Embers (Scales 'N' Spells 4)

“Oh. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can come back another time.” Gunter retreated a step as if he intended to run down the hall, but Nikki grabbed Gunter’s free hand and pulled him across the threshold.

“No, you’re definitely not escaping. I’d much rather have a visit from you than read another page of that book.”

“You need to study,” Gunter admonished, but Nikki wasn’t really listening. They’d gotten the reluctant dragon into their lair and closed the door behind him. Nikki leaned against the sturdy wood barrier, grinning. Oh, what to do with the dragon now?

“I know, but the book is boring. I think I might be more of a hands-on learner.” As Nikki spoke, they raised their hands and made a grabby motion at Gunter.

He just shook his head, but Nikki didn’t miss the little smile lurking on his lips. Gunter crossed into the sitting area and looked around the room.

Not too much had changed since Nikki had moved in. Some of the things they’d ordered with Gunter’s help had arrived, adding brilliant color to the room. There was a new jewel-toned blue and green throw blanket draped over the back the sofa, and a rainbow of little glass jars. Nikki wasn’t sure what they’d do with them yet. For now, Nikki just loved the colors.

“Sit,” Nikki directed, crossing to the sofa so that they could sit right next to him.

Gunter dropped to the soft cushions, moving the book to his lap. He looked down at it and frowned.

“What’s that? A little light reading before bed?”

Nikki leaned in to look at the cover, but there was no title. It was covered in exquisitely tooled leather with worn gold embossing. It looked as if it might be a couple centuries old at the very least. Maybe older. Those books rarely left the library. Gunter preferred to read them in the library where they were protected from accidents.

“I had thought to make it a gift, but now I’m questioning the logic of it. You’ll likely find it boring. I shouldn’t have brought it.”

Gunter moved to stand, but Nikki caught his arm and pulled him back down on the sofa. They held on with both hands in case the dragon tried to flee yet again. “It’s a gift? The book is a gift for me?”

“Yes.”

“I like books. I like reading. I spend all day reading with you.”

“I thought I’d found something special for you, but I tend to forget that not everyone gets excited over books like I do,” he said, still looking painfully awkward.

Nikki held out their hands. “Why don’t you give me the book and let me decide how special the book is?” Naturally, they’d think the book special because Gunter had specifically selected it for them. That alone made it precious.

Gunter sighed and placed the somewhat heavy tome in their palms. Nikki carefully settled the book in their lap and gingerly flipped open the front cover, which was also blank. The interior of the book was all handwritten, like a journal. That was unexpected. It couldn’t possibly be Gunter’s personal journal. While he was certainly old enough to have written this, the handwriting didn’t look like his.

“What is it?” Nikki flashed him a wicked grin. “An ancient cookbook that snuck into your library?”

“It’s a written history of the Bos Clan, before the Great Dragon War.”

Nikki’s heart skipped a beat and a little tremor went through their hands. “The Bos Clan? My family?”

“In a way. The book is nearly six centuries old and we’re quite lucky to have it. It wouldn’t have anything from your immediate family in it, but this clan would be related to you. There isn’t much, but there is some clan history, as well as information about the clan’s particular skill at shaping items from wood and growing plants. It was quite the unique skill.” Gunter adjusted his glasses on his nose, but he seemed more at ease the more he spoke. “We actually thought the Bos Clan was completely lost and, with them, that unique skill.”

“Wait, you think I can learn to do this?” Nikki blinked at Gunter, something warm swelling in their chest at the idea of being able to do spells the other mages couldn’t. Or maybe it was just Gunter’s confidence in them.

“I think you have the best chance out of all of the mages of learning and perfecting it.” Gunter lightly touched their chin with his thumb and forefinger, the soft skin just barely caressing the edge of their bottom lip. “You’re absolutely amazing. I believe you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Nikki’s heart skipped and raced ahead as Gunter’s focus narrowed on Nikki’s parted lips until they tingled. He started to lean closer and then he broke off, turning his body to face forward again, his hands folded in his lap.