The Burning Page (The Invisible Library, #3)

by Genevieve Cogman

We also wish to make it absolutely clear that Librarians should not attempt to use the Library to transport dinosaur eggs. And if they do disregard this rule, under no circumstances should they draw official in-world attention while doing so. In fact, we wish to remind all Librarians that they are here to collect books, not dinosaurs. Those Librarians who have problems distinguishing between the two should take a refresher course in Library basics.

Etiquette on dealing with apprentices after they have turned into dragons—another missing item from The Big Book of Library Procedures.

“Is anyone up there?” came a yell in French from downstairs. The natural human response was to shout, No! Which said something about humanity.

“Gentlemen, you seem to think that I’m a lady of fashion,” she said. “I’m not. I’m a professional, and I am the sort of professional who has just thrashed all four of you together. And then I let you live, because you’re not a threat to me and I don’t have any quarrel with you.”

Kai had explained, in tones of kindly condescension at human convention, that social gender among dragons was what the dragon in question said it was. And since Li Ming said he was male, then he was male.

Kai might be very non-judgemental when it came to personal gender roles, but he was extremely superior when explaining how non-judgemental he was.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” the lead guard demanded. It was a reasonable question, and it was one that Irene had been asked quite a number of times in her career. Unfortunately, I’m Irene and I’m here to steal books was rarely the answer that interrogators wanted to hear.

“And you didn’t even bring me a glass of champagne.” “Oh, come now. You know I’d poison it.”

Zayanna tilted her head enquiringly. “Do I get imprisoned?” “‘Killed’ sounds more appropriate,” Kai said coldly. Irene had agreed with him that he’d be the bad cop to her good cop. But from the tone of his voice she was worried that he’d be an extremely homicidal cop.

People do keep on talking about wanting a war so that their side will win. But ultimately all they really want is for their side to be a bit better off. Nobody wishes for their side to triumph completely.” She paused, considering that statement, and clarified it. “Nobody sane, that is.”

The problem with paranoia was that if you let it rule all your decisions, then you would miss some perfectly good opportunities.