LSRO: Chapter 330 - Possibilities (Patreon)

Weeeee. So, I'm about to undertake a ridiculous road trip to Florida with my kiddo. Ignoring the fact that my elbow is still crap, and my ha

Weeeee. So, I'm about to undertake a ridiculous road trip to Florida with my kiddo. Ignoring the fact that my elbow is still crap, and my hand is still constantly filled with pins and needles, at least I have an automatic car, right? haha

I'm looking forward to going on our trip with our family. My mother in law sets this up for the girls in the family once ever 2 years. (She had all boys, so this is for her daughter in laws. She's pretty bloody amazing, and I lucked out and got a fantastic mum in law).

But I will be gone for 8 days. I do have dictated chapters drafted, but will need to edit them. Should make the days pretty easily. But just giving you all a heads up.

Hope you enjoy the chapter.

~~

Chapter 66

Possibilities

Quinn watched Lynx, trying to digest his words. He fidgeted, his gaze constantly alert for any type of potential danger. It was as if he expected someone to attack them at any moment. She worried about him, was genuinely concerned, and could feel his mild panic through their intricate connection.

“So... how do you think this happened?” she asked, trying to be careful about how she phrased it so as not to offend him. There were many possibilities, but none were ones she liked.

“I don’t know,” he said, “but I do know, at least... I know now that something has tampered with the Library itself.”

Quinn cocked her head to one side and raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘Yeah, we know the Library was tampered with because it was shut for almost 500 years and we’re still picking up the pieces and it might all blow apart at the end, anyway.’

He shook his head as if he’d read her thoughts. “No, I mean the Library itself, the Library as a being, not as a depository of books. There’s something wrong.”

Shivers ran down Quinn’s spine with a chill that she couldn’t place. She thought over recent events: Tillip’s words about how she was never alone in the Library and her thoughts weren’t necessarily her own, about Dravishk’s confidence when he was speaking to his little group of end-of-the-world planners, and the Library’s recent moods. Pieces began clicking together and sudden worry ran through Quinn because even if they were clicking together, the picture wasn’t whole and she didn’t know what she was looking at.

It must have showed on her face because Lynx reacted quickly. “No, it can’t see us through the system. That’s not how it works. The system belongs to the universe now. Don’t worry. It’s just I’m not entirely sure what to do.”

Quinn looked at him quizzically. “You’re saying there’s something else wrong with the Library other than everything we’ve been trying to fix up till now?”

“Yes, there are protocols and my position, I guess, as a manifestation, gives me separate autonomy. It always had. I just didn’t remember. I didn’t realize until my last memory recovery.”

Quinn perked up at that. “So you can be completely separate from the Library and general system?”

“Yes,” Lynx answered, “but also like you, I am hooked into and thus an integral part of the Library system. It gives us both a deeper connection which can only be severed voluntarily, like when a Librarian decides to retire, or through death.”

“That doesn’t fill me with confidence,” Quinn said. She didn’t relish the idea of more Serpensiril or strange salosiers coming to try to kill her. She’d already had enough of that.

“Don’t worry, Quinn. We’d be extremely difficult to kill, both you and I. Well, especially me, because I can be incorporeal.”

“Do you think I can do that?” Quinn asked, curious.

“It’s worth experimenting on,” Lynx said, “but wait, we can’t digress. We don’t have the time.”

He was right, she knew that. But Quinn couldn’t help all the ideas that began to run through her mind. She shook her head to try to focus again. “We’re separate entities, but are an integral part of the Library system. Without us, it wouldn’t work, would it?” 

“Exactly. Not properly anyway.” He leaned forward, an eagerness shining in his eyes. “We both synchronize. It’s part of what gives us a deeper connection. As much as I’ve recalled, though, it’s- my memories are still spotty. There are still things I know I’ve missed.”

