"That's right," Paige replied to Shad before turning to Morgan. "We found a book detailing the history of Ostian rulers, including information on the Emperor. Unfortunately, it seems the Empire is keen on destroying any mention of the Emperor. I haven't had luck finding another copy, so we're trying to find the scribes that made the copies. This monk, Friar Thomas, he supposedly worked on a copy. I was hoping we could talk to him before...well, before this happened."
As Paige finished, light flooded the room. The librarian was relieved; maybe she could find something here. Her relief turned to horror, for the group was not alone. A lone soldier carried a blazing torch in one hand, a long sword in the other. He looked upon each of the three.
"Whatever you picked up, drop it," the soldier said, anger in his voice. "You are trespassing on unholy ground. It will be cleansed with fire...and you with it, saboteurs!"
Paige had to think fast before everyone was burned at the stake. Fighting this man would likely cause too much attention; they would be killed for sure. On the other hand, surrendering would at least get them in the same building as the monk was supposedly held. She turned to Shad and Morgan.
"Trust me," she mouthed before turning back to the soldier and raising her hands.
"Wait. We surrender," Paige announced. "By Lycian law, you cannot kill those who surrender, not before trial."
Sometimes, it paid to be a librarian. She was thankful that the soldier reluctantly agreed, though he remained tense.
"In that case, drop your weapons. All of you." The soldier waited for the others to follow suit.
Paige could only hope that news would get to Yuri and Shad's friends and they could work out a way to get them out.
As Paige finished, light flooded the room. The librarian was relieved; maybe she could find something here. Her relief turned to horror, for the group was not alone. A lone soldier carried a blazing torch in one hand, a long sword in the other. He looked upon each of the three.
"Whatever you picked up, drop it," the soldier said, anger in his voice. "You are trespassing on unholy ground. It will be cleansed with fire...and you with it, saboteurs!"
Paige had to think fast before everyone was burned at the stake. Fighting this man would likely cause too much attention; they would be killed for sure. On the other hand, surrendering would at least get them in the same building as the monk was supposedly held. She turned to Shad and Morgan.
"Trust me," she mouthed before turning back to the soldier and raising her hands.
"Wait. We surrender," Paige announced. "By Lycian law, you cannot kill those who surrender, not before trial."
Sometimes, it paid to be a librarian. She was thankful that the soldier reluctantly agreed, though he remained tense.
"In that case, drop your weapons. All of you." The soldier waited for the others to follow suit.
Paige could only hope that news would get to Yuri and Shad's friends and they could work out a way to get them out.