#earthrunes

A brow. "What is unnamed? Perhaps I could locate other volumes to aid your research, if I had.. ah.. more context?"

"It's... a bit complicated. See, there are seventeen stars, named stars that is, in the constellation Draco. But none of them came to me. Just the name of the constellation itself. Whereas, Polaris is a signature of Ursa Major, but it was not Ursa Major that I spoke of."

He pauses, and then looks a little uncertain. Wasn't he warned about keeping secrets away from the slithering folk? But then again, this isn't really a secret. Or is it? Should it be?

"Just a bit of research, that's all." He adds with a small smile.

"So... you read the stars, and seek to plumb their meaning? Draco, Polaris..."

He nods! "Sir Almandine helped. I believe it is a quest."

"Have you seen his workshop? It is incredible."

"Ah, yes. Quite."

A sudden curious glance at Bronte. "Miss Bookwyrm, you aren't in need of Rescue, are you?"

He sounds doubtful.

"Of course, Ailil is a dragon..." She looks over a shelf, slender hand hovering by the spines.

“It [Ashfair House] was an old fashioned house—the sort of house in fact, as Strange expressed it, which a lady in a novel might like to be persecuted in.”
― Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" Bronte shakes her head

"Yes, but if it was a person, perhaps a star within the constellation would have been more apt. I mean, there's Aldhibah, Alrakis, Alsafi, all the way to Tianyi. 'Sculptoris', not 'Sculptor'. "

He frowns as he flips pages. "Or I'm just reading too deeply. After all, Charon is a MOON." He shrugs.

"And Charon is the Ferryman who crosses the river of death."

A deep frown mars his face.

"I should go. I need to find my companions..."

A copy of Edith Hamilton's Mythology is set by Art's elbow.

Hesitating - new book?!

He carefully sets aside the book of stars and picks up the new one.

A second book - a paperback, some 70's translation of Brahe's "Astronomiae Instauratae Progymnasmata"

His nose already deep into the Mythology... but then he remembers and tilts it appropriately so that the Wyrm may have her due.

A sigh, "I wish my school taught Latin instead of just living languages."

"Manners maketh man" She approves and reads over his shoulder

"Latin is useful, aye." A grammar book is added.

He swallows, tempted. "Perhaps I might come back to read these? Oh!" Suddenly, realization. "Can you give me a list of recommendations? Then I can check the local library. It's not much, nothing compared to this, but they also have electronic copies of things, and a computer connected to the Gutenberg archive."

"Aye... copy these titles, then. They are mortal books. But... I believe we have one on kithain astrology..."

"Such a book exists?!"

Footsteps, heavy

He exclaims.

Probably audible in the hallway.

Zara smiles. "All books exist, young fledge, if you know where to seek them."

Bronte chuckles. No words, just a draconic chuckle

A head peeks in "Pardon me is.. oh, hi Arty" The troll has been here before. Native American Troll Dairean knights are just odd enough a mix to deserve notice from the spiders, "I was just looking for you. Pardon my intrusion, Miss" To Zara

"Dame Gladiola." A nod.

Quickly he starts making notes of the titles. "Gwen! You're done speaking with Sir Ivory? I just need to write these down..."

"Would you vouch for this fledge, were he to borrow some books?"

"You're not done yet? Arty we've been, well, hours..." Then she turns to the sluagh "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" A blush "Lizbet says I have terrible hearing for a troll"

"Wait - hours? I swear, I only just sat down...."

"While I am certain he may find copies with effort, I am willing to loan our volumes - with the word of one sained that they shall return ere Carnival."

Gladiola eyes Arthur. Lord knows, he's sometimes flakey, but then she remembers he saved the dogs as surely as she did, and she says "They'll be returned, and if something happens to them, I will find a way to replace or repay. Arthur loves books like I love dogs, and takes care of them like rare treasures. Do you need me to sign them out?"

Zara nods. "I have one more for him."

"I'll wait, actually, has anyone seen Thistle? " To Zara "She's a nocker girl, got the coolest hair and mood ring spirals in her cheeks"

"Oh, the shiny one. She is in the northeast hallway."

He winces a bit. "She was talking to a nocker, and then I saw someone heading this way with some books, and followed them..."

"Thank you. I'll go find her whiel you two finish up" Gwen nods, "And I'll be back to sign that stuff"

"Follow the cloud of Neverlanders."

Zara goes to a shelf of books that seem... different... to Art. They almost glow.

"What would a group of Neverlanders be called? A Troup? A Court?"

"Perhaps a host?"

He follows after her.