Chapter 210
The library was as large and quiet as it had been the last time that they had visited. The air felt cooler than it had outside as the group stepped into the cavernous building. It smelled of paper and leather and old books but it was an overall pleasant and welcoming scent without any hint of mustiness.
Jay walked up to the seven foot tall Librarian who stood at the checkout desk and was taking books that had been returned out of a bin and was placing them on a rack of shelving on wheels that could be rolled about the library.
“Hi!” Jay said and tried to not speak too loudly as he approached the counter and rested a hand on its surface as he leaned to the right.
“Shh!” The giant Librarian hissed at him but not unkindly. Jay got the impression that they shushed everyone no matter what volume was used.
Sha'li had never seen a Librarian before and stood with her mouth hanging open as she looked over the giant in front of her. The Librarian was a woman and had a crown of braided hair along with a thick braid of black and grey hair that reached down to the small of her back. She wore supple leather armor that moved almost as cloth would it was so soft. The armor bore over her heart the library's seal, an open book with a staff and dagger crossed on top of it – denoting the fact that all Librarians specialized in not just knowledge but combat as well.
The armor was brown with black detail work. A thick belt graced the woman's waist and was large enough for Norri to wear as a chest piece. The wide belt had multiple pouches and containers hanging off of it. It also held two large blades. They were considered fighting knives by the Librarians but were so large they could easily be called short swords.
“Hi!” Jay tried again, this time in a hushed whisper.
The Librarian in front of them nodded, pleased with Jay's lower volume.
“Is Glenda working? We're friends and have something for her.” Jay explained with a smile.
The Librarian stared down at Jay. Jay was six feet tall, a giant by Eden's standards. Most men were lucky to make it to 5'9 on Eden. The Librarians however had no such issues and were all 7 feet or larger. Because of this Librarians tended to tower over all others on Eden.
Jay rubbed at his neck as he stared upwards at the Librarian and offered a polite smile. The Librarian finally relented.
“You wait here?” the Librarian finally said after a silent pause.
Jay noticed that the Librarian didn't ask 'Will you wait here?' but instead just said, 'You wait here?' Jay wondered if all Librarians talked like that or just Glenda. Or maybe Glenda just talked like that and she was rubbing off on the other Librarians?
“We'll be below in one of the private rooms. The star room,” Jay explained with a nod.
“Good.” the Librarian said and then abruptly turned and walked off at a brisk pace. She did not run. There was no running in the library.
The group watched her go in confusion.
Sha'li looked like she had a couple of questions that she'd like to ask but M'redith shook her head at her. “Wait till we get to our room,” she explained as she motioned around at all of the other library occupants reading quietly.
“Follow me,” Jay whispered and led the group to the rear of the library to use the stairwell. They went down until they had reached the right level and walked across smooth stone floors until they reached a door with a star on it.
“This is it,” Jay said and Sha'li reached a hand out and pushed on the door but it did not budge.
Sha'li pursed her lips and Jay chuckled as she blushed the lightest shade of red and smiled.
“It's keyed to me, here,” Jay said and put his palm on the door – it swung open easily and the rest of them filed in.
The room was spacious and appeared to have been altered a bit. There were three faded green chalkkboards with a tray of chalk on every wall except for the wall they had entered through which was bare save for a few decorative paintings that had been hung next to the door.
There was a main round table with six chairs. There were two desks set apart from the area the table dominated as if tucked in to the corners. Both desks had magical lamps and a magical light orb was set in to the ceiling above the table. The room was further illuminated by indirect magical light sources built in to the corners of the room.
“This is different from last time, right?” Aiden asked in a joking tone of voice.
Norri walked over to the round table and sat down in a huff. She was getting tired.
Pasta is delicious and tasty but tends to sit heavy in the stomach. Add in cheese and a bunch of bread and you've got a recipe for a good nap. Everyone felt full and a bit slow as they digested dinner.
“Who or what in Gaia's name was that?” Sha'li asked as she entered the room and shut the door behind her.
Jay grinned, “Librarian. Have you ever been to a library before?”
Sha'li shook her head. “No! Why would I have? I'm not a scholar or anything – I'm in hospitality.”
“What about before then?” Aiden asked curiously.
