Note: in my writing I am constantly editing... going back and forth between chapters to edit details and events, either to streamline things or to add items later but give them pretext. When I publish a chapter I usually attempt to have it be as "finished" as possible, but if you notice anything like... a name switched in one spot or something, or a change in writing style, just assume I missed it in revision and continue on. :) (And please let me know about it!) Anyhow... this is it, enjoy?
The girl's thin hands clutched her parcel to her chest as Irle Knaufson's gatekeeper ran a steely gaze over her rags. "What do ye want entry for?" he demanded, a scowl on his grizzled face. "I have business to do with Mister Knaufson." she squeaked. "What business does a scrawny brat like you have? Go home!"
Thea took a gulp of air, suddenly feeling sick as she tried to look brave. "The nature of my business does not concern you! Let me by and the house servants can assist me."
The gatekeeper crooked a brow, baring his teeth in annoyance. "I'll be blasted if I do anything of the kind. Move along before I give you the belt, waif!"
"I am not a waif!" Thea exclaimed as her cheeks heated with blush. "My family is in the country, and I started an apprenticeship with Mr. and Mrs. Housen two days hence! If you must know I am on business from my father, and Mr. Knaufson will know of your incompetence when my father next comes to town!"
The gatekeeper's scowl deepened, wrinkles filling his face. "That is Sir Knaufson, to you. I shall let the house servants deal with your insolence." He said with a growl. Taking her elbow, he led her under the portcullis and up the grey gravel drive. In a minute, he had half-dragged half-marched Thea to a heavy wood door. He knocked and pulled a cord, and after a moment a butler appeared.
"This lady says she is on her father's business with Sir Knaufson." He said, giving her a not-too-kind shove inside. The butler looked down at her with an impassive face. "What is the nature of your business?" Thea threw the gatekeeper a superior glance as he settled his arms across his flabby chest.
"I have an antique acquisition he will be interested in." The butler hid a smirk, Thea was sure of it. "Is that it?" He indicated her parcel. Thea nodded. "May I see it, please?" He held out his hand. "You may see it." Thea removed the neat paper parcel from her chest, placing it reverently on the floor. Unknotting a string, she carefully unfolded the paper wrapping crease-by-crease. Lifting the rather plain cover of the book that was almost half her size, Thea turned to the first page. A moment of silence fell.
"Blimey." said the gatekeeper, as he looked at the intricate detail of lettering on a page, opposing the colorful cartography of an exotic coast. Thea shut the book carefully, replacing the wrapping and string. She stood, picking the book up, and turned to the butler expectantly.
"Right this way, miss."
•• •• •• •• ••
Thea sat stiffly on the chair's velvet cushion. Her hands were folded nervously in her lap, and she resisted the nerve to twist them as she waited for Sir Knaufson. The butler had shown her to the library, and Thea yearned to run her hand over bindings or pull tomes from their places. That would be impolite and inappropriate, however, and Thea was doing her utmost to act otherwise... at least in front of Sir Knaufson. Her book sat in its brown paper, perfectly straight on the low table in front of her. Four minutes passed in silence with the butler standing outside the door when footsteps rapped towards the doorway. Thea rose, curtsying when he rounded the doorway.
"Sir Knaufson." Thea's hands spread her worn but clean gray skirts. She kept her chin tucked until he had finished his corresponding bow.
"Miss..."
"Sylvainde," Thea supplied.
"Miss Sylvainde. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I'm sure. I was told you have an item of antiquity that you wish to sell me?" Sir Knaufson was a rather tall man, with neatly trimmed light-red hair and laughing blue eyes. A pleasant smile hid a little behind a neat beard, and Thea was rather flattered by his unnecessary politeness. She nodded, smiling back at him.
"It's there, on the table." she said, turning back to gesture towards it.
"May I?" Knaufson queried, closing the gap in a stride.
"Certainly."
He pulled a short knife from his pocket and cut the string. He unwrapped the paper and picked up the atlas, examining the binding. "Please, have a seat." He indicated the plush sofa opposite the chair she had occupied. "Thank you." Thea said, sitting primly as she could on such comfort.
"Feel free to pick out a book, it may take me a while to evaluate this." He said almost absentmindedly as he turned to the first page. Thea thanked him, rising from where she had sunk in the couch. She immediately went to where she had seen the title of her favorite fairytale, but it was only a rather plain copy and after paging through carefully, she replaced it.
Slowly, she moved down the row, looking at the vast treasure of knowledge that she may never again have access to. Slowly, her left shoulder blade began to itch as she walked towards the far end of the room. Thea resisted scratching it, but it soon became almost unbearable. Thea walked back towards the couch, not preoccupied with books anymore. The itching slowed, then stopped as she drew near Knaufson.
Sighing a silent breath of relief, she turned and walked toward the end of the room again, looking at the other shelves of books. Again, the itching started and increased until she reached the end of the room. Thea clenched her hands, turning to retreat until it caught her eye... A black tome with pages edged with gold and leafing on the cover lay on a table in the corner. It was similar to other books in the shelves, but yet it was not. Thea froze, gazing at it.
"Miss Sylvainde," she heard faintly, "Miss Sylvainde?"
"What is that book?" She breathed, making no move. "That is a book you would not be interested in, I think. Back to this atlas, though..."
"But I am." She said, slowly inching towards it. Lifting a hand, she hesitated before touching its binding with her right index finger. Thea could feel it. She trembled as something dark blue curled around her finger, climbing until it reached the hem of her sleeve and plunged out of sight. Suddenly the binding under her finger sparked and crackled with energy, something spasmed violently within her, her vision blurred, and she fell to the floor.
