

"And you're sure it has us?" Someone asked from the back of the room.

"Within twenty miles," Regina said confidently. "But up here in the mountains that is actually something they can narrow down quickly. I can't imagine we have more than a day or two. So we will activate our defensive plans with the assumption they will attack."

"Which will not be much of a change actually," she reached out to the teapot and poured another cup. "Carl does an excellent job at the gate and with the wards. We'll simply be supporting him a bit more thoroughly. Two Fosters per four hour shift. That shouldn't cut into anyone's sleep to badly. And I don't think there is cause to scare our wards."

She turned to Ben.

"And on the assumption that your enemy can't attack you if you're attacking him, what does our young warrior recommend?" She smiled sweetly.

"I've got two targets in mind," Ben smiled. "I have a lock on the location they used to cast that tracking spell and I happen to know who the local Church conduit is. I won't go for him of course, that would provoke to much attention. But I think if he had to explain the dead witch in his cathedral he might get to be worrying more about his own hide than ours."

"I'll give you Katy and Karen," Regina nodded in agreement. "You can also call up more help as needed so don't be shy dear," she took a breath. "As for our members out in the world I've prepared a short list of precautions as almost everyone is too young to remember the last war. For those who can, I am recommending extended vacations. I will remind you all that this is not a war with a Vampire clan. Those tend to be bloody and long but are fairly predictable. With witches we are in for a longer battle and they are snipers not brawlers. One of their favorite tactics is to outwait the opposition and strike when we think it is safe again. We need to make sure everyone knows that."

There were nods around the room. Though many were older than most people would believe very few of them had actually been in a war like that. They could however read the histories and they were not the first refuge to ever tangle with witches.

"Now, last items of business," she sat back confidently. "I emphasize again that I see no reason to scare our wards. I would however appreciate it it you all spoke with the other Fosters and had a few words with the books. A bit of education on defenses against witchcraft and vampires is of course appropriate but I'd also like some discussion about mundane dangers. Remember the greatest vulnerability to us here is not an attack by either witches or vampires. It is what happens if they hire a dozen men with guns."

That was a sobering thought and produced dark nods of agreement.

"And before I say good bye a piece of wonderful news," Regina glanced at David who nodded and stepped forward.

"A few of you have heard already. As of yesterday morning Oak Grove now has a Dwarvish reader and I have spoken to his book at length," David grinned. "It confirms that young Tim is a Smyth and it is very hopeful that he may be a Master."

That produced a lot of happy looks and a few confused ones.

"I'm afraid that may be a bit confusing," Regina grinned. "Some of you younger sorts should forgive our assumptions that all Fosters know all the tales. Dwarvish Readers are divided into categories. The most common are Miners. All Dwarf Readers can do that and it basically translates as having a nose for gems and ore. Next are Tinkers and they work with metal. Wonderful jewelers. Smyths are the ones who work the Forges and are much more rare and Master Forgers are the ones who give you things only a Dwarf can produce. I suggest you ask your books for a complete list but I assure you that the Grove will be the envy of every other refuge."

***

"No, No. Not that!" Tim winced as he bumped his arm trying to keep Ian and Peter from carrying out a box of old hammers. "I need those."

"But they're a wreck," Peter dropped the box and picked up a rusty old piece. As if to support his statement the handle promptly fell off.

"Just needs some work," Tim took it out of his hand and put it back on the table. "And a new handle I guess."

"I can make you that," Peter answered after a nudge from Ian in the ribs. "But you gotta clean it up first."

"Deal," Tim grinned. "Why don't you guys get rid of that crap," he pointed to the assortment of hack saws and other modern equipment. "It's all sitting where the forge is supposed to be."

"You better be careful," Peter grimaced and went after the desired pile. "The other wood guys aren't going to be happy with a fire in the mill. Fire and wood don't get along."

"I'll be careful," Tim promised. And to think, he'd failed shop class last year!

***

"Oaf, we need to talk," Ian's book stated and waited till Ben had brought it off the shelf.

"And what is it?" Ben sat at the table sipping a much deserved beer. He was off to the city to ruin some witches life in the morning.

"Well, it could be because I am wondering when you are going to pop the boys cherry but I happen to have serious topics so pay attention and stop thinking about killing witches for a second," The book snapped at him and Ben opened his mouth with a nasty reply then shut it. It wasn't like Wendal's book would be impressed with his own swearing skills.

"Good," the book said firmly. "I have two topics actually and you should consider them both good news. The first is that I would like you to cancel this silly grounding thing. It only has a week to go and frankly you are horrible at it. Ian is to the point where he needs to do some experimentation with the sound words he has learned and it would do him good to got up in the mountains a bit where he can't hurt anyone. I promise it will be perfectly safe and he can bring that nice young boy Peter with him. I'd wait the week but frankly he's beginning to lose focus and you know how hard it is to do something once you get bored with it."

Ben considered. For the most part Ian had accepted his punishment with a grace and commitment he himself had pretty much lacked at that age. Still it was important that punishment be seen as punishment and once issued it was not going to end a second sooner.

"No," he replied and raised a hand before the book could object. "Punishment stays. And yes I agree I am fairly horrible at it. But the boy is also fairly good at owning up to his mistakes. Much better than I was. I won't deny him the right to serve out his whole sentence. I will however give him one half day of hard work with his book as part of his punishment. If you decide that that means he has to struggle through some difficult practice most safely done in the mountains that is up to you."

"You twist rules better than Wendal," Book praised happily. "And I will indeed make it hard work and make sure he knows it's my own punishment for scaring the hell out of me. By the way, on a little tangent what are you doing with Mara's book for that attack? I'm quiet pissed at it you know. Attack my reader will she?"

"I'm afraid nothing," Ben shrugged and wasn't happy about it but he said it. "We don't burn books, even witches books and we don't torture them either. Mara's book is in a sealed silver box with wards on it. If it was anyone other than Ian I doubt they would have even heard her. Plus in fairness he did open his mind to her."

He shrugged.

"And she does serve a purpose. She is the last book we know of from the Freiberg Coven and she has all their spells and knowledge. We've used her a time or two to combat other Coven's and it's saved lives."

"Freiberg," Ian's book spat it like a swear word. "Wendal tangled with them a time or two. Loathed them, baby killing bitches," it used an even worse word in Elvish and then settled down. "But that's your call. Personally I'd tear it into tiny bits and scatter them over a salty ocean, now that would be painful. Anyway where was I. Oh, yes. Conversation two."

"I really must insist that you plan a trip to the local Archive when you get back from your fun," The book stated. "I've reviewed the collection and nothing you have will give Ian more than a nightmare or two at worst. In fact I doubt he will have problems with any of them. I do however want him exposed to more types of writing and other viewpoints. I happen to be rather opinionated even if I am usually correct but the boy should see other points of view. Specifically, and I will deny every saying it, the boy is remarkably fast at picking up words and Wendal had a rather literal mind. I'd very much like to see what the boy comes up with if he hears some other possibilities."

"Good point," Ben admitted. "And I'm rather impressed. My own book was rather offended the first time I wanted another point of view."

"It's a fighting book," the book snorted. "Of course it's going to be bull headed. Though I am rather impressed with its reader. I'll reflect on your Oaf status while you are gone. Oh, and do finger the boy tonight, you know he'll love it."

Ben was none to gentle putting the book back on the shelf.

***

Ian moaned, thrashed and arched his back. A minute later he came back down to earth with a big huge grin.

"Like that?" Ben did not remove his finger.

"Again!" Ian insisted and spread his legs wider.

Twenty minutes later they were both cuddled in bed and fairly exhausted.

"Can we still do that when Tim moves in?" Ian asked wide eyed and still happy.

"I don't see why not," Ben nuzzled his hair. "I put a ward on the room when I found out how loud my boy is when he cums. David wouldn't mind of course but I'm kind of private about things like that. Nothing we do can be heard outside this room."

"Cool," Ian propped himself up and gave him a kiss then relaxed back into his arms. "I hate that you're leaving. One week right?"

"One week," Ben promised. "And I talked to David. You have permission to call once before bed each night. If I can I'll answer, but no complaining if I'm busy."

"I could go with you," Ian offered for about the tenth time. "I can flame vamps and if I bring my staff I can kill witches to."

"Probably right on both counts," Ben agreed and kissed his head again. "However my same reasons apply. I would be so worried about you I'd not be focused on my job."

