#earthrunes

"There IS reason to worry."

"Ah - a magnet, then? That would explain it."

"I would watch that one, Dame. A brght light may draw monsters as easily as moths."

"There was this giant bird that tried to swallow her hole. If it wasn't for Gwen's and the Baron's dogs, and Dame D'Lorean..."

"Though, she DID drop a tree on it's head too."

Gladiola frowns "I seem to be less suited to charges than I hoped"

Then the troll shakes her head "That aside, the fledges aquited themselves well. They're a very efficient team"

"Gwen thinks she has to be everywhere for everyone all at once."

Fornax babbles to himself, "Word. Wordwordwordwordwordwordword."

Bronte nods approvingly, then eying the children's section, flutters down, and returns with a book which she lays out before Fornax to smell, and yes taste

Art looks back to the Librarian. "I thought he was doing well, all things considered. But... we should worry?"

Horton Hears a Who, in fact.

And Bronte takes her claw over Fornax's, and guides him to how to open the book

"Dame Galdiola is a troll, young Master Arthur. That is what their nature is. Understand it, and be well with that."

"He is not dead. You are doing well."

It takes a few tries for him to grasp the idea. Then most fumbling as his stunted claw-fingers have trouble with the page. Once open, though, he buries his nose into the fold of the opened book, and inhales the crisp scent of ink and paper with big whiffs of evident enjoyment.

"Didst I hear an audiobook as you entered?"

Gladiola grunts ("It's when I AM there that I seem to end up ruining things of late")

Zara sniffs at Gladiola. ("Troll")

"Oh, yes. That was Thistle's brilliant idea. He seems to like being read to... that is, I mean, who doesn't?"

The library door creaks open and someone enters, deeply engros
sed in the book he is reading.

"That is not a bad idea, I don't think... ah, August? Thine step, be mindful?"

"On the 15th of May, in the Jungle of Nool, in the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool, He was splashing... enjoying the Jungle's great joys, when Horton the Elephant heard a small noise"

Bronte's voice is pipe like, in a pleasant way, as she begins to read to Fornax, having him enjoy the smell and feel of each page, and then reading it to him

The book lowers as his body freezes in mid-step, one knee still up and his foot in the air.

Gladiola blushes lightly as someone has taught Zara the Troll way of talking. She feels a bit exposed now

But then she sees the Baron, and bows

"It behooves a Librarian to know many languages, Dame."

August .... cannot return the bow, not without falling over.

"Yes, Miss Zara, I am more concerned that I'm a poor guest in my grumbling"

"Baron? Oh. Oh! Hello there! I mean, Greetings, Lord." Art stands, almost-but-not-quite jostling the table where the Wyrms perch, and bows to August.

Zara hides her mouth with ehr hand, amused.

Bronte keeps reading, page 3, the stuff gets good

Not that she doesn't adore August, but the affairs of nobles and knights pale before the import of a bookwyrm learning the joys of literature

The handsome baron with his hair falling over his forehead clears his throat. "Miss Zara.... what is loose in the library?" he balances.

"We have guests, August."

"May I help you with your load, Baron? This is Arthur, FLedge of Silverwolf. I'm Dame Gladiola of same"

Fornax turns his head to follow as the pages are turned, not seeing them so much as following along with the voice and motion.

"Yes, I see that." softly "And thank you, Dame, but it's just a book. Zara, what am I looking to avoid?"

"Just a book?" Art blurts, looking somewhat offended.

"I had hoped to have thee not collide with the trolless. Which we have successfully avoided."

Fornax's claw is sometimes guided to do the turning, but gently.

"Folks who collide with me normally are the ones who get bumped" Dame Gladiola observes, then looks to Art "Arthur, don't read the worst into a phrasing, please."

He has trouble, but has the spirit, even though he must use both foreclaws, and nudge it along with his snout!

"Word!" Peeps the misshapen draconet.

"There is a Bookwyrm colony not so far from Silverwolf."

"is there a way to heal his defects?" Gwen asks "It's amazing he's alive, but if we could make things easier for Fornax, we'd like to"

"Mmm..." She considers. "Some may correct themselves naturally. Some may be accommodated through devices or therapy. I could, perhaps, call upon mine arts to see potential futures for this creature."

The baron lowers his foot. "Ah. Well, thank you. I was worried I might have trod on one of the ladies... but I should know they are too nimble for that. Greetings all. I'm August Truthbranch."

Art frowns a bit. "He might have a bit of trouble, but is he really defective? I don't think... I think Thistle wouldn't like that to be said of him. She thinks her own work is... flawed, and worthless. Can't we look at what's good about him? I mean, he survived. Persisted! That alone is a marvel. I wouldn't throw away a book for having a broken spine or a torn page..."