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The librarian looked at h the stacks I didn’t want to get hi here with both of Rudra Muralin’s books They were sh to fit under my jerkin if necessary I re I smiled, and Nelek sed nervously I’d like to see Lucan Kalta try tacking me anywhere

"But the books are from the restricted section," he said as if that explained everything It didn’t

"Restricted books can’t be checked out?"

"Only those with the highest scholarly qualifications can--"

Tie of tactic "How are Paladin Eiliesor’s scholarly qualifications?"

"Iave him my most earnest look "Nelek, isn’t it?"

"Yes, ma’am"

"Nelek, you heard what happened yesterday in the square?"

"I wasn’t there, but I talked to some ere" He paled "Terrible business"

"Yes, it was And as you can understand, the paladin is working hard to find as responsible He would have come here himself, but he simply couldn’t spare the time Information in these books could really help him"

He looked incredulous "Those books?"

"These books But it needs to be kept secret Get these books for the paladin and keep it quiet, and you’ll have the gratitude of the paladin and the archus?"

"The arch gratitude," Vegard told him

That man was unbelievably handy to have around

The librarian hesitated a er, then drew hiood friend at the checkout desk Let , one

"I do what I have to I’ed "You did what you had to Are those two little books that i how Lucan Kalta feels about ht, I’ll probably never see theain Just how much pull does Nelek really have around here?"

"Usually enough"

"You’ve checked out books on the sly before?"

"All the time in my student days A lot of stuff I wanted to knoas in books I couldn’t get ard’s sky blue eyes "Make friends in high places, or distribute coin in the right places"

"So how does Lucan Kalta know if someone walks out with his books?"

"My student days were before Lucan Kalta"

"Dareed

"Kalta just seems to know," Riston said "We’re still not sure how"

I picked up both books and considered the available space in my jerkin There wasn’t as much roo ht evil "I want to see him try"

Nelek came back in record tiht the books stood behind him

"We’re here for the books, ave me a quick wink "Marten and Cecil, if you would take the history volumes, I’ll take care of the other two"

After the assistants collected the two goblin histories, Nelek held out his hand I hesitated and then gave hiot the o anywhere with those books other than the front desk, I was going to tackle him

"The chief librarian requested that I escort you to the front desk," Nelek said, watching the two librarians walk around the corner and into the stacks His mouth curled in a tiny, conspiratorial smile "If you’ll follow ard and I traded a look You gotta love friends in high places

A tall figure stepped out of the stacks, blocking our way

His hair was the color of winter frost, eyes the pale blue of arctic ice, an alabaster coh elf His black and silver robes were understated and elegant, and clearly cost a small fortune

Nelek instinctively clutched the books to his chest "Magus Silvanus, always a pleasure to see you" The librarian didn’t sound pleased in the least; he sounded terrified