Dragon Academy

Chapter 2

It had been a long day, her feet hurt from all the walking and her cheeks burnt from the sting of the cold wind. She had been looking for a job, any job. But after visiting several shops she still hadn't found one. Until she had stumbled into a small alleyway she had not noticed before. Almost obscured by two stone columns with Gaelic symbols on them, the alley extended deep between two shops. She walked further, the small alleyways of Edinburgh city often revealed interesting sights most tourists never got to see. As she walked further the alley widened until she could see the other end which seemed to merge with a larger busy street. Just before she got to the end however a door with an old sign creaking in the wind caught her attention.

'The Olde Bookstore,' she read aloud and peered through the dusty windowpane, trying to see past the ornate iron grille that swirled across the glass on the inside. She could just make out some shadowy figures walking around what she assumed were bookshelves. Suddenly the door next to her opened with a loud creak that made her jump.

'Where is that girl?' A short man poked his head round the doorframe, looked one way and then turned his head to look at her. 'Ah, there you are!' He pushed his large round glasses up his nose with an impatient finger, 'You're late lass.'

She opened her mouth to explain she wasn't the person he was waiting for when he beckoned.

'What? Just waiting around to be invited? Get to it girl, don't you want the job?' He jerked his head at the window pane. She followed his gaze to see a barely legible sign advertising for a shop assistant. 'Come along!'

She followed the man into the small bookstore, barely inching her way between the bookcases that seemed to be placed haphazardly on the floor. He ducked behind a small counter deep in the shadows at the end of the shop with a sign proclaiming "Pay Here" hanging above it. She took in the almost antique till standing proudly on the dusty counter and the piles of books waiting to be shelved on the rickety desk behind it. When she shifted her gaze it was to see the old man appraising her through his glasses.

'Aye, you'll do.'

'Uh, do I need an interview?' she asked, already fumbling in her bag for the CV she had typed up and left at numerous places so far, but he was shaking his head slowly.

'Nah, you'll do.'

'But...'

'Only those meant to be here come here,' he said in a conspiratorial voice. She glanced around the store. She loved reading and bookstores had always been her refuge but...a loud thump made her jump and turn her head to see a pile of books before her, the dust swirling in the dim light from being disturbed.

'What are you waiting for?' the old man peered at her over the pile, 'Get these on the shelves. Might as well start now.'

Before she could say anything he had disappeared and she heard a door closing from somewhere behind the counter. Resignedly she slipped off her satchel, stowed it behind the counter and lifted the pile of books.

At the end of the day she thanked the old man, promised to be at the store early the next morning and let herself out of the small bookstore. She turned onto a large street lined on one side with clothes stores and the other overlooking Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens. Glancing up through the leafless branches of the cherry trees she caught a glimpse of the hulking form of Edinburgh Castle. It was a romantic city she had loved for as long as she could remember. Today was no different as she threaded her way to the bus stop.

'I want a yellow one!' A young girl's voice said from behind her. She didn't sound to be much older than herself. Probably a first year university student, she thought idly.

'You know they are hard to train, a green one's much easier,' a male voice replied.

Madison frowned. Were they talking about exotic animals?