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Post by AmaranteVioladeVanderlinden(I) on May 16, 2010 21:35:52 GMT -5
I was feeling a bit bored. And that was being extremely polite. There was a serious lack of fresh reading material at home, so I found myself out and about that day, in search of literary amusement.
My first stop was at Armand's Book store, and I was just beginning to look through the collections on the shelves. If I didn't find what I wanted here, I would pay the Royal library a visit.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on May 16, 2010 22:48:46 GMT -5
It was a simple task: go to the book store and fetch the books that Lady Elise wished to add to the sanctuary's library. I had pointed out that it would be much simpler if she had just had them delivered, but she simply smiled, saying: "The fresh air will be good for you, my dear."
I couldn't deny that, but it was difficult to be inconspicuous outside the sanctuary's walls. I felt exposed, instantly recognizable by my black robes and silver pendant. I swore to myself that people were giving me a wide berth and just as soon dismissed such thoughts. It wasn't as if I was going to swoop down upon them like a carrion crow and chastise them for not confessing their most secret sins, as if I could see into their souls.
"Unbelievable..." I muttered as I entered the store, proceeding to the front to speak with the proprietor about the order. I nearly sighed with relief when his eyes seemed to light up in recognition, and then he went to the back to retrieve the books. I did sigh with relief when I saw that they were not as bulky as some of the other tomes I noticed around the shop. I had them wrapped in a coarse sack so that if I did drop them, I would not ruin them--Lady Elise had long since become accustomed to my filly legs--and then, once I was certain the books were secure, decided to browse a bit.
My search quickly uncovered other books that I was certain would be of interest to Lady Elise and her ilk but were of little interest to me. They were full of protocols and ritual forms that I was certain had been invented by elder priests and priestesses for the express purpose of tormenting acolytes so that all our sins were absolved before ordination.
"Isn't there anything here that at least pretends to be something of interest?" I muttered as I made my way down the aisle. Unfortunately, I was not paying any heed to where I was going and collided with a woman--young but definitely older than I.
"Oh, excuse me, my lady!" I exclaimed as I fell back against one of the shelves, arms flailing uselessly as I fought to regain my balance. A book fell off the shelf and I bent to retrieve it, carefully replacing it before any others decided to fall.
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Post by AmaranteVioladeVanderlinden(I) on May 17, 2010 11:31:33 GMT -5
I had had my nose stuck in one of the books I'd pulled randomly from the shelf, and then I quite literally found my nose buried between the pages, when someone bumped into me from behind. Blinking, I raised my head and closed the book, then glanced behind me in time to see a coltish looking girl fall into the bookshelf. I started to nod an acknowledgement of her apology, when one of the books fell with a thud.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on May 17, 2010 12:09:45 GMT -5
I winced when another book fell with a deafening thud, hastily bending to retrieve it from the ground before it was damaged in some way. I carefully replaced it and glared at the shelf, daring another book to fall, but fortunately, I was not obliged.
"Well, that settles that," I remarked to myself as I began browsing the shelf again, pulling out books almost at random. There was one book that seemed to draw my eye, and I pulled it down to read the title: The Travels of Anael and Other Stories from L'Agnace. I was Kushiel's servant, but as far as anyone could tell, I was descended from Anael. The book was not that expensive, even my meager allowance could pay for it. Surely no one would object to it at the temple?
Thus assured, I went to the proprietor to pay for it, trading the few coins that I possessed for an object that was to become my own. I had few things that I could say belonged to me. I was even willing to wager that the robes I wore had been worn by countless acolytes before me. I wondered too, how many of those acolytes had risen to the rank of priest or priestess.
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Post by AmaranteVioladeVanderlinden(I) on May 19, 2010 12:27:49 GMT -5
I watched, her apology forgotten, as she picked up the book and replaced it, only to have another fall just as she placed the first. As she leaned over and picked up this second book, I finally recognised her robes. I had to bite back a laugh when she glared challengingly at the rest of the books, but when she turned back to me, I made my face carefully blank.
She seemed to have forgotten me as she pulled a different book down and smiled at the title. I couldn't see what it was, but it must be interesting, from the look of her reaction.
I glanced back down at the book I still held, and placed it on the shelf again, my interest in it gone.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on May 20, 2010 12:53:01 GMT -5
Now that all of the books were safely stored in the sack, it was time to leave, which was fortunate, because the dust from all the old books was starting to irritate my nose.
Unfortunately, my robes seemed to have other ideas, for I had scarcely began making my way to the door when the hem of my robe intercepted my foot as it was about to fall to the floor, causing me to trip and fall face-first into a pile of books, letting out a sharp cry of surprise. The books made an unholy racket as they fell, and I had a feeling that my cheeks had just reddened considerably.
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Post by AmaranteVioladeVanderlinden(I) on May 23, 2010 12:56:33 GMT -5
I had somehow lost my interest in searching for the book I wanted, and was turning for the door, when an awful noise, the sound of falling books, was heard. I darted in the direction of the racket, and found the black robed girl who had earlier dropped the books, at the bottom of the pile.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Jun 3, 2010 12:43:53 GMT -5
I tried to gracefully rise to my feet, but my current position in the midst of the books made it easier said than done, and I mostly ended up flailing ineffectually. It was then that I noticed the woman from before, and without thinking, I thrust out my hand towards her.
"My lady, could you help me up, please?" I asked. I thought about adding 'in Kushiel's name' but such a phrase was not used lightly, not even by the worst acolytes.
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Post by AmaranteVioladeVanderlinden(I) on Jun 18, 2010 10:16:57 GMT -5
I stood there, blinking down at the girl, sitting in the middle of her pile of books, and had the urge to laugh. I managed to supress it, after several moments, especially when she asked for my help. I reached down to grasp her hand, still fighting not to smile, and helped her up.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Jun 30, 2010 15:46:11 GMT -5
She wordlessly helped me to rise, and once I was sure that I wasn't going to lose my footing, I hastily brushed the dust from my robes.
"Thank you, my lady." I said, curtsying as best I could in my robes before picking up the sack full of books and exiting the shop before anymore mishaps occurred. If I was any later than I already was, Lady Elise was going to give me a stern lecture, and I wanted to avoid being the recipient of one of those.
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