Free The Book of Magic by T. A. Barron

flames. Even so, as Tamwyn learns, there is still great bravery within her—as well as undiminished hope for her people. Fraitha, like Gwirion's wife, Tulchinne , often wears a heavy shawl woven from hurlyen, a sturdy red vine. She plays on an amber flute, which makes a deep, resonant sound that is reminiscent of the music of the Spiral Cascades .
    Ghoulacas
    These winged beasts were bred by the sorcerer Kulwych for just one purpose: killing his enemies. Although they are not very intelligent, they are dangerous—and are feared throughout Avalon , no less than the magic-eating kreelixes were feared in Lost Fincayra . The huge birds' wings and bodies are nearly transparent; only their bloodred talons and curved beaks are easily visible. Their screech is loud and terrible enough to freeze the hearts of their prey. Those who somehow survive their attacks, such as Kulwych's warrior Harlech , have scars to show for it. Because the ghoulacas' loyalty to Kulwych springs entirely from their fear of his wrath, there is always a chance that they might abandon him in the face of some greater terror. Even so, these killer birds are savage warriors who often battle to the death.
    Grikkolo
    Grikkolo, one of the last survivors of the dark elves' brutal civil war, lives in hiding amid the ruins of the ancient library of Dianarra, the Lost City of Light in Shadowroot . Slim and wiry, he resembles a wood elf (such as Brionna) in form. But his silvery gray eyes are quite different: They are very large, practically the size of a hen's eggs, and allow him to see well in the dark. His back is severely bent, causing his tunic to billow around his chest. From his head sprouts white hair as thick as a bed of ferns.
    Grikkolo speaks in an erudite manner, for he is deeply learned. He is, as he explains to Elli and Nuic , always hungry—not for food but for information. That is why he originally came to the library. And why, although he has lived by himself for many years, he never feels lonely: He has countless friends—all the books that surround him. Yet he also cares deeply for the world outside his library. For that reason, even though he views himself as timid, he decides to do something extraordinarily brave to help Elli's quest.
    Gwirion
    … Gwirion is not actually overheated. He is, instead, far too cold.
    Gwirion is a winged man with dark brown, shaggy skin that resembles the bark of a burned tree. Like the rest of the Ayanowyn people, the fire angels, his eyes are also deep brown. He whistles low, wandering notes when he is thinking. He is bald, like his sister, Fraitha , and his wife, Tulchinne . And his body temperature when Tamwyn meets him—as they are fighting for their lives against giant termites—is so high that the young man thinks Gwirion is dying of fever. But Gwirion is not actually overheated. He is, instead, far too cold.
    For the Ayanowyn people have fallen far. Their soulfires, called llalowyn, have dimmed so much that they no longer flame. Instead of the bright orange, winged beings they were long ago, when their great leader Ogallad led them out of the stars and into Avalon , they are now flightless creatures who resemble smoldering charcoal.
    How did this happen? Greed and intolerance were the causes. As Gwirion explains, "We told ourselves that only we knew what was right and good. At the same time, we started thinking of the Great Tree as our land, our possession, to exploit and use however we liked. We grew wasteful, destructive, and shortsighted. We burned forests to clear land for grazing our captive beasts, even if it clogged the air and sullied our streams. Then we moved on to other forests and did the same, over and over again."
    Gwirion longs for the return of his people's most wise and glorious days, the time before their decline. That time was known as Lumia col Lir—the Age of Great Light—and is revealed by the storypaintings in the caverns and tunnels of the Middle Realm . Even more, he longs for the