"And then we both get hurt," Ian finished. "OK, I'll stop asking Ben."

"And while I'm gone you finish your grounding with Book," Ben reminded him. "And from the sounds of it he's going to be meaner than I've been. I expect you to take it as fitting punishment for scaring him."

"I will," Ian promised. "And I'm also helping Tim set up the Forge and I promised to help Peter with his Dwarvish. Man this is way harder than school ever was. Well at least it stopped snowing so I don't have to shovel."

"True," Ben agreed as the rain pattered on the roof. "But when the rain stops you'll need to rake the leaves out of the flower beds. The crocus will bloom soon and that will be to late. Plus there is the orchard out back and I'm pretty sure David has plans for you and Tim pruning it this week."

"Aaarrggh" Ian moaned.

"Sorry you came to the Grove?" Ben teased "It is harder work than being on the street."

"Nope," Ian said firmly. "I love it here, and nothing at all is worse than foster care with a mean woman and her smelly dogs. Um, can you play with my butt again?"

Ben pondered the choice of an hour of fun and being tired on the drive. Well, the other drivers would just have to take their chances.

Chapter Twelve

Katy walked by the abandoned building arm and arm with her boyfriend who was looking at her lovingly as they walked to the corner coffee shop.

"I hate blood magic," she whispered into his ear as they waited to cross the street. "It reeks for months."

"True," Ben ushered her across the traffic like a good boyfriend. "It does however confirm we have the right place."

"I hope they at least dumped the body," she sighed and waited while Ben opened the door for her. She didn't like playing the romantic couple bit but at least it was Ben and nobody in their right mind would think she was anything but lucky to have landed a hottie like him. "I've got the details on the building, it's owned by St. Paul's but I doubt they even know it. I've also got the blueprints and floor maps, last fire inspection and the google maps shot."

"Carmel Latte?" Ben asked as they reached the counter.

"Defaf," she replied. "I'm probably going to have to much caffiene this week as it is."

Ben ordered and paid then led the way to an unoccupied corner with a view of the building. This area of the city was officially trendy and the for sale sign on the front corner would last until a developer saw it.

"You sure your friends are going to come this week," she asked keeping the conversation rather vague in a place like this.

"Very sure," Ben replied with a laugh. "They are a lot like roaches, spill a little milk on the floor and they will be back till they lapped it all up. You have enough friends for the party? Remember we want people to leave with a friend not stay feeling horrible."

"Karen, Aaron and Ken," she replied. "I'm not sure you know Ken. He's from a town called Pine Haven and is a rather avid hunter. Considers himself a trophy hunter. He and Aaron are an item but I'm sure they will take home friends if asked."

"No more than one," Ben smiled and laughed. "Is Ken the one who brought your Aunt the book she was looking for?"

"That's the one," Katy nodded. "I understand it's a good read but has some disturbing parts. Aunt Regina didn't tell you about it."

"Hasn't gotten around to it," Ben said stiffly and changed the subject.

***

Peter was wearing ear muffs, ear plugs and had his hands over his ears and he still looked like he was dreading what was coming.

"Again," Book ordered ruthlessly and Ian stepped up to the line he had drawn in the muddy ground. Why Book had insisted on practicing on uneven muddy ground was beyond him. Plus he was not only cold and wet from the rain but he was exhausted and Peter looked no better. The poor guy had the job of replacing the broken bottles and picking up the pieces.

Ian concentrated. It wasn't like he didn't know the word by heart now but he did need to focus. Book was not at all impressed if he simply shattered the bottle. Nope he had to knock it off the branch, then break it on the way down with enough force to send all the pieces into the box. It was, Book had informed him smugly, hard work.

He had already gone through a whole box of twenty four bottles and was working on another.

Bang!

It was as loud as a shotgun and hurt the ears but this time all the pieces went into the box. Book considered if fine punishment for missing if he had to stand and watch Peter pick up the missed stuff.

"Very good," Book finally praised. "That is six in a row and you only have two bottles left. Tell you what, if you manage to do the next two without that horrible racket I'll show you a nice way to dispose of the bottles and a very easy path back home," he paused. "And if you fail, you both carry the boxes of broken glass back over the hills."

"Ian, please get it right," Peter looked at him hopefully but Ian was a bit panicked. He himself didn't much care, he was exhausted already. Peter however didn't deserve this. He was supposed to be being punished not his best friend.

He considered what had made the proper shots. The word had been the easy part. The hard part had been the intentions because he'd had to add it all kinds of things. Like making the pieces fly backwards and… he tried to consider how he'd manage all that and control the sound waves as well. It wasn't easy. The sounds had to travel all the way from him to the bottle and when they did they reverberated all over the place. Book had shown him the patterns and there was no way he could control all those sound waves the whole way and still hit the bottle, not and make all the pieces go in the box.

He suddenly grinned. So why make the sound waves travel the whole way? Sound wasn't like a bullet. What if he started the sound waves inside the bottle way over there rather than sending them from way over here? That would actually be much simpler and he wouldn't have to aim as much. Heck, if he did it that way…

"If I do it both times you have to do something nice for Peter to make up to him," Ian told Book.

"He is a minion and makes a very good whipping boy," Book informed him with a sniff. "In fact I rather like him. He is however being a very good whipping boy and making you feel absolutely miserable seeing him suffer. Therefore I agree, IF you can do it both times I'll certainly make it up to him. If not however he carries the larger box of glass."

"Ian?" Peter looked worried but Ian stepped up to the line. This was going to be either really easy or it was going to be a disaster. He concentrated and did both at once.

Both bottles suddenly fell off the limb, shattered with a tiny ping and all the pieces flew into the cardboard box.

"YES!!!!" Peter shrieked in joy and began a victory dance.

Ian however was now sitting on the ground exhausted. Which stopped Peter's victory dance and had him rushing to his friends side.

"Peter, that candy bar in your pocket and some water please," Book sounded rather taken aback. "Ian, what may I ask was that?"

Ian did his best to explain but it sounded weird to say it. It was much easier to do it.

"I get the basics," Book told him at last. "And I must say you have taught me something new today. Wendal could have done it but it would have been exhausting. I expected you to fail, not to come up with a brand new form of sound magic. Very well done."

"Peter," Book turned his attention to the boy ripping apart candy. "You are a most loyal and good minion. I would have made sure you knew that anyway but I'm going to be very happy paying of on this deal. You have your choice, mundane item, magical item or food. I am a book but I can certainly work through either Ian or the Oaf."

"Um, magic please," Peter looked skeptically happy.

"Very well, it will take some thought and I would like to talk with your book about it but I agree," Book sounded pleased enough. "How, rather than carry that stuff all the way back I believe there is an abandoned gopher den and a few minutes covering it over will do fine."

***

When you were a lower ranked witch every sip of power was something you cherished. For Josep it seemed like a total waste to let all that lingering life force just dissipate. He wasn't the only one to sneak back for a sip of course but as it became shallower and Arcon had been working with more powerful and recent spells this had become a very private reserve.

He parked the rental car in the lot and reached for his keys eagerly. He was on the good list for that scavenging job and Arcon had invited him to clean up after her last kill. Pity there wouldn't be another for two more days and he was looking forward to it. Rumor had it she was sending back to Milan for a Grimoire and if that was true he'd soon be swimming in power and there were some spells he was dying to try. In fact there was the blonde down the hall, now that would be fun.

Witches with guns were dangerous. Witches without guns surrounded by five Readers with Staffs was suicide. Josep turned white as they suddenly walked out of the shadows around him in the exact spot where Arcon had bled out the sacrifice.

"Amah!" He clutched at the rose shaped amulet around his neck while calling his power.

Boom! The butt of all four staffs hit the ground as one sound and the power disappeared.

"I wouldn't do that any more," The man walking towards him offered softly. "We happen to be much better at it than you."

Josep reached for the gun in his waistband only to find a hard staff knocking his hand back and a hand removing it. His eyes went wide. He knew what was coming, what happened to witches caught by another coven. These book readers were supposed to be far worse and he wasn't going to endure that pain. He bit down on the false tooth hard and a moment later fell to the floor.

"Stupid," Katy reached down and shoved a packet of ground powder in his mouth. "You really think I can't antidote a witch powder? Jerk. I hope it hurts."

A minute later he was still alive and had finished puking his guts up.

