Page 36 of Must Love Libraries and Libations
“Be careful. It’s dark back there.”
“Half-elf. I can see well enough in the dark. So, how did this happen?”
“I told you there were things in this library that could not be disturbed. The Moonshine Hollow Library holds the grimoire of Witch Eyreaway. I have all of her spellbooks neutralized but one. And for the first time ever, one of her spells has escaped. We are now in its clutches until we discover what she wants. Mischief and misdirection were her specialties. The door will open if we figure out her puzzle. It probably responds to something absurd like good cheer or romantic tension.”
Miss Windsong chuckled, then gave me a knowing look. “Good thing the two of us don’t excel in either of those areas.”
Despite myself, I huffed a laugh, and something loosened in my chest.
Miss Windsong lifted a hand and murmured something too soft to hear. A warm violet glow unfurled from her fingertips like silk ribbon. It wove around the wine bottles, igniting a light inside of them. Soon, the whole room glowed with a soft, deep purplish-red shimmer.
It was beautiful.
“Just a little wine spell,” she said as if it was nothing. “The grapes are sharing their magic. And the color suits the room.”
It was the second time I had seen her work her gentle magic. The effect of it, much like on the nest, was stunningly beautiful. I watched as she stepped between the racks of wine with easy grace, her fingertips skimming over the dusty bottles.
“So, the witch gave us wine… You suppose she wants us to drink?” Miss Windsong asked, pulling out a bottle. “Moonshine Hollow Vineyards, circa… Oh my gosh! Erasmus, there are only five bottles of this wine left in the village. This bottle alone could pay for my cottage. Do you suppose this place was hers, somehow? Maybe she kept her wine stashed off in a pocket world and just summoned a door when she wanted a drink?”
“That’s quite possible.”
Miss Windsong slipped the bottle back and kept looking. “There are several Bright Sidhe bottles here. These bottles are priceless. Why would she have so many wines from Bright Sidhe lands?”
“Apparently, she spent many years in Golden Spires. No one knows what happened for sure, but the Bright Sidhe sent someone to collect her. There was a magical duel. Neither the witch nor the Bright Sidhe who came to arrest her was ever seen again. Only her small home and the grimoire remained. I was sent here to collect and neutralize the grimoire.”
“I’ve never heard this story before.”
“It is an old tale,” I said, then paused. “All my tales are old,” I added, my voice revealing more emotion than I had intended.
Miss Windsong looked at me. “There is nothing wrong with old tales,” she said with a soft smile. “Old tales like old silver often have the best sparkle…with a little polish.”
I chuckled lightly. “You always want sparkle.”
“Not want, see. I always see sparkle, even when others can’t,” she said, smiling softly at me. “So, white or red?” she asked, lifting two bottles.
“I…”
“Well, we’re going to have to think our way out of this one. Let’s get into the witch’s mindset. Plus, I have cheese, fruit, and muffins. And I always carry a wine screw and cups. It’s almost like the witch and I planned this party together.” She laughed. “So, white or red?”
“Red.”
“Red, it is. And Witch Eyreaway, whatever it is you want from Erasmus and me, you better start talking because I have a business to run. I have no time to wait around in a wine cellar all day. So, woman to woman, let’s get on with it.”
To both of our surprise, from the back of the wine cellar, soft music started to play.
At that, Miss Windsong laughed, and something low and light fluttered in my belly.
She poured two goblets and then handed one to me.
“To the Moonshine Hollow Library,” she said.
I nodded. “To the library,” I replied, then took a sip, my gaze on Miss Windsong.
She returned the look, her hazel eyes sparkling, and my mind began to think of a new story.
CHAPTER 13
PRIMROSE
