She eyed the book in her hands. It had gone silent since she had closed it. She was not really keen on the idea of addressing the things she had found inside it again. They had given her the willies, the creeps and any other word that meant a shiver up and down your spine that shook you to the core. She had understood some of it, though some of it was in the old language and it had been logged as such. In fact, all of Emi's logs had been in Old Gummi. She had asked the Book to translate it but all it had done was repeat the logs again.

Apparently, Old Gummi was Emi's primary language, at least as far as Tavi could ascertain. The other logs were easy for her to understand. They were spoken in common, though occasionally, she did hear some Old Gummi from the Councilors. The Councilors present were different than the ones she knew, so maybe this was a mix of gummies from different cities. Some had been called "Ursalian" councilors…perhaps the council that had proceeded over Ursalia?

She rubbed her forehead. Too many questions and not enough answers! She needed to know more about this trial. She needed to know about the people involved. However, one thing she had noticed was that the Gummadoon knights had been there, at least the three main ones. They were not in every transcript but they had popped up when the testimonies were being given. She thought theirs were pretty gruesome to hear. They spoke about the many battles they had fought against her only to have her be so cruel and callous.

Tavi thought perhaps the worst that she had read so far had come from Sir Plucki himself. Apparently, he had led the charge that eventually captured Emi. He had led a band of 150 knights….150! For one gummi! Against _one_ gummi! 150! Tavi had stared at that for a long time to make sure she had not misheard the book. Then…to hear his testimony that he had returned with only three, himself, Sir Gumlittle and Sir Blastus. Three survivors out of 150.

That in itself made her feel sick to her stomach. She didn't want to imagine what kind of deaths those other gummies had met. She didn't want to think about one of her own kind heartlessly slaughtering their own kind. Gum, even in war, gummies only took lives if there was absolutely no alternative. They possessed no desire for vengeance that other races did. Tales of some hero seeking vengeance for a wronged one were unheard of. Gummies sought out danger only if no other answer to stop the threat could be established. They were perfectly happy just keeping to themselves, living their own lives.

So…why did Emi seek out the magic like they said she did? Tavi could understand some of what the book had said about Emi, about her wanting to learn magic to feel closer to her late mother. Tavi could certainly sympathize with that. However, that didn't explain her other actions. It was one thing to want to become good at an art, to strive to learn more. But Emi had stolen the magical artifacts from other clans, had slaughtered anyone that tried to stall her or stop her. She had slaughtered anyone that carried a gummi medallion. She had slaughtered anyone she came across, seemingly for no reason. There were a few moments that the book had stumbled over, like it had hurt to address it. Those had been in Old Gummi though, Emi's own testimony.

The responses had been some clues. They had been in common. Lots of questions about mercy, about motives and there were lots of areas of stunned silence, when the trial transcript had been recorded as simply: no response or silence. It was a lot more information than she HAD but at the same time, she wanted to hear Emi's side. She wanted to know what Emi Gummi had said.

Which meant, unfortunately, even with this magical sentient book, she still needed Corvi.

Main Courtyard of Gummadoon

"Ah!" Toni protested, covering his head with his hands "Cold cold!"

Gumlittle chuckled, despite himself as he poured another bucket of water over the boy's head, rinsing the mounds of mud out of his fur. "Well, a little cold never hurt anyone Sport."

"That's too cold!" Toni protested.

Plucki, looking up from his own mud spattered squire just laughed "Oh and the many maids would have had our heads if we had marched in like a couple of golems from the earth." He turned to Cubbi who chose to shake his head back and forth, sending some watered down mud splattering in all directions. "Hey! You need not share THAT lad."

Cubbi pushed some of his wet hair out of his face. "Sorry!"

The knights had moved them to a side area of the main courtyard, stripped them down and proceeded to wash themselves and the boys down with the nearby water wells. It was kind of fun but the only disadvantage was that they were subjected to fresh well water and given the recent rain, that meant cold!

Still, it was kind of fun, all things considered. Cubbi had been sure they would have all been dead meat, especially given the fact that they had supposed to have been tracking the adults. Plucki had surprised the fur out of him by tackling him into the mud. He never would have thought a "noble knight captain" could be so playful. However, he was learning. Slowly but assuredly, he was beginning to understand that there was far more to a knight than just the warrior so many outsiders saw. He rather liked the homey Sir Plucki. And Sir Blastus and Sir Gumlittle. Man, they could be fun!

Corvi turned from his own section. While the younger boys still were subject to being rinsed off and down by the adults, he was deemed old enough to clean himself up, for which he was grateful. He poured another bucket of water over his head, shivering and shaking as the ice cold water made him resembled a gummi more and a monster less.