"Now," The guy tapped his shoulder with his staff. "Lets get to work. If you don't mind my friend here is a visitor and not used to this part. His village normally just kills you. So I'll explain as I go along," he turned to a kid who looked to be all of sixteen. "You see, Ken, the first thing is always the hardest, making sure that they are safely trapped. Katy here was thoroughly prepared for both the gun and the poison. If you're trapping and not hunting it makes sense to have a good botanist along."

"I can see that Ben," The kid's voice still hadn't finished changing and he looking like an inquisitive student in a science lab. "And I really like how you guys step on their power. We just kill them."

"Which is usually a wise policy and you're pretty good at it," Ben agreed. "I certainly learned a thing or two when I visited at your age. But here we tend to get a bit more inquisitive. So we usually trap a few and do some questioning," he turned back to Josep who was now watching him with sick fascination. "Now, despite what you hear on that silly cable news you should never ever torture. Yes it gets you plenty of answers but they tend to lie a lot and sorting the lies from the truth is time consuming. Katy."

"Sure Ben," she stepped forwards and pulled open another package. "It's pretty simple stuff Ken, I'll give you the recipe if you want. Once he swallows it he'll tell us whatever we want to know. It lasts for about an hour. Don't use two doses though because it tends to kill them."

"And when you're done?" Ken asked as if he was taking notes for reference.

"Normally I use a focused bit of fire and turn them to ash, much like a Vamp," Ben offered. "It saves questions as it's rare for the police to actually do forensics on a pile of ash. In this case however we want to send back a message and he needs to be in one piece."

"You're not going to kill me?" Josep almost leaped up at the opportunity.

"I never said that," Ben shook his head sadly. "However I am in a bad mood and I may very well let you live. Lets see what you tell us."

Katy stepped forward as Aaron grabbed the guys head and jerked it back. The powder was rather an ugly white and tasted horrible but would do the work quickly.

***

Father William walked into the sanctuary. It had of course been cleared of the parishioners who had found the body. Father John was speaking with them now and would call the police shortly.

Blasphemy to set it in a pew tied into position so it looked like it was praying.

There was of course not a mark on it. Just bits of powder on the shirt.

He looked down and took the small envelope from the hands. The writing appeared to be very old script and was in Latin. He read it and took a moment to translate.

Alexandria was burned three times: in ad272 (by order of the Roman emperor Lucius Domitius Aurelian), in 391 (under the Roman emperor Theodosius I), and in 640 (by Muslims under the caliph Umar I, 644) There will not be a fourth burning of the Books.

He pocketed the letter, there was no need to involve the police in that. He made his way back to the vestry. After all he had already confirmed the identity of the man. He'd seen him often enough.

"So now they are after us," Father John crumpled the letter and true it into the fireplace.

"I'm sorry Father but that is not the wording," Father William offered from the chair across from him. "It may be a warning and not a threat."

Father John looked at the rapidly burning paper and nodded slowly.

"You may be correct," he sighed. "It is however proof that they connect us with the witches and if that is true I am afraid we are in as much jeopardy as if it was a direct threat," he fingered his crucifix and closed his eyes a moment. "This is not good Father. If things escalate and we become more deeply enmeshed the Brothers of St. Jared will be paying us a visit we do not want."

"Are you going to call the Cardinal?" Father William asked slowly.

"No," Father John said without much conviction but did finally take a deep breath. "The Cardinal is much to fond of his demonic tools. It is bad enough that the Inquisition knows about this but we can not afford to have it known to then whole Curea. They have a tendency to react badly."

He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes in meditation. Ten minutes later he opened them and Father William was still waiting patiently.

"I believe the first action would be to protect as much as we can," Father John nodded more firmly. "We do not want to be caught between witches, vampires and Book Readers in a war and then find ourselves in a doctrinal dispute between the Cardinal and the Brothers of St. Jared. Best that we distance ourselves from this warfare."

Father William nodded in agreement.

"Caleb has his truce with the Book Readers," and wasn't it a good thing they had discovered that a few years ago. "I would like you to ask Caleb to get a message to them. The local Church is awaiting orders from Rome and we have no intention of causing them harm. We seek only peace and mutual accord."

Father William snorted.

"I agree, they will not believe it. But it is the correct form and easier to explain later. We are after all awaiting orders. Whether they come from the Cardinal or the Holy Inquisition's other branches is not germane. Simply assure the Readers that we will not be engaging in hostile actions and request that they cease action against us."

"And our 'guests'" Father William raised an eyebrow.

"Make it clear we have no control over the actions of others," Father John nodded. "In fact you may include my personal denunciation of the sin of shooting that boy," he paused. "That should buy us a few days. In the meantime I'd like to reserve some time in my schedule to make a few phone calls. I believe we need a new patron in Rome. One less likely to run afoul of other arms of the Inquisition."

***

Caleb looked at the Priest. He'd taste horrible. That much hypocrisy had to be bad for the blood. And he reeked of garlic.

"Bless me father for I have sinned," Caleb mocked. "Repeatedly."

"The Church has a message to be delivered to the Book Readers," Father William rarely felt fear but standing in front of the leader of the local vampire clan surrounded by his bodyguards at dusk was not inducing confidence.

"Really," Caleb grinned happily. "I look like the post office?"

"The message is important," Father William considered.

"And stamps are expensive," Caleb offered and his bodyguards laughed.

"What do you want?" Father William asked bluntly.

"I'm a Vampire. What do Vampires want," Caleb mocked and saw the look of shock. "Oh, come on, a few scandals can be put under the rug so easy. A pedophile priest? An altar boy who threatened to tell? Come come Father. A bit of food for the hungry, that is all I ask."

"It will not happen," Father William said hotly.

Caleb hissed and showed his fangs at the tone then visibly shook himself and sat back on his throne.

"Morals from the Priesthood," he shook his head. "Who'd have thought. Oh, well. Fine. Priests taste fat and I like my boys over the age of puberty. I'll send the message. I'm building up quiet a list of favors and this will add to the pile. Now get out," he waved a hand in dismissal and considered the note. "Twana, get me my damned cell."

***

"And you should have seen it, pow! Both at once!" The boys were in Tim's new bedroom and had just helped him move his stuff in. Not that there was much to move. Tim and Lynn had basically been refugees and left with what they could pack in the car.

"Pretty awesome," Tim agreed but was yawning. David had caught him with his book again and he was borderline from being grounded himself.

"He's booked out," Ian grinned and Peter giggled. "I bet you don't know which you want more, to fall asleep or eat a grocery store."

"Both," Tim yawned again then snuck a look out the door quickly. "You ever, um, grab any of the lube he says is in the closet?"

"Sure," Ian shrugged. "Ben and I run out once in a while. You want me to run get you some?"

"Yours is rather nice," Peter nodded critically. "My Foster Nick says I have to use up what we got before he restocks."

"I think I'm going to like it here," Tim grinned then looked worried. "Is it like… expected I have sex with my Foster… David's cool and all but I ain't into old guys."

Peter fell off the bed laughing and Ian was close behind. They finally decided to cut Tim some slack and came up trying to hide their grins.

"I'll let you tell him," Ian nudged his buddy. "You've been here longer."

"Thanks," Peter stifled another giggle and tried to be mature. "No actually Ian is really rare. But there isn't any rule one way or the other. We don't do sex rules. Well, not among the boys. Girls we can't have sex with till they are sixteen. They don't want us getting pregnant," he waved it off like he talked sex every day and ignored Tim's red face. "About half the boys are gay here so I hope you don't mind. Ian is and I think I probably am as well. Most of us are dying of envy that Ian snagged Ben though, he's awesomely hot."

"I'm gay," Tim offered and waited for them to say something.

Ian and Peter exchanged looks like they wondered what he wanted.

"So," Ian ventured at last. "That mean you want to play around? Peter and I have once in a while."

"Five minutes before you get called to dinner," Peter pointed at the clock. "And I gotta go," he leaned over and kissed Tim on the cheek. "If you wanna play with mine I'll be happy. I think you're cute," he added a hug and rushed out the door barely stopping to grab his staff.

"And I think he has a crush," Ian said as he heard the door close.

"Hey, he's like ten," Tim looked embarrassed.

"So?" Ian rolled his eyes. "I'm twelve and Ben has sex with me. Besides Peter just turned eleven. And if I remember right you just turned fourteen last month."

"True," Tim rolled off the bed. "Man am I hungry. Think we can get food early?"

"Yup," Ian joined him on the way down. "And don't be shy, if you like it ask for seconds or thirds. David won't care."

