Stone 54

**Chapter 54**

Richard and Pasha are descending to THE VAULTS!! The vaults are where the prophecies are stored, because they are *"dangerous to the untrained mind."* For some reason, despite the fact that the vaults are where these books and scrolls and such are stored, the light comes from torches instead of lamps. Because a big flaming stick is what you want as a light source around the rare and valuable paper. \~/

It's also specifically noted that *"Some of the hallways were wet with leaking water."* Dampness and open flame. What a brilliant design for a library. \~/

Inside the library proper, we find Nuns reading by candlelight (again, open flame...). Moley greets Richard and flirts clumsily with Pasha. Richard once again notices Pasha's breasts: *"She leaned forward, and Richard thought that maybe her breasts might spill out if she didn't straighten up."* \~/

Their's a pointless bit where Pasha isn't allowed to go into the "back room" where Richard's prophecy is, but Moley lies to one of the Nuns, saying that Pasha understands High D'Haran, so she's allowed it. I seem to notice an awful lot of lying among the "good" characters in this book. Pasha comments that Moley knows what the Nuns will do to him if they catch him lying.

We learn that the Prelate has been reading this particular prophecy lately, and that since the original text is in High D'Haran (which very few people understand), translating it leads to a great deal of ambiguity. Anyway, Pasha and the Wizards (opening for Richard and the Screelings!) head back to a stone cell that Moley magically opens by slapping a metal plate on the wall. Inside are a table, chairs, shelves (and presumably books, although we aren't told as much) and...lamps. Hey, not torches or candles or anything! Amazing!

Moley closes the door from inside, then shows Richard the prophecy, which *"looks like scribbling to [Richard]."* Nevertheless, as Richard stares at the book...well, this happens:

*"The images there were drawing him in. It was almost as if they were murmuring to him. He had never seen such words before, but somehow they resonated with something deep within him.*

*"His hand slowly reached out, drawn to one of the words. His finger came to rest on it."*

*" 'This one,' Richard whispered, as if from a trance. The strokes of the letters seemed to lift from the page, as if alive, and coil around his finger, the dark lines caressing, fondling, with intimate familiarity. Before his eyes, too, floated the image of the Sword of Truth."*

I have no freaking clue what just happened there, but I'm taking a drink for it. Three drinks: one for Richard Just Knew, one for the inappropriately sexual imagery, and one for the sheer stupidity of this whole passage. \~/\~/\~/

The word that was fondling Richard's finger turns out to be *"drauka,"* part of the phrase *"fuer grissa ost drauka,"* which means "the bringer of death." Convenient, innit, how these ancient dead languages always translate perfectly into modern English in terms of sentence structure and word use? Almost as if someone just changed the English words and kept everything else identical? You know, I've never taken the time to learn much of Tolkien's Elvish languages, but I sure respect him for creating them.

We learn, uselessly, that the death dildos the Nuns carry take their name (dacra) from the word *drauka*. More pertinently, we learn that *drauka* has three distinct meanings:

1. Death,
2. The spirits of the dead,
3. The underworld.

This is Significant! because, in the context of the prophecy, Richard is "the bringer of [*drauka*]" (I guess *fuer, grissa* and *ost* each have only one possible meaning). Pasha wants to know how you can *"bring the underworld."* Richard explains: *"You tear the veil."*

Moley then asks if Richard has D'Haran blood, and is horrified to learn that he does. Richard promises to think things over and see if he can help Moley, and Pasha chirps that it's getting late and it's time for Richard to go. As she leads the way out of the cell, Richard slaps the metal plate and closes the door, trapping Pasha outside.

Why can't Pasha open the door from the outside? Good question. Here, have a drink. \~/

Moley comments that Richard, as a beginning wizard, shouldn't be able to do that and asks how he did. Richard *"didn't have an answer for the question, and so he ignored it."* Obviously the answer is Sue-powers. \~/

Richard demands that Moley explain what Pasha meant when she referred to what the Nuns would do to him if they caught him lying. Moley explains that they would use the collar to give him pain. Apparently, to become a wizard you have to pass a *"test of pain,"* which the Nuns interpret to mean "inflict massive amounts of pain." Moley doesn't know how you pass it, but he theorizes that you do so by not begging for mercy.

We learn that there's a picture of the Stone of Tears in the Majeek Book of Prophecies. Richard, ignoring Moley's question, asks Moley to research everything he can on the prophecies about Richard, the Towers of Perdition, the Valley of the Lost and Found, the veil, the Stone of Tears, the Baka Ban Mana, and the *Car'a'carn* - oops, sorry; I mean the *Caharin.*

Moley wisely responds *"That's a lot of work,"* and notes that there are thousands of books in the vaults, he'll have to do all this in his spare time, and that it may take months. However, he'll do it for a price. He's afraid of *"big places,"* but he asks Richard *"Would you, well, show me the countryside?...I think I would feel safe if you went with me. [...] I need some adventure in my life."*

Did...did Moley just ask Richard out? o\_O

Not that there's anything wrong with that,

<.<

>.>

Also, maybe I'm cynical, but this feels like Richard taking unfair advantage of Moley. Moley is clearly shy and insecure, so Richard capitalizes on this by piling work on him, in exchange for letting him tag along while Richard does what he intended to do anyway. I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Richard then tells Moley that all three interpretations of *drauka* are correct. Richard kills with the sword; he summons up the spirits of the dead (apparently); and he has torn the veil.

Richard congratulates Moley on breaking Jed's leg. Moley denies it, but Richard tricks him into a quasi-confession. But Richard thinks *"Jedidiah got what he deserved,"* so it's all fine. Because breaking a man's leg (and potentially killing him...he fell down a freaking flight of stairs!) is an appropriate response when he's rude to the woman you're clumsily stalking. \~/\~/

Richard and Moley are the *good guys,* remember.

Moley warns Richard that he did a very dangerous thing by declaring himself to be the bringer of death, since some of the Nuns might try to kill him for it. Richard says that he had to give them fair warning, because *"When the time comes, I will kill any of them I must in order to get this collar off."* I still don't see how wholesale Nunicide will help get the collar off, but since Richard keeps saying it, it must be true.

Moley wants Richard to promise he won't hurt Pasha, but Richard refuses to do so, instead talking about how the life of one person, no matter who, isn't worth destroying the world. Richard opens the door again to find Pasha waiting (again, why have a cell door that students can open and close, but the Nuns - their teachers and superiors - can't?).

Richard and Pasha head back to Richard's room, and - dun dun DUN - Richard Just Knows \~/ that there's someone inside! Ooooh, cliffhanger!

Drinks: 11

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