Sha'li gave him an exasperated look and the room filled with the scent of pears and lavender as her hair pulsed in shades of blonde and red, “Before then? I was a waitress. Before that? I cleaned tables. Before that? I cleaned floors. I don't remember much before that – probably more cleaning. Nothing that would require a visit to a library though.”
Jay thought back to his childhood. The library was just one of those places that you went to as a child, especially during the summer. First of all, it was often air-conditioned, which was a plus during the hot summer months. Second of all, when he was growing up there were contests where if you read a certain number of books you would win a personal deep dish pan pizza.
Most young children would do anything for free pizza. Even read a book. Or multiple books. That was how the libraries convinced kids to read books and it worked. Jay couldn't imagine a childhood without books, without a library, but that did not mean it was a universal experience. Many children grew up without those things. What kind of life is a life without stories and books Jay wondered.
On Eden books were expensive and a bit rare. Take a popular book on Earth – there would most likely be millions of copies of that book printed. In Eden there were no printing presses. Books were made by hand or by magic. Making millions of any book would be an almost impossible task and a monumental one.
On Eden that same book might only exist in a handful of copies. Many books were one of a kind and could not be replaced. One of the jobs a Librarian performed was copying books from other libraries and bringing them back to their own libraries – a vital service for any repository of knowledge.
“I've never seen a Librarian before. There are more of them? They're all that large?” Sha'li asked in wonder.
M'redith nodded with a smile and sat down across from Norri. Jay joined her and Sha'li finally sat down between M'redith and Norri.
Aiden remained standing and stretched his arms over his head as if that would somehow aid his digestion.
“They're all like that,” M'redith answered Sha'li with a smile.
“Why?” Sha'li asked. She seemed a bit disturbed at the Librarian's massive size.
A delicate knock sounded at the door and those in the room went immediately quiet. After a moment the door opened a crack and they could see one eye peeking in the door roughly seven feet up.
“Hi, hi?” a deep but feminine voice asked curiously.
“Glenda?” Aiden asked with a friendly grin. “Is that you? Come on in!”
The door opened all the way and Glenda's seven foot body strode in to the room, the scent of books and leather accompanied her. She closed the door behind her and it made a sharp click noise.
“HI!” Glenda said with a huge grin. She wore shiny lacquered leather armor and bulged with muscles. The lacquer on the armor shone a rainbow of colors and it reminded Jay of the surface of a puddle of oil. Shimmery. The armor crackled as she moved as the various pieces rubbed against one another. Glenda moved smoothly across the room as if the heavy looking armor were made out of cloth rather than heavy leather.
The title “Pan-dimensional Librarian” shone over her head and it was clear from her grin that she was showing off. Her armor also had a seal over her heart on the chest of her armor where only plain armor had shown when last the group had seen her.
“You earned the Librarian's seal!” M'redith said with a clap and the others grinned even though they weren't sure what she was talking about.
Glenda grinned wider if such a thing were even possible. She stood straight and puffed her chest out to draw attention to the seal.
“For escaping Ashagi!” Glenda said proudly before she changed her grin to a warm smile which she directed towards Jay and the others as she pointed at them with an outstretched finger. “You help. Thank you.”
The others grinned and patted her on the back as she took a seat at the table with them. Aiden finally sat down as well. Sha'li just continued to stare at Glenda's huge form with her mouth open.
Glenda went quiet and slowly turned until she faced Sha'li straight on. “You ask why Librarians so big. Gaia love knowledge. But books small. Helpless. So Gaia make Librarians big – and not helpless. Now books have help – Librarians.”
Sha'li was nodding and had shut her mouth but her eyes were still wide in amazement.
Jay smiled at Glenda. “I think that is the most I've ever heard you speak.”
Glenda turned slowly and glared at Jay with a frown and he got a little nervous before she suddenly laughed and slapped at the table they sat at with one large hand. “Glenda talk more lately. Others have many questions. So. Much talking.”
“What's this about you earning a seal? I just bought and registered my own seal! Is it like that?” Jay asked as the others all agreed with the question save for M'redith, who as usual already knew what was going on.
Glenda grinned a full set of pearly white teeth. “Different. Your seal signature. Librarian seal mark of honor. Must perform great deed. Library deed, not just any deed. Hard to do inside home library,” Glenda explained as she talked for almost a full ten seconds straight, quite the accomplishment for the usually quiet Librarian.