***

David didn't care. In fact he was rather pleased at watching the boys down the food. Once in a while he'd had a boy who'd been so into his book he'd lost so much weight it had been a health risk. Since then he'd watched boys under his roof like a hawk.

"Tim," David turned to the boy after topping off his milk. "I've been having a conversation with your book, and it really is a very good book," he reached for beans to add to Ian's plate. "It agrees with my limitations and reasons, like Ian you are limited to an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. No more and you already heard the punishment," he judged Ian's consumption and added another spoon full then reached for the pork chops. "That is old news but the new news is that it has tentatively talked me into letting you into the Forge. It's a very hands on book and wishes to have you swinging a hammer. Since you were shot just less that two weeks ago I've had some very firm words and limits and it agrees. I expect you to as well. No using your left arm, Agreed?

"Yes, David. I agree," Tim beamed. "It's way better than algebra class."

"We'll see," David gave him a stern look then sighed. "To keep him from running you into the ground I've also asked him to start you on a bit of mineral work. Running around the hills looking for gems is an Dwarf passion and your book thinks it's a good idea. I'm going to be asking Ian and Peter to tag along for a bit."

"OK, David," Ian agreed pleasantly. "But I gotta rake out the flower bed in the morning if it's clear out. I can see the crocus starting to poke out."

"I'll help," Tim started then looked at David's face and winced. "Without using my left hand of course."

"Better," David agreed. "Nancy says it will be healed enough for light therapy in another few days. I'll have David drive you back in to the city to see a specialist and then we'll talk again. Till then you mind that arm."

"Got it," Tim took another bite of pork chop and suddenly found another on the plate.

***

Ben watched Aaron and Ken torch the body. The third this week and it was probably time to call off the hunt for a bit. This one had had a Vamp body guard and had been way to cautious. It was exactly the response he wanted but he didn't want them to start getting sneaky and setting their own ambushes. That could get bad. Besides, his troops needed a break.

"OK," he told them over a round of beer an hour later. "Time to split up and lay low. You know the drill, go back to being nice college students. It's near enough to spring break I'll even OK a trip down to Florida for a week," That earned him some grins. "I want you all back and rested in two weeks though. We should know by then which way the wind is blowing. Aaron, make sure you and Katy get with the team we have working the airport. They're good but I want them to know what to look for. I want a heads up if they bring in more muscle and I wouldn't be upset at all to find out they bugged on us."

"Got that right," It was Karen and she said it with passion as she was still dealing with the round the witch had got off that had just missed her head.

"The bar has my tab so run it if you want," Ben had told them before heading for the door. If he was lucky he could make Darius' and crash there till morning.

***

"Where are the boys?" Ben yawned and accepted the cup of hot tea from Darius.

"I sent them across to spend a few weeks in Court," Darius walked over to a sideboard and picked up a bowl. "Officially I'm ticked at them for botching a simple theft. Unofficially, they were having to much fun and I figured a couple of weeks in Court would settle them down a bit," Darius walked back into the kitchen and filled the bowl with soup and set it in front of his guest. "Eat, it will recharge you. Oh, and take a shower before bed, you stink of Vamp."

Ben sniffed his shirt. Smelled fine to him. But then again Elves had amazingly sensitive noses when it came to Vampires.

"I'm crossing over myself for a few weeks," Darius took up the chair next to him. "I'm afraid now that my exile is officially over my duties at Court are calling. In fact I'm supposed to be leading a delegation to Baffin. You do realize that it's only a matter of time till the Dwarves hear that you have one of their books? They don't take well to human readers."

"I know," Ben sighed. "And I'm still trying to figure out how it got on this side of the gates at all. As far as I know no Dwarf comes over unless he absolutely has to."

"Electricity gives them a headache," Darius shrugged. "They came over more frequently a few hundred years back. Mostly as a shortcut on their way to the war. I imagine that is when the book arrived. You said it belonged to Gavendal? That would make sense, he was one of the hot heads when it came to the war with the Goblins. Damned good smith though and I have a few of his better pieces back at Court. If his book is like he was your boy is in for a very hard bit of training."

"David will keep an eye on it," Ben tasted the soup, which was of course excellent. "You and the boys are welcome to use the gates at Oak Grove if you want to stop on the way back," he offered.

"The boys would like that," Darius nodded and went for a bottle of wine.

Chapter Thirteen

Ian rolled over in bed and groaned.

"Shh, not so loud little one," Mara's voice whispered softly. "Just drift back away and let me in a bit more, almost there…"

"IAN!" Book shouted it so loud that Ian jumped up in bed. "Ian, come get me. Right Now!"

Ian was scared. He suddenly remembered that voice in his mind and what it had been doing and he ran from his room for Book. Less than a minute later he was on the floor of the Den with Book cradled in his arm and crying badly.

David walked in a minute later followed by a bewildered Tim.

"Ian," David went down to the boys level and cradled him but Ian did not look up. He just held his book and rocked back and forth sobbing.

David frowned and turned his attention to the book.

"Well?" He asked.

"Quiet David," The book told him softly. "I'm focused on Ian and if you don't want him in a coma you'll leave me to it. Oh, and if you can get the Oaf up here I think it's an emergency."

"Can you tell me what happened?" David asked.

"That book of Mara's got into his head and flushed a good deal of her more horrible memories into him," Book told him shortly. "Ian and I are going to have to deal with her for that. Right now though I'm trying to comfort a boy who just saw a witches entire lifetime of sacrifices and dark rights in a single nightmare," he paused. "Oh, and I need someone good with herbs. Wendal sucked and he needs something powerful."

"Tim," David glanced over his shoulder. "Go wake your Aunt Regina tell her it's an emergency."

Tim went flying out the door without bothering with coat or even shoes.

David stood up and got the cell out of its place in the drawer.

"Yeah?" Ben sounded like he'd just rolled over in bed. Ten seconds later he sounded wide awake and was on his way.

David sat back on the floor with the boy and tried to hug him. Ian however pulled away as if frightened and looked at David with horror. OK, best to wait for Regina.

Regina arrived in her bath robe looking tense.

"David," she said in greeting as she knelt down next to Ian and focused. David let her examine him while relaying what had happened.

"Book" Regina tried a minute later.

"Shh. I don't have any focus to spare right now," Book said firmly. "The boy needs something to dull his senses. Dargon is you have it. Talk to me again when you have it."

Regina pursed her lips and nodded. It would be some tricky brewing but she had a plant in the greenhouse. She stood up.

"Tim, put on some boots and a coat and come with me. I need you to carry some cuttings from the greenhouse," she stood up as Tim ran for the foyer. "David, call Ben again. Tell him that whatever speed he is driving at is too slow."

Tim did not like Dargon and the feeling was mutual. The plant snapped at him and it stung like nettle. Still he held on to its stem with a death grip as Regina snipped leaves.

"It dislikes Dwarves," Regina explained. "Though it would have given me a nasty nip for taking this many leaves. Still, it takes a lot of juice to make a pot of Dargon tea."

"This will make Ian better?" Tim let go of the plant and stepped back as it lashed at him.

"No, but it will help," Regina said firmly and started for the door. The boy was worried sick about his friend and it was probably best to explain. "Ian was just attacked by a very horrid book. A witches book that somehow found a way to get into his mind while he was sleeping. We're going to have to find out how that happened as the wards should have made it impossible. Right now however what we have to do is get the memories and thoughts she put into Ian's head out," she lead the way out the door and back towards David's house. "Witches do horrible things to get their power Tim. Killing people in very sick ways and engaging in the worst kind of summonings. Ian was forced to see that, and if I understand his book correctly he is still being forced to relive it."

Tim scrunched up his face. "That's sick," he said bitterly.

Regina looked over her shoulder in agreement and saw the boy itching.

"When we get back you run up and grab a shower, plenty of soap," she told him but never slowed down. "Dargon weed leaved a rather nasty rash if you don't wash it off promptly."

A minute later she was in David's kitchen filling a pot with water and turning the stove on high. David was still on the floor, now with his own book in his hands and watching Ian closely. Ten minutes later she joined him with a steaming cup of amber liquid in her hands.

"Ian, honey, drink," she raised the cup to his lips but he just whimpered.

"IAN!" Book said more forcefully. "Drink the damned cup now!"

Ian gave a rigid start and then blinked and sipped. A moment later he sipped again and his eyes started to take in what was around him.

