Chapter twenty – The librarian’s gifts

When Lysa returned to the room, she was carrying a small chest that was simple in make but looked sturdy enough. She put it on her desk and retrieved the key for it from the drawer in her desk. With a click it opened and she pushed the lid open. She then revealed from it two different items that she placed on the table, before closing the chest again. On the table were a beautiful golden ring with a ruby gemstone socketed into it as well as what looked to be a strange sort of talisman. Lysa held up the ring first. “This is my gift for you, Mana. It is a ring that was crafted by a clever tinkerer. You can’t really see it on the ring itself, but underneath where the ruby is socketed is a runic symbol for fire. Unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly how it works, but if someone who is familiar with magic uses this ring they can summon and manipulate a small flame. It won’t be strong enough to do incredible things, but it’ll light up your surroundings and should be at least a good way to intimidate those unfamiliar with magic’s limitations.” She handed over the ring to Mana who gladly accepted it.
“And for you, Cobal, I don’t think there are many gifts of high value that I could give you that would impress a prince, but I think I found something you might appreciate.” She handed him the talisman. It was made out of a fabric Cobal didn’t immediately recognize. With patterns of white, blue and gray interwoven in what seemed to be runes of sorts but then they didn’t end so it couldn’t be runes, they were too connected. “What is this pattern?” He asked Lysa.
“This is a talisman made by the nomads in the northern region of our continent. Their folk aren’t much for learning, but one of them was a scholar and visited our library on a pilgrimage. It is said that the talisman holds the spirit of an ancient snake that used to guard their people. I can’t guarantee that it does much but it is said to offer protection to the wearer.”
“This is rather unique, I haven’t seen patterns like this ever before.” Cobal inspected the talisman closely but the more he looked at it, the stranger it looked to him, as if the patterns were constantly changing while he looked at them.
“I would be surprised if you had, I was told these were a unique script from their people that they only used amongst peers. Like I mentioned, I don’t know what it does, but I have confirmed that there is some magic to it, so I tend to put belief into the man who gifted it to us.”
“I’ll gladly take it, if only just because of how pretty it looks.”
“Finally, my third gift to you is a piece of advice. Whatever you encounter in that manor, don’t let it rattle you. I know you’re about to face something you’ve never faced before, and it’s quick to get lost in the pace of others. Stick to your plan as much as possible but the moment things turn south, get out of there. You only have one shot at things and if you overstay your welcome and get overwhelmed by cultists then it’s lights out.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, but we have strong allies on our side and Mana has surprised me before with how capable she is.”
Mana smiled. “I do my best, but I’m still far from the hero you’re waiting for.”
“I don’t mind waiting a bit longer.” Cobal felt strangely vulnerable at this moment. “I’m proud of how much you’ve grown already and how good of a friend you’ve become.”
Mana smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
“Do I need to give you some privacy or?” Lysa chuckled.
“We’re fine, thank you. Cobal is already catching the eye of one of your scribes anyway.”
“Oh? Tell me everything.” Lysa leaned forward.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about, I don’t see it at all.”
“Women’s intuition,” Mana said.
“I’m more inclined to believe Mana in this one.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Mana asked. “We’re not going to the manor until tomorrow night, right?”
Cobal nodded. “I was thinking we could visit the Sapphire Respite tomorrow.”
“Oh? I didn’t know you were interested in poetry and art.”
“They have music too. But that’s not the point. I thought it might be interesting to find out more about that quill that Dionil gifted you and you told me a long time ago that you were interested in the kind of fiction that the people from my world wrote.”
Mana chuckled. “Back in my world, there were people who wrote stories about dragons and elves and magic. Do the authors of your world write stories about corporate jobs, marketing teams and computers?”
“I don’t know what any of those are.”
“Good, keep it that way, they’re not designed to make you happy.”
“I don’t know, I think most of our fiction authors write about the big orbs in the sky or the deep ocean and their people.” He smiled. “Remember how I thought Arana was just a story and not a real underwater village?”
Mana nodded.
“Well, there are many stories about people living off the coast and stealing children from poor farmers and attacking unsuspecting villages. There’s even a pretty well known story about a prince being stolen by a siren and raised by her to become a feared sailor.”
“Well, I’m very curious, so I’ll take you up on that offer.” She sighed. “I’m worried. I’m not at all prepared for something as dangerous as attacking a manor. And how will I know that this strange present from Lysa will work well?”
Cobal smiled. “Whenever I would get a new sword or something, I would find a nice spot to test it out. Perhaps we can do the same with the ring.”
As they walked past the Topaz Slumber, Cobal spotted Salandra sitting on a bench next to one of the fountains. It seemed like she was eating lunch outside. “What a happy coincidence,” Cobal said.
“As if you weren’t scanning the crowds intently,” Mana remarked.
Cobal glared at her but she feigned ignorance.
