Page 68 of Legends and Librarians
“What do you think, Misty?” I asked as I leaned against a bookshelf. “There are three new people in the library and everyone’s working hard to help out. I know they’re not really patrons, but that’s gotta feel good, right?”
The great book tree glowed softly as a book with a vibrant yellow cover flapped over, landing in my hands like a sign. A smile tugged at my lips.
“I’m taking that as a yes,” I said, hugging the book to my chest. “I’m glad. We’ll keep trying our best to make this festival work.”
It was the only thing we could do right now, and deep down,I really believed it would all work out. The library’s magic was slowly being restored and the town wouldn’t let this library fade away, not once they realized it was full of wonderful story spirits and remembered all the happy times they’d spent here. I couldn’t be the only one who’d had a great childhood between these shelves.
Lisa flexed her hand like she had a cramp and the knights were slumped over, nothing but crayons holding them up. Maybe it was time to call it quits.
“I think that’s enough,” I said, joining them at the table. “Don’t want to overdo it or anything. The posters look great, so we’ll put them up around town and see if it helps.”
“Does that mean”—Theo glanced around the room, leaning close to whisper—”we’re good with the golem? That it’ll show us where to pick flowers now?”
Isolde swatted his shoulder. “We don’t even know if these will help yet. Let’s ask after the festival, once we know how things turn out.”
I was starting to like her more and more now that she was enjoying the library so much. I’d seen her earlier, wide-eyed and full of excitement exploring the stacks. It wasn’t much, but she was one more person we’d won over. One more person who would say good things about the Misty Mountain Library.
“Of course,” Theo said, nodding. “We’ll tell everyone to come here for the festival too instead of going to the library in town. Once they hear about the golem yanking me off the ground and running around to show me the mountain, they’ll be hooked.”
I winced. “Maybe let Isolde tell the story?”
Her and Anya grinned. “We will. You can count on us.”
They stretched and stood up, meandering over to talk to Lisa and the knights. I should probably serve everyone tea or snacks or something after all their hard work. I headed toward the stairs that led to the small kitchen upstairs when a noise froze me inplace.
A soft knock at the main door followed by a creaking sound as it opened.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice called out. “I’m here to return a book?”
Wait, somebody was here toreturn a book? That was something so normal, but extraordinary at the same time. It was almost like we were a regular library! I hurried toward the door, but paused when I sensed the unease coming from the story spirits. They glanced at each other warily, whispering things I couldn’t hear.
They were probably nervous about random people showing up. Especially after the kids, adventurers, and even those artists who had all tried to harm them in one way or another.
“It’s okay,” I said, “I’ll go talk to her and if she’s not actually here to return a book, I’ll send her away. Nobody’s going to hurt the library again, not while I’m here.”
Lisa nodded. “Let us know if you need anything.”
I gripped her arm as I passed by, trying to promise her it would all be all right. Then I made my way to the entrance to find a woman around my age with bright red hair, taking a half step into the library, then back, as if she couldn’t decide what she wanted to do.
She didn’t look afraid though. No, I recognized that look in her eyes.
Pure unadulterated wonder.
I’d seen the same look in my own eyes whenever I caught a glimpse in the mirror. The library had that effect on people who loved books.
“Welcome to the Misty Mountain Library,” I said, holding out my hand. “I’m Nyssa, the head librarian.”
The woman finally stepped inside fully, glancing around as if waiting for something to happen. Then she shook my hand. “I’mWillow. Nice to meet you.”
“So, you said you have a book to return?” I asked, trying not to sound too excited at the idea of helping an actual patron. Our very first one! “Did you check it out before the library closed? Those late fees are going to be astronomical.”
She laughed with me, wandering farther into the library. “I’m actually returning it for my Gran so she doesn’t have to climb this mountain again. She said a librarian lent it to her a few days ago. Was that you?”
I glanced at the book clutched in her hands, noting the colorful dragon cover. “Do you mean the apothecary?”
“Yeah, she told me some crazy story about dragon nip and said I should read this book before I returned it for her.” Willow laughed again as she handed me the dragons’ book. “I think she just wanted to give me ideas for the story I’m writing and knows how much I miss this place.”
Wait, so the apothecary had not only sent us a writer, but also somebody who missed the library? No way, that felt a littletooperfect.
