He laughed at her renewed enthusiasm, producing the key to the Vault and opening the door cautiously, checking to make sure no books were waiting just within the portal to leap out at them. "Then by all means, let's go," he said with a grin. He paused briefly as talk shifted to the blight, humor fading as he nodded curt agreement with her opinion, clearly rather personally affected by the topic, though still willing to discuss it and answer her questions. Zariah was not a better topic, but Ingrid's joke earned a pained smile. "Maybe. I'd rather she went back to being vanished. But since that isn't possible, we can at least enjoy the distraction of a good book. I haven't found an opportunity to get drunk in one yet, but that doesn't mean such a sentient book doesn't exist! Perhaps enough searching in the Atheneum will uncover one that includes a drinking contest," he teased. "Or an eggplant-growing contest!"
He led her to a shelf that was mostly empty but for a single slim book with a faded blue cover, bound with heavy ribbon and chained to the shelf. It quivered slightly as they drew near - or maybe that was a trick of the light? Ingrid was about to be in for an exciting first day with her new Guild!
{Fin}
He led her to a shelf that was mostly empty but for a single slim book with a faded blue cover, bound with heavy ribbon and chained to the shelf. It quivered slightly as they drew near - or maybe that was a trick of the light? Ingrid was about to be in for an exciting first day with her new Guild!
{Fin}
