She knew what Damien was talking about but he could have handled the situation without having to throw salt in the man’s already existing wound.
“My work isn’t to ease his mind. I am not his relative to do it but a councilman. He should have been shot already for saving the black witches when he could have got them caught. If it was another councilman the magistrate would be dead by now.”
Penny narrowed her eyes, pausing her footsteps and turning to look at Damien, “You didn’t kill him because you want to use him as a bait,” she pointed out to him.
“Aren’t you learning everything from your prestigious master already,” Damien spoke proudly of her and she rolled her eyes, “Soon you will be able to outwit others and also understand why we do things we do here.”
“Would you have done the same with me?” she asked him.
“Do what?” he asked her.
“Saying I am dead if I were to be kidnapped by the black witches?” she stared at him, waiting for him to come up with a witty reply which he did usually.
And she then heard him say, “Well, if you are dead I cannot say you are undead, can I?” Penny stared hard at him where he continued to say, “First of all you are with me. What makes you think I will let a flimsy black witch kidnap you. No one dares to steal or kidnap what belongs to me,” he declared but that didn’t suffice as an answer in Penny’s eyes. Her lips pressed in a thin line, she started to walk to where they were headed.
“It appears that you are mad at my answer,” said Damien as he caught up with her, walking next to her with a grin on his face.
Penny gave him a silent look not saying anything. She had never been involved too closely before until the time when they had gone to Wovile to know how things worked within the council. She could only hope that the magistrate’s son was still alive and he hadn’t been killed by the black witches. One could only hope as hope was the last thing a person held on to.
She wondered if there was anything she could help with. One way Damien was right for what he did but at the same time, the lack of tack was something to be worried about. But then she guessed that it was what was required when it came to dealing with people.
Reaching the bookkeeper’s library, Damien shook hands with the man,
“Good morning, councilman Damien,” the man was lean and slightly old. His hair on his head was completely white and glasses that settled on his nose.
“Morning, Mr. Haltman,” Damien greeted the man.
“Good morning, milady,” the bookkeeper didn’t give his hand but bowed and she returned it back, bowing at him before he took them inside the library which he owned. It wasn’t big but it wasn’t small either, just a good size for a town’s library, “I received word from Lord Alexander that you needed help in making a book with some copies,” the man turned to look at them. Penny noticed how the library was empty with no one but just them in here.
The man caught on to her gaze and he commented, “We have been having fewer customers lately,” he said and Damien asked,
“Is there a new library?”
“Oh, no, Sir. Because of Winter we usually don’t have many customers coming in here. People only want to sleep when they are supposed to be reading books,” he grumbled as if not understanding the youngsters and the other townspeople.
Taking a quick look around, his eyes scanning the racks, it. came to settle on the man to say, “We need new ink and a parchment book. Nothing big, just a small one with ten to eleven pages. How much time do you think it might take for completion?” he inquired.
“Might take a few hours, Sir. I have a helper boy who does the writing. Would you want him to do it or would you like me to do it for you?” the man gave them an option to pick.
“Whichever is faster,” answered Damien for the bookkeeper to nod his head.
Turning his head to the side, the man called, “Owen. Help the councilman in the writing. Where did you go?” he asked when the person didn’t show up for the first few seconds before coming out through a door.
A young boy appeared holding a couple of books in his hands, his brown hair messy and unkempt. He bowed at them when the bookkeeper ordered the boy, “The book is going to be eleven pages. Bring your bindings and get to writing. It needs to be given back by this evening,” turning to confirm he asked Damien, “Am I right, Sir?”
“Any chance for the work to be sped up with a few silver coins?” asked Damien and the boy’s eyes turned wide and he said,
“Consider it done, Sir. Let’s take a seat at the table,” he raised his hand to show the way but before that Damien said,
“I will need you to close the place until our work is completed. It wouldn’t be much of a problem would it?”The old man obliged Damien’s words, going to the main doors and closing it shut without a word.
Taking a seat at the table, Penny opened the book which she had been carrying with her which spoke about the moon signs. Lord Alexander had told her not to deviate too much from what was written in here to avoid suspicion by the black witches. The trick was to change the book in a way that held the same essence as the original book where they had to imprint some of the initial pages as it was.
The boy named Owen started to write down as he was told. Starting from the first page, holding a quill and parchment of papers in his hand. When the sign of wolf appeared, Penny said,
“Are you done with it?” she asked, finishing the previous sign to see the boy nod, “Coming to the sign of the wolf. This moon sign is considered to be born under the light of the moon with good strength and territorial characteristics with the pack,” Damien couldn’t help but straighten his back over the good words about his sign until she said, “Due to the low light, these signed creatures are quick to fight over matters making them petty. Stingy over the money who behave like peasants when it comes to haggling…” Damien slowly turned his head with his eyes narrowed down at her. Was she still mad about calling her dead if she were dead?
“Lady Penelope, I think you are reading the wrong line,” Damien slid the book towards him as Penny’s lips twisted, trying to hold back her smile, “See, you’re reading wrong.”
The boy didn’t know why they were dictating the lines when he could just look and write but it seemed that they wanted to condense the content of the book, “Go on,” the boy heard Damien and he readied his quill.
“The moon sign of wolf is the most talented sign of all the signs present. Extremely good looking with an amazing personality…”
