Page 5 of Dragon Compelled
It’s all I can do for him now, so I force myself to try. Even if my thoughts are always precariously resting on the edge of panic.
After re-steadying my constantly fraying nerves, I take my seat back behind Hoc’s desk and stare at the screen displaying a shelving request. The moment I do, the nausea I’ve been living with returns.
How to choose which books get shelved in our library was something Hoc never had the chance to show me, nor do his memories offer any insight, and the backlog as I painstakingly stare at each of the requests grows with every single second. Dangerous books are a no-brainer. Magical novels that contain creatures who would otherwise cause death and destruction get locked down tight.
But how do you decide when the line is not so easily drawn? When it’s not black and white but rather a shade of grey?
That’s what I’m currently giving myself a stress migraine over. Playing eenie meenie miney moe seems a deadly game when dealing with magical creatures who could potentially destroy the world.
The door opens, and four male gnomes jump up onto my desk. Ted, Ned, Zed, and Fred are identical in every single way, ranging from their matching white hair and long, white beards to the clothes that they wear. Dark slacks and blue shirts that are made from light, breathable material and offer them freedom of movement—and believe me, they can move like acrobatic ninjas when they want to.
Key words: when theywantto. They can also be insanely lazy and temperamental.
The four of them have been a part of the library’s defense system for as long as I can remember. Apparently, gnomes age slowly and live way longer than any other creature I know. Despite their mischievous ways, the quadruplets have always been there when I needed them. Right now, all I need is for them to be somewhere else.
“What do you want?” I ask, snapping the words a bit ruder than I meant.
Ted narrows his gaze at me, and I note his pointed hat stained with something I’d really rather not know about. “You’re moody.”
“I’m busy. So, if you’re here to point out the obvious, see yourself out.”
“We want candy,” he says. “You haven’t fed us candy in weeks now.”
“I’ve been busy,” I repeat. “Get your own candy.”
“We can’t,” Ned argues.
“Then ask Blossom.”
“She said no,” Zed chimes in, pouting.
Something in me snaps at yet another person’s request. It’s all I do these days. Focus on what everyone else wants. They want a book in the library? Fine. They need to check a book out? Okay. They want permission to browse the stacks? Be my guest. The gnomes want candy? Well, they can get their own this time. “Then what do you expect me to do?” I yell, slamming both palms down on the desk. Irritation turns to anxiety in my chest, and I take a deep breath. “I cannot do everything, and if you haven’t already figured it out, I have enough on my plate!”
Ted stumbles back a step, his eyes widening as he stares back at me in surprise. That surprise quickly turns to anger, though, and his little cheeks flush with color. “You promised us that you would take care of us. Yet, lately, you work us even harder to make up for the fact that you’ve sent your other keeper on secret missions. Now, you have the nerve to yell at us?” He looks to the other gnomes.
Frustrated beyond belief, I do the only thing I’ve managed to master as head librarian. I raise my arm and conjure a portal. It swirls into life before us, and the gnomes stare at it before turning to me. “Then go. There’s your ticket. Leave. Get your damned candy yourselves; then come back.”
“We can’t leave,” Ted snaps. “It’s against our vow. You know this!”
I lower my arm, disengaging the portal. “Neither can I.”
“Hoc always got us deliveries,” Zed pouts.
“Well, I’m not Hoc. Getting you candy is not an ability I have right now. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m barely breathing.”
Ted shakes his head. His expression is one of anger, but I can see the hurt lurking in his eyes. “We don’t have to take this. Let’s go.” He turns back to me and scoffs. “Rude girl,” he sneers as he jumps from my desk. The others follow.
“Rude?” I all but explode out of my chair. “I am working non-stop to keep this place running smoothly, and you’re in here harassing me about candy! As if that’s important!”
He glares at me. “To us, it is. And we used to be important to you.” Then they storm out of my office and slam the door.
I sink back down into my chair and press a hand to my heart. My chest aches, a constant pain I’ve grown used to. I wanted so badly to prove myself. To keep this place running smoothly so that, when Hoc returns, he’ll be proud of me.
Yet, here I am, failing every time I turn around.
The gnomes are pissed and overworked.
Blossom is handling the job of two keepers.
