Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) by Bridgette O'Hare (reading books for 4 year olds txt) 📗

him a mischievous grin. I wasn’t about to reveal that I had studied one Silver Scroll at length or that I suspected there were others. I wanted information I didn't already have. And I certainly didn't want to influence his response. Maybe he could tell me something I had not yet learned. In fact, I was counting on it.

“That must have been some dream. I do know about the Silver Scrolls,” he admitted.

Before he could answer further, I interrupted. “Scrolls? As in plural?”

“Aye. Plural. There are seven. The Davar Magén are in possession of one of the seven.”

“And the others?”

“Unknown,” he declared.

“What’s on the scroll you, the Davar Magén, have?” I pushed further.

“That I d’ not know. Why d’ ya ask?” Cian pushed back.

I pulled in a breath and laid my cards on the table. “Because I believe the Silver Scrolls could lead us to the Kanna Stone. Possibly even the Tartaros Blade.”

Cian eyed me suspiciously. “You’ve been holding out. Ya knew more than ya let on, trying to see what I knew. Sneaky . . . but smart.”

“Apologies. Just askin’ what you might know before I offered more.” I did feel a twinge of something, just wasn’t sure it was guilt.

“Fair. So, how is it you’ve come to think the scrolls might lead to the artifacts?”

“You say Davar Magén has one of the Silver Scrolls. Natra has another. I’ve studied it extensively. I suspected there were more, and I wanted to search for them, but funding for such a project was not high on the Natra priority list. No one high enough up was convinced there were more than one much less that they were worth looking for. They don’t understand the scrolls and just don’t interpret them the way I do. And so, I have never been given approval for an expedition.”

“But you can read them?” he asked.

“I think so. My first attempt took a while. I had no idea what I was dealing with or how to decipher it. It took a good amount of interpretation in areas and on certain phrases. But I’ve since come to understand the language a bit better. I believe I can read them more easily now. Have you seen the scroll Davar Magén has?”

“Only in passing.”

“Oh, so, can you read it?” I asked, knowing the answer would likely be no. Ruman had explained the language was in essence two languages rolled into one. And even with my understanding and experience with Aramaic and Hebrew, it had taken me years to decipher the Silver Scroll in Natra’s possession.

“I haven’t a clue, never had the chance. But I know who has.”

“Can we talk with them?” My tone grew excited. Even without the pressing need to find the Kanna Stone, the prospect of learning what was on yet another of the Silver Scrolls was thrilling. But finding the Kanna Stone was imperative.

Amusement flickered in his eyes. “I think that can be arranged,” he said. “I’ll give him a call.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket, and I grabbed the journal for the Kanna Stone and flipped through the pages while he maneuvered through his contacts. Anything to make myself look busy. However, Cian was smart. I had no doubt he knew what I was doing. He swiped a few times until he got to a number that simply said “L” and tapped the phone icon

I couldn't hear what was happening on the other end of the line, but introductions weren't necessary. Whoever he had called was familiar with him. Hearing only one side of the conversation meant piecing the rest together.

“We have some new information regarding the operation. Specifically, the scrolls,” Cian explained. “Yes, that too. I’m sure there will be other questions,” he continued. “Can you meet tonight?”

Cian placed his hand over the phone and held it to the side. He turned to me and said, “He wants to know if seven is still good for you.”

My initial reaction was confusion. I scrunched my nose and then realization set in.

Cian McCallister was on the phone with my uncle.

Fifteen

Cian stayed with me at the library even after Kage had left, and we searched through the journals and anything else we could find related to the Kanna Stone. Despite the Library’s reputation, and no matter how promising a lead seemed to be, it always led us to a dead end. We found absolutely nothing that might point us to the current location of the Kanna Stone. I even shared my notes and files from Natra, on both the stone and our Silver Scroll, in hopes that new information might provide Cian with new insights. A few loose end notations warranted looking into further, but there was nothing in the research stacks that helped.

We sat in silence, separated by the large table littered with documents and books. Light from the antique brass chandelier above played on Cian’s face as he read intently from the book before him. The door eased shut as the last person exited the room, leaving us alone. I decided it was time to bring up a few questions I’d been too rattled to think of asking during breakfast.

“You at a good stopping point?” I asked.

He traced a finger over a line in the book and held it there as he looked up at me. The moment our eyes locked, he sat upright and leaned back in his chair, his hand falling from the book to his lap. I had his full attention. “Aye. What’s on your mind?”

“That is a loaded question. Would it be weird if I had a list?” I smiled sheepishly.

“It might be a little weird. But whatever works for you.” A flirty, crooked smile played on one corner of his lips.

Ugh. He needed to stop doing that. That crooked smile was a big part of why I needed a list. I flipped through my notebook to the page of unanswered questions I had written earlier in the day. I started at the top and rattled