#earthrunes

"Absolutely."

She gives the sluagh a look and a little smile.

A wary look, and a protective hand on the bookwyrm's shoulder.

Bronte gives the sluagh a nuzzle, perhaps misunderstanding.

A little laugh. "You're going to make me ask it outright, aren't you. Well, fine. Zara, I've already asked August, and he agrees. Would you be willing to come to EarthRunes, to work as August's assistant here?"

"Come... here?" Her eyes widen.

The bookwyrm perks up, and eyes the many books almost territoriality now

A nod. "Here." Her smile slips to something more serious. "You can share in the joys of this library, something I cannot do in the same way. I have not the love of books that August does. You do." A shrug. "And as you note, these treasures need a good guardian."

After all, when it comes to books, what's Zaras is hers too.

"I would help with the library, of course, I am doing that now..... but..."

She frowns, grey lips twisted in an unhappy knot.

"But...the Hollow offers better?" A pointed look.

"But.... no, I am nothing at the Hollows. That's not..."

A mutter, "The more I hear of these Hollows, the less I like it."

"Then what is it?"

"My family..."

She gives the sluagh a puzzled look. "They would not allow you to come here?"

"They would, if I wanted. But it... they're my family."

"I...don't understand. Are they any less your family if you come here?"

"No..." She frowns again, fingers knotting together. "But they... it..."

Coradel is clearly puzzled.

"They're my family."

She shakes her head. "Zara, you're going to have to spell it out for me, I think. I don't see how having a family interferes with you being here."

"I.... I don't want to move here."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh. Oh!" Realization. "I see. Well...hmm...."

"I said I would help organize, and I will. It's... it's a very lovely library..."

A nod, and a bit of a frown. "Well...thank you for that. I suppose...the offer stands, for now, should you change your mind."

An inaudible murmur, apologetic, as her eyes slide away. Her bangs trail back across her face, and she allows them.

She looks around at the books. "I just know August thought it was an excellent idea when I suggested it. Well...at any rate..." A pause. "Thank you for showing me around these." She turns and heads back out of the secret library into the library proper.

Zara squeezes her eyes shut. "Aye."

Bronte bumps Zara's head lightly, "Of all the words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been"

"Oh, you do not understand, little one. Be glad of it." A soft sigh of regret.

Bronte does look confused, but just nuzzles her sluagh.

Coradels footsteps can be heard fading from the library...but she also turns off the light as she goes.

click.

and Bronte says "Should I bite my thumb at her?"

"No. No. It's fine."

She goes back to her cataloging - but is gone by the time August returns. A neat little pile of papers on the desk, but nobody can quite say they saw her leave.

(end scene)