Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes, #0)

by Travis Baldree

When Madger lost Legann—” “She lost everything,” finished Viv. “Even though he betrayed her.”

“Did he though? Really? Or was he trying to keep her from betraying herself? And then the more important question … did he succeed?” Viv frowned. “Huh.”

Magically transport the whole place to a city full of bibliophiles.”

“Thanks for your help today. Thanks for listening to me complain.” “You’re the only thing keeping me sane around here,” replied Viv. “I’ve got a vested interest.”

“It’s like … they were so terrible together in some ways, but … they still defended one another? I’m pretty sure they even loved each other. I mean, if you count chapter thirty-five, they definitely loved each other.” She rolled her eyes. “But past that, in a way that mattered more.”

“And I guess it makes me think that if I’m willing to call that love, then … a better kind might not be so impossible.”

Books can be expensive, of course, and this way you could—” “Would you suggest them for me? The books?” It was Fern’s turn to consider. “I … Yes, of course. I’d be happy to.”

Besides, total ignorance never stopped me from trying anything before.

“You’re just trying to make it to the other end, and while you’re in it, there’s nothing to either side. Only the way forward. You know, the tunnel. Maybe when you find a way out, you can look around, but until then …”

“Gin,” replied the baker, sipping her own. “Smells like winter. Tastes like summer.”

Having you here is connecting me to why I do this. To why I used to love it. I don’t know if I can explain it, but watching you read what I give you, putting a book in your hands and seeing what happens to you once you put it back down … I can’t make you understand how that gives me something I didn’t know I had to have.”

“A worthy hand at patient rest. An endurance of moments. Contentment blossoms there.”

Satchel turned a page with one slender digit. “I look at the page, and then the words are in my mind. That’s the accepted way, yes?”

“I’m less than four feet tall. How’m I gonna help?”

“Do you think you’re ever going to have a better chance to be free of her than this? If she comes, I’ll do my damnedest to kill her, with her own gods-damned sword if I can. Maybe I’m not at my best, but I’m still good at this. And coming behind her is the hardest man I know, and more besides. If she’s caught between us—”

“You do something for years and years, and the only reason you continue is because once you stop, you won’t really have anything.”

“When they see you. When you know that at least right then, you’re really not alone. Somebody else feels exactly what you do. Or you hope so, anyway.”

“Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back.”

“If I’m … careless when I hold on to somebody, I can … I can break bones. And I feel real careless right now. Because I don’t think you—”

“You don’t have to say any more,” replied the dwarf quietly. “I know what this is.” “Knowing isn’t the same as accepting,”

“I won’t break when you’re gone. And neither will you. I could wish we would, because then you might stay to keep that from happenin’.”

“Small stones tossed in the river. A thousand tiny prayers. The course is turned,”

“That’s why I have Potroast. But I think there’s something about curling up with a book and something good to eat. And we have the chairs, and, well … I like having somebody in here. Having you in here day in and day out … I like the company.”

And for a while, the future didn’t matter. And that was fine.

“Never trust a writer who doesn’t have too many books to read. Or a reader, for that matter,”

“Sometimes, it’ll never be the right time.”

“And sometimes, we aren’t the right people yet,” murmured Berk.

Today was like that. Knowing the feel of a thing, without being able to experience it.”

“It feels gods-damned wrong. We were … we were good together. Weren’t we?” Pembroke laughed. “I’ve never felt safer with another blade at my back, nor any other eye while I slept. We mend the holes in each other’s britches, as my old da used to say.”

“Because I’m headed down the hill, and you’re headed up it. I’m just glad we chanced to meet on the way.”

Viv never managed to say a word, but their time was over. One had gone up, and the other down, and the crossing would not be repeated.

Hells, the authors are wrong. So maybe that’s what the story says in the words that got put down, but if you could read past the end? The words that didn’t get written? Maybe it ends up being something else altogether.” “The story past the story,” murmured Fern.

“See you in the story past the story,” said Fern. And then the red door closed behind her.

Have you been reading since you left Murk? I hope so. I find myself wondering if a seed was planted in you when you were stranded here so long ago, and maybe it took a long time to blossom. If I helped water it in any way, then that would make me very happy.

I think you helped her understand who she needed to find, and then, at last, she did. I thought you might like to know.

And as Tandri laughed, waiting for the full story, Viv was grateful for all the wrong times that had led to this right one.