The candle is nearly burned out. The library is silent except for the rhyhmic snoring and the spluttering candle flame. A young Dermorian sleeps, face down, his nose buried in a huge leather tome.
Faltering footsteps break the rhythm of his breathing and a nervous face peers round the velvet curtains in the doorway.
"Mister Terenak?" says a squeaky voice.
The Dermorian does not even stir.
The young menki edges forward, uncertain of what to do. He's never been in a library before and certainly not one as vast as this one. He makes a vow to himself never to go to University.
As he draws level with the sleeping elf, he feels the tickle in his nose. The dust from the books and his nervousness are conspiring against him. Quickly he fumbles for a handkerchief but is too late. He sneezes loudly, blowing out the candle flame, plunging the library into darkness.
"Wha...? Who's there?" roars the Elf. The Menki tries to run but is stopped by a bookcase. He sinks to the floor, covering his head as a shower of heavy volumes cascade over him.
An eerie blue light suddenly fills the room. He finds the courage to peer out from underneath the mountain of books to see the Elf, now fully awake with a large crystal in one hand and a cruel-looking dagger in the other.
"Show yourself"
"Please s-sir," stammers the Menki, "I only bring you a message. D-don't hurt me."
Terenak laughs with a throaty chuckle. "Then you had better give it to me."
Terenak's laughter hides his own relief. He was expecting far worse than this. He has been hiding in the Library ever since his announcement about Xillix, the leader of the Vespers of Laanx. He had no idea what had got into him. Sov Head had started it and encouraged him. It seemed the right thing to do at the time, but ever since, he had been looking over his shoulder,,,
He puts away his dagger and starts unloading the books. Underneath was a very sorry-looking menki. In his hand is a crumpled piece of paper, which he holds out nervously. Ternak takes the paper and starts to read.
"Terenak. We are in a bit of a fix and I need your climbing skills. No time to explain now but I need you to meet me tomorrow at the Temple with all my climbing gear and as much rope as you can lay your hands on. Oh, and give the menki an Octa. I hope you were nice to him. Dol Garartth, Arka"
Terenak is intrigued by the note. He is equally nervous about meeting Arka in the Temple. The place was swarming with the Vespers. But he couldn't let her down. A small cough breaks his reverie.
He peers at the menki. "Are you still here?"
"Umm.. the lady said s-something about a re-reward?"
"A reward?" he booms, "For disturbing my sleep and wrecking the library?"
The menki looks crestfallen and Terenak chuckles again. "Here you are," he says handing out a new shiny Octa. "Don't spend it all at once!"
Bowing and scraping the menki backs out of the library, tripping over the curtain as he reaches the door. Jumping to his feet he scampers off down the passage.
"Work to do" says Terenak to himself, packing up his things. He can leave tidying the books till the morning.
