The Tales of Aylfenhame Compendium by Charlotte E. English

Author:Charlotte E. English [English, Charlotte E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fantasy romance, historical fantasy, romantic fantasy, fantasy romance
Publisher: Charlotte E. English
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The Keeper began to spin in his rage, and within moments a fine whirlwind was sailing around the library, sending scrolls flying wildly through the air. Isabel barely ducked in time to avoid receiving two particularly large, heavy-looking scrolls in the face. Heart pounding, she clutched her saffron scrolls closely to her chest and looked around desperately for a way out. There was no door that she could see, nor any other means of egress. There wasn’t even a window.

The Keeper howled something inarticulate, and a red fog enveloped Isabel. Panicking, she gripped her scrolls all the tighter and shut her eyes, gasping for breath as she was caught up in a swirling wind. It stopped abruptly moments later, and she opened her eyes to find herself restored to the Keeper’s chamber.

Sophy was staring at her in amazed concern, but Grunewald, Ertof and Yangveld did not look at all surprised at her sudden reappearance.

‘Are you well?’ Sophy said, approaching with hands outstretched. Isabel could well imagine the picture she presented: her hair and bonnet disordered by the wild winds of the Keeper’s fury, her face a mask of shock and dismay, her arms full of tumbled scrolls.

‘Oh, Grunewald!’ Isabel gasped, casting him a look of strong reproach. ‘How could you!’

‘Palchis?’ was all that he said in response.

‘Still inside,’ Isabel said, and turned her back on him.

Grunewald cursed. He added as an aside, ‘I am sorry, Miss Ellerby, but it is more important than you can know.’

Isabel made no answer. It had occurred to her that the Keeper, highly paranoid about unauthorised entrance to his precious library, would suspect a collaboration between the two English women and the Goblin King. ‘We must depart at once,’ she said to Sophy, and immediately darted towards the staircase. Tafferty bounded before her as she ran down the stairs, and she heard Sophy’s footsteps behind.

To Isabel’s relief, the Ferryman was still awaiting her outside the palace. Better still, he had possessed the forethought to lead her mount and Sophy’s into the boat. ‘Sir Guntifer!’ Isabel called. ‘To the boat, and quickly!’ She looked behind herself, fervently praying not to see the Keeper streaming after her — or any of his frightening tower-guards. She was absconding with some of his precious scrolls! She could hardly believe it of herself, but after all the trouble of gaining access to the library, she could not bear to leave behind the information which might save the Ferryman. Particularly since Palchis’s intrusion had not been either of her choice or her making!

She saw no sign of pursuit, but she did not slow her pace as she ran towards the boat. She tipped her armful of scrolls into the Ferryman’s hands and stumbled aboard, drawing Sophy after her. Sir Guntifer was close behind, Pinch and Pinket streaming after him in matching wisp-shape. For a moment she was worried that the giant would not fit in the boat at all, and indeed, the Ferryman stared at him in open consternation. But

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