It was large and made larger by the thick leather bands and mismatched buckles that tangled the ebony-wood cover. Little effort had been required to rig shoulder straps from the mess. Other loops secured pans and a bedroll while the remainder kept the pages themselves sheltered from sun and rain.
Even without extra gear, the book was absurdly heavy. This weight, despite Zane’s low center of gravity and surprising strength, posed an obvious hazard to mountain travel. It should have been less than surprising when the book drew him quietly backwards over the ledge, but somehow Zane still looked shocked.
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