Sha'li kept staring at Glenda and finally Glenda turned and peered at her.
“You stare. Too much.” Glenda said with a smile but also with narrowed eyes.
The scent of peaches and fresh linen filled the room as a very nervous Sha'li's hair turned dark purple, almost black. Bright red pinpricks formed throughout her hair like stars before the whole scene was washed away by ribbons of blonde.
“Oh!” Glenda said suddenly and loudly as she watched Sha'li's hair show. It was Glenda's turn to stare. She sniffed the air before she looked quickly over at Jay in confusion. “You bring elf? Where from?” Glenda asked in an intense yet surprised tone of voice as she suddenly leaned forwards towards Sha'li.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Where?” Glenda demanded once again but it was Sha'li who answered her.
Sha'li smiled uncertainly in the face of Glenda's intensity, which finally stopped her mouth from hanging open in amazement. “I'm a half-elf. Although I've been told that isn't exactly accurate. I'm from here. I grew up here. My earliest memories are of cleaning floors at my mother's inn, here, in K'tharkle.”
Glenda nodded and then shook herself as she shook her head instead. “No half-elf. Only fool think human or elf. Wise know human and elf.” She peered intently at Sha'li as if she were undecided on whether or not she was dangerous. After a moment she appeared to have made her decision and her face became solemn.
Glenda gently and with one graceful motion touched the finger tips of her right hand to her forehead before she then placed the palm of the same hand over her heart. “The bees speak your name Sha'li. Elf of K'tharkle. I am Glenda, Pan-dimensional Librarian of the Adventurer's Guild Library, K'tharkle. I greet you with joy.”
Sha'li looked touched and smiled warmly. “Good to meet you Glenda. I'm Sha'li. Where does that greeting come from, if you don't mind me asking?”
Glenda tilted her head to the side but then nodded and accepted her response. “I give you elf hello. I know some elf facts. Not many. Humans not talk with bees. Some elves do. Why? No one knows. Used as formal greeting.”
Glenda took a deep breath as if winded. She preferred not to talk if at all possible, an impossibility in most social situations.
“You only elf I meet.” Glenda said as she eyed the much smaller woman. “You tiny but bigger than humans.”
Sha'li blushed as her hair went purple and then bright red. Everyone in the room could smell daisies.
Norri grinned. “I like daisies,” she muttered quietly.
“Well, you're the only Librarian I've ever met and you're huge,” Sha'li said with a crooked smile as her hair changed once again, this time to streaks of varying shades of blonde.
“Pretty hair...” Glenda said and reached out with one massive hand as if to touch Sha'li's hair before she remembered herself and snatched her hand back. Touching other people's hair was not a socially appropriate activity when meeting someone new. “You make red?”
Sha'li looked at Glenda and then at Jay before Jay explained.
“I think she's asking if you can make it red or if it turns red on its own?” Jay offered.
Glenda nodded and leaned forward just the slightest bit without taking her eyes off of Sha'li.
The half-elf shrugged and shook her head. “There are times I can sort of control it but the majority of the time it does what it wants. At times the colors have a life of their own. I can be sitting down motionless and not thinking about anything in particular yet my hair will be a riot of colors. It's an elf thing I guess.”
Glenda grinned widely. “Elf talk.”
Sha'li shook her head, “I don't know any elf words,”
Glenda frowned and poked at Jay who looked over at her in confusion.
“I think she means the color is elf talk?” Jay said hesitantly.
Glenda nodded wildly and pointed at him as she nodded.
“The hair color is elf talk? That's the first time I've heard that. I can't talk with my hair though – it does what it wants. Maybe it works differently for full elves?” Sha'li wondered as she ran her fingers through her hair which sent waves of yellows and blondes streaming across it.
Glenda frowned and tried to think of how to phrase something with the least words possible.
“Human talk words. Some face. Some body. Mostly words. Elf talk words. Colors. Scents. Feelings. Emotions. Face. Body. Hair. Elf talk with everything. Say much with little words.” Glenda explained verbosely.