"Please. Make it stop," The boy begged. "I don't want to see it any more. Please."

"Drink dear," Regina held up the cup. "The tea will make it easier."

"Book," Ian pleaded. "Make it stop. Please make it stop."

"Hang in there," Book replied firmly. "I've got you and it won't get any worse, I promise. But, unfortunately you've got to make it stop yourself. I can show you how but it's going to take power and you're going to need Ben's help."

"Ben!" Ian looked desperate. "They are going to hurt Ben!" He started to struggled and both Regina and David held him back and forced him to down another swallow of tea.

"I can't…," Ian sounded drugged.

"I hate doing this," Book sounded disgusted. "A book is supposed to make their reader think and here I am making him so stupid he can barely think his name. Where is that Oaf!"

***

Ben came in two hours later. Doing a hundred on rain covered roads had pissed off a State Trooper and the ticket he had in his pocket was going to do bad things to his license, IF they let him keep it. He came into the room at a run and was down holding his boy instantly.

"Ian," he didn't bother with words but opened his mind then winced as he saw what Ian was seeing, the blood sacrifice of a screaming baby boy. "Ian," he tried again while feeling nauseous at the scene playing out in front of him. "Ian, it's a bad movie. A very bad movie, pay attention to me. It isn't real."

"It was real," Ian sobbed in his mind. "Ben they really did that and I got to keep watching."

"No, Ian, we need to put that memory away," Ben told him gently. "We need to find all the bad memories she put in your head and put them away."

"You can't put that away," Ian shuddered as the knife flashed again.

"You and I can," Ben offered. "We're going to put it away, just like you put away the pain from your parents death and your grandmothers. You don't forget, that poor baby doesn't deserve to be forgotten. But you put the pain away so you don't have to feel it so strongly."

"Ian," Book took over. "I can show you how to do it. It's a simple word and you're my best reader. You'll understand it fast. But it's going to take a lot of power and you're going to have to lean heavily on Ben. Don't try to do it alone. You'll hurt yourself," he paused. "And you're going to have to do it for a long time. Mara put a lot of bad thoughts in your head and once we put this one away another will try to come out. You can't let it. You have to get them all."

"She'll just put them back," Ian screamed as the blood spurted over them. "When I sleep, she whispers so soft I can barely hear it."

"No one but you could," Book told him. "the only reason I caught on was your breathing changed. Now we need to talk, you and I, I need to give you that word and explain it. Focus on me. Let Ben deal with watching the bad stuff. You pay attention to me. It's a simple word. Very old Elvish."

A moment later Ian nodded like it was rather obvious.

"Good boy," Book praised. "But take your time with it. Latch on to Ben and feed it all the power you can and don't let go until Ben and I tell you to. OK."

"OK," Ian grimaced as the baby was divided in two still screaming.

Ben felt Ian connect and was suddenly grateful for that Elvish soup. The boy was sucking up power like a sponge. A few moments later he released it and the vision vanished with a mental pop only to be replaced with another, this time a struggling old woman being dragged to an altar. Pop, it went as well and another took its place.

***

"Are they OK?" Tim asked as sweat broke out on Ben's forehead and Ian started to moan.

"I think so," Regina offered and looked over at David who nodded firmly.

"Tim," David stated. "Run in and grab as much food as you can from last night. They are going to be ravenous after this. And bring the bottle on the top shelf of the left cupboard."

Tim ran off.

"With anyone else he'd be in a coma," David whispered once Tim was out of sight. "This was supposed to be a killing attack Regina. We need to deal with that."

"Agreed," Regina said coldly. "He opened himself up to it when he went searching for books but that Grimoire is not doing this for fun. Someone is controlling it and that is witchcraft of a very powerful nature."

"We'll need some help," David said grimly. "At least four of us."

Regina nodded and turned back to watch as Ian stiffened again.

The attack had happened at three in the morning. Ian and Ben and Book had started to counter it at five thirty. It was almost eight when Ian finally slumped down into Ben's arms and a full minute later that Ben opened his eyes.

"Done," he said it like he had run a marathon then looked over at Tim. "Tim, run over and get Peter please. Ian needs to be with his friends when he wakes up."

"I thought he would be out for a day," Regina offered.

"No," Ben said wearily as Tim took off. "Book and I agree that he needs a nap but he's just about bone dry in energy and needs food. Me to for that matter," he reached over for the mug of hot chocolate David offered him and the plate of pork chops. Horrible combination but right now he'd eat anything that claimed to be food.

***

For once David was having a hard time keeping up. Three boys plus Ben and they were going through sausage and pancakes as fast as he could cook and they showed no signs of slowing down.

"You wait till I talk to my book!" Peter said indignantly as he poured maple syrup over an impressive plate of pancakes that looked more fit for a giant than a skinny eleven year old. "It knows a whole lot of spells against witches and I bet is has one for that rotten bunch of moldy garbage."

"I beat you to it," Tim chimed in. "I had a couple of minutes with mine and it told me about a casket I can make that will shut it up for good. And it said I should bury it under a bunch of salt in a deep cave and pee on it."

"Pee on it?" Ian giggled.

"Supposed to seal it better," Tim shrugged. "But my book seemed awfully offended and it might just be it was being rude."

"Lets do both," Peter said eagerly and finally stopped with the syrup. "I know where there is a Bogar Tree growing and I bet it would give me enough to line your casket. Nasty stuff Bogar wood and I'll get Book to help me spell it."

"Guys," Ben looked up from the almost empty sausage plate in his hands. "I think this is best left to the Fosters don't you? Mara's book is both very old and very powerful. Much more powerful than a witch."

"No way, Ben," Peter looked scandalized. "It attacked Ian. That means we have to deal with it. He Gift Deeded us both you know and according to the rules anything that attacks Ian is ours to deal with!"

"Then mom needs to do a bit to," Tim added firmly. "He saved her life and her book. And though she won't say so her book is wickedly good with herbs," he laughed. "I always thought she was a good cook till she finally let on that her book gives her the seasonings."

"And Ben can help because he and Ian are in love," Peter added then grinned as Ian turned beet red and Ben dropped the sausage plate. "What?"

"I'm afraid Regina and I will be taking care of that book this afternoon," David replenished he pancake tray and took the empty sausage one. "It happens to be a matter of Grove security."

"It happens to be a matter of honor," Ian's book stated firmly from the other room and there were a chorus of answering murmurs of agreement from the other books in the house. "In fact I think your own book would like a word with you about that David. Regina is already having one with hers."

***

Ian decided that if there was one thing he never wanted to have to figure out it was who was the most stubborn, books or Fosters. It seemed like this was some kind of big deal and a lot of Fosters kept coming and going for the rest of the morning.

He himself was exhausted and after cramming in as much food as he could he let Ben take him back up to bed. Not that he wanted to go to sleep after what happened last time but Ben had assured him that there was no danger and had let him sleep with Book in his arms.

"Well?" He asked as Ben woke him up with a nice hug. "What happened? Is everyone still arguing with their books?"

"Nope," Ben kissed his forehead and handed him his pants. "That stopped a couple of hours ago. And I must say you raised more fuss than the Grove has seen since the last Vampire war. It seems that not one book in the Grove would side with the Fosters on this and not one Foster thought it was safe. They finally had a Council meeting of the Senior Fosters and their books and ironed out a compromise."

"Compromise?" Ian wedged himself into his jeans and took his sweatshirt.

"Security comes first and the Fosters will be going down to deal with that book as planned," Ben told him. In fact, David is on his way now. "When you and your friends are ready though you will be allowed your revenge. Which by the way is growing fast. Just about everyone in the Grove heard about what happened and a lot of people want to help."

"Um, I don't want a lot of attention," Ian offered with a blush.

"I know," Ben helped him up. "Unfortunately you tend to do things in big ways so it's kind of unavoidable. Come on, you need to move around a bit and I promised Doug we'd check in on Tim at the Forge."

***

David stood back as Regina unlocked the gate and then the door leading down to the Vault. This was only the third time in twenty years that it had been opened and it tended to creak. Behind him were Carl and Rebecca both of whom were the next oldest to him in the Grove. Rebecca looked a bit wobbly on her feet and he wondered briefly if perhaps she should retire.

"When I'm ready to be buried David," she seemed to read his mind and her voice was strong and light. "The body may be going but my mind and spirit are just fine."

