The Library (The Librarian of Alexandria Book 1) by Casey White (ebook reader 8 inch .TXT) 📗

that sprang up around them, looking for...something.  A place to tuck them away, a place out of sight.  You brought them here, Alex.  So how’s about you-

A candle flared, burning brighter from alongside a doorway.  Owl smiled.  Thanks.  “This way,” he said, jerking his chin for the others to follow.

Motes of dust floated through the air as he veered into the room, disturbed by his passage.  He paused for a moment, halfway through the doorway.  It was...dusty.  That much was for sure.  Revenge for him not following through in the chapel?  Petty, Alex.

It had a long, wide table, though, like a conference room, and one wall was made up entirely of windows that filled the room with light.  Windows.  Right.  The dreamer.  A pang of worry shot through Owl’s chest, but he shook his head.  He’d see to it later, once he’d gotten this lot settled.

“Okay, then,” he said with a sigh, waving his friends toward the table.  “Let’s-”

“Oh, perfect,” Maya said, her eyes lighting up.  She slipped past Owl, heading straight for a stack of books and binders on the corner of the table.  “This is- Yeah.  James.  Ass in seat, right now.”

James grumbled, but sat down.  For someone who normally lived in a bubble of artificial confidence, his face had gone ghostly white.

Owl hesitated as the two started working, giving the room another look.  The table, the books.  One wall was windows, the other mortar-lined stone.  And on the far side of the room...he smiled.  Another door was set into the far wall, the mirror of the one they’d come through - and in the Library, that door could lead wherever they needed it to.  They weren’t penned in here.

He reached out, taking hold of the still-open door, and eased it shut.  The latch settled in with a click.

“You good?”

The voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but Owl jumped anyway.

Leon was half-sitting on the table, just a little separated from his friends.  He was smiling, still, but the expression was reserved.

Owl nodded.  “I’m fine.”

“You sure?” Leon said.  “Only, you seem...jittery.”

Owl groaned.  “Ah.  Well...it’s nothing.  There’s no problem.  Just...it’s complicated.”  He made a face.  “It’s...We’re not alone.

Leon nodded.  “Guests.”

“Right.”

The serious look didn’t leave Leon’s expression, though.  “You’ve had guests over before,” he said softly.  “It’s not that unusual.”  His eyes narrowed faintly.  “You were worried over those applications the last time I was here.  It’s them, isn’t it?”

Owl sighed.  “It’s...yeah.  These are important guests.  High-ups in the guild.”

“Oh.”

“Exactly.”

Leon chuckled under his breath.  “So you probably don’t want them to see that you’ve got a side deal going.”  His lips curled into a crooked smile.  “Sorry.  Looks like we’re putting you in an awkward position.  If it’s not going to work, we can head out.  There are still a few more nights before the test.  We can-”

“N-No,” Owl said, shaking his head.  “No, no.  It’s fine.  I meant it.”  Damn it, he knew that getting rid of Leon and the rest for this visit would be the safest way...but the thought of kicking them out just like that didn’t sit well with him.  He didn’t want to see Leon go so soon.  “We’ll just...we’ll have to play it safe.”

“Got it,” Leon said with a wink.  “We’ll be extra careful.  We’re just studying, anyway.”

Owl nodded, starting to smile.  “R-Right.  Yeah.”

“Hey,” Owl heard James call from across the table.  “Book Man.”

“He has a name,” Leon said, glaring at him.

Owl’s smile grew.  Yes, he did.

Maybe, if they hung around for long enough, he’d have the chance to hear Leon say it again.

“What?” he said instead, pushing gently on the door once more before striding over to the table.

James scowled down at the book Maya had thrust in front of him.  “Um...I don’t...could you...”

His eyes lifted to Owl’s, and even if he didn’t say it, the plea for help was all too evident.  Owl snorted.  “Okay, big guy,” he said, dropping into a chair and reaching for James’ book.  “Let me see that.”

* * * * *

By the end of it, even James wasn’t looking so worried anymore.  The minutes slipped away as Owl rotated from person to person, trying desperately to keep up with everything they threw at him.  Should’ve been a damn private tutor in the outside world, he thought as yet another book was thrust under his nose.

But being a tutor or teacher probably wouldn’t pay that well - not unless he got way, way more attention than he wanted.  Yes, he’d probably be good at it.  No, it wasn’t in the cards for him.  Most things weren’t.

With every break and pause, though, Owl lifted his head - and cast a glance to the door, to the window.  The slightest noise had him flinching, jerking in his seat.  Every time, Leon would elbow him, and he’d settle back in.

He was on a deadline, though.  He knew it, and so did Leon, even if James and Maya were too wrapped up in their own work to pick up on it.  It was only a matter of time until Olivia and Will started poking around.  Before that, he had to be-

Something chimed, soft and low - and it came from beyond the door Owl had closed just a few minutes prior.  Owl stiffened, his eyes snapping wide open.

He could tell an alarm when he heard one.

Leon twitched right alongside him.  “Is that-”

“Time for me to go,” Owl said, standing with a clatter.  He gently pushed the latest book back toward Maya and James, stepping away from the table.  “I’ll...well, if you still need help, come back tomorrow night.  I’ll do what I can.”

James blinked - and his frown deepened.  “W-What?  Come on. I’m going to fail, man. Can’t we just-”

“He’s a very busy man,” Leon said, grinning at James.  “Stop crying.  We’ll make sure you don’t bomb.”  He glanced up to Owl. “Ah...should we-”

“Get away from here,” Owl said, his voice low.  “It- It should be fine.  Someone probably just has a question, and wondered why I was