Thankx to all my reviewers!! U rock! Also, the poem (by me) is also on this site under "Dragon Desk" it is only slightly different
Lirael could not believe that Sabriel did not know of Clariel or much of Isabiel. Her older sister was very smart and well studied. This was the result of her upbringing outside of the Old Kingdom.
Although it was not easily visible, Lirael could tell Sam was tired from the spell. He was silent and brooding almost. Sam had grown up greatly during the time of Orannis, but he was still sometimes childish. Lirael mentioned dinner, and Sameth quickly came downstairs.
"Lirael?" Sam called the next morning, "I think I've found something."
Lirael rushed up to the library. She had barely slept that night, trying to figure out what to make of the desk. "What is it?" She called.
Sam held out a large book, it was bound in a midnight blue silk, on the silk, there were silver keys, the Abhorsen's symbol. "It is a book about the Abhorsen's house, written by a man named Toggom. I believe, that he was the son of a Wallmaker. Inside, I found a poem. It was written in the margins, so, it wouldn't be found in any other copy of the book."
He held out the book, it was open to a page. The writing on the page was devoted to the Abhorsen's study, but, in the margin, there was small, spidery writing.
The dark red wood
Shining in the light
Of a thousand lanterns
Lit with a subtle magic glow
Marks dance
Over the wood
Making it seem alive
On the legs
Dragons curl
Their feet touching the carpeted floor
Their steamy breath
Heats under the desk
So real
You think it will catch alight
The wings of the dragons
Are leathery and huge
If wood can be leathery
Yet you do not think of the dragons as wood
No
They are almost alive
You expect them to breathe under you touch
To fly away
You expect their breath to be hot
Burning you hand as you touch it
But it does not
The charter marks dance
Over all the dragons
Marks of strength
Marks of secrecy
To hide the truth
Of a betrayal
Deep
That is why the dragons are there
To hide from eyes
The secret
The shame
Of a fallen Abhorsen
Lirael, read the poem several times before she understood the meaning. "Was Clariel, an Abhorsen?" She half asked herself.
"Look," Sam pointed to below the poem, "There is more, see that mark," there was a single charter mark, "That tells you what you must do to open the desk."
Lirael glanced at the mark, it was strange and unfamiliar. She could not make out what it said. Unless, it was asking for a bell, because that mark was one that could mean the seventh bell. Astarael, the weeper, the bell that killed all who heard it.