"You'll outlast us all," Carl assured her and leaned on his staff a bit more. Arthritis was not good with the damp. In fact he had retired from active Fostering ten years ago because of it.

Regina finished the locks and raised her own staff. A moment later the wards wavered and let them in.

The Vault had not been in the design of the Grove, it had been added much later and been considered rather controversial even then. A place to store rogue books and artifacts that were to valuable to destroy and too dangerous to leave out in the open. All had been heavily warded and encased in protective boxes and all to many of them were Grimoires.

Capturing a witch book was rare but it did happen. Only the most powerful of witches had them and the only way to end that power was to destroy the book. Which was the problem, no Reader would ever stoop so low as to burn a book no matter how bad. The solution for Oak Grove was the Vault.

David felt his staff warm in his hand as he made his way down the stairs. Evil tended to seep out and into the room and he disliked coming here as did the others.

Regina stopped to light a well worn kerosene lantern and opened the final door. Not that the Vault was fancy. It was not even dank and moldy like it felt. It was simply a stone walled room with two rows of shelves each containing a few dozen silver caskets. The only other piece of furniture was a basic wooden table and a single chair which Carl sank into with a groan of relief.

Nothing in the room was cataloged other than a simple hand written card on each box but Regina knew exactly what she was after. She was after all in charge of Grove security and the Vault was one of her responsibilities. She went to the shelf in the furthest back and brought out a single box from the top shelf. Placing it on the table she then opened it and brought out a rather large brown leather book.

David looked at it and grimaced. That was not leather and its pages were not paper.

Regina nodded and all four of them promptly rapped the butt of their staffs on the floor.

"Ouch!" The book replied and cackled. "Finally come to burn poor old Mara's book have you?"

"I have never been more tempted," Regina replied stiffly. "But we do not burn books."

"Pity," The Grimoire laughed. "Guess I'll spend another few hundred years on the shelf. Rotten way spend time, reliving old slaughters. I particularly liked the one that Mara did with that brat from Cornwall. Wonderful knife work. Did Ian like it?" the book almost purred in satisfaction.

"No, he did not," Regina replied firmly. "And I rather doubt you will like what he does about it. There are worse things you can do to a book than burn it."

"Threats," The book snickered. "If you want threats I can do them to. Prophecies be damned. They'll burn your boy before it happens."

"Prophecies?" Regina asked and the book was suddenly silent.

Regina reached into her bag and pulled out a small bag of powder which she broke and poured over the book.

"Sage, garlic and salt," the book laughed nastily. "Doesn't hurt a bit. Am I supposed to be impressed?"

"No."Regina stated as David pulled out a can of salt and made a circle on the table around the book. "We're just making sure whoever is casting the spells to work with you is cut off. If you want to know what we're doing with you I'd be happy to tell you. Carl here is going to be warding the room so no one else interferes. My deal friend Rebecca is going to deal with any attempts you make while David and I read you. And yes, we can certainly read anything we want without your permission or even really knowing we're doing it," she smiled but it had no joy. "And when we are done we are going to put Ptolemy's seal on you."

"Ha!" The book snorted but it also sounded more worried. "No one has seen a Ptolemy Seal since the last burning of that damned Library."

"Well than you will be in for a rude surprise as it turns you deaf and takes away your ability to speak," Regina told it. "But don't worry, I imagine that will be only for a week or two. You happen to have offended a great many people with that attack and they insist on revenge. Right now you're slated to end up in a Dwarf box lined with Elf wood, covered in salt at the bottom of a very deep cave. Oh, and if there is a ward that won't be put on you I doubt that it's available locally."

The grimoire had nothing to say to that and Regina nodded to the others to begin.

***

"Damn them!" Felicia spat and kicked her lead summoner to the side. This was intolerable.

The lock they had gotten on the Readers' refuge had not been perfect but it had been enough to give them a chance and it had been pure luck to have stumbled upon a grimoire as powerful as Mara's. Felicia had very much looked forward to obtaining that book for herself once this was over with and it would have been her ticket into the Inner Circle.

It had been the books idea to go after the boy's mind and she'd been thrilled at the results. In fact there was a very good chance they had succeeded and what good was a prophecy if the main catalyst was driven insane? That would have saved so many problems.

And it would certainly have been just revenge for the people she had lost. Five of them! Not including the damned vampire. Yes, it was worth it. There was another grimoire on its way from Milan and with it she would break whatever locks they were putting on Mara's book. Not one of the specials of course, just a general book on loan till this was over.

"You can stop," she took a deep breath and told her summoners. "Get some sleep, we're behind schedule on the the main project and we'll get back to work on it in the morning."

"You failed," De'Conte whispered from the shadows.

"I don't know that," Felicia said pleasantly. "Mara's book got into his mind and we know for a fact that it hurt, whether or not it shattered remains to be seen. It would take more magic than we have here to correct damage like that to a boy's mind."

"I see," De'Conte offered sweetly. "Shall I inform the Cardinal?"

"Inform who you want," Felicia stood up and stretched. "Just be sure you put in that we saw a chance and took it and we are not claiming victory till we have proof."

"Wise," The vampire stated and Felicia wondered what was going on that it had been so nice and polite for the past few days. Nothing good that was for sure. She made a note in her mind to do a bit of tracking, perhaps they would be stupid enough to try something direct.

She shrugged. It was never a good idea to work to closely with anyone you didn't trust and it wasn't like she didn't have a backup plan or two herself. For example Antonio was doing a very good job recruiting street thugs to take a little hike up in those mountains. If she was lucky they would find the exact location, perhaps even shoot a few before they were wiped out.

Chapter Fourteen

Ben didn't mind a bit of manual labor, and he had to admit that the boys had done a rather thorough job removing the larger items. That did not mean he liked the idea of moving the anvil though.

"A little more Ben," Tim encouraged "I should be able to turn from the fire right to the anvil and where it is right now would make me twist to much."

Ben took a deep breath and put his back back to work.

"You're sure about this fire?" Peter looked worried. "The woodworkers are getting pretty upset you know."

Tim shrugged.

"Hey, I need a place to work too you know," he complained grumpily.

"They are talking about locking you out," Peter looked nervous. "We can do that you know, lock out people from the workshops if they don't follow safety rules, make a mess or ruin someone else's work. And fire it the worst!"

"Ben?" Tim looked worried. "I need a place to work."

Ben finished moving the anvil and used it as a place to sit. They had done an admirable job of cleaning it and the pants would need washing anyway.

"Sorry Tim," Ben offered. "it is a very old rule. The woodworkers have the power to deny anyone use of the mill. It takes a two thirds vote to make it permanent but if you've ticked them off enough to get a short ban it's usually permanent," he saw the look on Ian's face and raised a hand. "Now hold off the indignation," he chuckled. "You haven't even started work yet and you haven't met most of the woodworkers. It's not like they come here all that often themselves. Most of the work they do alone with their books right Peter?"

"Yup," Peter agreed readily. "We mostly use the mill to practice, store wood we're not using and hang out. Most of our stuff we make in our rooms where we can be with our books without being pestered."

"Exactly," Ben smiled. "And not one of the woodworkers in the Grove right now has ever seen a Dwarf forge. All they can think of is piles of burning coal, huge bellows and blowing sparks," Ben turned to Peter again. "Peter how about you go get a few of your woodworking buddies. I think it's time we had a little party to celebrate the new Forge and make sure you tell them that I'm personally spending the rest of the day here hosting it. Including busting open a cask of David's cider ale."

"Cider ale?" Peter's eyes went as wide as his grin. "A whole cask?"

"Yup," Ben grinned back. "But make sure they know it's a Forge opening party and Tim will be giving everyone a tour. He'll also be demonstrating all the precautions he's taking to make sure there is no out of control fire. In fact Ian will be bringing his book and doing translations for those who don't speak Dwarvish."

"Ben!" Ian looked panicked. "That much Dwarvish will make my head hurt!"

"Then I suggest you beg a lot of cookies from David for the party," Ben chuckled. "Cookies tend to decrease headaches in most boys."

An hour later the party was set and the first delegation of wook workers showed up. Three older ones, Scott, Davey and Don and they looked both a bit uncomfortable and determined. Ben knew all three and also that the sixteen year olds were the current seniors among their craft still resident at the Grove.

"Hey, Ben," Scott was in the lead and walked up to Tim and offered a hand. "Hey, I'm Scott."

"Tim," Tim shook the hand politely but also looked nervous. "Welcome to the party."

