"Ah well, there's a first time for everything, I suppose," he gave back, his smile a crooked mirror to hers. "But I thank you for your care with the texts. These are currently one of a kind, and I do not like to contemplate losing them." A tendency for destruction she might have, but he hoped she might be able to turn her time to learning how to create as well. She was already showing herself a deft hand at protecting, and he was deeply grateful to have her assistance in his task. If the world ever slowed down enough to allow them the pleasure of it, he hoped they could continue the music lessons, perhaps add dance or some other trade, things that she could build and see for herself what she was leaving behind to make the world a better place.
Sam... the Ascended's house was empty, the gentle bookmaker disappeared and Jigano didn't know where. It was one more mystery, a worry that he held close, desperately hoping that he could find time to slip away and brave the Greatwood, since his efforts to search the Outskirts had proven fruitless so far. Or maybe the Underground...? Sighing, he shook his head and handed Kiada a few last books.
"The problem with traps as that they can catch the innocent as well as the inimical," he explained with a wry smile. "If Zariah dares to send her guards down here, I wouldn't shed tears if they got themselves caught in a sentient book for a few months or years... but it would be very bad if some of my Loreseekers came to check on the hall in my absence and got themselves 'eaten' or injured. Though... maybe just one book, here in my office..." he murmured, eyes glinting wickedly. "No one should be poking around in here without my permission anyways. Between the Gorgon and the Lich King there are two ways for them to get caught up in an unfinished tale and locked in the book. If I put a riddle on the door that should serve as a warning to my Seekers, and I doubt anyone else would understand its meaning."
He nodded and turned to the sacks, beginning to stack the piles of books that Kiada had wrapped gently into their cloth bags. "What sort of traps would you suggest, to hamper foes but leave friends unhurt?" he asked curiously.
Isuma found Auni's company a balm that went from soothing to exciting as their game picked up, the two small creatures able to move freely through the room with their size and quickness, setting up a clatter and peeping of playful banter that made a pleasant background to the more serious work going on in the office.
Sam... the Ascended's house was empty, the gentle bookmaker disappeared and Jigano didn't know where. It was one more mystery, a worry that he held close, desperately hoping that he could find time to slip away and brave the Greatwood, since his efforts to search the Outskirts had proven fruitless so far. Or maybe the Underground...? Sighing, he shook his head and handed Kiada a few last books.
"The problem with traps as that they can catch the innocent as well as the inimical," he explained with a wry smile. "If Zariah dares to send her guards down here, I wouldn't shed tears if they got themselves caught in a sentient book for a few months or years... but it would be very bad if some of my Loreseekers came to check on the hall in my absence and got themselves 'eaten' or injured. Though... maybe just one book, here in my office..." he murmured, eyes glinting wickedly. "No one should be poking around in here without my permission anyways. Between the Gorgon and the Lich King there are two ways for them to get caught up in an unfinished tale and locked in the book. If I put a riddle on the door that should serve as a warning to my Seekers, and I doubt anyone else would understand its meaning."
He nodded and turned to the sacks, beginning to stack the piles of books that Kiada had wrapped gently into their cloth bags. "What sort of traps would you suggest, to hamper foes but leave friends unhurt?" he asked curiously.
Isuma found Auni's company a balm that went from soothing to exciting as their game picked up, the two small creatures able to move freely through the room with their size and quickness, setting up a clatter and peeping of playful banter that made a pleasant background to the more serious work going on in the office.
