Page 56 of Legends and Librarians
Roan leaned over the well next to me. “I didn’t think that would work. All I did was tell the library about my past and how good coming here felt.”
I gazed at our reflections in the water. His red hair bright next to my dark hair. His strength next to my bookishness. We were an odd pair, but we looked good together. Happy.
“It does feel nice having you here,” I said softly. “I’m sure the library feels the same way.”
His eyes widened, but a small smile touched his lips. He shifted closer, his hip brushing up against mine. I froze, not wanting to ruin the moment, but he was giving so many mixed signals lately.
When we’d been stargazing, it had seemed like he liked me. Like he wanted more than just friendship. But after that? It was like he was a deer in an open meadow, startling at every little noise I made. I’d been starting to think I made the whole flirtation up, butI’d caught him staring at me a few times, like he was trying to puzzle something out. What was going on in that head of his?
Lisa gave me a knowing look as she leaned against the well. “So what’s our next step?”
Right. Focus on the library and deal with the butterflies in my stomach later.
“Clean the statues, find the wishing book, and officially sign up for the final ceremony of the festival.” I frowned, glancing at Lisa. “That last one has to be done in person at the main festival grounds though. Will it be okay if we leave?”
She rolled her eyes. “We survived without you two for years, we can handle another day.”
She might have said that, but her hands gripped her skirts a little too tight.
“You could come with us?” I offered. “Show the townsfolk how wonderful the story spirits are?”
Lisa froze. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, sorry.”
“Okay, no worri—”
A dragon swooped by, completely interrupting us as it dropped a tiny knight in the well with a loud plop followed by frantic splashing.
“You damned dragons!” the knight shouted, but it came out a little gurgled as his armor kept dragging him down. “I’m a knight! Not a bath toy!”
I clenched my lips together, trying to keep my laughter inside as I scooped him out. Water dripped out of his armor like a sieve. He looked like a drowned rat.
Lisa took that moment to study some very important books, smiling just a bit while Roan chuckled.
“Let me help you with that,” Roan said, laughter still in his voice.
The knight took off his armor, placing it along the edge of the well to dry as he searched the room for more dragons.
“They always get you when you least expect them,” he said with grave seriousness. “Never take your eyes off the skies, that’swhat my King always told me.”
The image of him dripping wet, but still trying to seem so professional was too much for me. A small laugh bubbled up and then more spilled out. The knight was a little red in the face, but then he joined in and laughed too.
“Want to help me get some payback, my loyal friends?” he asked.
“Depends what your idea of payback is.” I crossed my arms, studying him. “If it has anything to do with fire around the well we just repaired, that’s a hard pass.”
Roan gave me a shocked look. “You would leave a knight’s honor besmirched like that?”
Since when did he play along with the knights’ antics? Last I saw, he was locking them in the lending libraries like they were in jail. Something had changed for him. I wasn’t sure what, but I liked it.
“Of course I wouldn’t,” I said, holding my palm out to the knight. “Let’s go get your justice.”
The knight cheered and climbed onto my hand so Roan and I could chase down dragons with him. All in all, not a bad way to spend a day.
Chapter 20
Nyssa
In the end, none of the story spirits had felt comfortable coming with us to the festival except for the knight commander. And even he had only come after we promised that nobody would capture him in a jar again like a bug. He was currently hiding in Roan’s jacket pocket, only visible when he peeked out to look at our new surroundings.
