The Library (The Librarian of Alexandria Book 1) by Casey White (surface ebook reader .TXT) 📕

 Owl nodded sagely.  “Of course, of course.  And I do appreciate her...efforts.”

He knew the truth, even if Olivia wasn’t putting it to words.  Hell, Olivia might not even have pieced it together, depending on how tight a ship Indira ran.

Her guildmaster?  The woman she looked up to, the one guiding them all along?  She didn’t have a clue about reality inside the Library.  According to all the records he could find, Indira had never been inside Alexandria as a guest - and from what he’d been able to glean from his predecessor’s journals, he was pretty sure she’d never made the trip under his watch.  Her information was secondhand at best.  Which left her poor assistant fretting over magic, indestructible books.  He shook his head again, looking to Olivia with a hint of pity in his eyes.

“Anyway,” he said, and forced himself to stop fidgeting.  “There’s no need to worry.  I’m not hurt, Alexandria isn’t hurt, and despite his best efforts, Lenny isn’t hurt.  Everything has worked out.”

“You’re right, of course,” Olivia said, clasping her hands in front of her.  “Yeah.  I just...We’re so sorry.”

“Don’t trouble yourselves over it,” Owl said, and started to step forward.  His arm came up, ready to take Olivia’s arm and guide her back out.  “He didn’t mean to be trouble, and it was nothing I couldn’t handle.  Now, if that was all, I should-”

“A-Actually,” Olivia squeaked.  The heat washing over her skin settled in splotches of crimson, brighter than he’d have thought the woman capable of.  “I-I was thinking.  Um.”  Her eyes flicked to the double doors leading inside again.  “Do you...Do you think I could-”

“You want to see inside,” Owl said, his expression going wooden.

Olivia froze.  “Oh.  Is...crap.  It’s that obvious, is it?”

Yes.  Absolutely.  “I’ve...learned the signs,” Owl said instead, making a face.  “Look.  I...I’d like to, but-”

“Only, I’ve never actually seen it,” Olivia said.  Her shoulders hunched higher with every word.  “I mean, Indira hasn’t either.  That’s what she said.”

So she did know, then.  Owl nodded approvingly.  Good on Indira for at least being honest about it.  “Well, if-”

“But she’s got these stories,” Olivia said, her eyes lighting up.  “From the other scholars.  The older ones.  They keep talking about grand temple walls that go on forever, and towers climbing into the sky.  And the books, of course.  All of the books.  They write about it like it’s a dream, a piece of their imagination given life.”

Owl shrugged, a smile on his face as he watched her go.  “That’s one way of putting it.”

“I just- I want to see it,” Olivia said, deflating again.  “With my own two eyes, not words on a page.  I won’t read anything.  I’ll only take a peek.  So, uh.  Librarian Owl?  Do you think I could-”

“I’m really sorry,” he said quietly, wishing the floor would open up and swallow him whole.  “Only stamped and validated guests are allowed into the Library itself.  The Booklenders are allowed into the entry, so that we can communicate, but...”  His words trailed off.

Except for Leon, of course.  The seed of worry planted deep within his mind started to blossom.  If she found out...if Indira found out...

Olivia nodded, lifting a hand to run it through her hair.  “Right.  Yeah. Of course.” She flashed him a grin, quick and embarrassed.  “Sorry.  I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Owl said, latching onto the conversational save.  “It’s a fair question.  And...I’d probably be curious too.”  He grinned, then realized she’d never see it.  “It’s lovely.  Really.  I know, uh...telling you isn’t the same as seeing it.  But it is.”

The flames on the candles overhead burned brighter, filling the entryway with warm light.  Owl snorted.  Is that all it takes to flatter you?

“It sounds wonderful,” Olivia said, her eyes going misty.  “Maybe...maybe someday, right?”

He nodded, still smiling from behind his mask.  “Maybe.”

She thrust her hand toward him.  He jumped, recovering a heartbeat later.  “Thank you, Librarian,” she said.

He chuckled.  “Owl is fine.”

“I guess,” she said, cracking a crooked grin.  “I don’t know that calling you that is any easier than using your title.  But...it was my pleasure to meet you, Owl.”  Her eyes twinkled.  “Again.”

He reached out, wrapping his gloved hand around hers, and squeezed gently.  “The pleasure is mine,” he said - and hesitated.  It wasn’t exactly regular, but...he was the Librarian.  And her being in the entryway wasn’t hurting anything, was it?

Besides, she seemed nice.

“You should stop by again,” he said, still frozen in the handshake.  “If you need to deliver more candidates, that is.  Can’t let those out of your sight, and all.”  He chuckled.  “It gets a little...quiet, here.  I can’t let you in, but-”

“Thank you,” she said, her eyes widening.  Her smile grew.  “I’d like that.”

And so would he, Owl realized.  Guests were all fine and good, but...that was work.  He couldn’t remember the last time Owl had spoken to someone casually, rather than Daniel.  As more than just a nameless figure in a mask.  As a friend.

He liked it.

“Be sure to pass all that on to Indira,” he said, clearing his throat and releasing her.  “She doesn’t need to worry.  Alexandria is fine, and neither of us are upset.”

“I-I will,” Olivia said, stooping for a moment to gather up her papers.  She thrust them toward Owl, the sheets only a little haphazard.  “Thank you again.  Really.  For your understanding.”

“Of course,” Owl said, and just like that, whatever had held Olivia in place finally snapped.  She spun, turning back around, and sprang for the front door.

Owl watched her go, watched the light flare around her until all that was left was a darkened silhouette - and then, nothing.  He watched the door slide shut, the entryway seeming oddly dim after the blinding glow.

And then he chuckled, tucking the stack of papers under one arm, and hurried back into the Library.

- Chapter Eighteen -

His arms ached.

Owl rubbed at them, making a face toward the towering bookshelves around him.  Alexandria was in a grand mood, it seemed - he’d never