Quee Quaig's Coffin Book 3

Book Three

The Mouse King

And the last time pays for all.  Third day is the charm.  After tonight you will have to make up your mind about the tale, did it happen? What else happened? What other Secrets might there be?  But listen, listen to me.  For, as I said, I was there.  

The hour grows late, we are halfway done with Sonny’s second armload of logs, and we haven't yet reached the third Ask! My how I have become sidetracked by details and secrets.  The end is in sight, let us press on to the conclusion, whatever that may bring.  To that end, I will once again hasten the story, their journey was arduous and long, they added to their gold with some small “jobs” like at the Shire, but for the most part it was a long tiring slog to Key Beck.  I will even, sadly, cheat you out of the descriptions, there are books and drawings, I am sure, and if you let your imagination run, perhaps you can scratch the surface of the wonders.  You will miss the description of the gates, the glass, the chambers and the Librarian office, which is where we find our Hero's, at the end of a long and delicate negotiation.  

One more time please Godsbane Carl, and Godsbane Que Quaig, if he misses anything, please be sure to correct him.  

Yes  M’Lady they murmered, almost in unison.  Carl stood up and began to speak

Folding the Quest map like a timeline past.  The history, Ancient and now, the framework is this. There is strife in the court of the Gods, three things were asked under unbreakable oath.  Should any one of these three asks be denied a war unlike any in the songs will likely render asunder our existence.  We have turned the key on two of them, and the weight of our realm, nay our home and our Gods rest depends desperately on the very capable, but strained hinge of this very Library.  

Well said, said The Librarian, I would know more of your quest later noble Hero's, but as you have made clear, the candle grows short.  

My Lady, said Quee Quaig.  We are both humble servants of the Sea Queen.  As such we would have eschewed such titles that would require you to call  us noble.  

Oh, I am aware of , and have great respect for your faith, NOBLE sea walker, I use the term in the most ancient sense.  One cannot buy nobility for love or money, true nobility, and you and your diminutive friend here have that which cannot be bought about you.  

My friend apologizes, he is a late comer to our language, and even later to his faith.  On time he said...

Enough noble hero, as the keeper of the last “hinge” as you put it, what is written, see what I did there? She asked Quee Quaig who looked confused, of my part in death or life.  

An ancient riddle has been carved upon the walls of the great hole, to the west of here.  Earthquakes and savage skies have descended, and there is a pall hanging over the entire hole.  The answer to the riddle is in a minor book in this Library.  The book, to no one's surprise, is missing.  We fear if we do not answer the riddle soon, the worst will happen, and because it is in one spot instead of three, it will be particularly…he searched for an adequate word, bad.  

Yes bad, a simple word that hides many meanings, bad.  The book has not left the Library.  Powerful magic prevents such things, but it is not where it should be, and she waved both arms, and there are a thousand thousand places to hide a book in a library neh?

Yes, said Quee Quaig, all the more reason we should start soon.  

I was not unaware of the situation, The Librarian said, but I had no idea it was so, she looked at Carl, bad.  

Yes it is, and we would have expected no less, I would ask for a quiet place and three candles.  I must pray, and we are now much closer to the Sea, perhaps she will hear me better.  

Perhaps, said the librarian, she clapped her hands and three large cats came out, rubbed against the ankles of the men and led them to their room.  

The next morning they awoke and were led to the reading room where stacks of books on the riddle and the quest to solve it had been placed.  It was fascinating reading, but did not bring them any closer to the answer, but led to a greater understanding of the word “Bad”.  At noon, they pushed back from the table and went for a stroll.  

Is there anything in your books about this kind of battle, My Brother? Asked Quee Quaig

No, in yours?

Perhaps Godsbane, have you ever been  a city under siege

No, Carl said.  I had not yet had that pleasure.  

The food goes quickly, crime rises, the things people do for two potatoes and a block of moldy cheese is criminal.  But you know what the scariest thing is?

