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The White Ward
Dragon Heights, Wyoming
One bathed kitten later, I headed to the White Ward to make use of their fancy libraries. The internet would only take me so far, and if I wanted to get a good look at the obituaries of the murdered pilgrims and check for inconsistencies between print and online editions of newspapers, I needed to do the footwork.
I’d have a hard time hiding what I was doing, but some prices needed to be paid.
I ran into trouble within five minutes of heading over, shortly after I’d claimed a table and had begun taking out my notebooks so I could research both my cases properly.
The librarian spotted Tourmaline, began scolding me while ten feet away, and ordered me out.
Animals weren’t permitted in the building.
I froze, my notebook halfway out of my bag, blinked, and stared at her, opening my mouth to explain how Tourmaline was classified as a true-creation or familiar rather than a mundane bird.
Garnet transformed into her kitten form, perched on my shoulder, and exploded into a mix of growls and hisses. Her fur stood on end, and while she flexed her paws like she wanted to unsheathe her claws, she spared me from a bloody fate.
Tourmaline joined in, and he issued his complaints in a series of shrill whistles, drawing the attention of everyone in the library.
To my dismay, I recognized one of the dragons from my second jaunt to Shrine Hill. Enzo Acri, the leader of the black dragons, strolled over, wearing a suit similar to when I’d first met him but in a dark shade of blue rather than black. “Librarian Themella, please allow me to clear up this misunderstanding. Miss Kinsley is accompanied by her familiar and her carbunclo. They will not bring any harm to your library. They are, pardon my bluntness on this matter, trained to use proper facilities. They are not mere animals. I do understand your concerns, but I am certain had Miss Kinsley been given an opportunity to explain, she would have.”
I nodded to the black dragon before working at calming the feathered and furred tyrants. Both still bristled, and it took promising Tourmaline we’d go look at some pretty flowers after we were done our business in the library to convince him all was well. “If messes are the issue, both are trained to use a toilet, and I’ll clean up anything they do. They are good about not bothering books.” Aware Garnet’s smoky quartz could keep her busy for hours, I’d brought it along with her stone ball to roll around on the carpet. “I have brought Garnet’s toys, and Tourmaline will likely rest, as I wouldn’t bring nectar into a library.”
The librarian sputtered, stared at me, and then fixed her gaze onto Enzo. “You know this woman?”
“The Ramonses came to evaluate if Miss Kinsley is a suitable caretaker for Garnet.”
Garnet growled, and I scratched behind her ears and soothed her. “Please forgive Garnet. She becomes quite upset whenever someone implies that I’m not.”
The librarian sighed. “They’re back?”
What on Earth had my parents done to the poor city of Dragon Heights? Had they left to give the place a chance to recover from their wicked ways? If told that was the case, I would believe it without hesitation. Puzzled, I glanced at the leader of the black dragons. “Is there something the matter with them?”
Enzo snickered. “There’s nothing at all amiss, Miss Kinsley, so don’t look so alarmed. The Ramonses are notoriously grouchy dragons, so if you have passed muster with them, there is no reason to believe you won’t do an exemplary job of caring for your carbunclo and your familiar. She acquired the bird during the last rain. After hearing of her general tendencies, it comes to no surprise that one manifested the first time she was outside in a rain. You were outside, yes?”
Interesting. Being outside during the rain was a condition for a familiar manifesting? I’d have to look more into familiars, why they were allowed anywhere in the city, and how I’d have to safeguard Tourmaline. “For the start of it, yes. Garnet was playing in a puddle when it started. I scooped her up and took her inside when it began.”
“It is good she is playing,” the black dragon replied, and he smiled. After a little dance, Garnet permitted him to pet her. “I won’t be taking away your human, little one. How is she settling with her collection?”
With the librarian hopefully appeased, I reached into my backpack, pulled out her quartz, and unwrapped it from its velvet, spreading the material out and resting the stone on it so the table wouldn’t be damaged. The carbunclo squeaked, transformed into a wisp, and floated to her stone before resuming her kitten shape. As she always did when greeting her prize, she wrapped her paws around it and rubbed her face against it to mark her territory.
“That’ll keep her amused and happy for quite a while. It’s among her favorites from Shrine Hill, Mr. Acri.”
“I am pleased she enjoys the stone. How lovely. What brings you to the library today?”
“Research for testing,” I stated, and I crossed my eyes at the thought of taking the test so I could have the same rights and general privileges as other residents. “I’m also going to be checking out the newspapers, as I find myself a bit more curious about the local happenings than before.”
“Do you need a sponsor for the test?”
There were two forms of the test, one with a sponsorship and one without. The one without had higher requirements, as sponsored test takers had fallback if life didn’t go as they pleased. “I was going to take the test without sponsorship.”
“I would be pleased to offer you sponsorship for your test. It’s a small matter, and the titaniums have brought it to our attention how much good you’ve done for Dragon Heights, so the least we can do is offer a domicile and welcome should you encounter unexpected hardships. You’re quite reliable, and you do not take well to charity or handouts, or so we’ve heard.”
Busted. “There’s some truth in that. I like being self-sufficient.”
“I shall have my clan’s sponsorship registered, then. You go by Kinsley here?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, it’s truly appreciated.” As I hadn’t registered a last name and opted against possessing one, I gave the black dragon my identification number. My middle name was common enough; it was my first and last names that would cause me trouble in Dragon Heights.