Lord of the Libraries by Mel Odom Page B

enveloped her head. She stood there only a moment more, then dropped into a powdery pile.
    Stunned but curious, Juhg approached. He gazed down at the pile of powder, then bent to poke his finger into it.
    “Salt,” Craugh said.
    Juhg looked up at the wizard.
    Craugh cleared his throat. “It’s salt. When I destroyed the gem, she turned into salt. She’s dead.” A lone tear trickled down his face. “One thing—” His voice broke. “One thing you must know, apprentice, if you ever write about this.” His eyes would not meet Juhg’s. “Ladamae was not
always an evil creature. She was once … a beautiful young woman. She was corrupted.” He took a deep breath. “I corrupted her.”
    Juhg stared in openmouthed wonder. There were so many things inside his mind, questions that needed answering, emotions he needed to vent. “You —you— helped steal The Book of Time from the Guardians?”
    Craugh’s face grew stern. “We won’t talk of this, apprentice.”
    “Does the Grandmagister know?”
    “I said enough, apprentice.” Craugh stood straight and tall and threatening. “Do not press me on this matter.”
    Juhg understood then. “The Grandmagister doesn’t know. How could you not tell him?”
    Green flame blazed in the wizard’s eyes above the single tear.
    At that moment, Juhg knew that his hold on life was as thin as a cat’s whisker.
    “We leave this place,” Craugh said. “We leave this place now and don’t you dare ever speak to me of this subject again!” He turned and walked away.
    Juhg watched the wizard go. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. Even if he told everyone aboard One-Eyed Peggie, even if he could get Hallekk and the others to believe him even though they had been Craugh’s friends for years, the lives of the captain and crew would be forfeit.
    “Apprentice,” Craugh said, “I’ll not call you twice.”
    Reluctantly, with much confusion and pain, Juhg picked up the lantern he’d brought inside the dead monster and trudged along in the wizard’s wake. He took a last, lingering glance back at the pile of salt that had been the woman. In a short time, the darkness claimed her and hid her from sight.
     
     
    Once more aboard One-Eyed Peggie, Juhg stood and looked out over the dead monster lashed to the ship’s side. Full dark had descended upon the sea, but the crew worked by lantern light and the pale quarter-moon to repair the damage done to the vessel.
    “Didn’t find anything?” Hallekk asked, walking over to Juhg.
    “Nothing of import,” Craugh answered in a neutral voice. There was no indication at all that he was lying.
    And why would there be? Juhg asked himself. He’s a good liar. He’s lied for years.
    “But it’s dead, ain’t it?” the pirate captain asked.
    “It’s dead,” Craugh assured him. The wizard glanced at Juhg.
    Juhg pretended he didn’t see the look, but he had no intention of telling anyone aboard the ship. Maybe later when they had a chance to run for their lives.
    Or maybe it will be too late then and Craugh will have already killed you. Juhg didn’t like thinking like that, but it couldn’t be helped. He’d grown up in a goblinkin mine. He knew a lot about how evil the world could be. What surprised him most was how he could be surprised by who was evil.
    Is Craugh evil? Is he truly helping to find the Grandmagister because the Grandmagister is his friend? Or is he interested in finding The Book of Time for his own purposes? Juhg didn’t know.
    Craugh pointed his staff at the ropes holding the dead bearded hoar-worm to the ship. At a single command, a small green fireball darted from the staff and burned through the ropes. Released from the dead weight, One-Eyed Peggie righted herself, coming up from the leaning position she’d been in. The monster’s body sank out of sight.
    “What do ye think ye’re doin’?” a pirate bellowed. “Don’t ye know rope’s in short supply right now?”
    Craugh turned back toward the