Ward Against Darkness (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer) by Melanie Card

back into the wood. The light vanished, the lock clicked, and the door swung wide. Ward crossed his arms, a weak defense against Macerio’s magic, and brushed his wound, sending another stab of pain through him.
    “Habil created the east wing for his magical studies. He kept his pets in the suites above, entertained with them in the many parlors, studied in the workroom, and kept his knowledge in the library.”
    Macerio led Ward into the dark hall of the east wing. Flames burst on the wicks of the candles in the wall sconces as they approached. Now Macerio acted more like a true blood magi than an Innecroestri. The kind of power he wielded was incredible because it had nothing to do with his magical gift to manipulate souls. Ward was obviously there to witness Macerio’s massive abilities.
    “All of Habil’s journals and the books he collected on blood magic are still in his library. When he faced the Necromantic Council of Elders without the cowards from the Council of Blood, he locked up the waystation and its secrets. I returned, as planned, after the Elders became complacent, thinking they’d murdered every Innecroestri in the Union.”
    They passed Macerio’s…no, Habil’s…workroom, where Macerio had enslaved Enota’s soul, and climbed a staircase up two flights to a door. Inside, the candles on either side of the doorway magically lit, revealing a large room filled with shelves packed with books and scrolls and sculptures. From its size, it took up most of the third floor. Before him lay three passages with no indication if one was more used than the others. There wasn’t a window in sight.
    Macerio flicked his hand and more candles lit.
    “This is spectacular.” Even though the books contained the darkest knowledge known to man, the room was amazing. Maybe if he focused on that, he could keep his attention on Macerio instead of the panic racing through him.
    “Not as spectacular as I’d hoped. When Habil realized the necromancer Oralia Bornay was on the verge of destroying everything he’d created, he divided his grimoire into three sections and hid them in this house.”
    “The Book of Death, the Book of Blood, and the Book of Souls.” Ward at least knew that. From his necromancer education, he also knew that Oralia Bornay, the hero who killed Habil, never discovered the grimoires’ locations.
    Macerio’s smile actually reached his eyes. “You do know your history. The Books of Death and Blood have spells to increase magical strength and cast false resurrections.”
    “So the legend goes.”
    “I have them. Would you like to see how true the legend is?”
    Ward’s heart skipped a beat. “You have both the Book of Death and the Book of Blood?” Goddess above, he had two of the grimoires? That made him even more powerful, even more dangerous. There was no way Ward could steal two books, and risk facing Macerio.
    Run. That was the only answer. He had to get out of there now. He—
    —had to stay calm. Running now would guarantee death. Play this out. Live the lie. He could do this.
    Macerio took the passage to the right and Ward followed, turning this way and that at random intersections. “I have the Books of Death and Blood. What I don’t have is the Book of Souls. It’s supposed to be in this mansion, but I’ve searched the library, and it isn’t here.”
    “Did you really expect Habil to leave a part of his grimoire shelved under ‘S’ for Souls?” Ward asked before he could stop himself.
    “For all I know it, could be. Habil hid it with a powerful spell so only an Innecroestri as strong as him could uncover it. Very soon I’ll be strong enough, worthy enough, for it.”
    If Macerio had all three grimoires, not even the most powerful necromancer elder could stop him alone. Not even Grandfather. They could face another cataclysm similar to when Habil destroyed the balance. Famine, plague, terrible storms, and war had nearly torn the Union of Principalities apart. “And when you