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

the ripples of his laughter echoing across the entryway, Olivia’s shoulders drooped - then rose precipitously.  “Oh, come on,” she said, starting to flush.  “I’m trying, here.”

“Do you want it that bad?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Really?” she said.  “You’re telling me that if someone told you there was a giant magical library right there, lurking right out of reach, you wouldn’t want to get in and see it?”

“Well, I-”

“Bullshit,” she said, then clapped a hand over her mouth.  The color that’d started to rise in her cheeks exploded across the rest of her face.

“Language,” he said, his laughter growing.  Softly, but growing in volume, he heard the two guests joining in.

“You know what I mean,” she muttered.

“I do,” Owl said.  “I think I get it.  But the rules haven’t changed, I’m afraid.”

Her expression turned mulish.  “Even if I ask nicely?”

“No.”

“Even if I just wanted to peek in and-”

“No,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.  The two visiting scholars were starting to fidget, their eyes flitting between Owl and Olivia.

“Fine,” she said, flashing a crooked grin at him.  “I suppose.  You can’t keep it secret forever, you know.”

“Really, I can,” he said.

“Fine.  Fine!” she said.  “I suppose.”  Her smile softened.  “Who knows.  Maybe one day I’ll come here for real.  Fair and everything.”

“Oh?” Owl said, brightening.  “Then you’re-”

“Do you really think Indira would let someone hang around the Booklenders without having the qualifications to earn it?” Olivia said, and it was her turn to raise an eyebrow at him.  “I’ll have you know I’ve been waist-deep in historian business for almost ten years.”

Owl paused, looking her up and down.  She didn’t look like she could be much older than him, and he was only twenty-one.  “Bullshit.”

The two visitors jumped at his curse, going wide-eyed all over again.  Olivia didn’t flinch.  If anything, her grin spread wider.  “Okay, I’m rounding up,” she said.  “Sue me.  I know my stuff.  I’m not gambling on anything, mind, I’m just saying maybe.”

“We’ll see,” Owl said.  “Your qualifications will be the judge of that, if you really want to visit.”

“I’m not afraid,” Olivia said.

“No, you’re certainly not,” he said, his voice low.  The very air around her reeked with confidence - but was it deserved?  Was this all just a mess of bravado, or could she back it up?  It was hard to tell, through the veneer of raw ambition that seemed to ooze from her skin.

She’d seemed so shy, before, he thought wistfully.  So polite.  And then all of that had vanished so quickly.

“A-Anyway,” Olivia said, twitching as though coming back to reality.  As though finally realizing exactly where it was they stood, and why she was here.  “We really do hope that this stay is a positive one.  And if you ever need it, I’d-”

“I’m still not mad at the guild,” Owl said.  “You can tell Indira that.”

She grinned again, stumbling back a step.  “Yeah.  I will.  Thank you, Librarian.”

“Owl.”

“That.”

Her steps slowed, though, until she came to a stop a few paces out from the doorway.  The two guests were starting to whisper.  Owl glanced back at her, his amusement growing.  “Out, Miss Olivia.”

“I was thinking maybe I could just-”

“Out.”

She rolled her eyes at his order - and at his finger that jabbed out, pointing toward the exit - but she turned and started plodding toward the door without another word of complaint.

He watched her go, still amused.  He knew what she’d wanted - no doubt, she’d been hoping that he’d let her hang around while the two new scholars slipped into the Library.  She’d probably been hoping for a glimpse of the interior, the prize he kept yanking out of her reach.

No such luck.  He waited, patient as time itself, as she came to a stop in front of the Library’s exit.

“Thank you again,” she said, and this time, the smile she offered him seemed both real and free of snark.

He inclined his head toward her, spreading his fingers in a tiny wave.  “Good night, Olivia.”

Her eyes twinkled.  “Good night, Owl.”

And then the light blasted out across the entryway, and he was alone with the two scholars.

They stared at him, wordless.

Owl stared at the door a moment longer, desperately fighting the urge to run his hands through his hair in sheer exasperation.  For the first time in forever, he felt like he’d been thrown off balance.  His routine was ruined.

Well.  The first time in forever, if you didn’t count the fact he had outsiders popping up around his halls as they pleased.  He exhaled, letting his breath whistle between his teeth, and tried to collect himself again.

Outsiders in the Library, and guildmembers with dreams beyond their station.  He chuckled, shaking his head.

Well, at least things promised to stay interesting for a while.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said, turning to the two visitors.  “Just a bit of...just a few things I had to straighten out.  I’m assuming you’re Alan and Dylan, yes?”  At their nods, he smiled.  “And I’m assuming you know Indira and the guild?”

They exchanged glances.  “Just...a little,” one said, the taller of the two.  Alan, if he was remembering the picture attached to the biography page correctly.  “A note saying we’d been selected.  That’s about it.”

“Yeah,” his friend that had to be Dylan echoed.

“Good.  Yeah,” Owl said.  Get yourself together.  Don’t let her throw you off base like this.  There are guests here, damn it.

When he stood, the floor beneath him creaked gently.  He glanced down, taken aback.  That was odd.  You good? he whispered silently.  Sorry.  I know I delayed too much.  I’ll get them squared away.

Before the two guests could say another word, he bowed, sweeping one hand toward the door leading in.  “If you’ll come this way, we’ll get you settled. And I can explain a little more.”

Owl glanced back as they trundled toward the door, though, casting a look at the entry hall that’d so-recently been full.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.  Everything looked normal.  Everything had sounded normal, once the too-eager Olivia had departed.

But somewhere