Knowledge bound

[Mon-da-oth]

“Allow me to take a drink, my friend, before I begin my tale.” I asked while reaching for the tea that was sitting to cool a bit on the inn’s table in front of me.

The scalding edge of the tea had left, leaving a pleasant heat that warmed my throat with the light taste of cream and honey dancing on my tongue. The story I was about to relay to the stranger across from me, although short, was enough to boggle the mind and leave ones throat questioning whether or not the sounds it made had ever come from it.

“I found myself on the upper level of the Magus Student’s tower clutching a leather satchel in one hand and a note with an address in another. As I tried to read the crumpled note in my hand I was jostled by the students as they rushed to get to their next class before the bell was wrung. I needed to step quickly into an alcove to get out of the hallway and wait for the chatting horde of students to pass.

Apparently I was where I needed to be but no idea why I was there and in fact the worn leather satchel which I clung to with my left hand; containing my notes, repair diagrams and tools I didn’t recall ever owning as well. I knew just about everything that was in the bag as if it was my own but had at the same time never seen the bag in my life.

As I was pondering this odd duality one of the senior students stopped and asked if I was going to fix his device. Although I didn’t know what device he was talking about I knew that I had the tools and parts in the leather satchel to repair it if indeed that was why I was there. Still the reason for my being at the top of the Magus Student’s tower eluded me and I glanced at the crumpled note trying to reason my being there.

After an awkward moment of silence while I studied the note I answered the student telling him that I was there to fix a different problem at the moment and that he should get to class. Once again I still had no clue as to why I was there. The crumpled note in my hand simply had a room number written on it which I was currently standing outside of.

Determined to try and find some clue as to why I was standing outside of this room I knelt down and proceeded to rifle through the contents of the leather satchel. Among the clutter of tools and papers my hand finally rested up the leather cover of an aged book. Pulling the book free of the satchel I flipped it over in my hands. Its dark brown and red cover gave no indication of its nature but somehow I knew what was in the book. I knew that within its pages contained the answer to every question I had and quite possibly every question that every man in this world might ever ask.

My fingers danced over the slight embossing of its cover coming to rest on a brass lock embedded into the cover. To my surprise and also to my knowledge I knew that I did not need any key to open this strange book. Again this duality of knowledge stunned me only demanding more answers which I knew could be found within the strange book. A slight press on the keyhole and a single phrase I had never uttered in my life before opened the book flooding the hallway with the brightness of its illustrations as its pages fell chaotically open in my hands.

The sudden opening of the book drew the attention of the few remaining students rushing to get to their classes. Like a swarm they crowded around me trying to gaze at the knowledge contained within its pages. A simple glance at the drawings and I knew that what was contained in the book was not for their eyes and that only a few select individuals would ever fully understand what was in front of me.

I hunched protectively over the book trying to force my shadow over the pages to hide the bright glow coming from the pictures within. As quick at the students had rushed to view the contents, once hidden they retreated to the safety of their class rooms. For indeed the knowledge within the book would only be their demise.

Once I was assured some measure of privacy I traced my finger down a random page trying to decipher the meaning of the book. Each word I could read and each word by itself made sense but when read together the meaning of the sentences and even the paragraphs within provided no comprehension.

A man’s voice spoke behind me startling me from my study. “So you decided to finally take us up on our offer.”

I turned closing the book and holding it close to my chest. In front of me was a distinguished looking man with slicked back white hair and a slightly trimmed close goatee. He lay reclined on a bench near an open window overlooking the courtyard. He was dressed in silk robes, the colors of which I could not comprehend as they seemed to shift as my eyes wandered over the figure in front of me. I knew that his question was directed at me but his eyes looked off somewhere in the distance behind me.

“We have kept our promise to you and in return you abandoned your pledge to us. There is still more that we could teach you provided you have kept the book safe. Why did you not keep your promise?” Still his eyes did not meet mine but by the tone of this voice I could tell that he was angry with me.

His voice, however, brought back a memory; some distance spark of recollection that provided what I needed to remember the man in front of me. As I watched him the memory replayed in my head as if watching a play on the stage.

There was a grand ball held in the governor’s mansion. All around me couples danced and twirled to the music clothed in rich gowns and suits. It was difficult to hear over the sounds of the dancers and music being played but I was holding a conversation with the man standing in the middle of the dance floor. Oddly no one seemed to notice that we were there. Nearby the gentleman was a beautiful lady who smiled coyly at me and studied me acutely.

“Now that you have agreed to allow us to teach you our ways and our lessons I will entrust this book into your care. Do not allow it to fall into another’s hands as a single word contained in this tome could kill a man or raze an entire city. This is something we don’t wish to happen to Cear; at least not at the moment.” The man’s smile left a chill in my bones that harden the marrow.

He handed the locked leather book to me which I cradled carefully in my arm. “Now if you would just follow my assistant she will take you to your first lesson.” He nodded at the beautiful woman standing at his side.

At his word the woman turned and started making her way through the crowd of dancers. I glanced to the side to attempt to catch one last look at the man I had just made the deal with but to my surprise he was gone. The one glance cost me though, for the woman I was to follow had already made her way through most of the dancers. I tried in vain to catch up to her but soon lost her in the crowd.

“I lost sight of her.” I finally answered the man’s question.

“I see.” He replied still not looking at me but this time rather through me. “What can we do to make sure you remain with us? What can be done to ensure your loyalty?”
He tapped his chin with his finger while pondering his own question. “Sex.”

“What?” I asked somewhat confused.

“Sex. Yes that would be the answer. That has been used to capture a man’s soul.” He turned to look out the window into the courtyard.

My befuddled gaze followed his into the courtyard below where I could see a woman walking quickly through the courtyard. I recognized the woman as his assistant; the one I was to follow at the dance.

“Penelope. He is here dear. Please come quickly we need your services. He has agreed to uphold his part of the bargain.” His voice was barely a whisper but I could see that the woman, Penelope, heard him as she stopped and looked up at us. Her eyes glinted darkly at me.”

The man turned towards me. “She is beautiful is she not?”

I reached out and took another sip of my tea. It had cooled to room temperature and no longer offered relief to my now parched throat. “Ah friend I can see you wish to hear the end of the story, but alas there is nothing more to say. My apologies for leaving you unfinished but there really isn’t anything more I can add. You see I am bound.”

I smiled at the stranger and picked up my worn brown leather satchel in which my book and its secrets were kept.


******

Another story prompted by a dream.

[Nathen Arnes]

Great story. But no ending!? Heh, Hopefully you have a dream prompting the end of it

I think you're a really good writer,

The scalding edge of the tea had left, leaving a pleasant heat that warmed my throat with the light taste of cream and honey dancing on my tongue.

My favortie line.

Keep 'em coming!

[Shalandravv]

Very eloquently written, Mon.

A story with a concise plot, great flow and questions to answer. I'm looking forward to more from you!

[Greyshore]

Loved it, Mon. Awesomely written.

Edit: Another try at a decent comment. First, I'd like to repeat I did love it, the story, the atmosphere. You get easily drawn in the intriguing situations. You achieved lots of suspense, I couldn't guess what would happen next, since anything could've really. Like Shalandravv mentioned, you've written it with a great flow. You described the situations clearly yet not superficially. Maybe I saw too much into it but I felt some parts had hidden double-meanings. Perhaps I thought so so since the story's based off a dream thus not really tied to an already thought and detailed plot. I also enjoyed the end. Certainly left questions to answer but didn't feel something was missing either.