The sound of boots on the pavement made him turn. He blinked, recognizing Sir Ecri. It was rare to see the purple shaded knight anymore. If he wasn't training, then he was doing chores and if there was any downtime, he was either at his brother's gravesite or inside his own quarters. It was so different than the Ecri Corvi had known. He had been several years' difference in age but he still remembered the elder one's personality.

So different from the Ecri now. Nevertheless, Corvi greeted him with a smile.

It was not returned but Corvi had learned over the past few weeks that it was too much to expect that. However, the knight did lay a stack of towels and tunics on the dry stairs nearby before taking his leave. Apparently, he must have noticed them from the windows above. He still didn't talk but rather continued on his way, looked like he was heading for the outward posts.

Corvi took one of the towels from the stacks and a dry tunic before passing them around to the others. He took a spot next to Blastus as he finished rinsing Flynn off. Watching the purple knight's retreating back, he eyed Blastus from the corner of his vision. "Hey Blastus?"

"Hmm?" he asked as he pulled one of the dry tunics over Flynn's head.

"Think we'll ever get a word out of him again?"

Blastus followed his gaze a moment, pondering his reply. Truth be told, he had been so wrapped up lately with the concerns of the council that he had not addressed this issue. Now, that it was brought to the forefront of his mind, he felt like he had been cut with a knife made of regret and guilt. Yes, Sir Ecri was an adult, capable of making his own decisions, fighting his own battles. However, there it was again, the bond that the gummi knights had established over the years. Sir Ecri had been Blastus' squire. He had half raised the boy, teaching the ways of battle, of strategy, of knowledge and had presented him at age eighteen to the council for knighthood with his full blessing. He knew the boy's phobias (public speaking being a major one), he knew his likes, he knew his dislikes, and he knew everything about the boy.

Yet he was powerless to do anything about the gummi knight's current predicament. Loss in battle was expected but to lose a family member…and in Sir Ecri's case…your twin, your other half, was a devastating blow. Sir Blastus was wanting more than anything to alleviate that pain. He wanted to take it away, to take it upon himself if he had to but anything to take it off Ecri's heart.

Still, the fact that Ecri had come out and brought them supplies, something that was out of his way, was encouraging. Maybe, he would be able to heal a little bit now, little bits at a time. Blastus made a mental note to spend some time with Ecri as soon as he was able. If he could coax even one word out of him, he would be happy.

"I think we will," Blastus assured his squire "In time."

Corvi nodded and turned, fully intent on heading inside to get some of his own clothes on. The dry tunic was nice so they didn't have to parade in in just their bare fur but he wanted some of his own clothing. However, as he made his way inside, a motion on the upper windows sent his attention upward.

It was Tavi, waving at him frantically from her window. He frowned. He liked that girl, he did. He also knew all too well how important what they were doing was but still…he wanted a break, just a brief 24 hours at least to not worry about anything. To be able to just collapse next to Blastus and do absolutely nothing, perhaps even fall asleep to a roaring fire and some of their hot tea.

However, it seemed Fate was not content to offer him that. He cast a glance at the other boys slowly making their way in. He could hear the knights talking amongst themselves. He briefly heard something along the lines of the boys taking a few minutes to get themselves fixed up then to meet their mentors individually downstairs.

Toni eyed Corvi, a bit baffled. The boy was talking to Cubbi again. They seemed to be doing that a lot lately. It wasn;t so much wrong, as Corvi got along pretty well with pretty much anyone, but since it was so much more lately, it was weird. The way they spoke too, in hushed whispers like they were committing some horrible crime, was baffling.

The two cubs took off up the stairs together, a few strides ahead of the other boys. Toni headed to follow them when a hand fell onto his shoulder. He turned, "Huh, what is it Gummie?"

Gumlittle beamed, so glad to see a smile on the child, even if it had been brief. "Let me clean your wrists really quick, Toni." He explained "I want to make sure no mud or dirt got into those wounds. That would make for a nasty infection and since we just broke that fever, we don't want to welcome one back."

Toni eyed where Cubbi and Corvi had gone even as he followed his mentor off, half listening to Gumlittle's explanation, half not.

Yep, something was up and he felt, more than ever, that he had a right to know what.

Tavi's Room

Corvi felt like he was going to throw up.

When Tavi had initially presented him and Cubbi with this magical book, it had been a scene of rejoicing. Finally, success! Though, it took Corvi a moment to get used to hearing a book talk, the book had offered much knowledge, allowing them to ask for something specific. They hadn't enough time to listen to everything. Tavi had told them that later that eve, they could listen more but right now, she needed at least SOME of it translated. Some of Emi Gummi's own testimony. Apparently, it was in Old Gummi, hence her need for Corvi.

Oh, Corvi had agreed, fully anxious to get something of consequence done!