No, said Carl

The rats, after a month they rule the city.  

GodsBane, you are a dark skinned, half elf, no good cheat at dice, but I think you may have saved the world.  Grabbing his lucky charm, a shark's tooth from the time of the great sea wars, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him to his room and prayer candles.  

My friends, we have thrown the last log, the moon is down and the sap is rising.  Let us skip the the end, and of course, the reason we listen to these tails, the reward.  

Carl, after half a day of prayer was able to “talk” to the king of the Library mouse.  He saw the direness of the situation, both for the realm, and closer to home, his peaceful people and their ancestral home.  A deal was struck, and after The Librarian had instructed her cats not to attack the mice, the eyes looking for their book grew by the thousands.  It was quickly found, the riddle answered and, like that, not with great deeds, not with heroic acts, but with a simple conversation Druid to Mouse King, the world was saved.  

And, your asks? The Librarian said.  

Quee Quaig opened his mouth, 

Have been fulfilled, librarians know all, and I know what you each desire, either knowingly or not.  For you Godsbane Carl, Son of Sven, Savior of our Mortal Realm and beyond, I give you this.  She handed him a book that was a wonder to hold. It will give you perspective on your journey, and perhaps some hope for your future as the Kanga-Moose Frederic.  Do not open it yet though, the magic that protects this Library is ancient and powerful, and I can only allow consecrated closed books to leave.  

M'Lady said Carl, and put the book carefully in his pack.  

And for you, Godsbane Quee Quaig, Son of Palius, slayer of evil men, righteous sea-faith walker.  I have chosen to give you this, and she handed him a slim volume of pocket size and said, do not open it NOBLE warrior for to do so you would trap you here forever, and you seem allergic to the small, inside, desert kings.  

I am Quee Quaig, snuffled, wishing she would get on with it so he could finally blow his nose.  It shall remain unopened until I place it upon my mantle in my home.  

That should do it then, eat and leave.  As the Queen of the Sea is fond of saying when she has too much wine “Don't let the door hitcha, where the Good Seal has Splitcha.”  She can be a card sometimes.  It grows old after the hundredth time, but we all laugh anyway.  

Ahem, I had never heard that of My Queen said Carl, how, droll.   

Indeed said The Librarian, and left.  Leaving his agreed upon payment for the king of the mice, a never ending block of magical cheese that would take the flavor of whatever cheese was wanted at the time, Carl and Quee Quaig started home.  

Again, I wish I could tell you of their journey home, the inns, the parades, keys to cities they couldn't spell.  And if I had another day, I could tell you of Quee Quaigs homecoming, bittersweet as it was.  Nobody likes a half elf, but a rich half elf Hero is another story, sadly for another time.  Sonny, throw that last log on the fire, that's a good lad and bring me that box from the book shelf.  He brought it over.  You may ask, I said, how I know this story, how I know the twists and turns you have never heard, my knowledge of “Secrets” only one of two men could know, and I see you ask why.  Here is the truth my friends.  I opened the book and took what was inside out.  It was a Kukri, in stunning Damascus steel, I looked at it in the fire light, making the light dance along the blade.  I know these things because I was there, see I was there.  And on his death bed the finest gnome I have ever known gave me his one true memory of our first quest.  He handed me this Gnomish Kukri, and made me swear to keep it safe, and use it in the service of our Queen.  I of course kept it, and as you can see, it hasn't aged a day.  Now the matter of payment, I stood suddenly, gripping the Gnomish Kukri and in the fire light I roared

I am Sir Goodsbane, Quee Quaig, Son of Palius, companion of Carl, master of ways of The Sea, the one who sits at the right flipper of the Sea Goddess, QUEE QUAIG! And in payment for this tale, on your unbreakable oath, go, go and carry forth this song, it has yet to be sung, and sing it you shall.  Now, “Don't let the door hitcha where the Good Seal Splitcha.”