Letter 4: Is It Really Stealing?

Poppy,

This morning I went straight to the Chief Librarian to tell her what happened. But she scowled, rolling her eyes, and asked if after everything I'd done, hadn't I had enough drama for one lifetime.

I shook with rage but the gorble hovered right in her face and squawked. I had to bite my lip not to laugh at her expression. And if you're imagining her to be like Superior Rosalyn at the Arcane Guild, you need to imagine the opposite. This lady is stern, severe and I've never seen her laugh once.

After telling me that I needed to train my gorble, she then had the audacity to ask me to fix the crack causing the leak in the vault, to avoid another flood. She seemed shocked when I told her that she may as well clap me in irons because there was no way in Hel that I would be using magic for the rest of my life. As far as I'm concerned, my powers are dead and buried. That seemed to take the wind out of her sails.

For just a moment, she looked almost sad? Then she straightened up and sent me to the Herbalist to find a natural solution for the crack. As I left, I heard her mutter, 'Waste of talent.' I'm not sure if she meant me or the situation. But I'm sure she knows what kind of torture visiting the Herbalist will be for me.

I haven't been to the gardens here yet, I can't bear it. I even try to avoid looking out of the windows. But I guess that will have to change now. I'm putting it off until tomorrow. I think I'd rather go back to that thing that tried to kill me to be honest.

I didn't have anything to file today, just more sweeping, mopping and paperwork. But on the third floor, in one of the reading rooms, I overheard a group of Class 2 Librarian’s Assistants talking about unusual noises in the sublevels. Like bones rattling. One of them joked that it was probably the ghost of the First King. I didn't find it funny.

But, I decided that if the Chief Librarian wasn't going to listen to me, or take the danger seriously, I should try and be more prepared. So I started some research.

I found a whole section on the upper second floor of the library, and managed to bundle a pile of books about dark and dangerous creatures back to my room. I've been combing through them all evening and I think I've found what the “thing” lurking in the vaults is: a wraith. There are over 100 different types of wraith, but I don't understand how it got into the library in the first place, or where it came from.

Tomorrow it looks like I have no choice but to visit the gardens, and the Herbalist. Arcane knows what she will think of me. Willow Quinoline, renowned horticulturist now Class 4 Librarian's Assistant.

Your dearest friend

Willow