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

The pair shifted, looking from the pile of shards, to the table.  And back to the shards.

Come on, Owl willed.  Buy it, you assholes.  It’s not that far from the truth.  Just-

“I suppose,” Alan said finally.

“Y-Yeah,” Dylan said with a nervous chuckle.  “I guess.  I mean, this place is crazy.  I guess that makes sense.”

“Don’t bother yourselves over this,” Owl said, waving a hand at the mess.  “There are plenty of tables.  I suggest you settle in somewhere less...sharp, and I’ll see about cleaning it up.”

Dylan scurried away, snatching up his books one after another, but Alan’s steps were slower.  He glanced back toward the mound, his eyes narrowing.

Owl’s breath caught in his throat, his fingernails digging into the palm of his hand as he reinforced his mental image.  No matter what Alan pulled out, he’d counter it.  An ache built in his temples, like someone had grabbed hold of his head and squeezed.

And then the pressure faded, and Alan turned and trudged away.  His eyes were dark, though.  Contemplative.

Owl stared after him for a long moment, frozen.  In that instant, he knew - he couldn’t leave Alan alone anymore.  The man was too close - and having a guest in the Library who could access Alexandria’s magic without being trained in it was just too risky.  Too dangerous.

If the worst came to pass, he might even put Dylan at risk.  Owl’s mouth went dry.

“Let no harm come to any who-”

Owl whirled, eyes going wide, but the study was empty behind him.

The woman’s voice lingered in his ears, though, low and soft and serious enough his chest burned.  He stood there, letting the last echoes of it fade, then turned and stalked for the door.

This time, when he strode out of the light and into the shadows of the hallway, it was a relief.  He needed a solution - a way to get Alan out of Alexandria without tipping the man off that anything was out of the ordinary.

He laughed sourly.  He needed a damn miracle.

A narrow door lay ahead, ancient and dark with centuries of hand-oil and lacquer.  Again, Owl shook his head.  Him.  The Librarian.  Fetching a broom.

His hand hit the latch - and a pale face appeared around the corner of the hall beside him.

“Owl?” Leon whispered.

Owl exhaled, his shoulders slumping.  “Head on home, Leon,” Owl said.  “Sorry.  I don’t think I’m going to be able to-”

“I don’t care about the stupid exam,” Leon said, drawing closer.  “I’ll- I’ll come back tomorrow.  James wanted to look up some new mix recipes, anyway.”  He grinned, but the expression was tight, strained.  “You can make it up to me then.  What’s going on?”

Owl pulled the closet door open, grabbing the straw-topped broom that waited within.  I’ve got all the knowledge in the world at my fingertips and a fortune of magic at my disposal, and I’m stuck as a damn janitor.  “It’s a problem with the guests,” he whispered.  “That’s all.  Just...Just a problem.  I’ll handle it.”

“Can I help?”

Leon drew closer, his eyes wide and his face pale but without even a trace of fear in his expression.  Owl glanced up to him, then away.  The closet door shut with a gentle click.

It was nice, he thought with a wry smile.  Nice to have someone standing here like a rock, steady in the storm.  Nice to not have to worry through this entirely alone.

Is that why you brought Leon to the Library?

He waited, fingers sliding against the wood broomstick, but his only response was a faint glimmer in the candles.

“Owl?” Leon said.  “I-I’m serious.  If something’s going on, I’ll...I’ll do what I can.”  He made a face.  “Which, okay, it’s probably not much, but, uh...maybe I can do something.”

“Thanks,” Owl said, turning back for the door to the study.  “I appreciate it, Leon.  Might take you up on that.”

Leon’s eyes sparkled.  Owl groaned, holding up a hand.  “Not yet,” he whispered, licking his lips.  Alan had been in there too long.  Couldn’t leave their guests without supervision - but he needed time, too.  He needed the space to work through this and find a solution.  “Just...Just give me a minute, and...”

And what?  He’d find a way to dissuade the insanely-focused man from his prize?  He might as well ask for a miracle.

Leon waited right where he’d been left, peering around the corner in the murky dark of the hallway.

Lifting his head high, Owl set his jaw and strode for the study door.

“I’ll figure something out.”

- Chapter Twenty-Three -

Owl grabbed a book from the shelf, glaring at it like an enemy.

And then he turned, stalking back toward the study.

How had it come to this?  He sniffed, tucking the book under his arm.  He’d planned everything so carefully.  He’d kept Alexandria on the tracks for so many years.

It’d all gone wrong so quickly.

He’d deal with it.  He’d make it through.  He jogged back through the doors, pretending he couldn’t feel Leon’s eyes lingering on him from the shadows.  Alan and Dylan sat at their tables, oddly quiet.

With any luck, they were quiet because they were working.  The reason why they were here, versus playing around with more magic.  He’d been trying to get them back on task since the whole mess started, hours before.  Which was why-

“Here,” he said, hoisting the book aloft.  The two scholars looked up, their eyes widening.  He smiled darkly.  “I overheard the two of you discussing the project.  I thought this might help.”  He set it down on the table between them.  “It’s-”

“A census!” Alan said, stiffening.  His eyes lit up, with sparks all but flying free to scatter across the table.  “Oh.  Oh, is that-”

“Will this get your research moving again?” Owl said, folding his arms.

Alan didn’t respond.  He’d already scooped the book up, burying his nose in it until all that could be seen was the top of his head.

Dylan snorted, grabbing his partner’s notes and sliding them free.  “Oh, you’ve done it now.