#fenixtj

"If you're sure, Lady Captain Siv?" Constance says

"Absolutely, happy to pay for it" Siv puts down the coin to the Scribe

Well, coin and dross

"Well, here's book 2 then" She handns it over.

JEssica may or may not hear her sister's voice

A long, grey ear perks up from behind a short shelf, where a pooka was curled up reading. Did someone say.... 'book'?

Gasp! Constance is GIVING..well, selling a book

Siv smiles "Thanks. I appreciate the other 2 being on their way."

The other ear pokes up in alarm! Other two?! THREE books leaving?

"Constance, did we get any responses from those letters out to the Baronies.....?" Jessica asks as she enters, looking at the notes in her hands.

Salma slips around, her heavy feet can be surprisingly quiet when she tries. The visiting Troll's attention is on the Condesa... maybe she can slip that book out of her pack? Just to take a look at it, mind.

"Oh.. hey sis" Siv smiles

"Mostly just letters of 'message received' The Scribe says

And carefully, Salma slips out the book to see The Free Flame Journals, Book 2

Ooooo! She hasn't SEEN this book before. Maybe it was on one of the shelves that are annoyingly out of reach... or maybe she just didn't make it that far yet. Her brow furrows. The book is leaving? Maybe she can just... read it first. A step backwards, towards a nook behind two shelves, if she can just make it there.

"Siv? What are you doing here? Is something wrong at Rivervale?"

Siv says "Second sis," And smoothly she turns to Salma "Hey, seeing as I just paid for that with good dross, ye might return it?"hannd out sretched. She is shorter than other grown trolls. It is possible this is her punishment for going around buying other library's books! The Dreaming is just! Or maybe she's just like that

Wide eyes. "I wasn't going to take it." She says, a touch of pleading in her voice. "You don't have to leave right now, do you? Perhaps, oh, Rosa and Maria, they simply must put together a feast for you at dinner time, you can't possibly leave before then....

A faint frown. "Selma?"

A quick curtsey to the Countess. "Si, Condesa?"

"Oh! " Constance says , a gentle fond tone, "Salma, it's okay. I have a copy of it"

Siv gives a bit of a laugh, but not cruel, "Oh my. Book lovers are fierce. Sory, Salma, Didn't mean to scare you I was emptying you out. Heck, if I thought it twas your reading level I'd give you a copy of some of my dad's books"

A look of relief as Constance reassures her, but then she straightens up, chin out proudly. "I can read anything, Senora Capitan." She protests at the very idea of a reading level, even as she reluctantly offers the purloined book back.

"You're as proud as Kassedy about it. She's my squire. Sweet girl," Siv smiles as she takes the book back gently "however, as i seems I have, without intention to, insulted your honor..." She looks to her sister "CountessI need to make restitution. Do you think me bringing two books back to her soon will suffice? Or will it take 3?"

A slow blink. Is she being patronized? If so... she'll take it! "Tres, one for me and each of my Amigas." She barters back swiftly.

Siv fights a smile "Well see I figurred two would more than cover it. I didn't insult your friends afer all. But tis the Countess' rule to decide"

"I could accept two as fair." She responds, quickly seeing that the Countess might rule for... gasp... none.

"If they are not ones we have in our own Biblioteca."

Siv nods "of course, while back ups are nice, they denote a lack of effort on my part. Now, here's a big one. If my Squire were to visit, would she be allowed to read these books? "

"Si! If she has clean hands. There is a squire of Rivervale, a perro... he had JAM on his hands." Quite aghast.

"Ah, Connor. A good lad, but lads cann be messy" Ignoring that she's a bit of a slob herself at times. "No, Kassedy washes her hands and dries them quite often. "

"Senorita Kassedy will be most welcome. Does she know the books of Ramona?" Said in a hushed tone often reserved for biblical scripture or sacred texts.

Jess watches all with bemusement.

"I believe she does" Siv says "Is that Judy Bloom or Beverly Cleary?"

Clearly Siv is not as big a reader as some, though she likes a good book

"Beverly, CLEARLY." She says!

"Siv, you wanted to -buy- a book from Fenix?" Jessica is trying to get it straight "And Selma, you want three books in return?"

"Oh, no, Condesa. Three would be too many. Two, two is fair." Salma reassures the Countess.

"Clearly" Siv agrees, then turns to Jessica "Well, yeah, copies of your deeds and history for the Rivervale study"

"My.... what?" carefully.

"The The Free Flame Journals"

That said by Constance, "My records of your deeds and challenes year by year since you came to Fenix. "

"Of course, we know about them, but READING about them is different."

Jessica slowly rubs the base of her horns. "Records.... that are books?"

"Biographies" Constance says "Histories. "

"King family history at that" Siv adds, "Of course I'm gettting copies for the lodge"

Siv also says to Salma "I like the cut of your jib. Three books it will be, to keep the peace"

Most somber there

A deep curtsy to Siv, and a true smile. "You drive a hard bargain, Caballera."

"Feh, kind of you to say so" But clearly doubting it