After lunch, I went on my own to the market. I found Cinder pying with some pebbles and fed him a fish. I went to Astrid’s and asked about Meliss?. She told me she was still sleeping, but should be awake in the next few days. Some dark clouds rolled in, but they were nothing against my positive attitude this afternoon.

  I still wanted to finish my book. I was enjoying practicing the domination techniques I learned in the first half and the colr magic seemed to be working well on intuition. But I had to see what else was possible.

  I returned to the library and found Freydis pouring her concentration into some book in the warm glow of the library ntern. I tried to approach her quietly, hoping to get a glimpse at what she was reading, but she spotted me from a mile away.

  Her jaw dropped, her face flushed—She scrambled to cover whatever she was reading then stiffened up, gring. “I thought I told you to stay away from me,” she said.

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s not very polite. I’m not here to bother you, I’m here as a patron.”

  “Fine. What do you want?” she snapped.

  “My book was returned by mistake. I simply came to get it back.”

  “Saoirse returned my book yesterday and you can’t have it back. I don’t lend books to those who leave them lying around.”

  “I didn’t leave it, I let Saoirse borrow it. She assumed I was finished and returned it.”

  Freydis stood up and leaned on the desk. “Saoirse wouldn’t even talk to a pervert outsider like you, let alone borrow a book from—Let alone that book!”

  There was something fascinating about her—beyond the hostility. Her defiance was different, stronger somehow.

  “She did, I swear it,” I said, crossing my heart.

  “Why would someone as dignified as Saoirse, our esteemed vilge steward, want to borrow a book like that?”

  I tilted my head at the angry blonde elf. “I didn’t come here to gossip, Freydis.”

  She gasped. “You—I wasn’t—Don’t!” She bunched up her fists and stiffened up. “I wasn’t gossiping,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’ll… I’ll need to confirm with Saoirse before I can trust you with the book again.” She took a deep breath and attempted a composed expression, though the redness in her face continued to glow.

  “Alright,” I said, raising my hands in surrender. “I understand. I actually admire how dedicated you are to protecting the books.”

  “Like you care.”

  “No, I mean it,” I said, looking her in the eye. “Books are among the most wonderful of inventions. They need people like you to care for them. It’s incredible how simple markings on a page can connect us to people from far across the world and even the distant past.”

  Freydis’ lips parted, her eyes softened. I smiled at her and the moment passed. She pursed her lips back together, gring hellfire into me.

  “Don’t think for a second that that depraved colr magic will work on me,” Freydis said. “I’m not that kind of woman.”

  “Colr magic?” I said, cocking my eyebrow at her. I looked down and reached out to move the papers off her book.

  She snatched everything off the desk, clutching a chaotic bundle of books and parchment to her chest.

  “What are you doing?” she shouted.

  “You were reading it when I came in weren’t you?”

  “No—”

  “I see. I can give you a little more time to finish. I’m sure you read much faster than myself.”

  “No— I mean, I’m not—”

  “Don’t worry, take your time,” I said with a big grin. “I’ll come back in a couple days. I’ll be curious to hear how you like it.”

  “No…” she trailed off, eyes darting around the room as if looking for what to say.

  As much as I was enjoying myself, I recognized I had backed her into a conversational corner so I took my leave.

  As I stepped out of the library I nearly walked straight into Salva.

  “Excuse me,” I muttered, trying not to sound annoyed.

  “What are you doing here?” he snapped, huffing as his face turned red. He looked more irate than I’d ever seen him.

  “I’m studying magic,” I said ftly.

  “Right,” he grumbled. “Carry on then.” He muttered something bitter under his breath—something about outsiders and trouble—as he brushed past me into the library.

  His hostility seemed more intense today, as though something specific had driven his bitterness deeper. I had the uncomfortable feeling I might soon discover what it was.

  I noticed a few vilgers nearby exchanging furtive, concerned gnces. A quiet conversation halted abruptly when they noticed my gaze. Perhaps Salva's anger ran deeper than personal dislike—maybe it hinted at rger tensions beneath the peaceful surface of Itán.

  I wondered how much trouble Salva could cause if I didn't find a way to win him over. Approaching him directly probably wouldn’t help much. Did he have any friends? I decided I’d watch him for the afternoon to see who he talked to. Later, I could speak with them and maybe learn a thing or two about this grudge he had against me.

  Whatever Salva's problem was, I'd discover it soon enough.