Heliodor and Neen studied the book intensely while Sliver floated from one side of the alcove to the other impatiently.
"It's definitely ancient that's for sure," commented Heliodor as he gently turned a fragile page. "This has to have come from the vaults."
"How did it get here then?" asked Neen.
"Perhaps the Keeper is not dead after all," replied Heliodor.
"So what does it say?" asked Sliver, unable to contain himself any longer.
"It doesn't say anything, it's a catalogue," replied Neen. "It's just page after page of dates and places followed by tallies and grid references."
"It's not a catalogue it's a record of the genocide of the orcs as perpetrated by the humans in complicity with the elves," replied Heliodor. "The place names are ancient orcish towns and villages that have not existed for two thousand years. The tallies are accounting for the dead and the grid references are the sites of the mass graves. My worst fears are realised, Gravlok was telling the truth."
"That cannot be true," said Neen shaking her head.
"Why do you think all the historic records of the great wars are kept in the vaults? The orcs did not die out naturally after the wars like we have been lead to believe over the centuries. They were systematically exterminated."
"He is not going to stop until he has raised every single orc is he?" asked Neen.
"He's not going to have the chance. We know where he's going so let's go stop him. I want that mother of a hobgoblin dead!" urged Sliver.
"It's not that simple little assassin," replied Heliodor. "The grid references are encrypted in some type of code. Can you decipher it Neen?"
"No," she said shaking her head in frustration.
"I bet the Keeper can. I think perhaps it's time to go and visit our friend Kio again," said Heliodor grabbing the book. To his surprise however it did not move! He tugged at it again, but still it did not budge until finally he was pulling at it with all his strength. "It has to be some magic from the vault," said Heliodor his brow beading with sweat from the exertion.
"Fantastic! Now we have a book we cannot read and cannot move. If I don't get to start shooting somebody soon I am going to start picking off gnomes!" groaned Sliver in frustration.
"Killing my brethren will not help this situation," said Vassal who had appeared unnoticed at the entry to the alcove.
Heliodor walked over to the old gnome and knelt down in front of him in a poor attempt to appear less intimidating.
"We need your help Vassal. We need you to get us into the offices so we can see Kio."
"Kio cannot help you. Only the Keeper can help you."
"But he knows who the keeper is doesn't he?"
"No. Nobody knows who the keeper is. The Keeper must be kept safe at all costs."
"Do you know where the Keeper is?”
"Yes," replied Vassal reluctantly.
"Then we need you to take us to him."
Vassal wrung his hands together nervously. He had a small brown leather satchel hung over one shoulder and he grasped at it suddenly like it was a childhood security blanket. He appeared about to speak, but instead started to pace backwards and forwards mumbling to himself in his own language.
"Vassal! We don't have time, we have to stop this now and we need the help of the Keeper," urged Neen.
He stopped pacing and looked her in the eyes as though searching for something. The pained expression on his face made him look like he bore the weight of the world on his little shoulders. He exhaled deeply and loudly and in a moment of firm resolve walked over to the book. He carefully un-slung his little satchel, stood on the tips of his toes, grabbed the ancient tome, lifting it with ease. The book was far too large for his satchel yet it seemed to shrink as he placed it gently inside. All three of them stood dumbfounded and speechless.