Glenda looked at Sha'li sadly and gave her a comforting almost motherly smile that looked out of place on her massive frame. “You know human talk. Not yet learn elf talk,” she finished for Sha'li with a sage looking expression and a nod of her head.
Sha'li listened attentively. She'd never been in a library before and this was the first time she had met anyone who claimed to know anything about the elven race. She'd already learned more new things about her elven side in the past couple of minutes than the past few years of her life.
Sha'li wanted to ask Glenda a million questions but held herself back. They had gone to the library for a reason, not to teach Sha'li about her elven origins. Not that Glenda even knew that much about elves – she just knew more than most. Librarians were often like that.
Glenda could feel the mood shift in the room and thought that it was a good time to shift the topic of conversation.
“You bring Glenda something?” she asked as she turned back towards Jay and M'redith.
Jay nodded and bent over to pull at a pouch on his belt. It was heavy and he set it on to the table they sat at with a loud thunk. The pouch was leather – a cloth pouch wouldn't be a good idea to use with such heavy coin – and was a faded red. Most of his pouches he got for free along with whatever else he purchased. He'd amassed a small collection of them by that point. This one he was willing to part with though.
“That's for you, with all of our thanks for everything you did on our Ashagi run. We appreciate you.” Jay said with a smile as he motioned towards the pouch and nodded at Glenda.
“What this for?” Glenda asked as she went to pull the pouch over to a spot on the table in front of her. It was heavier than she had thought it would be and she used the tiniest extra bit of force to move it.
“A bit of it is for the library card we got in Ashagi – the little card that granted a title once to one person. Well we sold it to a Lieutenant with the Red Guard. We had him play a game of Dungeon Room against another team. Red Guard of course won so they were allowed to purchase it. THREE GOLD Glenda, THREE GOLD!” Jay said excitedly.
Glenda's eyes lit up. “You sell card for THREE GOLD?”
M'redith chuckled, “Oh no. YOUR share is three gold. We sold it for a lot more than that then split it evenly between all of us.”
Glenda still didn't open the pouch. “I have three gold?”
Norri giggled and Aiden smiled while Sha'li listened attentively.
“No, you have thirteen gold. We auctioned off the book of professions we found in Ashagi. It went for 55 gold and was bought by the Mayor of K'tharkle, Mayor Figs himself. Five gold went to Guild taxes just to be safe and we split the rest for 10 gold a piece!” Norri quickly explained with a glowing smile.
Glenda seemed to sink into the chair and went silent. She smushed one leather clad arm up against her eyes for a moment and let out a sniffle before she dropped her arm and used her fingers to wipe at her eyes.
“Glenda have allergies,” she said in a tight voice but no one corrected her.
After a moment she spoke again. “Glenda have title. Library give seal. This... this too much,” she said before she let out a sniffle.
The others had gone quiet at Glenda's crying – or when her eyes watered, depending on who you believed.
Norri looked at Glenda. Her face was scrunched up and she looked upset. “You were awesome in Ashagi. We wouldn't have made it without you. How is this too much?”
Glenda smiled and nodded once, then twice. “Thank you,” she said before she lifted the pouch and weighed it with one hand. It was quite heavy. It was also a small fortune, especially for someone who practically lived in the library. Glenda ate at the dining hall or in her room in the library. She wore her uniform everywhere as it was the only thing she could find that would fit her. She also earned a paycheck every month that allowed her to purchase whatever small items she might need.
Her needs were small and her fortune large – the best ratio to have if one could choose. The truth of the matter was that it wasn't too much payment for her services – but it was far more money than she had any need for. She would have to think up new reasons to spend money just to put a dent in it.
Glenda lowered her head after she had wiped at her eyes one last time. The money was hers by right – Jay's group was just doing the right thing. The amount though was staggering for the hulking Librarian.
“What do I buy?” Glenda finally asked, still in shock at her sudden windfall. Her life could change. Or it could remain the same, just with a sizable savings account.
Norri giggled, “Books?”
Glenda's eyes opened wider. “Books...” she said as if it were the most amazing thing a person could ever purchase with currency. Her reaction was so guileless that the others all found themselves smiling in response.
Jay nodded, “Or you could give some of it away,” he offered and the others, Glenda included, all turned and looked at him like he was insane.
