#baronyofthesilverwolf

The little silly who was decorating earlier with it's hands, now is doing the same with little foot prints!

Of course that means that when they land, there will be little clay footprints everywhere

"THISTLE?!" The clay reverie is interrupted by someone opening the door without warning, and a rather distraught Art looks in. "Thistle, you in here?"

"*&^%$%$!!" A light flares and pops as she exclaims in surprise.

"Oh, Art. Hey!" There are at least a half-dozen pots and bowls arranged by her, and she's halfway through a seventh.

"I can't find the sisters!" He says plaintively. "Where could it have gone?"

"Sisters?" She blinks.

"Briar and Gwen?"

"Oh, wait, Linnea and Danica?"

He shakes his head, as though the rattling will get his thoughts in place. "No no, not them, 'The Spheres Know more than one Song' - my book about the seven sisters constellation... it's not in my chambers where I left it. I'm sure I left it there!"

"Did you check the library?"

He nods! "I checked in case it got shelved with the books for repair..."

"But not there?"

"Maybe someone borrowed it?"

"I don't know... but I have to find it. It belongs to the library, and if I lost it, Gwen will kill me!"

"Nope. She wouldn't kill you " Dame Gladiola says

He spins, and looks up at the tall stone troll. His easy manner stiffens a little, and he bows to the Knight. "G- Dame Gladiola."

A nod "I wanted to read the book for myself but i thwasn't been avaible since we brouht it. I wanted to see if was wortth that mcuh of of use to more than just one of us"

A touch of a frown. "You made me think I had lost it. Why didn't you just ask?"

"Are you kidding me?" She raises a brow

He swallows, but stands his ground. "A proper library allows readers to check out books. I hadn't finished reading it yet... I wasn't going to KEEP it, but I needed to see how the details progressed in chapter seven when they started speaking of the composition of the dwarf stars..."

"Afte a while, long enough wait, whether you MEAN to keep it or not, you end up keeping it. It's an interesting book, and the ties between the Dreaming and stars might just be useful. That said, you DO remember you were asked to get books, plural, for the library? Not for you alone, Did you even think of kids books for Rochallor or blossom?"

He blinks, and... has the grace to look a little guilty. "There are many kids books in the ones we are repairing. This was a one-of-a-kind treasure that shouldn't have been passed up."

"You gave me the money and trusted my judgement in picking out the purchase. If you didn't want me to do so, you could have shopped for them yourself." He points out.

"You need to think of your tribe first and hold first rather than what furthers your own wants or desires first. Yes. I trusted you with the task of getting books, PLURAL from that sale. I told you books, LARGE S a the end. If it weren't for Thistle we wouldn't have had anythhing from that sale but ONE book that so far, only you were allowed to see. I don't know what your title will or won't be, but if it' of higher rank, then you need to realize that GOOD leaders look out what their people need, bad rulers think only of what THEY want. I gave you money because I knew the library was important to you and because Fledges need lessons.. Consider this a lesson and next time you are in a similar situation, remember what what I said about thinking of our village"

Her voice is firm, this isn't a debate.

He gives her a stiff bow. "Will that be all, Dame?" Making eye contact somewhere around her shoulders. His pale complexion flushed red with embarrassment at the public scolding.

"No, it isnt, Fledge" Dame Gladiola says and offers the book to him "You said you weren't done. You can have it back, of course, i's not MY book either, but if you are willing, I know a scribe who can make a copy... "

"Probably take him a week"

He hesitates, then accepts it. Another bow, the same height, but this one a bit less begrudging. "Uh. Thank you, Dame."

"You're welcome, Arthur . DID you want a copy made, and if so, when should I take it over?"

"What does it cost to commission a copy of a book like this? It has illustrations, as well..."

Opening, flipping to find a page that had particularly enthralled him, a diagram of stars in the sky...

"The copy won't be a pretty" she admits

"Then - if you please - request only the text to be duplicated? I will find a way to commission an artist for the rest, or find a way to make a chimerical copy. Maybe Thistle could wrangle a copy machine into submission..." Thoughtful... he said that as a joke, but now he looks intrigued by the idea.

"Don't pressure her too much" the troll advices

"And okay. " SHe takes the book back "I'll drop this offer today then"

He is a little wistful to see the book go, but he tries not to show it. "Thank you."

"They'll keep it safe and as soon as it's ready I'll bring it back"

"And you're welcome" She nods and moves off

Where can I find a used scanner? Art wonders, as he heads out himself...