“But if that’s the case, why has he been safe in my room?” asked Ceri. “Why can’t whatever’s there approach him when he’s inside?”
Idris frowned. “No idea. I guess we’d better go find out.
Ceri had worried there would be some sort of embarrassing answer tied to their flirtation, but the true answer, it turned out, was Ana.
“There’s fairy magic here, or something exactly like it,” said Alison when she entered the room. “It has that same feeling of invitation I felt a few months ago.”
“Oh, that was me,” said Ana shyly. “Just something my dad taught me. I don’t really know how it works, but he said it’s for keeping me safe, and I should perform the ritual everywhere I sleep. It’s a little bizarre. You have to rub this serum over the doorway and chant something in the fairy tongue. It’s really hard to pronounce; it’s kind of like speaking backwards. I’m actually excited that I did it right. He’s going to be really proud when I tell him.”
She handed a vial of sparkling liquid to Idris, who opened it and gave it a sniff.
His eyes bulged from the strength of it. “At least ten different flowers and a lot of alcohol.”
“It’s keeping Leo safe?” asked Ceri.
“Probably. Fairy magic is beyond me,” said Idris.
“Thanks, Ana!” Ceri gave her roommate a hug. She was still a little awkward at it, but showing affection was beginning to feel more natural.
“Are you heading to the library?” asked Ana. “I’ve got a paper to start for Ancient Languages. I could come with you and help during my breaks.”
“That would be wonderful,” said Ceri. She sighed with relief; although she was still worried about Leo, it felt like they were starting to get somewhere.
Everything felt a little more possible with the help of friends.
Chapter Twenty-Six
POETRY IN MOTION
Alison
The fireplaces in the library had been lit by the early Sunday evening, and it was a good thing too: it was getting so cold in there, Alison’s hands were shaking trying to keep the books open.
Keir helped her move the pile of books and sketches Weyland had done of Leo’s objects to a well-worn couch and coffee table right in front of the fire where Willow was already sleeping. Then he’d brought them a heavy tartan blanket he’d packed from home and a steaming hot cup of tea for good measure.
There were men, and then there weremen, and Keir was the latter.
They had split their time during the day between Professor Marin’s lab, where they were able to transport all of the power-savers for further testing now that the ‘lectrics were back, and the library, where they continued pouring over books, looking for answers to Leo’s predicament.
They hadn’t been able to come up with much regarding the lighter. Dean Whittaker had answered some questions for them in between supervising repairs, but he hadn’t been present for the fire itself and knew little more of it than they did.
They’d had a little more luck with the doll thanks to Professor Marin, who had recognized it from the sketch as the kind that had been popular when she was a girl hundreds of years earlier. It gave them a place to start.
The language in the books from that time was nearly incomprehensible, even with Professor Marin’s help. The professor of Ancient Languages wasn’t available, unfortunately. He was down in Norgate lending his strong orcish muscle to the flood repair cause. Ceri’s roommate Ana had only just begun her studies and wasn’t able to offer much help either, although she had attracted the attention of the star flagball player, who had overheard their conversation and wondered if she’d help him with their paper. Alison had enjoyed watching the young couple flirt from a distance even if Ceri disapproved.
“I don’t get it,” said Ceri as she joined them by the fire. “I don’t see the appeal.”
“There’s nothing wrong with having different taste,” said Rinka, pulling up a chair. “If he were older…”
“Don’t tell me I’d have to compete with a flagball player for your affections,” said Idris.
“Just because your father is so insufferable about sports that you two hate them doesn’t mean they aren’t good fun,” said Rinka. “I, for one, am looking forward to the first game.”
“Anything new from Leo?” asked Keir as he passed around more cups of tea.
“He’s in the library too,” said Ceri. “I told him the books the library had suggested for us, and he’s going through them as well.”
The library had been less useful than usual in its recommendations. It kept hitting Alison with poetry books, and while she appreciated its encouragement, she couldn’t seem to get it to understand that it wasn’t her top priority at the moment.
