Laurel appeared in the entryway of the library at the Crossroads. Malfamata, a tortoiseshell tomcat of uncertain parentage and curious origin, twines himself between her legs for half a moment in an attempt to cause her to trip. Laurel pauses and peers down at the brown speckled, accident inducing, cat. Having failed in his attempt and drawn her attention he zips off, tail in a straight line, with a rumbling "mrrrow".
The young woman straightens, brushing stray cat hairs off of her red trimmed surcoat, the uniform of workers at this establishment, and walks through the foyer, nodding at other employees. They ceased to greet her verbally long ago as she never returned their pleasantries, she only hid behind her long, black, straight hair and pushed headlong towards whatever task laid before her.
Laurel entered her "office" (more of a cubby really). Stone walled with a high set angled window. It was only wide enough for a desk, a chair and a hook for her coat. Just enough space for a little privacy when studying, copying or reglueing book bindings. On her desk lay a note legible without having to pick it up, "Come see me. -Chief Librarian Canvell". What a waste of paper, any other librarian could have delivered this message verbally. Then again, she also had a preference for note writing. With a sigh Laurel turned and marched toward the Chief Librarian's office. She was either in trouble, or she had a special assignment. Neither thought particularly appealed to her.
Entering the Chief Librarians office, Laurel took a quick look around the sitting room, peeking out of the large window overlooking the entry into the building. People walked by, quite a few them mercenaries or farmboys heading towards the barracks, some new recruitment going on for the army. Every young man looking for his chance at greatness and adventure--and the gold for signing up was a nice plus. That sort of thing didn't interest her; she liked exploring the stacks in the Library, learning new knowledge and preserving or copying old manuscripts. Her hand casually began tracing the outline of a cat on a chain around her neck. This was Felix's way. Sure, there were some followers of Felix who delved into ancient crypts and retrieved ancient and lost knowledge, but in her mind preserving what is already found and keeping it from getting lost is just as important of a job.
"There you are. I've been waiting for you." the Chief Librarian Canvell barked, "Come in, I have a job for you."
Ah, suspicion confirmed. A task. Hopefully just running to some smaller library in town to retrieve a book. Not her favorite task, especially on bright, sunny days like this one. Her white skin burned easily. Usually such tasks went to a third librarian, but as a second librarian this sort of task wasn't beneath her. "Yes Sir," she says as her legs carried her into the office.
The Chief Librarian was a man getting along in his years, but despite his double chin, burgeoning stomach and many gray hairs he was still sprightly and many considered him quite amiable, if not downright jolly.
"Four years you've been here." Canvell began. "You work hard and you're good at your job--that was noticed--hence your promotion to Second Librarian. But tell me, Laurel, what is it that you want to do?"
"Excuse me?" Laurel blustered, not really sure what answer he wanted. She enjoyed her work. Some days it was boring, and some days it was taxing, but it was work, and she excelled at that.
Canvell sighed. "Where do you see yourself in another four years? Perhaps a First? Well, you don't have the people skills for that, at least not yet. Maybe you're even aiming for my job, but that requires more...experience."
Laurel withered, she hoped that the Chief Librarian didn't call her here to talk about his glory days adventuring.
"Experience," He carried on. "That's what I called you here for. Among other things." He pulled a symbol of a cat hung from a chain from beneath his own red trimmed surcoat. A holy symbol much like her own. Laurel had known that he was another Cleric of Felix, but it wasn't something that they had ever really discussed. Love of knowledge bound such clerics more than any conversation ever could, at least in her mind. Suddenly a large orange tabby jumped into her lap, settling down and a purr rumbling in his chest as she scratched his ears absent mindedly. "Do you know what happens to knowledge when armies storm through a place?" He paused for dramatic effect.
"Uh..."
"Destruction! Chaos!" He interrupted. "And regular soldiers don't have an eye for such things. Tomes get left, scrolls get burnt, or worse, fall into the wrong hands!" Canvell was in his element now, his hands spread on the desk, rising from his chair as his voice gained in volume. Laurel could picture patrons turning their heads towards the office at the commotion. "And so, I have an assignment for you;" he stated more quietly as he settled back into his seat. "I want you to go and sign up with the army. You're not half bad with a sword, and getting out would do you some good." Laurel peered at the Chief Librarian in shock at the idea.
"Getting out...." she stammered, thinking of her pale skin and sub-par sword skills.
"And I think that you would greatly benefit from the experience" He interrupted again. "Plus you have a good eye for finding things. And the gold is a nice bonus, better than the pay you get here, and I know the pay you get here." Canvell stood and clapped his hands as if that was the end of that. "Well, then, off you go!"
"But, but sir, my office, and my jobs, and they'll be recruiting all week..." Laurel managed to stutter out, her cheeks turning bright red with the shock of it all.
"No time like the present! I have already assigned other people to your menial tasks and if there is actually anything of value in your office you are welcome to retrieve it. But I doubt there really is. Although book glue has all kinds of uses besides binding books."
And like that Laurel found herself back on the street in her red trimmed surcoat looking bewildered. Malfamata jumped down from the wall where he had been sunning himself, sitting smugly in front of Laurel he began licking a paw, a triumphant gleam in his eye. She glared at the cat. "You knew, didn't you? And not a word of warning?"