He regretted it full heartedly now as he translated the first of many of Emi Gummi's responses.

He wondered briefly if he should have translated it at all. Surely no one Cubbi or Tavi's age…

But no, they would have found a way to squeeze it out of him. He could not very well leave them out now, not when they had commanded much of this search to begin with. Besides, he did not want to risk his mother's death being discovered, for the sake of his brothers. So, he sat here, in tavi's room, slowly reciting the words into common.

The question asked of Emi had been: 'Sister, did you willingly cause the death of your cousin, Naomi Gummi?'

Corvi licked his lips as he repeated her response into common: "Did I? Did I? Ha, how could I hardly do otherwise? Indeed, she, whole heartedly invited it! She, as well as all those others who dared deny me my right! My right to magic, to the mystical ability we are all blessed with! Did I kill her? Oh, I did! Shall I tell you more, my brothers and sisters?" Corvi did not add the sneer the book had added to her term of 'brothers and sisters.' The thought made him sick. He didn't look up at his younger comrades because he was sure if he did that he would lose his nerve to translate. "Oh, she was easy. She was the easiest of them all. She came to me willingly, claiming she wanted to help me. She, who had been given the ability to learn our birthright and I had not, claimed to want to help me! Oh, I was no fool! She taunted me, same as they all did, when they thought I could not see! I could see the way she watched me. I had grown weary of those accursed eyes. So, I set out to close them! She, for all her magic, had no strength at all! It was a thrill, to see _her_ at the mercy of another's whims. Her throat was easy to crush. I could feel her veins pulse under mine, trying to fight against me but for once _I_ had power, not her, not my aunt nor anyone else! Me! I was in command!" Corvi paused, to gather his wits and his strength. "Oh, she fought. She did! I believe I still bare some of her scars. She wretched loose of me once. Hmph, imagine, thinking she could slip away so easily from me. Did she think I was going to let her steal away without giving me what I wanted? I pursued her, down the halls. A broken chair limb served my purpose well, I recall. It cut well as any blade. Its unbroken end worked just as well as any club. She screamed, damn her, oh she screamed. Not for herself, not that would be too selfish-sounding for her I believe. It was her cub she begged for, her unborn wretch. Pleaded with me, she did, with every time I hit her. Even when she looked more blue and black than pink. Even when her breaths were more blood than air—"

"Stop!" Tavi pleaded suddenly.

Corvi did.

He looked up finally, seeing his younger comrades, shaking. Unbeknownst to him, he was as well. They sat there, silent for a long moment. Looking at the clock, it appeared only a half hour had passed. It had seemed so much longer. Corvi closed the book and handed it back to Tavi. "No more right now."

She just nodded. "We…need to finish this though."

Corvi nodded. As much as that simple translation had frightened him, it just drove home how important it was to get answers at any cost. Any cost. "I can meet you tonight. Slipping out of my bed at night isn't unheard of."

"Me too" Cubbi cut in. "I want to be here too."

Tavi nodded. The thought of having to do this on her own haunted her and on a whim, she hugged Cubbi tightly. She could feel him shuddering or was that her own body? She looked up and saw Corvi was already at the door. She thought to call after him but he was walking down the hall already. She wondered what caused him to take leave so quickly but she instead just focused on getting her breath back. She eyed the book in her hand and pushed it under her bed.

She had no desire to see it right now.

Sir Plucki's Office

"They are healing well?"

Gumlittle nodded. "Aye, very well, brother. They are still deep, still fresh but the healing had begun. Young Toni finds it a bit fascinating now." Gumlittle finally smiled "He asked if they would scar."

Blastus laughed a bit. They had a bit of time before the boys would be coming back down. So, the three brothers had gone to Plucki's office, to recap, to try and keep their spirits light. The boys' mudside romp had made them cheery but they had not forgotten their tasks and responsibilities at hand. Still, it was nice to laugh.

"Oh, what did you tell him?"

"I told him that time would tell." Gumlittle responded. "He seemed content with that for the moment."

They were about to address another issue when the door of the room was opened, rather abruptly. Corvi stood in the doorway, looking assuredly disturbed. He was breathing a bit hard, he looked pale in the face and there was a glint in his eyes that usually was reserved for those that had seen horrors beyond their reckoning.

Blastus instantly went to his squire's side "Corvi, what is it?"

The boy was silent a long moment then he set his eyes on first Blastus, then Gumlittle then Plucki, looking them right in the eyes. It was a serious gaze, one that was a bit intimidating. There was no anger in Corvi's tone though someone that did not know the lad might have mistaken his determination for that.

Plucki stood and joined Gumlittle at the boy's side. "Lad, what-"

Corvi's voice came out like a biting snake, though not without a tremble to it:

"What do you know about Emi Gummi?"