Elrich Saga Yellow Springs Book One

Chapter 20 We have a Party

Chapter 20 We have a Party

There was still some time until I was to meet with Crue and Illia for our hunting practice. I had left a pile of books at the library so I decided to head back there. I would have just enough time to check out the books I wanted and clean up my mess. Illia had mentioned that her shift was over at noon, but Mary would be in to take over. So there wasn't a huge rush.

Illia was just running around the corner as I was coming around the opposite side. She was probably running home to get her gear for the meetup. She was using a normal looking umbrella to keep off the rain, The only exception was that the parts that would be metal on a modern umbrella were made with wood. I wondered where she got it. Maybe she kept one at the office?

I went inside and shook off the rain gear as much as I could outside the door, then left it hanging on a peg near the door that had two other rain gears and an umbrella stand. I didn't like leaving my new expensive gear out in the open, but it needed to dry a bit before I could put it back on.

I found the desk I was working at and gathered up all the materials I had been using. Some of them I placed on the librarian's cart. Two of the books I wanted to check out since I had yet to look at them. I rang the bell and waited for Mary to show up.

Mary was a cow. It wasn't that she was fat, but she was a cow Zyanthrope. She reminded me of someone's crazy eccentric aunt. Decked out in bright mismatching colors and lots of layered mismatched jewelry. Her ears and tail were even decorated with bits of sparkly. Her hair was a bit messy too, but it was raining so all the frizz sticking out might not be her fault.

"You must be Mary, I'm Eri." I reached over to shake her hand. She, surprisingly, didn't wear any rings but had layered on bracelets so that they tinkled when we shook.

"Nice to meet you, Illia mentioned a new patron. I hope you like it here. She also left me that odd book you found. I'm going to start researching it today. When we figure something out we will let you know."

We shared some small talk and Mary helped me check out the books. The old spry woman from earlier queued up behind me so I didn't talk much. I wanted to ask Mary more about that book, but it would have been rude to keep the old lady waiting. Besides, I was about due to meet up with Crue and Illia.

Crue had mentioned having Tuck pack lunch for us, but with it raining I wasn't certain how soggy lunch would get. I didn't want to eat soggy sandwiches.

I passed by a food cart that was packing up early due to the rain. I bought some hard cheese and grilled squash, chicken, and pork skewers from her. I put them in my inventory so they would stay warm. I figured grilled food on a stick would be better than soggy sandwiches.

I bypassed the line at the temple. Even in this downpour, there were people lined up with umbrellas and rain gear. Standing in the rain couldn't be good for whatever was afflicting them, but I guess you did what you had to do to get yourself healed.

Crue was waiting just inside. He was wearing a long brown rain gear that was long sleeved, fit over his armor but under his weapons. It was sort of like a hooded tunic. He had his sword, bow, and a quiver full of arrows with him. All attached to him over the rain gear. It seemed like a far better design than the one I was wearing.

Spotting me he picked up a sack at his feet and handed it to me.

"Lunch," was the explanation he gave and I added the bag to my inventory.

"I don't remember you getting that. I was planning on making a detour to Durmond's to get you some gear. Did you borrow it from Illia?" He picked at the hem of my cloak fingering the stitching.