Carrying the Folio

As the noise faded away, Astra said, "Fred, I think that we should leave the caves. I found something in that book that I would like you to see, but I would feel better if we examined it elsewhere."

Fred had to agree. The pains and bruises from the battle with the wallhugger gave powerful support to Astra's argument. Fred and Astra went back to the book. The folio was large, and although one person could manage to carry it, it was easier for two, with one person holding an end. As Astra closed the folio, Fred noticed a small square of velvet cloth on the dias. The cloth itself was dark, but it had a white curve embroidered on it, in the shape of a bell. He picked it up as a keepsake from this adventure and placed it in one of his boots. The room darkened while he was doing this, as the folio closed. The covers of the book glowed with a purplish-blue light that lit the room weirdly. Fred noticed that Astra's face glowed a pale like that of the ghosts of the popular campfire tales. He thought, for a fleeting moment, that this might be the glow of some sort of magic, but he looked down at his hands, and they had the same pale white glow. Fred held the top edge of the book, and Astra held the bottom. They walked back toward the cave exit, with Fred on the left, Astra on the right, and the book between them.

There was a nervous moment as Fred thought that he heard something clatter, but there was no further noise. Both Fred and Astra were relieved as they saw the normal white light of a waxing moon at the cave's exit.

The sun had set, but the trail down from the cave was not difficult to walk. The night was clear and cool. Astra would suffer especially so. Fred gallantly offered a pair of gloves and his outer shirt to brace Astra against the chill, and they resolved to continue on to the hamlet where Fred left his horse.

The trail, like many foothills trails, had a good view of the plain below it. After the silent progress of an hour, the small cottages of the hamlet were now visible, even in the moonlight. Fred said, "I need a rest. Now might be a good time to show me what was in the book."

1. Astra agreed, and opened the book.
2. Astra pointed out that there was a rider approaching them - which was odd for this time of night, and because this was the trail to the feared dragon, who nobody should have known was now dead.

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