Quinn’s gut feelings wouldn’t let up. They got louder and stronger no matter what discussions were had, and what reassurances were given.

She tugged at the material of the protective gear hanging in front of her and frowned. Most recently, she’d absorbed a beginner shielding book that had given her more insight on how best to project her initial shielding abilities. Which, in turn, it seemed, were easily adapted by the cosmicisodracus contained within her. Because now, when she enabled it, her scales flourished.

They spread across her arm like rippling water, fast and fleeting, before disappearing back into her skin. But that’s not all they did. They left behind a distinctive barrier that hardened her exterior against anything she’d tried so far.

Quinn wasn’t entirely sure why the beginning shielding book had worked that way for her, but she was grateful. It was an extra level of self preservation she sorely needed, especially after the poisoning incident. Her ability to trust those around her had diminished, even those people like Malakai and Milaro, Lynx and Hal... While she wasn’t completely suspicious, there was still this voice in the back of her head that just whispered every now and again.

What if she couldn’t trust any of them?

“Quinn?” Dottie spoke, clearing her... voice projection box?

“Sorry.” Quinn shook her head, trying to clear the negative thoughts. “Did I zone out?”

Dottie nodded. “Are you okay? You’ve been vaguing out a bit every so often lately.”

“Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Can I help?” The bench offered, somewhat cautiously. Like she wasn’t sure how the offer would be received.

It made Quinn smile. “Thank you. But... not right now. I have a lot to sort out. Was there something I could help you with?”

“Oh. Yes.” Dottie brightened. Quinn still found it strange that the change in aura was so apparent to her, despite Dottie having no visual cues to go off. “Branches. I realize you’re in the middle of preparing to get that book back and all, but while you’re gone, I’d like to direct our attention to solving some of our most pressing matters.”

“Okay then.” Quinn turned her attention away from her protective gear and gave Dottie her full attention. “What is it I can do for you?”

“You did mention that we should pursue the Bardic branch first, correct?” Dottie suddenly sounded all business like.

Quinn blinked. “No. If I recall, those were quite a ways from having all the books returned. I think we’d settled on alchemical and medicinal. Why?”

“Oh, just trying to see what books we should ping, what we should pursue.” Dottie paused. “There have been a few intermediate books that have made their way back since we opened the Culinary branch. We have several from the combat area, but more have come in from bardic and musical.”

Quinn’s interest piqued. They needed the other branches open as soon as possible. More power coming in meant the Library had a better chance of defending itself. It meant that it was less likely for anyone to break it, storm it, or hurt it. “Dottie, what do you think is the best course of action?” Quinn asked, because to be honest, the bench was probably much more attuned to what the Library needed.

Dottie paused. “Alchemical and Medical is very close to finishing up, so I agree with your first choice. I would lean toward making Bardic and Musical as well as Combat our next focus.” She sounded a little hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure she should be making these suggestions.

“True.” Quinn knew combat was vitally important. She needed upgraded versions of the abilities she had, and newer, more advanced ones. Especially if she wanted to understand the added shielding, her scales appeared to be lending her in conjunction with her beginner spell. “Combat sounds vitally important in our current predicament.”

Dottie laughed nervously but seemed to puff up with a bit of confidence. “Would you mind if I took it into my own hands, with Geneva’s help, to pursue the missing books a bit more... shall we say, rigorously?”

Quinn resisted the urge, with some difficulty, to quip about how Dottie was going to take anything into her hands. It wouldn’t do to be mean, but it just struck her as hilarious. Still, Dottie was such a devoted assistant and a good friend, Quinn got a bit irritated at herself having to exert so much self control not to laugh. Instead, she attempted to nod gravely. “You’ve got it. You and Geneva do what you need to do to get what we need done.”

She paused. Yeah, that sounded right.

“Really?” Dottie practically pranced in place.

“What else do you need? Do I have to adjust some permissions?”

