The Librarian
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” - Cicero
“Want to come to the library with me?” Hailey asked her newly appointed conversation partner in her ParaCommunications class.
Giselle contorted her face. “I hate libraries,” she grumbled. “Too many bookworms.”
She only answered because she had to, otherwise she’d get a low mark in class participation, and she’d already failed the class three times. She’d made it clear that she wasn’t happy about having a conversation partner, but then Giselle wasn’t happy about anything. At least she hadn’t asked Hailey where she’d slept last night…which reminded her…
“Giselle, where were you Monday night? You never came home.”
“Working.”
Hailey jerked her chin back.
“Really? Where?”
“I had the night shift at the hospital,” she said airily.
Of course! That’s how she knew about carnivorous splinters.
Hailey tried not to shudder as she imagined Giselle’s bedside manner.
“And by the way,” Giselle continued like a snob, “I wasn’t home last night, either. Obviously, you weren’t there to notice—where were you?”
Well, that backfired.
“Were you sleeping with Pádraig?” Giselle jeered.
“No—I didn’t—it was—” Hailey sputtered, and then she huffed in frustration. “I got shot by a poisoned quill.”
“Really. I didn’t see you in the hospital.”
“Asher fixed me up.”
Giselle crossed her arms and bared her top teeth. “You mean he made you his slave.”
“No, he just fixed me up.”
“Envoys are all about balance. They don’t just save people without getting something in return.”
“Well, this one did.”
“Then he must be losing his mind.” As soon as she said it, she slapped her hands over her mouth and ducked. She looked around, terrified for several seconds before bowing her head, sniffling, and pulling a string of silk from her eye.
“Are you alright?” Hailey asked.
“Asher scares me,” Giselle answered softly, and Hailey gently patted her back.
“Remarkable!” trilled Professor Mum loudly as she clapped her hands and rushed over to the girls. “You two are a model of human/non-human cooperation.” She beamed. “Everyone!” she called, and the whole classroom turned to see a frozen, wide-eyed Hailey patting the back of cobweb-faced, whatever-the-heck-Giselle-was. “Observe.” Professor Mum motioned to the girls. “This is what a cross-creature friendship looks like!”
Hailey turned stiffly to Giselle, who turned to Hailey, looking as shocked as Hailey felt. Hailey stifled a giggle. And Giselle actually cracked a smile.
“Well, non-humanfriend,” said Hailey at the end of class, “you sure you don’t want to come to the library with me?”
“I hate you,” said Giselle, but she was only mildly wrathful as she walkedout.
“Hello?” Hailey called softly as she finally stepped over the threshold of the Bear Towne University Library. An impossibly large shadow-clock spanned the ceiling, hands silently twitching. “Hello…” Hailey sang again, though she wasn’t sure why—it was a public library.