"Uh, thanks," Scott looked over at his buddies then took a deep breath. "I hate to be rude, Tim. From what we hear you're a pretty good guy and we have nothing against you. But us woodworkers already voted and we aren't letting you start up a fire in the mill. Not unless you can prove it won't get out of control," he paused. "And to be fair we want real proof not just promises and a fire extinguisher."

Tim glanced at Ben who nodded encouragement.

"OK," Tim offered. "I'll go over what I know so far, I only just got my book and some of it is pretty shaky. Would you trust it if Ian did the translating? Ben agreed to verify anything that sounds to weird."

"Of course we trust a bookbinder," Scott nodded and Ian blushed. "And no one is stupid enough to doubt Ben's word," he looked over at his buddies who nodded rather firmly that this was fair.

Tim walked over to the forge and began his explanations starting with all the wards and shields his book was going to insist he have on the whole area. Next he covered the mundane stuff like fire extinguishers and rules for having flammable things even enter the door.

"That covers the hot metal really good," Scott admitted and both Don and Davey nodded in agreement.

"I really liked that last ward," Davey admitted. "No way it would break and cause a fire."

"But what about the forge itself?" Scott asked hesitantly. "You haven't said a word on that fire and it's going to be really big to get as hot as you need for metal work and smelting."

"Nope," Tim looked happy. "I'm not using regular fire so it won't ever spark and I don't need a bunch of coal. I'm going to be using nothing but Dwarf Fire."

"What's that?" Don asked. It was obvious the three boys had never heard of it.

"I got that!" Ian beamed. "You guys know how to torch vamps right?"

"Sure," Scott admitted. "I kind of suck at it but I can defend myself if I have to. My book basically beat the word into me,"

"Very hard Elvish," Ian agreed. "But it's one we all have to use. Dwarvish is even harder and they have three fire words not just the one that the Elves have. One they use for every day stuff, making a fire, torching a vamp, stuff like that. The other two are strictly for the forge. One is a smelting word and burns out the impurities, the other is a melting word and melts the ore or heats the metal. They are really really tough and if you get it wrong all you get is cold air. It's really a very focused word and that's why you need a forge. It's where you focus the intentions. It doesn't need a spark or a flame, it just makes it very very hot."

"Ben?" Scott looked skeptical. "You ever seen this Dwarf flame stuff?"

"Yes," Ben admitted. "When I was in Baffin. Which I suspect both of you will be visiting next year, true?"

"Yeah," the boys agreed. "We're going together on our first Gate trip."

"And you will be shocked at how many forges there are in Baffin," Ben laughed. "I think every family has at least one," he turned to Tim. "You think you can make a fire yet?"

"No way Ben," Tim said quickly and made sure to look at Scott. "I'm not ready and I won't make a fire till I'm sure. My book won't let me either."

"Um, can we have your book's word on that?" Scott asked. "I hate to be rude but the guys are really upset. Ian can you ask his book?"

"OK," Ian turned towards the wall and opened up his mind to the Dwarf book which promptly started rattling off indignantly.

"You're speaking to fast, I can't translate all that," Ian complained but got another rude string of comments he couldn't translate.

"I'll help," Book stated with a sigh. "It is after all a good deed. But don't get any ideas about using short cuts like this. I'm only doing it because I like the boy."

Ian felt a mental click and could suddenly understand Dwarvish. In fact as Tim's book spoke he had plenty of time to translate.

"Who do you think you are to question my ability to teach a boy how to make a fire? Damned Elvish idiots. Of course I'm not going to let him burn down the building, though this rat trap is hardly a decent building. A good forge should be in a cave where it belongs. Now stop acting like a bunch of goblin sired trolls. The way you're acting you'd think the entire Realm of Baffin would go up in smoke from carelessness. How would you like it if I started in on your woodworking like that, you degenerate overgrown bunch of no good filthy rotten little…"

"I think that is enough Ian," Ben put a hand on his shoulder and Book stopped the translations. The three older boys were grinning. "Dwarf books tend to get a bit filthy once they start swearing," he turned to the older boys. "They are however incredibly truthful. The book said he wouldn't let Tim burn the place down and that's as good as gold in the bank to a Dwarf."

Scott turned to the other two and saw them slowly nod their heads then turned back to Tim.

"We're convinced Tim," he offered slowly. "But we would still ask that the first few times you start a Dwarf fire you invite one or two of us to watch. We want to make sure."

"No problem," Tim agreed. "In fact the forge will be open to any woodworker who wants to watch. And until you guys say so I won't even start a forge fire without a woodworker present."

"Then I think the guys will agree," Scott offered a hand. "Don, Davey, you spread the word that the parties on. I'll help open that cask of Cider Ale, you know, make sure it's good."

At which point the party went into high gear and more and more boys started to pour into the forge. All of them wanted to hear the safety precautions and Tim had scored a lot of points by promising that a woodworker would be present. In fact the talk quickly went around to speculation about getting Tim to make them Dwarvish hinges and handles for their projects.

"Hey Ben," Scott had taken a rare opportunity to catch him alone. "Got a minute?"

"Sure," Ben sat back on the bench and Scott hopped up next to him. "This far away from the Cider Ale we'll have some privacy. Whats on your mind?"

"Some advice," Scott said seriously. "I'm a woodworker of course but my book was written by a man named Donagal Stonehand. It's got a lot of fighting stuff in it and I was wondering if it was to late to sign up for Security?"

"No," Ben smiled. "It's never to late," he laughed "Some of us, like me, have fighting books and it's pretty obvious right from the start. Security though is not a one book specialty. We have everything from music to cooking books and you would hardly be the only woodworker. Have you talked to Regina?"

"Uh, not yet," Scott admitted. "I did my placement interview with her of course but at that time I really wasn't sure and she recommended I get a college education then take up cabinet making in the real world."

"I see," Ben frowned. "Well, I suggest you go knock on her door and have another conversation. I happen to know that Regina rarely says no to a young reader looking to explore options and if you really think you want Security she'll find a way to give you your chance."

"Cool," Scott beamed. "Oh, and you should know that my book found out about that deal with Mara's book and has me learning a really hard bit of warding. Mara killed Donagal and it's demanding a piece in the revenge. It has me running all over the mountains looking for Adder wood."

"I'll make sure Ian puts you on the list," Ben laughed. "And you better get back to that cask before they drink it all on you."

***

Katy rolled over on the sand to where Karen sat under an umbrella reading a novel of all things the mundane way. She herself preferred to leave them closed and just listen to the story through her own book.

"Where are the love birds?" She asked happily.

"Ken took Aaron to explore the dunes," Karen sighed. "Shorthand for wanting to find a place for a quickie. Just goes to prove that all the hot ones are gay you know."

"True," Katy laughed. "Though I noticed you managed to snag a cute one last night."

"And you didn't," Karen laughed back. "And yes, he was adorable. Colorado State and an agriculture major, I even have his phone number. He's not half bad at botany and is on my new short list for boyfriend material."

"I smell a transfer," Katy giggled. "Not to far from Aspen Winds either. Nice refuge, I've visited a few times."

"Really?" Karen leaned forward. "Is it true they wiped out the vamps in Denver back in the forties?"

"Yup," Katy whispered. "Nasty war and it almost broke the Aspen Winds refuge. They only had seven Fosters left when it was over and barely three dozen members, most of them kids. It was pretty touch and go and there was rumor they'd come settle at the Grove. They hung in there though and it's almost half the size of the Grove again. And there are still no vamps in Denver."

Karen pointed at the two boys running flat out towards them happily.

"Think we should remind them we only have three more days left?" Karen asked.

"Nope," Katy replied firmly. "Though I will call to make sure we can't get an extra week."

***

"Oh, I think you can have the week," Regina smiled into the cell phone. And wasn't it nice to have that conference feature so she didn't have to put the horrible thing near her ear. "And yes, you may still expense it to us. You did a very nice job with Ben and the entire Grove is grateful. You have fun, personally I recommend you spend the week a little further south. You have a storm front coming in. Bye."

"So much for the budget," David offered and handed her a cup of warm tea to go with the cookies. They were still both rather worn out from dealing with that grimoire.

"A much needed break," Regina countered "And if what we learned is even half the truth our young warriors are going to be getting a workout soon enough," she sighed. "And we both know that there will be casualties. Many on our side. Who am I to deny them a few days fun?"