Lynx popped into place directly in front of them in that instance, practically giving Quinn a heart attack. She gasped in shock and took a step back.

“Will you announce your arrival please? That shortened my lifespan considerably.”

Lynx gave her a deadpan look. “No it didn’t. Nothing can do that now. Technically. Anyway - you do need to give them permissions through the console if you’re going to let them pursue this avenue. Which, might I add, I encourage you to do.”

Quinn pursed her lips in thought. Lynx had become a little more pompous since the memory retrieval process began. Sort of like he’d been when they’d first encountered one another after she got sucked into the core room. “You’ve been eavesdropping on me again.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You spoke out loud. There aren’t many other options than to listen.”

Quinn laughed. He wasn’t as bad as he’d originally been. Perhaps the experience had humbled him. “Alrighty, guide me through oh wise manifestation.”

Lynx rolled his eyes, which was sort of difficult to manage with the way his were colored straight through the sclera. But he’d apparently perfected the trick. “Fine. We need you to adjust their permissions to include ratified book retrieval after three non-answered notifications.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Quinn activated the system as he showed her and frowned. “So this gives them the right to go out and basically knock on people’s doors and demand the books back?”

Lynx nodded. “Basically. These people are probably the ones who’re too lazy to open a door and drop the book at the desk. Because they also don’t want to be fined.”

“Fines are what makes the universe go round.” Eric called out from the other end of the storage area, where he was being fitted for his protective gear.

“I thought that was magic and mana.” Quinn called out to heckle him.

“Amateur!” Eric shot back.

Quinn couldn’t help chuckling. “His hearing is certainly excellent when he wants it to be.”

“Back to the matter at hand.” Lynx turned his attention back to Dottie and observed her for several seconds. The bench skittered at first and then planted her legs somewhat defiantly.

“I guess you’re up for the job, then?” Lynx asked. “You realize it’s not just like knocking on doors?”

Dottie bobbed in place, probably the equivalent of a nod. “Of course I know that. It’s why it will either be Geneva or myself, accompanied by another assistant. That way we never leave the Library without our protection.”

Quinn shivered. It was what she most feared. That the Library would come under attack when she wasn’t there to protect it. Even though they weren’t taking Lynx, and Milaro would be nearby to assist if necessary. Geneva, Narilin, and Dottie were all remaining to oversea the Library and its assistants.

Not to mention the Library itself was doing better than it had been since Quinn had arrived. “Will Siliqua and Harish remain here?” she asked suddenly. Her extended perception of others’ power levels allowed her now to realize just how strong so many of the surrounding people were. The sequencing for the Library seemed to have improved more than just Lynx and the Library’s stability. It appeared to extend to Quinn’s connection as well.

“Of course they’ll remain. You’re only taking Malakai, Eric, Hal Ishekal, and Nishpa as far as I know.” Lynx paused and glanced over at Quinn. “I mean, the people that you know, anyway. I believe Hal has others lined up to join you all while his generals take care of things back home, but from the Library - those are the people you’ll be taking with you.”

Lynx hesitated for a second and then locked gazes. “You need to come back to us. We’re almost at the next power threshold, and we’ll require reintegration once we reach it. Not to mention... we need you, okay?”

Quinn gulped and suddenly felt very self conscious, especially of the gnawing abyss that her stomach had turned into with the portent of danger churning around in it. “Well, I plan on being back here as soon as possible.”

“With the book!” Hal said, making her jump as he came around from the door behind her. “Ah, Librarian. You must work on those nerves. We can’t have you breaking our cover when it’s least advisable.”

She shot him an exasperated scowl. Even if he was right, this was all new to her. This subterfuge and ambush strategy that she still wasn’t entirely on board with.

But before she could offer a retort, Hal was moving, his great strides swallowing the distance between them and where Eric was still fiddling with his fitting while Misha glared at him. If looks could kill, the imp would have been nothing more than a stain on the wall.

