Page 27 of Killian
“Threatening a library scribe,” said the scribe primly and wrotethatdown.
Moira growled. It was an impressive rumble, and Killian had to admit that it kind of turned him on.
“Yes, thank you, Nakia,” said the Head Librarian. She was a stern-faced woman with her white hair piled into an elaborate braided structure. “Let us perhaps try a different approach.” She leaned forward and spoke loudly at them. “Why. Are. You. Here?”
“I cannot with these people,” said Moira, turning to Killian. “Your turn.”
She folded her arms across her chest and glared at the Head Librarian as if daring her to try to engage in conversation. Killian took a deep breath. He thought he needed to make the librarians listen, but they wouldn’t if they thought they knew all the answers.
“We are messengers,” said Killian.
“From who?” demanded the Librarian.
Killian didn’t think mentioning the amnesia situation would win them any points, so he stalled.
“Well, that is the question, isn’t it?”
“Yes!” snapped the Librarian. “One that I have just asked!”
“And I would gladly answer it, but perhaps we should let the message speak for itself.”
“All right. Deliver the message.”
“It is a letter. It’s in one of our bags,” said Killian, pointing.
“Oh, indeed!” sneered the Head Librarian. “And you expect us to just open the bags willy-nilly?”
“Uh, I was planning on doing it, actually,” said Moira. “Considering that they areourbags.”
“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” she demanded, thumpingher staff on the floor.
“Uh,” said Moira looking at Killian in confusion. “Yes?”
“Is there something wrong with opening our bags?” asked Killian looking around the room at the stony faces.
“Aldus on level six,” Cynog whispered sadly. “He opened a bag, but it was booby-trapped.”
“Holy shit!” exclaimed Moira. “Is he OK?”
“No, he is dead,” said Cynog, with his customary wide-eyed bluntness.
“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. Is there anything… OK, no, obviously, we can’t help. Um. Here. We’ll open the bags, and then you’ll see—”
She stepped forward but was blocked as two guards lowered their spears.
“They’re also afraid you have weapons in the bag,” said Cynog.
“Well, then we’re kind of at an impasse,” growled Moira, glaring at the guards.
“I have a solution,” said Killian with a sigh. Moira was not going to like this.
“We’re listening,” said the Head Librarian.
“Moira is my love and my mate,” he began.
“It’s so true!” said Cynog beaming, and the Head Librarian visibly rolled her eyes.
“She is more valuable to me than my own life,” Killian added.
