The table Samuel pointed to looked sturdy enough, and there was even a nearby stool that had been a chair at one point, before the back had been broken off. Jigano nodded his agreement and braced as the other man joined him. Between the two of them the book was no trouble at all, though the slender bard was glad for the help. The tome’s size made it awkward, and its age made him especially loathe to risk dropping it. With Samuel’s help, however, it was easily moved and set into its new home. Jigano grinned at his companion, taking up the thread of conversation once more now that their precious burden had survived its journey unscathed.
“Learning is never silly,” the white-haired man reassured his new friend – for Samuel certainly had the makings of one! – with a smile. “Learning things is very much part of what I do, and who I am. I’m a Lorekeeper by preference, or a bard by any other name. Oral and written traditions are both passions of mine… though… most of my written collection was lost when I came here.” For a moment his smile faded, genuine regret robbing his expression of the charm he’d been maintaining for his new acquaintance. He shook it off quickly however, letting his smile return, albeit a bit wryly.
“I have some academic knowledge of herbs, though, yes. Not that it does me much good.” Again the grimace, and a shrug of his shoulder. “Some few things here I’ve recognized, but much has been strange to me. A lifetime of knowledge about my own world… less useful than the raw paper my scrolls have become.” Long fingers flickered, indicating dust cast to the wind. “Now, it seems, I must begin almost anew. But I couldn’t have asked for better luck in running into you. A scholar and a bookmaker? I would almost suspect the meddling of these strange local gods, if it didn’t make so much sense to run into someone like you in a place like this.” His smile returned, sincere if not as strong as before. “But tell me, please, do you only make copies, or do you write your own work as well?”
“Learning is never silly,” the white-haired man reassured his new friend – for Samuel certainly had the makings of one! – with a smile. “Learning things is very much part of what I do, and who I am. I’m a Lorekeeper by preference, or a bard by any other name. Oral and written traditions are both passions of mine… though… most of my written collection was lost when I came here.” For a moment his smile faded, genuine regret robbing his expression of the charm he’d been maintaining for his new acquaintance. He shook it off quickly however, letting his smile return, albeit a bit wryly.
“I have some academic knowledge of herbs, though, yes. Not that it does me much good.” Again the grimace, and a shrug of his shoulder. “Some few things here I’ve recognized, but much has been strange to me. A lifetime of knowledge about my own world… less useful than the raw paper my scrolls have become.” Long fingers flickered, indicating dust cast to the wind. “Now, it seems, I must begin almost anew. But I couldn’t have asked for better luck in running into you. A scholar and a bookmaker? I would almost suspect the meddling of these strange local gods, if it didn’t make so much sense to run into someone like you in a place like this.” His smile returned, sincere if not as strong as before. “But tell me, please, do you only make copies, or do you write your own work as well?”
