The old man shook his head.<br/>"No, this doesn't help. There is a rite in here... it was written by a man called Maelden, somewhere inside the eleven hundreds." The old man's voice took on a lecturing tone quite easily, even in the midst of his fear.<br/>"It might help. Or it might not. It might even make things worse. Either way, you yourself would be irrevocably damned. Or perhaps cursed... the writings are unclear. I tried to see one of the guardians about it but I was refused entry... I think they are upset as well."<br/><br/>The guardians. Another group fighting the dark, amazon-like women with odd abilities and an unrivalled library. They were reclusive but helpful to those who had proved themselves, as Daniel's group had time and again. For them to cast him off suggested serious problems of their own.<br/><br/>The priest rose shakily to his feet and turned to look at Daniel, his old eyes as clear as they have ever been.<br/>"I don't like it. This has the feeling of the tip of an iceberg... I think there are big things moving underneath this, Daniel. I think this one is important."<br/>He hesitated for a moment, then with a sigh dropped the book on top of the box, then limped towards the church doors without another word.<br/>