“We had no idea you would be gracing our magnificent halls today. And bringing a companion, no less.” Faylinn’s cheeks pinked, but she looked ready to tackle the old man. I could already see questions forming in her mind, ready to burst from her lips. Reaching out, I laid a heavy hand on her shoulder and squeezed tight, attempting to ground her for a moment.
Surprisingly, Faylinn relaxed into my hold, her exuberance still present, just tempered for the moment.
“Sirak, I apologize for not warning you ahead of time. This is Faylinn,” I started, gently caressing her shoulder as I spoke. Faylinn shivered slightly at my touch but never pulled away.
Interesting.
“The Rune Master!” Sirak exclaimed, his milky-blue eyes widening in excitement as he stooped into a second bow, this one lower and aimed at Faylinn. She pulled from my grip, reaching for the old man, before helping him stand straight again.
“Please, that is absolutely not needed, sir,” Faylinn muttered, pink tinging her light-brown complexion. Sirak’s weathered hands gripped Faylinn’s elbows as he shakily straightened.
“Thank you, dear,” Sirak said, patting Faylinn’s arm lightly before releasing her. Reluctantly, Faylinn let go, her arms hanging in the air for a moment before she dropped them.
There it was again, the care and concern that she held for every person in her life.
How could I have thought her cold with malicious intent?
The thought of my mistake, of pushing her away, made me uncomfortable.
“What brings you here?” Sirak scratched before quickly adding, “not that we don’t want you here! You are welcome any time to these hallowed halls. Anyone is!”
This is part of the reason I never spent much time in the library. There was a lot of posturing and exclamation about knowledge from Sirak and the other two scholars who worked here, though I rarely saw them.
Come to think of it, I wasn’t even sure they were still alive.
Sirak was also afforded very little human interaction. So, when someonedidvisit the library, he took advantage of their presence and talked. For ages.
“I have some research I need to do,” Faylinn said, her eyes alight with excitement, “about various topics. Both personal and for Lord d’Refan.”
Sirak nodded sagely, reaching out to pat Faylinn’s hand.
“Where do you need to start?” he asked, gently pulling her back toward the tables at the front where his desk also sat, covered completely in papers and books.
“Well, is there a census by chance? Or a list of all the Vessels in Elyria, at least? Organized by age and affinity, if possible. Location would be beneficial as well.” Faylinn began talking a mile a minute as she shuffled toward the front, hand linked with Sirak, leaving me behind. I chuffed a laugh as I followed slowly behind the pair, happiness bubbling in my chest at seeing Faylinn so excited about something.
“Hmm. Yes, I think I have one taken within the last six years,” Sirak mused, dragging her toward a shelf. “Why do you need a list like that?”
“I’m . . .” Faylinn halted, tossing a look over her shoulder at me. “Finding if there’s any more Vessels that Lord d’Refan can recruit for Bonding.” Her eyes clouded and expression fell slightly before turning back, her shoulders slumped, and some of her earlier exuberance gone.
She was looking for potential Destruction Vessels for me.
My heart sank with the thought, a lead weight in my chest.
Sighing heavily, I ran a hand through my hair before calling to Faylinn.
“I have to go meet with Alois now,” my voice rang through the empty library and Faylinn came to a halt, turning to face me briefly. “After you gather your books and scrolls, I’d love for you to join me in my office again.”
I partly wanted to know if she found any potential Vessels, but I also just wanted the comfort of her presence. Faylinn’s cheeks pinked again before she gave me a soft smile and a nod.
I watched as she turned to Sirak again before striding to the still-open door of the library.
“Now, Rune Master,” I heard Sirak rasp.
“Just Fay is fine,” she said lightly, and I smiled to myself as their voices were cut off as I closed the library’s doors.
She could be Fay to everyone else. But she’d always be my Faylinn.
Chapter 45