“Oh, hello Cobal, Mana. I was just getting some late lunch in.”
“Are you busy?” Cobal asked.
She shook her head. “Not really, I was collecting things in the morning but I’m taking the afternoon off.”
“Want to come with me, I would like to introduce you to someone.”
“Sure? I’m not quite sure what you mean by that thought.”
“Excuse me, can we have a moment alone,” Mana said.
She pulled Cobal to the side. “What are you scheming?” She asked.
“Salandra has been studying the history and culture of the Feral Wildlands and she told me how she’s been learning about Irkan history. I was thinking we could introduce her to Grac.”
Mana sighed. “Have you asked Grac?”
Cobal shook his head. “I guess I should have.”
“Yes, you should have. He’s probably not in the mindset to lecture someone on his people’s history while we’re about to try and save his wife from some crazy cultists.”
She looked back at Salandra who was politely looking the other way while the two talked. “I’m sure she’s a lovely girl, but don’t trust her too much. You’ve already told her now, so it would be weird to suddenly back out, but leave her at the edge of the camp and discuss with Grac first, before you lead her into his camp.”
Cobal nodded. “You’re right, I should do so. I was just thinking that it might be a good distraction for Grac,”
Mana’s face lit up. “That’s actually really sweet of you, I thought you were just trying to woo her.”
Cobal turned defensive and felt his cheeks redden. “I would never have such underhanded intentions.”
Mana smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. “Come on, don’t lie to yourself.” She chuckled. “Alright, let’s go meet with Grac then.
“I don’t mean to sound distrusting, but why are you taking me out into the forest?”
“Just trust me,” Cobal said.
Mana whacked him on the back of the head and turned to Salandra. “Normally when a man tells you to just trust him, as he lures you deep into the woods, you should go in the other direction as fast as possible. In this case though, he’s just an idiot who doesn’t do a good job at explaining his actions.”
Cobal sighed. “You’ve been harsh on me lately.”
“Have I? Or have I been fair?” Both Mana and Salandra chuckled.
Cobal shook his head and continued. “Wait here for a bit.”
He made his way to the camp. He spotted Grac sitting on a log, his hand on his weapon until he realized it was Cobal who just approached and not someone dangerous. “Back so soon?” He asked, relaxing his grip on the weapon.
“Yes, we had a little bit of a change of plans.”
“What’s up?”
“Well, during our stay in Marsolin, I’ve been working with one of the scribes at the Topaz Slumber. Her name is Salandra and she’s been great at finding out information about our friends’ paralyzation.”
“Is that the woman that Eliana told me fancies you?”
“Why does everyone think that?” Cobal almost yelled out.
“If you want my thoughts, I think that if everyone thinks that, it’s probably true.”
Cobal’s temper faded. “Do you really think so?”
“I do. I haven’t met the lass, of course, but Eliana has a good eye for people.”
“What do I do if she likes me?” Cobal asked, suddenly very self conscious.
“Do you like her as well?”
“I mean, she’s pretty and kind and we’ve been working well together.”
“So yes.”
“I think so? I’ve never really thought about these sorts of things much. I was supposed to marry some noble from an important family to tighten our grip on the country, so I never really looked for romance.”
“Well, you’re here now, exploring your feelings doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“I suppose not. We are leaving somewhat soon though, and we’re diving fast into danger. Is now really the time.”
Grac smiled and stood up, putting a hand on Cobal’s shoulder. “Take it from someone who has been married for many years, you never know when it’s the right time for meeting someone, but when that moment comes, you’d be a fool not to explore it. And if things don’t work out, that’s okay too. My current wife wasn’t my first partner either, and I wasn’t hers.”
Cobal nodded. “I’ll take your advice to heart and if we’re still alive in three days, I might ask her out on a date.”
Grac smacked him on the shoulder, which almost sent him tumbling. “Sorry, force of habit,” the big guy said. “It’s important to be honest to your own feelings and to her feelings as well.” He paused. “Why did you bring her up?”
“Well, she told me during our time studying together that one of the focusses of her studies is Irkan history. I was wondering if it would be alright for her to meet you. I brought her to the edge of this clearing already, but Mana told me earlier that I probably should have asked your permission ahead of time. Since I already told her I wanted to meet someone, I was hoping you would be alright with talking to her.”
Grac nodded. “Sure, I want to see the woman who’s got you so confused.” He winked at Cobal who let out another deep sigh. “Sometimes I feel like all of you are conspiring together to tease me.”
“What makes you think that?” Grac replied gleefully.
Cobal walked back out of the clearing to where he’d left Mana and Salandra, who halted their conversation upon his approach. “Grac said it was fine.”
“What took you so long then?” Mana asked.
“We discussed it a little bit before he said yes,” Cobal said.
“What is this all about? Who am I meeting?” Salandra still looked puzzled.
“It’s probably better to show you, follow me.”