Jay chuckled and held his hands out in front of him. “I know that sounds crazy, but can you think of anything the library needs but doesn't have that you'd like to see taken care of? You could buy it and donate it. Have them put a little metal plate on it that says, 'Donated by Glenda, Pan-dimensional Librarian.' That is what I mean when I say you could give some away – not to random people on the street.”
Glenda nodded. “Never have gold. So much,” she rattled on. She was in a talkative mood. “Where keep safe?”
Aiden pursed his lips. “We all use K'tharkle Bank.
“Ask for Boland. Tell him Jay sent you and he'll take good care of you.” Jay explained.
“Boland take money?” Glenda asked.
M'redith shook her head and answered, “He only handles Jay's account but he does know who the good money managers at the bank are. He will set you up with someone good.”
Jay smiled, “I'll help you out now actually while we're sitting here,” he said as he took out his writing kit and a piece of paper. He wrote a quick letter to Boland explaining that Glenda was not just a friend but a good friend and had just come in to a small fortune. He wrote the actual amount so that Boland would know what he was working with.
Compared to Jay's current bank account 13 gold was a small fortune. A week ago it would have seemed like a larger one though, Jay thought to himself.
Jay wrote further that he would like to see that Glenda was set up with someone trustworthy. He gave Glenda's name and title and made it clear that she could be reached at the Guild library. He made clear that he was willing to pay for Boland's services in finding her the right person.
Then he went to sign his name when he remembered that things worked differently in Eden. Instead of signing his name at the bottom in cursive Jay merely wrote out his name and folded up the paper.
Jay took out his seal kit and first removed an envelope from it and put the folded up note inside. Then he lit a wax stick and dribbled some wax over the now folded flap until a good puddle had formed. He waited a moment until it had hardened a bit and took out his front die. He inserted it in to one of the wooden handles and then used that to press down on the wax firmly until it had imprinted properly.
Jay wrote Boland, First K'tharkle Bank on the front of the envelope.
“Here you go, have a messenger send this out. Boland will reach out to you, probably within minutes of receiving the message due to the amount of gold involved.” Jay explained with a smile.
Glenda took the envelope gently and nodded her head in thanks. “Thank you.” she said simply, but it was heartfelt, and enough. The room became quiet until the scent of vanilla and sage filled the room.
“Oh I like that one,” Norri said and Sha'li grinned and shot her a pleased look.
Glenda smiled. “Pretty. I go send message,” she said as she attached the heavy coin pouch to her leather belt. “You need books?” she finally asked.
Jay laughed, “Right! We came here for books too!”
The others smiled and laughed as well. It was easy to become distracted when piles of gold were involved.
“We do! Anything on Icemaidens?” Jay asked as he sat back in his seat.
Glenda nodded. “Anything for... the other thing?” she asked in reference to Jay and his group's ongoing hunt for the three items they'd need to run the Dungeon of Rebirth. Jay's group had told her that in confidence though and Glenda was unsure if Sha'li was currently in the circle of trust. So she was being a little cagey.
Jay decided to hint instead of talk in detail as well until he had gotten to know Sha'li a bit better. “I think the other thing is going to require us to visit the Church of Gaia. We've got the other two things already,” Jay said happily.
Glenda nodded, “Icemaiden. Got it. Be back.” she said as she suddenly stood upright. Sha'li didn't see any movements in between. One moment she was seated – Sha'li blinked – then she was standing. Glenda could move fast when she wanted to – or when she wasn't paying attention.
Glenda's armor creaked as she walked as the leather moved with her. The scent of leather and books wafted through the room and Sha'li shook her head.
“Not me,” she said with a smile. “But it's still a good one,” she admitted.
Glenda grinned as she opened the door and left. She shut the door behind her and the group was once again alone.
“Every time I think things around you guys can't get any weirder something always happens. I'm almost afraid to wonder at what might happen next around you lot,” Sha'li said with a smile. She winked at Norri and Norri giggled.
M'redith remembered that they hadn't yet told Sha'li about Earth, or Jay's injury, or his special status beyond that of a normal Traveler, or of the markings on the backs of his hands, or of his title of Prophet of Gaia, or anything whatsoever to do with the Dungeon of Rebirth.
“Get used to it,” M'redith replied. “It's going to get a lot weirder.”