#earthrunes

Folks in the hallways of Earth Runes go about their work happily. The Baroness is a joy to work for, and more importantly, they respect her. Delores is a fair manager of affairs, and there are a LOT Of affairs at Earth Runes. Boggans and Nockers tend to day to day repairs. Trolls are the bulk of the guards and security . And artisians of all kiths can be found.

Charity smiles as a bookwyrm shoots by, starting to wave at Bronte, only to realize... That's not Bronte

No, not it is not, a bit larger. The script along the wings in different patterns

And in the library, Bronte, at the seat of her hoard, looks up from reading 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', sniffs the air, and grows cautious, unfurling her wings. It's another female. This is not a mating attempt. Another Bookwyrm is here to challenge her for her hoard, a part of it- tribute, or perhaps, all!

Bronte rose up on her back legs and spread her wings, and gave a traditional warning to the incoming challenger, almost roaring “If we win here we will win everywhere. The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.- Hemmingway"

This is the chance for the intruder to back down, to pay tribute if she wants to approach this time in peace, but no, she came prepared to fight, and rejoins "“When you have seen the errors in which you live, you will understand the good that we have done you by coming to your land by order of his Majesty the King of Spain. Our Lord permitted that your pride should be brought low and that no Indian should be able to offend a Christian.”
― Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human societies" The intruder challenges, now at the door.

Bronte hears the quote, her draconic eyes narrow "Feh!"

And the battle is on

The older bookwyrm has the advantage of a few extra decades, decades of study and research, of seeking out books from near and far, and taking them to her own hold. Codexa, for that is what she is called, comes on strong

Quoting less known works from Thomas Payne, and throwing Bronte off.

To the crowd that gathers, the rules are a bit hard to follow. They do not understand that the battle is guided under rather INTRICATE nuances , traditions that take into account 'worthiness' of sources, obscurity of nothing burgers matters little, but greater writers minor works are deadly weapons.

Bronte loses a point

"What is this?" A hiss.

"Careful, Miss Zara" Says Charity politely "They're in some sort of duel... I don't understand it all, but I am a boggan and I can tell you it's too late to stop now"

Her social dynamics works on bookwyrms it seems.

"This is my library, and I am the Librarian." A firm statement, claiming the Name. No cantrip, no, but with the authority of one who fully understands their power.

Codexa takes a moment from the duel to bow her head in a little bob, but must answer Bronte's rejoinder... and Codexa guesses "Thomas Chestre"

And guesses correctly

Bronte looks up at Zara, flutters to her briefly, licks her ear to assure her, and then returns to the duel

Narrowed eyes at the interloper. Bronte gets a little eye-ridge scritch when she lands.

Codexa challenges "“I am unstable, sometimes melancholy, and have been called on some occasions imperious; but I never did an ungenerous act in my life. I sympathise warmly with others, and have wasted my heart in their love.” No cite.... that's for Bronte to figure out

As if Shelley would be a stranger to Zara's friend and boon companion!

Indeed, THAT was a mistake by the intruder, and Bronte not only quotes the authoress, but the book 's title "Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley "

Bronte rejoins now with her 'attack' "Horror and fatality have been stalking abroad in all ages. Why then give a date to this story I have to tell?"

Alas, Codexa has noticed many of the books in the library , and has the answer not so far away and so speaks instantly "Metzengerstein
Edgar Allan Poe"

Zara's keen eyes notice this. Codexa is surveying the goods of the library not just as a raider seeking bounty, but as a scout seeking intelligence

Zara bristles. The Library is often an oddly welcoming place, of tea and quiet and dust and reading nooks. But The Librarian is now ired, and hostile.

Shadows cloak the shelves, obscuring titles in mystery.

This place holds no welcome for Codexa. Oh, it could have - but that chance seems to have been squandered.

Codexa notes this "Oh Bother"

Sluagh do have ideas about manners. And it seems that initiating combat in her domain is a breach of etiquette.

Instantly, Bronte says "Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A Mine" and grins with needle teeth

Codexa sputters, that was NOT meant to be her next attack/query, it was just an observation, but the ancient laws are clear (To bookwyrms anyway), it was spoken aloud, it was fair game!

Vince, leaning against a chair in such a way that his silk robe gaps just slightly to reveal toned thighs, catches a glimpse of the interloper eying the bookshelves!

It is a GAMBLE, he knows, to mess with the library books. Shalimar has indeed suffered for having done so. But Vince whistles softly to himself... a tune from Music Man, about a madame librarian...

And with a touch of Chicanery, the titles on the books shift just slightly, changing by a word here or there...

Codexa seems to relax as the 'books' become visible again through the shadow. Of course, they don't, not really.

Dracula, by Stephanie Meyer. Jane Eyre, by Amanda Hugenkiss

Gwar and Peace - that one must be about the fraught history of music

Codexa grows frustrated, she knows THAT's not right. And It is Bronte's turn to ask.

Bronte lashes her tail, and says "Do not say something that should never be heard, because ultimately it will be heard"

Zara likely recognizes the line immediately! She studied it enough as a girl!

But Codexa looks baffled, the books give no clues for they are shadowed garbage to the bookwyrm's eyes . And this work she does not know...

Zara swells a bit with pride.

Time, short, sweet, precious, begins to run out. Codexa looks ready explode with frustration. The NONSENSE on the words behind Bronte is highly offensive!

Bronte, who has dealt with pooka before, and fought sidhe childlings 'to the death', and so forth, is unfazed... and a bit smug as time runs out.

"Poor Richard's Almanac, Ben Franklin" Codexa finally blurts

Zara's lips quirk to the side in a smile.

Bronte lunges forward towards Codexa, a motion that surprises many. Physical violence is not done between bookwrms, but the motion is an indicator of victory, and raising her front right claw as if she were ABOUT to strike, Bronte answers "Hillel the Elder, Avot 4:2, the Talmud!"

Codexa actually lowers her neck as if baring it for the strike, like a condemned going to madame guilitine

And Bronte gives Codexa's neck, just below the head, a little tap.

"Brava!" Vince cheers, forgetting the library rules.