Search for traps and treasure

[aestrix]

There is a library.

It is actually an excellent example of one: it has books on history and philosophy and astronomy and science and languages and even a little modest section for storybooks, tucked in a corner against the wall. These books are all easy to pick up off the shelves and read, like ordinary libraries.

The books on magic, on the other hand, are behind locked and spelled glass, with their position signatures scrambled and constantly shifting so they can't be teleported away, each one built to set off a silent alarm that'll alert the owner if touched, and to turn completely blank if opened without permission. And then burst into flames if someone tries to force it to show what it's hiding or tampered with in the wrong sort of way.

Just another day in Kystle. Stealing peeks from books in a mage's library is not recommended for the casual reader.

Comments

[pythbox]

"And what would your explanation be?" wonders the quieter one.

[aestrix]

"Uh. Probably - 'Hi mom, I made friends, they broke in to read our library but they seem nice, don't be mad?'"

[pythbox]

The talkative one giggles. "If it works and they're not mad does that mean we can come back and talk to you again? Because that would be cool!"

"Technically we could come back whether we're allowed to or not," says the quieter one.

"Yeah but - it's different breaking into somebody's house after you've met them," says the more talkative one.

"Really? Why?" wonders the quieter one.

[aestrix]

"I mean, maybe? I'm not sure, I'd have to talk to them to know." Pause. "... It would be cool, though. But please don't break in again, that would probably actually upset them."

[pythbox]

The talkative one and the quieter one look at each other, and then the talkative one reaches out to nudge the shoulder of the reading one, who looks up from his book. There is some sort of short silent triplet conversation carried out mainly in glances and facial expressions.

Then the talkative one turns to the girl and says solemnly, "We promise not to break in again unless it's really actually important and not just for fun or because we feel like reading your books."

[aestrix]

She watches the silent triplet conversation with a large degree of curiosity.

"Well, good. Thank you," agrees the girl, just as serious.

[pythbox]

He smiles at her and bounces excitedly. "Do you think your parents will let us be friends and not be mad we broke into your library?"

[aestrix]

"Well," says a woman carrying a cup of tea. She steps into the library. "If your parents are okay with it, and you don't break in again, it's all right by me."

The girl blinks and shrinks a bit. "... Mom?"

"Hello, dear. Hello, assorted young hooligans," she says, sounding amused.

[pythbox]

The talkative one startles when the grownup walks in; even the reading one looks up sharply from his book.

The quieter one just says calmly, "Hello, Lady Larivias."

"We're sorry we broke into your library," the talkative one adds.

[aestrix]

The lady inclines her head to the quieter one.

"Thank you." Tea sip. "Might I ask who your parents are?"

[pythbox]

The reading triplet sighs and puts his book down and glances at the quiet triplet. The book vanishes. The three of them look at each other for a half-second Triplet Conference; then the talkative one turns to Lady Larivias and says, "Arrada Kastien and Kieriele Nasirah."

[aestrix]

She raises an eyebrow. "Ah, Fyndrihar's daughter, that's where she went, I'd been wondering. And if I go tell the both of them where you've been, what do you expect will happen...?"

(Her daughter is being very very quiet and sort of pretending that she is not at all there. Though she's listening intently.)

[pythbox]

"They'll tell us off for breaking into your library, and we'll say we promised not to do it again, and they'll say they're slightly disappointed but it could've been worse, and that'll be that," the talkative one predicts.

"Mother will want me to explain how I did the book," the quiet one predicts.

"Yeah, that too," the talkative one agrees, grinning.

[aestrix]

Nod. "Then would you all like tea and perhaps something to eat before we go?"

[pythbox]

"That would be very nice, thank you!" says the talkative one, with a bright and extremely adorable smile.

[aestrix]

"The water's heating up," says Lady Larivias, who has a magic teapot because of course she does.

... Her daughter looks awkward and guilty.

The lady looks over her with a concerned eye. "It's all right. I'm not angry."

"Sorry," mumbles the nine year old, to her feet.

Her mother puts her cup of tea down on a nearby table and then hugs her. "It's okay. This is a learning experience. I'm just glad you're safe, all right?"

This earns a little nod. Also a sniffle.

"Your brother's home, if you'd rather skip the tea. Your friends can visit later if you'd like to see them."

Nod nod. Little smile from the nine year old. She turns and looks at the triplets. "Uh, hi, I realize I didn't introduce myself. I'm Kavetnia."

[pythbox]

"I'm Tierval," says the talkative one, turning his smile on her.

"Serin," says the quieter one.

"Orion," says the reader, with a half-smile not nearly so dazzling as his brother's.

"It's nice to meet you!" Tierval adds brightly.

[aestrix]

"Nice to meet you too!" Pause. "... I am going to go tackle hug my brother now. See you later?"

[pythbox]

"Bye!" says Tierval agreeably, waving.

[aestrix]

"Bye!"

And then she scurries off to go tackle hug her brother.

"This way," says her mother, and she leads the triplets to a pleasant little sitting room that contains the magic teapot, teacups, and delicious looking cookies.

They are just as delicious as they look.

[pythbox]

Orion picks up a cookie, and Serin looks at it, and there is a half-second Triplet Conference, and then Orion nibbles his cookie and grins and the other two each try one. They are all very impressed by the cookies.

"These are really good!" Tierval says enthusiastically.

[aestrix]

"Thank you. Life is too short to waste time on terrible cookies."

[pythbox]

All three boys nod agreement with these wise words.

[aestrix]

She smiles a bit. The tea proves to be good, too.

"So," observes Lady Larivias, "I happened to notice that all of the estate's defenses look to be completely untouched." Tea sip.

[pythbox]

"Of course they are," says Serin. "If I hadn't been able to get us in quietly we would've picked an easier house."

Tierval snorts slightly.