“How go the fittings, Misha?” Hal boomed in that commanding voice of his. He stood with his hands on his hips, surveying the entire area with a slight frown on his face. Before Misha even got a chance to answer, he let out a laugh. “I see you are as competent as your predecessor. You are a credit to your station.”

“Thanks.” Misha said, which was about as dry as Quinn had ever heard them speak. “The preparations are coming along. I have had to adjust several of the resistance suits for the atmosphere. The Stachriquil in the atmosphere has to be dealt with and it’s a tricky spore. These suits will emanate a frequency pulse that destroys them before they get close enough.”

Misha paused, glanced at Quinn, and then continued. “They will be able to detect this frequency from close proximity. So, it won’t be the Librarian who gives you away, but rather the suits.”

Hal’s eyes narrowed. “Define close proximity.”

“Within two feet.” Misha responded immediately.

Hal let out a guffaw that shook the room ever so slightly, and Quinn could have sworn the Library sighed in her head.

“Two feet? They’ll be dead before they realize my fist hit them.” He ground the words out like the threat they were.

Even though Quinn knew the words weren’t directed at her, she still felt the chill down her spine. Hal might be kind to her, he might be good to the Library because he approved of it and what it did, but he was a satyr, he was powerful, and he could be formidable if he turned against them.

Not that she thought he would. She was just relieved they were on the same side.

“Very well.” He cocked his head to one side for a few seconds and then sighed. “I must away to brief my men and gather those I will bring with us! We leave tomorrow. Be prepared.”

Just as he was about to leave the room, he paused next to Quinn and his expression grew serious. “Watch yourself. Remember. Their whole goal is to see you dead.”

“Shouldn’t we keep her here where she’s safe, then?” Dottie piped up, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Hal blinked and looked down at her, a smile tugging at his lips. “It would be a good choice, but also a foolish one. Just because she’s here doesn’t mean that can’t gain access. Keeping the Librarian in plain sight where she can be protected, and learn to protect herself, is a vital point in her development.”

“Valid argument.” Dottie said, as if she had the power to stop the attack. “I’ll allow it then.”

“Thank you, Miss Dottie. I do appreciate your concern.” Hal’s tone had softened and he even let the smile complete itself. “I will be back tomorrow and we shall leave. Librarian...”

“Yes?”

“I’ve left instructions for you to absorb three more tomes. It’s imperative that you do this before I return tomorrow. Do you understand?” His eyes practically peered into her soul.

“Sure.” she said, a little intimidated.

Stop tormenting her, Hal. She’ll get them done. Go and leave us in peace to finish preparations. The Library spoke up, surprising every single person in the room.

“Ah, very well. I shall. And tomorrow, we will take another step to right what’s wrong.” Hal winked at Quinn, opened the storage room door, and stepped into his personal study.

Quinn watched as the door shut behind him. “We really need to get the other branches open. I need more power, so I don’t always feel so inferior when he’s near.”

That’s not going to change. That’s just Hal’s aura. the Library provided very unhelpfully.

I really don’t like the feeling of this. Quinn admitted to the Library.

Well, at least you’re forewarned. Be on the lookout.

You know about the weird premonitions I’ve been feeling? Quinn shouldn’t have been surprised, but she still was a bit.

The Library didn’t answer for a few seconds. I can sense them. The connection is stronger, so I can’t tell what you’re thinking, but your emotions aren’t always the best at hiding themselves.

Yeah. Quinn sighed unable to refute that, and turned to Dottie. “We’re definitely going to be needing the combat branch sooner than later. Make that the priority after alchemical and medical.”

“Shall do!” And Dottie trotted off back out into the Library.

Quinn watched her go and silently took the three tomes that Tim appeared to hand to her. Tomorrow, they were going to execute the plan that Quinn was already a hundred percent certain wouldn’t work. The least she could do was be as prepared as possible.

She was going to need it.