“Damn,” Quinn said. It was a lot to take in that something else was wrong with the system. Although she had noticed the Library acting oddly lately, just with everything else on her plate, she hadn’t gotten around to doing anything about it. A sudden thought struck her. “What about Dottie? She’s mentioned once or twice that she can’t leave the Library. It’s a deal or an agreement?”

Lynx nodded. “Dottie is supposed to help ground the Library. Her own longevity is tied to it.”

“Oh, can superellex futora die?”

“Of course they can die. They get old and brittle and crack and die, just like any furniture. Usually.”

Quinn still couldn’t quite wrap her head around that, but she’d take his word for it. “So if the Library dies, Dottie dies.”

“Well, right now, if the Library dies, everybody dies.”

“Pedantic, but a good point anyway.”

He sighed and looked like he was trying to figure out how to explain it better. “It’s more that Dottie’s there to provide equilibrium for the Library, to keep both the Library and the Librarian on an even keel, so to speak.”

Quinn took that in and thought over it. Dottie did always calm her. She always felt in a much better mood when the little bench wandered in with her bright and cheery Librarian greeting. So she could see what Lynx was saying. “Do you remember anything else?” She asked him.

“There are still so many holes in my memory, but they’re all closer and closer to the shutdown. And I remember that when I imprisoned Korradine’s soul, or what was left of it, that the Library wasn’t impressed. But I put that down to being worried about the shutdown.”

“Is the Library against us?” Quinn asked. She could feel tremors running through her at the thought.

“I don’t believe so,” Link said, “at least not consciously. But something feels wrong. We must halt its memory restorations if we can until we can figure this out.”

“As soon as possible, then,” Quinn said. She knew he wasn’t lying, and Aradie’s images confirmed her conclusion. The owl was sending her brief images that confirmed that owls hadn’t seen anything, even if they’d felt a collective difference in the undercurrent. Like things were being done behind the scenes.

Quinn sighed. She didn’t understand why it had to be so difficult. She turned to Aradie, a question in her eyes. “Why did none of the owls know about this?”

And Aradie actually spoke to them both to answer it. “Non-corporeal behavior isn’t something we can pick up on unless I’m sitting here on your shoulder.”

Quinn nodded and scritched the owl’s neck before turning back to Lynx. “Well, do you think we should talk to it?”

“Yes,” Link seemed relieved. “But give me a day or so to figure other things out, including how best to approach this. Maybe... maybe I’ve just been worrying for nothing. The Library has been worried for hundreds of years about the shutdown potentially affecting everyone. I don’t want to come off accusatory, but can’t you feel it through your connection?”

Quinn closed her eyes and frowned. “I think I need to be in the Library to feel it.”

“Oh yes,” Link said. “That’s why I brought you out here, so that it couldn’t reach.” 

“Not to be completely dense, but what exactly are we suspecting here?” She needed to hear him say it, because the assumption was killing her.

Link blinked at her. “I’m not sure, but there’s more than one interference in my memories. Not only did I forget Korradine’s, but I also forgot that while a part of the Library, I’m my own entity. Who or what would that have benefited? Who, or what, could have gained enough access to do that?”

Quinn had to admit, he had a point. She wanted to know as well. He spoke up again. “I wanted to know if you’d noticed anything.”

She thought it over. “The Library has been kind of grumpy lately. A bit snappy, quite impatient, not as forthcoming. Almost disappointed in itself, I think.”

Lynx snorted thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s having unexpected memories restored too, just like me. Maybe it didn’t remember any of this either.”

“But why wouldn’t it talk to us then?” Quinn asked. “I don’t understand why it’s keeping things to itself. Does it think it’s alone?”

Lynx shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve been around with it for longer than anyone except its siblings, and I can’t answer that.”

“Okay then,” she said. “Let’s gather whatever we can. And as soon as Bardic is open, we’ll talk to the Library.”

Lynx grinned. “That’s right. That’s why we’re here. Sorry, I’m running a thousand algorithms at once and I just... Anyway, let’s do this.”

