#earthrunes

..........

"Whee!" He says as they land/appear. Connor doesn't have to continue to hold Gerd's hand after the cantrip ends, but he does, because he wants to.

Gerd grins down "You never take it for granted" She tousles his hair "Thanks for that" They did not appear In the library. That's bad manners. But rather in the hallway on the way to it

"Now, shall we?" She gestures to the shadowy spot in the hall that seems to announce the library door

Is that.... skittering?

Pausing to straighten his tabard, his ears prick up. "Roo?"

"It's okay, the spiders here are mannerly" Gerd says "And they keep fliies out"

He checks his pants. "Flies up." A thumbs up to Gerd. And he goes to the door, and whispers "Knock-Knock!"

The Librarian opens the door. "Master Connor, Miss Gerd. Good afternoon."

"Oh, sorry, no, I'm no master, I'm just a good boy." He bows. "You know Gerd?" Eyes wide. "Do you know Everyone?" Awed.

"I do. Please, come in. Would you care for tea?"

"Miss Zara is elder witch to me" Gerd says and says so respectfully. She enters in "Tea would be lovely, thank you, Miss Zara. How are the ladies?"

"I would care for tea if I know how to care for it. I mostly care for horses, and now goats. And I would care for a sandwich but we don't have a beach, so I care for my sister-witch instead. And I care for you!" Beaming at his friend from early days, and his chatter canted to a quieter tone - he has learned well from Lilly!

Zara smiles. "I think that can be arranged. Please, sit." A gesture.

He checks the chair before sitting, to make sure that he's not sitting on anyone - many cats around RV, and you only ever sit on Lovecraft ONCE.

Zara serves tea - well, tea for herself and Gerd, but Connor's cup is mostly milk.

(Fresh milk!)

He sniffs it thoroughly. Not as if he expects something foul, but exploring the smells of the cup and the tea. And a sip, his tail wags - pinky up unnecessarily high - wait, that's the wrong pinky, he's just holding his hand in the air... well, the thought was there.

Quatre is sent to find Ivanka, to ask for sandwiches.

Connor returns to his chair, after he slid off to lay on the ground and peep an eye under the door, watching the spider skitter off in awe. "Golly."

"You know how to find anything, don't you? With all of your friends."

Gerd says "thank you" At the tea. She admires the library "More books"

"I have my particular talents. Do you have aught that is lost?"

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Bronte chimes, sing-song.

"Hello, Bronte, I brought Tribute" She offers up a slim book

"Ooooh. Bronte!" A brief aside as Connor tells the little dragon about her cousin Red Chief. More or less. Gerd may need to correct a few mistakes.

Bronte listens, thrilled! And oh, she CLUTCHES that tribute in her little claws.

"But oh, I wanted to ask you." He ducks his head a little shyly. "I'm on a question of utmost secretly. I'm hunting for scavengers and I need to find pieces. And I thought this place is nice and big, maybe you'd have a piece I need."

And off it goes. Gerd looks back at Zara and smiles "I wish we had a library like this at the lodge."

But then she silences so she doesn't intrude on Connor

Connor, of course, already chattered about that to Gerd on the way! And then slyly refused to answer any more in depth questions except with a grin.

SWORN TO SECRETLY

"Well, perhaps we could discuss starting a library there? I would be happy to help."

"Oh, that too! Please, we don't have any books at ALL."

"Oh, at all?" Brows.

A nod. "Only the ones that show up around Yule, oh, and by the way, those would be good with horses in them next time, too please. I mean, if you know anyone. Who leaves books."

"The Mountain has a study" Gerd corrects, "A corner with a book shelf near a desk. And he's very generous with it"

"But a library is a room with a door."

"To keep the quiet from escaping."

Gerd looks amused , "My focus today is on aiding Connor, Miss Zara . I do thank you though."

Ivanka taps lightly on the door frame. She caries a tray of little sanwhiches

"Ah, Miss Ivanka - thank you."

Sammiches are served! "So - what is it you are searching for?"

A few sammiches on a smaller separate plate of purple, only 3 of them, are ..slightly molded, and put next to Zara's tea. Ivanka serves everyone from the proper side.

He looks thoughtful. "I had an idea, and I don't wanna say. Because it might not work, but it might maybe will? But I need pieces to put together that make sense, then I am going to ask a powerful wizard how to make it go."

"Well, I am more a witch than a wizard... but I could, perhaps, help."

"I think... from here? This is one of the biggest places I know, with the most rooms. So, I wanted to find...." Dramatic pause.... "A DOORKNOB!"

"...or maybe a key? A key might work too."

A blink from Gerd.

An eyebrow.