The book's ash grey cover reads. Picking it up testingly you realize this is a very thick book, easily thousands and thousands of pages in length. Someone has had a lot of time on their hands it would seem. You pull out the smoothly ornate wooden chair beside you and plop down with maybe not so much grace as you absently pick a middle page and read. The 'quotes' appear to be more like bits and pieces jotted down in a decidedly florid handstyle rather haphazardly.
The first few days of the year and of the week are the luckiest.
The seventh son of a seventh son has power over all diseases, and can cure them by the laying on of hands; and a son born after his father's death has power over fevers.
A whitethorn stick is a very unlucky companion on a journey; but a hazel switch brings good luck and has power over evils, save those the holder has himself.
Praise youth and it will advance to success.
Reputation is more enduring than life.
Character is better than wealth.
A hound's tooth, a thorn in the hand, and the fool's retort are the sharpest things of all.
The lake is not encumbered by the swan; nor the steed by the bridle; nor the sheep by the wool; nor the man by the soul within him.
Have sense, patience, and self-restraint and no mischief will come.
Better a good run than a long standing.
Cleverness is better than strength.
There is no joy without affliction.
Autumn days come quickly, like the running of a hound upon the moor.
Another book lays to the right, its cover is dusty green, perhaps that once was a rich forest hue. As you pick it up, trace the odd texture to the covering. Tiny bumps like braille stand up beneath your fingertips. Its skin, scaly and weathered, is like that of a reptile. A crocodile perhaps, or an alligator only on a much larger scale. There is a seal along the edge, climbing over in tendrils and twists like a black leather vine. It seems almost impermiable until you spy the letter beneath the hurly burly of lacing.
When the walker little knows.
While a book is quite the same,
Its reader's mind must not be ingrained.
Speak the words and we shall see,
If decide to open do we."
What the hell does that mean? Hmmm, another challenge. It must be something important if it's got a riddle to it. Wracking your brains for an answer you frown. Open and closed doors, that's strange. Most doors you've encountered so far were open...
Well, what to guess?