Quinn glanced at the lighting outside and realized they’d been there a lot longer than she thought. She was quite certain this island at least didn’t have any problem with time dilation, but it really did seem as if they’d been there a while. Especially when Nishpa came to find them with the other two in tow. Eric seemed sort of irritated, but then the little imp often seemed irritated. And Mal frowned, his eyes filled with concern. She could almost hear him asking her, Okay, tell me all about it.

But instead he asked, “Did you get what you were after?”

Quinn tapped the book. “Yeah, we just got lost in discussion.” She hoped concern no longer adorned her face and pushed herself to her feet, gripping the book. As they walked toward the counter, she struck up a conversation with Nishpa. “Did you have a good catch up with your brother?”

“Yes, yes, I did. In order to speak to him, I had to sit through some audiences, which is never fun.” She pulled a funny face.

Quinn chuckled. 

“Don’t laugh, it’s really not fun. The good thing is he’s far too busy and made me promise to bring you with some warning next time.”

“Excellent, I’ll gladly come and visit when, you know, I actually have time.”

This time, Nishpa laughed. “Well, I also visited a few friends who live nearby. I think I might actually stay a few days in the city, calm down a bit, but I’ll be right here if you need me. Milaro knows how to reach me, so does Geneva, and frankly, you could just send me a message through the system. But I’ll take you to a door now that’s best to reach the Library with.”

Quinn glanced at the book in her hands and wondered why it hadn’t started walking back by itself, but got the distinct feeling that it had just been content with being among other books. She placed the book on the counter, and the librarian there looked up at her, a strange recognition passing through her features.

“Librarian?” she said, her voice a hushed whisper, which, ironically, was quite loud in the Library.

“That’s me,” Quinn said.

“Oh, what can I do for you? You’re here to get a book?”

Quinn grimaced. “Actually, I’m here to reclaim a book that was shelved in your library.”

“What? We have a Library book here?” She seemed horrified.

Quinn had to chuckle, because yes, they had like thousands of library books here, but not necessarily from THE Library. But she didn’t laugh, and was extremely proud of her restraint. “Apparently,” she said, “you do. But as long as you’re okay with it, I’ll just take it back now.”

“I’m so sorry. If I’d have known about this, I would have had it returned to you.”

Quinn showed her the stamping on the spine, and the librarian turned even a brighter red. “This is...” 

“Don’t worry about it. It seems it likes the books in your library as well.”

“Oh, excellent. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, thank you.”

And they left, following Nishpa to a doorway that took them right into Quinn’s office. She was so relieved to step through back to home, in her comfortable, quiet office. Eric hovered and scowled. “You didn’t really need me to come, did you?”

“No, but I like your company when we travel. And besides, what if something bad had happened? You would have been there to protect me.”

He hiked a thumb and pointed it towards Malakai. “That’s what he’s here for. Anyway, next time, at least bring me some witty repartee along with it. I need to report to Hal.” And he zipped out of the room.

Aradie alighted to her perch, while Lynx waved once and disappeared on the spot. Malakai, however, crossed his arms and frowned at her. “How about you tell me what all this was about? You didn’t need me to come. I didn’t really need to bring food.”

“It’s sort of complicated,” she said, and held her hand out for a now cold donut. “But I should have an answer that I can give you soon.”

He raised an eyebrow as he handed her food. “Should I be worried?”

Quinn sort of shook her head. “I’m really not sure if any of us should be worried. It could simply just be a mood swing.”

At that, his eyebrows raised even further. And she was about to explain a little more when there was a knock on the door, followed by Harish, Siliqua, and Cadre bursting in.

“Librarian, I think we have a way to fix Ashiron,” Siliqua said.

~~

Weeeeee Getting down to the wire!

I know what you're thinking: OMG she's going to end the book by blowing up the universe and surprise end the series.

I promise that isn't going to happen. I'm not that lazy.

Much love

KT