"True," David agreed sadly. "And it isn't like we can't afford it. Portfolio was ridiculously large last I looked."

Regina rolled her eyes. The Grove, like most refuges, had been in existence a long time. What many referred to as the "endowment" ran into staggering amounts as most people tended to leave at least a little bit to the Grove in their wills. It was more than enough to cover college and start up expenses for every child, fund the basic needs of the Grove and still grow at a healthy pace. And while no Foster tapped that fund often they were not shy when they felt it was called for.

"You would of course remind me of that," she said bitterly. "I sit on the finance committee this year and we've got to deal with the damned insurance again. Which also reminds me to get Ben to take Tim to see those specialists. You know a great many things would be simpler if all we were worried about was a prophecy and a bunch of ticked off witches."

"It was a bit much to assume they didn't know," David shrugged. "I'm rather upset that we lost Maxwell when we did. He was our best at things like this. Prophecies tend to be to much like riddles for me."

"At least the witches version leaves some things out," Regina stated and picked up the paper on which they had written the version Mara's book had.

Wendal's book by Wendal's heir
The Elf and Dwarf the brothers three.
The loving warrior makes it four
Beware his wrath is deaths door
If raise them wood and well forged iron
and in the power of words bind them
then coven binds will break and rend
and Church and Kings will come to bend.

"That's not quiet how our version goes," Regina frowned.

"No but it is not far off," David refilled her mug and his own. "And at least they only got the first stanza. And that fairly well mangled," he gave her a firm look "And I am still not at all pleased with failing to tell Ben this. He is the boys Foster you know."

"Ben has not been confirmed as a Foster," Regina said firmly. "Yes, he is doing a fine job. But there is more to being a Foster than raising a boy. And he is barely thirty himself. Do you really think he's ready for Ptolemy or the rest of it?"

"I believe he is ready for whatever he needs to be ready for," David replied indignantly. "On this we disagree Regina. Ben is a fine Foster, better than I was at that age and you know for a fact that he will die for that boy or the Grove. And what else are we other that that?"

"Keepers of a heritage," Regina replied then sighed. "And yes, I agree with what you have said. I am not yet ready to give my vote on it but I believe you'll get me to come around sooner rather than later. Now pass the cream please. We need to talk about better warding for the other grimoires and the implications of them having contacted Mara's."

***

"Why that's just ridiculous!" Ian's Book fumed at him.

"Why?" Ian sounded rather amused. "If it works in Elvish and it works in Dwarvish why can't it work in other languages."

"Because it can't," Book said in exasperation then took a deep sigh. "How would it look if people ran around accidentally setting things on fire? People have intent all the time, if all they needed was the word it would be disaster. Magic is WORK Ian, it's just not so simple as you think it is."

"I'm not saying it's not work Book," Ian was propped up on the bed with Book in his lap. "You can't screw up with it because you have to get the word and the intention and a whole bunch of other stuff perfect to do anything. But it's not the word, heck, I had to make a word up from scratch to heal Lynn's book. And I couldn't use the same one to repair Tim's either. I had to work them from scratch and that is certainly hard work."

"Glad you agree," Book sniffed.

"But it was easier with Tim's than with Lynn's," Ian persisted. "I was faster at it and it took a lot less energy and I know I had to come up with words I didn't even know."

"True," Book paused. "But you can't use English for magic."

"Maybe yes, maybe no," Ian went on. "I think the problem is that I already know what English words mean and none of them mean magic stuff. Fire just describes fire, it doesn't create fire so I can never actually create a fire by saying fire. That would be like stupid."

"I believe you get an award for that convoluted analysis. It actually makes sense," Book said sarcastically. "And you are correct. So why are you arguing with me? You are going to use Elvish and Dwarvish like every other good Reader before you. And you're going to have to work hard."

"Maybe," Ian shrugged. "I still think you're making it harder than it actually is. Wendal was not very good at some of the things that are easy for me. Some of the other stuff he did easily just makes my head hurt. Why should it be hard if I think it's easy? You make it harder on me when you tell me it's hard work."

Book was silent for a moment.

"Reviewing what you've done so far, I concede the point," Book agreed softly. "You are certainly better at some things than Wendal, and not that much worse at others. And I do see that telling you something is hard is not always helpful. On the other hand that novel bit of sound work you did came from being pressured and I believe we are both happy with the results?"

"Yeah," Ian beamed. "And I really want to talk to a music book. And not one of the snooty ones."

"I happen to agree with that," Book sounded rather emphatic. "Why it is that music books all seem to be stuck up pieces of arrogant ramblings I have no idea. Which reminds me, where is Oaf? He hasn't played with your butt in a couple of days and I want to talk to him about getting us to the Archive."

Ian blushed and tried to get Book back down to the shelf before he got more graphic.

***

Ben made him wait three days. In his opinion Ian had had way to many adventures back to back and a couple of days of play and relaxation were called for. In fact Ian and his book were told that if they wanted in to the Archive they were taking two days off. Book used it to tell stories about Wendal and his very few other readers. Ian used it to hang out with Peter and Tim and finish raking the yard. The rain had finally broken and though it was still cold the bulbs were well on their way up.

"OK," Ben handed the boy a towel as they got out of the shower. Tim was in the bathroom as well and just shot them a toothbrush full grin. Tim had adjusted quickly to the boys are boys and don't bother knocking rules of the bathroom. In fact he had found out to his shock that three fit in the shower just fine and horseplay was a great way to get clean. "Tim, I need you to clean up and pack a bag after breakfast. Regina has an appointment for you in the city to see a specialist and Ian and I will be taking you this afternoon right after our visit to the Archive."

"Can we stop and see your friend Darius?" Ian asked eagerly while being careful not to mention the twins.

"Sorry, it's not in that direction," Ben reached for another towel and started drying hair. "Which reminds me, a pair of hair cuts is due. I don't mind a pony tail if that's what you want but you're both looking scruffy."

"I really don't need a specialist," Tim showed the scar on his arm and moved his arm around easily. "My book has me doing some exercises and working it with a two pound hammer and Nancy says she's done with the herbs. It will be fine."

"Which David and I will agree with once we see the specialist's report," Ben said firmly. "Magic does get it wrong once in a while and we're not going to ignore the long term implications of you getting shot like that just because it feels good today. You'll find Foster's won't give on health issues even a tiny bit so you can just shut up and pack. Unless of course you want to argue about it the whole day? Waste of time but you can if you want."

"I'll go quietly," Tim rolled his eyes. "Won't he give us a hard time though? I mean Mom usually has to sign all kinds of wavers and stuff."

"No," Ben laughed. "Dr. Charleston happens to be the son of a man who grew up in Pine Haven. We won't have any problems."

***

An hour later, properly stuffed on breakfast, Ian held his Book and grinned as Ben unlocked the door to the house that acted as the Archive. Inside he could hear the murmur of dozens of books.

"I know that one," Ian stated happily as he walked into the room and saw the large book still sitting on the table. "Thieves and Cutpurses, it was in Mr. Nash's shop," he promptly put his own book down next to it and began walking up and down the stakes eagerly.

"Well, that was unexpected," Book told Ben as the boy stopped to look at a thin manuscript that was already trying to tell him about water flow. "I expected him to be at least a tad put off by so many idiot books trying to babble at him all at once."

"He does surprise," Ben admitted. "I myself had nightmares the first time."

"Then you were perfectly normal," Book informed him. "These aren't exactly the easiest books to read you know. Way to specific and literal and they tend to get all gooey when someone actually cares enough to listen to them."

Ian thanked the book on water flow and it basically cooed back an invitation to read at any time. Ian was then off to speak with a slim volume on tree identification. Ben decided that the boy didn't need much supervision after all and went to pick up a worn book on old trout fly patterns he remembered being fond of at that age. It was a rather fun book and still remembered him.

"Ian put that bastard back on the shelf!" Ben's head snapped up as Book swore indignantly.

"Why?" Ian sounded amused. "It's full of stuff on Wendal and just came all the way from Pine Haven."

"It is an opinionated arse and was written by a fool," Book sounded scandalized. "Wendal was not mad and he was certainly not some kind of crusading lunatic out to take down the Church of Rome. Put him down or I won't talk to you for a month!"

Ian put the book back on the shelf reluctantly. Something in Book's tone told him that he'd been more hurt than he was sharing.

Ben nodded and made a mental note to come back and read it later. He then went back to fly tying patterns and Ian went looking at a book on marble sculpture.

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