fandomhigh | Library [25.04]

Entry tags:

library

Library [25.04]

Karal was early, and he spent a few minutes simply looking around the library before opening it.

This was his last day as a library aide, and he was only just realising how much he'd miss it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Andrew walked into the library looking for Karal. "Karal?" he whispered loudly. "Are you here?"

"I'm here," he called quietly, coming out of the end of one of the shelves. "Here, Andrew."

"Hey there," Andrew said, continuing to whisper. It was a library.

"I got your message," he said. "Thought I would come see you since I was, you know, walking past the library."

"I'm glad to see you." Karal put down the books he was carrying. "I'm sorry to not have told you in person, but I wanted to let you know as soon as I could."

"So Tuesday, huh?" Andrew scratched his head. "Guess I should start my packing then."

He cocked his head to the side. He wanted to ask Karal if he was sure he really wanted him there. Instead, he asked, "Do you think they have those electric heating socks at Turtle and Canary? You know, the ones that run on batteries?"

Karal stared at him in disbelief. "They have electric socks?"

"I know. Kinda scary, right? I mean, what if your feet get really sweaty and they start shocking you? That can't be good. Or maybe they'll catch fire and you won't notice because you're so cold in the first place and you think that they're just working really, really well..." Andrew had given this a lot of thought.

Karal kept staring. "Umm, well, if they work and keep you warm and they're safe, I don't think they could do any harm. You'll have to make sure you don't leave any of the batteries behind, though."

"Why is that? Are batteries illegal there? Should I not be packing a laptop?" He hadn't thought about that.

"Not illegal, but it would be better if they weren't left for anyone to wonder at. No one would know what one was. There's no electricity, there's no phones or cars or anything, Andrew." He hesitated, then added, "It would be better if you only brought the absolute essentials with you. The Companions will be carrying each of us and two saddle bags. That's all we can bring."

"How big is a saddle bag?" he asked. "And, um, why would someone need to carry me? Isn't that a little awkward?"

He was totally picturing some girl giving him a piggyback ride.

"About this size." Karal held his hands apart, describing a bag about the size of a basketball. "We'll be landing on the edge of the Dhorisha Plains, and we have to make our way almost to the centre. Even Shin'a'in bred horses wouldn't be enough. Companions are the only ones with speed and endurance enough to get us there in time."

"Oh." Andrew paused. "I'm going to have to revisit my packing list," he said.

"I still don't understand, though. How can a person be faster than a horse?"

It took him a moment, then he started to smile. "These Companions aren't humans," he explained. "They're horse-shaped but not horses, to horses what Altra is to a cat. Normally, they bear only the Herald they are partnered with, but these are extraordinary circumstances, and they've volunteered to carry us."

"And now I feel silly," Andrew said with a nod. "Give me a moment while I rework my mental pictures."

He looked off into the distance, smiled, and said, "Done."

Karal laughed and nudged Andrew. "Glory, that must have been a very interesting mental picture!"

Andrew turned a little red. "Anyway," he said, "are you excited about the dance?"

"I'm excited to be going with Evey, even if I'm not so excited about the dancing part of it." His smile got a little dopey. "She has a new dress."

"As I recall, you're a fantastic dancer," Andrew said with a grin. "Evey is a lucky girl."

He blushed a little. "I had good partners," he said, shaking his head.

"I won't disagree with that," Andrew replied.

"And I won't keep you. I should probably go make sure my suit is ready to go and polish up my shoes." For the third time.

"Don't wear through the leather!" he teased, then added, more seriously, "And if you need to talk to me, about where we're going and what we'll be doing, come and find me, all right? Or call, and I'll come to you."

"Maybe it would be best if I just, you know, wing it," Andrew said. "The more I know, the more I'll worry."

"Whichever you prefer," he replied. "Though you needn't worry too much. Neither I nor Altra will let anything happen to you."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Library [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]

Re: Second Period [25.04]