Read Curse of the Forbidden Book for Free Online Page B

mean you’ve known about this book, only a short distance from your door, and you’ve never tried to get it?” Rae asked incredulously.
    â€œIt doesn’t exist,” Telemachus repeated.
    â€œEven if the Forbidden Book did exist, it would be foolish to try to find it,” Ira countered. “Chancellor Doran and his scribes have seen sketches of our faces. If someone turned us in….”
    â€œNo one would recognize you,” Silas reasoned. “You’ve changed your appearance considerably.”
    â€œThat’s a risk I am not willing to take,” Ira said. “You cannot understand. I have a wife, a job, a house. I have a life again.”
    Jesse looked at Parvel, and from the look on his face, he guessed they were thinking the same thing. Jesse wanted to know what happened to Eli. Parvel wanted to know what happened to his brother.
    â€œWe’ve got to find it,” Jesse said suddenly. “Don’t you understand? If we had that book, we could find the Youth Guard members who are still alive. We could save them!”
    â€œThat’s a noble thought,” Telemachus began, “but…”
    â€œHe’s right,” Rae said, jumping up. “I don’t want to disguise myself, to go around the rest of my life playing a part. I do not want to live in ‘perfect obscurity.’ That wouldn’t be living.”
    â€œNo,” Ira said firmly, slamming his fist down on the table for emphasis. “It’s far too dangerous.”
    â€œDear…” Willa said, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder.
    â€œYou don’t have any say in what we do,” Rae said, throwing her shoulders back to face the challenge. Jesse wondered if Ira knew what he had gotten into. They stood there, the petite, dark-haired girl facing the burly Patrol member.
    â€œYou’re too young to know better,” Ira said. “We’re just trying to protect you.”
    â€œAnd what about the others,” Jesse said. “The ones whose names are written in the Forbidden Book. Who’s protecting them ?”
    The silence hung in the air like smoke from a cooking fire. Then Willa put her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “It is late,” she said. “I have the rooms ready.”
    â€œNo,” Rae said again. “I will not leave this unresolved.”
    Telemachus sighed. “The girl speaks the truth, Ira. We cannot force them to stay here.”
    â€œBut…” Ira protested.
    â€œNo, Ira. It’s no use. Besides, you know as well as I do that, in their place, fifteen years ago, you would have said much the same.”
    That seemed to cool Ira off a bit. “Maybe you’re right,” he said. “But I would have listened to reason. To my elders.”
    â€œWe do not mean to show disrespect,” Parvel said. “You would have us stay to protect our own lives. We would go to protect the lives of others. Foolish or wise, our intent is good. And some of us,” he glanced at Jesse, “know and love people whose names are written in that book. You would be hard pressed to convince us not to go after it.”
    As usual, Parvel’s words had a way of calming the situation. Telemachus still shook his head. “But I tell you, the book is not real. Please, do not throw your lives away for a mere legend.”
    â€œBut I have reason to believe that it is true,” Parvel said. “My father was a courtier in the capital of Amarias, and he heard similar rumors of a cursed book. At the time, I did not believe it. The supporters of the king are often foolish boasters, especially after having too much to drink. Now, though, I begin to wonder if perhaps there is such a book.”
    Telemachus had no answer to that. “Please, at least stay here tonight,” Willa said. “Perhaps in the morning you will see things differently.”
    â€œThank you,” Parvel said, standing to bow. “We